Nail artist paints Blackhawks designs for customers

Detailed nails and polished tips might not last long on the ice of the United Center, but for fans in the area, nail art has become a creative way to support the Blackhawks.

Jane Tran, a lover of nail art's creative challenges, has been doing nails for seven years and nail art for four. She's worked at Nail Art and Spa in Elgin since it opened in 2010 and two years ago began creating elaborate tomahawks and feathers for dedicated fans.

“Customers started requesting it and I just winged it, and then as the years passed, two years ago I first started it,” said Tran, who lives in Roselle. “As the Blackhawks have been doing good this year a lot of clients started requesting it and progressively I've gotten better, more detailed, more patient.”

Customers often bring in pictures and ask Tran for customized recreations. She also does improvised designs, creating new inventive works on the spot.

At first, Tran struggled a bit finding the precision necessary for the pint-size fine points like the narrow outlines on the logo. But today, her skills have matured as demand has risen.

Tran has done at least 15 Blackhawks-themed manicures for clients this year. One of those is Laura Macella, a Pingree Grove resident, who has been coming to Tran since the store opened.

“(Jane and I) started doing (Blackhawks designs) two years ago when they were in the Stanley Cup,” Macella said. “I found a picture online and asked if she could do it. She said yeah.”

It costs about $50 to get the gel art manicure for all 10 nails.