As the Academy Awards quickly approach, GlossaryLive would like to celebrate the nail artists on set! SANZOU, a New York–based professional nail artist whose 20-year career spans international stages, editorial work, and now feature film artist will grace her resume.
SANZOU recently worked on her first movie project, creating gel nail extensions for Amanda Seyfried on set for the movie HouseMaid. The opportunity came through renowned celebrity nail artist Miss Pop, who invited her to collaborate on the production.
SANZOU quickly learned working as a nail technician on a movie set is very different from salon life. Filming schedules shift. Actors step away mid-service. Hair, makeup, wardrobe, and production all move simultaneously. On this project, SANZOU and Miss Pop operated like a synchronized team prepping, applying, shaping, and finishing short extensions efficiently while adapting to the pace of filming.
For SANZOU, this milestone did not happen overnight.

Before moving to the United States in 2022 on an artist visa, she spent more than eight consecutive years as a stage demonstrator at major international trade shows including Tokyo Nail Expo and Beautyworld Japan. Her work has appeared in professional nail magazines, she has served as an art judge, and she has contributed to nail product development.
Her signature style blends pop-inspired neon nail art with refined graphic precision, an aesthetic shaped by years of observing color contrasts in both Japan and New York City.
What makes her story powerful is this: working on a movie set became possible because she invested in her craft, built industry relationships, and consistently placed herself in educational and networking environments. Session nail artistry for film and television is not a separate industry from professional nails, it is an extension of it.

For artists who dream of working backstage, on editorial shoots, or in film production, the foundation begins with mastering technique, understanding teamwork, and staying connected to the global nail community.
Stories like SANZOU’s remind us that when you continue learning, continue showing up, and continue building relationships, opportunities expand far beyond the salon chair.