Beauty
exclusive details
How Lizzo’s nail artist created her extra-long ‘Rumors’ manicure
When it comes to trying new styles, Lizzo sure knows how to nail it.
The pop star teamed up with Cardi B for her long-awaited single “Rumors” on Friday, with both stars sporting extra-long nails in the accompanying Greek goddess-inspired music video and cover art.
“This was our first time doing [really long] nails, so she was very, very excited,” Eri Ishizu, Lizzo’s longtime nail artist, told Page Six Style.
After all, what better way to collaborate with Cardi than trying a take on the “WAP” rapper’s famously long claws?
“It just felt really impractical to keep on a regular day, so we were always talking about doing this [length] when we do some special project,” Ishizu added.
And “Rumors” is certainly special, marking Lizzo’s first single release since 2019. She teased the tune last week with a glimpse at the cover art, where the two musicians’ metallic manicures took center stage.
“The cover [nails] took a long time,” Ishizu said of the custom press-ons she created. “I think they took like two and a half hours, because I had to place all of the stones individually.”
She combined Swarovski crystals with tiny gold chains for the nearly 4-inch-long manicure, which Lizzo teamed with equally opulent Schiaparelli jewelry for the cover shoot.
The “Truth Hurts” singer’s carefully created claws were a scene-stealer in the music video as well, where she sported two more gold-embellished press-on styles by Ishizu in addition to a pair of sparkly “nail accessories” selected by her stylist, Brett Alan Nelson.
Nelson and Ishizu collaborated for the fashion-filled video, which also featured Lizzo burning real incense in her arm bracelets, rocking a record-breaking 43-and-a-half-foot braid and twerking with Cardi in skin-baring, “Cleopatra”-style outfits.
“When she has the scene with Cardi B, I created this [nail] look [in] iridescent white so it really matched with her outfit,” said Ishizu, who also made a set of gold, sparkly press-ons that weren’t as visible in the clip.
While the cover art — which was shot “at the end” — featured nail stickers that could be “popped off,” Ishizu applied press-ons with glue for the music video, ensuring that the designs remained twerk-proof.
Lizzo even saved some moves for her glam squad, too.
“The makeup artist and Lizzo started dancing to Beyoncé’s songs,” Ishizu recalled of the primping process. “It’s always such good energy.”
And with the star’s new era off to a shining start, Ishizu predicts both she and Lizzo could be “about to get really busy” with new projects.
“Give ‘em somethin’ to talk about,” indeed.