Get your nails done for free at the opening of WAH Nails pop-up boutique, Shoreditch

Back in 2005, WAH started as a tiny London fanzine about girls who liked hip-hop. Sharmadean Read was the clever and inspiring mind behind it all, using her passion for the music and clothing scene to create an online space for the up-and-coming wave of street wear. A development of the fanzine saw Sharmadean turn it into a blog, WAHappenings, and organised events for girls who loved their trainers just as much as their high heels.

In 2008, Sharmadean transformed the beauty world. She had a feeling that the nail art her and her friends had been styling was going to hit big – and she was exactly right. In 2009, WAH Nails opened in Dalston, East London, and since then, she has taken nails to a whole new level. Becoming the ultimate go-to nail salon (situated between a kebab shop and a local chemist tucked away in the new hipster hotspot) Sharmadean wanted to keep true what WAH was originally all about. She held jumble sales, art shows and record launches in her store, to ensure a real sense of community spirit to her work. Nails were designed to consist of “whatever you wanted on your fingertips”.

From then on, Sharmadean did not look back. The rest of 2009 consisted of her becoming a major part of London Fashion Week, including work for Marc Jacobs, and opening a successful week-long pop-up in Selfridges. She was named as one of the 15 people who will define the future arts in Britain, and then in 2010, WAH Nails became a world-famous name. Opening for business in Oxford Street’s Topshop flagship gave WAH the platform it truly deserved. With endless custom in one of the coolest shops in Britain, Sharmadean is what we can only describe as the definition of success, and she truly deserves it. 

This Thursday sees another step in the WAH story, with a pop-up nail art boutique opening at the notorious Boxpark Shoreditch. However, this is an opening like no other, as WAH are painting nails for free all day long. Amazing, right?

Taking cool to a whole new level, Sharmadean has to be one of the most motivated and respectable women in fashion to date. We cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next. 

Kellie Griffiths

Visit Unit 26, 2-4 Bethnal Green Road, London, on 11^th April between 11am and 7pm to transform your fingertips, or click here for more information.