An integral part of the manicure experience is choosing a color or design for your nails, but if you book a Trust the Process Freestyle at Diamond Pinkston’s Pink Nail Palace, that doesn’t have to be the case. Pinkston, an Indy-based independent nail technician, takes creative direction over client’s nails during these appointments to design the kind of drool-worthy manicures you’d find on a Pinterest inspo board. Clients are able to decide which shape, shade and theme they prefer from options Pinkston presents, and she does the rest. It’s perfect for indecisive manicure enthusiasts such as myself, so I had to book an appointment with Pinkston.
The Pink Nail Palace certainly lives up to its name. Neon pink light fills the space, which is also occupied by pink walls and furniture. Even the disposable tools Pinkston uses are pink. She’s been in the Palace since 2020, the same year she decided to invest in a nail kit and began practicing on friends in her Bloomington apartment. Pinkston’s work quickly became popular, and after receiving countless requests from friends to practice on their nails, she built up a successful business and loyal client base. Recently, she became an ambassador for Stamped Marketing’s smart nail chips, a new manicure add-on that allows clients to share links of their choice by tapping their nails to someone’s phone. But it’s not just the hi-tech products and vibrant space that keeps clients coming back to Pinkston—It’s trust, the same guiding principle she’s followed since becoming a nail tech. To her, trust is essential, and without it, reaching goals becomes impossible.
It’s trust that led to me sitting in Pinkston’s chair, where I spent an afternoon chatting with her about her nail tech journey while she gave me the most incredible set of acrylic nails. Let me say: Everyone needs a nail technician like Diamond Pinkston.
In addition to possessing an affinity for creating masterpiece manis, Pinkston also uses safe, sanitary products and precise, detail-oriented techniques to deliver higher-quality results. You might not know it, but this isn’t always the case at every nail salon. Busy, rushed nail technicians sometimes reach for FDA-banned products such as MMA or utilize unsanitary practices, which can leave you with a fungal infection. At the Pink Nail Palace, Pinkston explained the steps she was taking to ensure every step of the process was safe and sanitary.
There’s no rushing involved, and her personable, 1-on-1 environment provides a more in-depth experience than a busy nail salon. Pinkston values being able to form trusting relationships with her clients by providing a comfortable space and experience. She’s the kind of nail tech you wouldn’t feel awkward asking to reshape or repaint a nail you’re not satisfied with. And if you’re not into chit-chatting, Pinkston offers the option to book a silent appointment, where you can hang out and watch TV, listen to music or just chill while she does your nails.
After Pinkston began on my set, she presented me with my first choice: which shape I would like my nails to be. While I am traditionally a coffin-shape enthusiast, I opted for almond. As Pinkston filed away, I already trusted this was going to be the best set of nails I had ever had. Her attention to detail was astounding, and the time she spent ensuring everything was perfect alleviated any concerns that I might not like how the nails turned out.
I was curious: How many clients book freestyle appointments? Apparently, around 70% of Pinkston’s clients opt to trust the process. Pinkston told me she was inspired to include a freestyle option on her website because she had always wished to have a nail technician she could trust that much.
“I never found a nail tech [I could tell], ‘Girl, just do whatever you want.’ I wanted a nail tech like that, so I became her.” — Pinkston
Part of what makes Pinkston such a trustworthy tech is her killer personal taste. She frequently receives compliments on her own nails, which she does herself. And if she does yours, compliments are certainly guaranteed.
When Pinkston asked me which colors I preferred, I told her to take full free reign—nothing was off-limits. After being presented with several ideas for the theme of the nails, I settled on a bright, funky set with lots of textures and stick-ons. I hadn’t ever had a nail design so complex before, and the design process was fascinating. Pinkston used a variety of intricate, time-consuming techniques to create raised patterns on my nails, which were painted a variety of rainbow, Lisa-Frank-inspired hues.
The feeling of leaving the nail salon with a fresh set is unmatched. Your hands are moisturized, your nails are glossy and you feel like that girl. When Pinkston finished up my nails, I was on cloud nine. I don’t think any description could do them justice, so here they are:
Incredible, right?
Before I left the salon, Pinkston made me a complimentary to-go bottle of cuticle oil, complete with gold flakes and bits of rose. In addition to having a heavenly scent, the oil also helps improve the longevity of your nails by reducing the presence of hangnails and subsequent picking. It also makes you feel a lil’ bit bougie, which is a plus. According to Pinkston, some other ways to keep your mani looking cure include proper maintenance (that means touchups every 3-ish weeks!) and not using your nails as tools.
If I’ve convinced you, Pinkston’s books are open for August. She’s also giving away a free set of press-ons and a Trust the Process Freestyle to celebrate the two-year anniversary of her nail journey, and you can find all the details on her Instagram.
Trust remains the key word for Pinkston, who hopes to take her career further than just doing nails. Teaching classes on nail design, store ownership and traveling with work are all on her to-do list. To follow Pinkston’s journey, give her a follow on Insta and TikTok. If you ever need a showstopping set of nails, she’s your girl.
