Horni Nails by Caitlyn Iskra

Horni Nails by Caitlyn Iskra has blown up to be the favourite nail salon of Naarm/Melbourne cool girls. Obsessed with her incredibly unique designs and addictive attitude to life, we asked Cait if she’d answer a few Q’s for our online blog. 

Hey Cait, tell us a bit about yourself and what you do!

Bonjour hello, I’m Caitlyn, born in Melbourne. Currently I’m finding enjoyment in the creative space I created. First and foremost, I’m here to enjoy, express and be. 

We love that! Tell us how your business, Horni Nails, got started?

Horni Nails, before it was Horni Nails, was a lockdown creative outlet. I wasn’t working at the time in 2020 due to Melbourne being in a strict lockdown so I gravitated to other creative practices, painting, practicing colour therapy and entertaining endless hours of Grey's Anatomy haha. My nails looked horrible at the time and I was bored, so I ordered a nail kit online. I honestly spent hours practicing… I found the intrinsic detailing to be soothing (at times frustrating), perfecting my craft. I’d spend 6 hours a day doing my nails (almost feels unhealthy reflecting back). From there, coming out of the lockdowns I’d practice on friends and then friends shortly become ‘friends of ...’. It’s been the most organic venture yet, when I created an Instagram account it made it physical and attainable for others. That’s the beauty in this all, I haven’t felt pressured for Horni to be anything other than a creative venture, continuously developing and growing, holding space for those who choose to experience it. The development has been really fun, it all felt real when I got my studio. 

Yes! So proud of you having your own studio, it’s crazy! Now tell me, where did you get the Horni name? Hehe

Horni was an expression used to explain something I was drawn to, whether it was a person, outfit, or a place… It could be whatever it wanted. It was a time in my life during which I was exploring/playing and knowing what it felt to be confident, to be horni! I remember I called my dad (Robert) and asked him if it was too cheeky, and dad simply responded with “sex sells, people want to feel sexy”. So thanks Dad haha. 

The replacement of the “I” meant that it wasn’t tied directly to “horny”, I didn’t want it to be sexualised or have direct correlations to porn, I wanted it to be whatever you the viewer wanted it to mean, ultimately a means to explore confidence in a sexy way.

Amazing! We love a supportive Dad <3 Where do you see HN going in the future?

The beauty is, I don’t know, I’d like it to develop into something other than nails. I’d love to have a podcast, some juicy conversations are often exchanged. 

Even a creative space for people to create. Maybe…

 I remember you saying you try to avoid taking direct inspo from other nail artists, which is why Horni designs are so unique! Tell us, where do you find your inspiration? 

CI: Crabs. Haha… For me creativity is driven by my mood and nature, although right now crabs are my biggest inspiration, they have the purest patterns and colour combinations I’ve seen yet. 

I also have a deep intrigue for chromotherapy, so the colour element is something that becomes very personalised for me… and the individual. The elements of colour allow us to tune into our mind body connection, deepening the connection to ourselves. I like to explore and hold space for my clients, deepening the connection to their creative intuitions. 

Love it! What is the most exciting shoot you’ve worked on with make-up or nails so far?

Nails and photoshoots are what I want to put more emphasis on… I have a few upcoming shoots that I’m really excited to share with you all. I think one of them will actually be my favourite, stay tuned. 

Eep, I’m excited to see. Do you have a favourite design that you love to do? 

I love anything textured, almost bizarre looking; I did a recent design where I took feathers and string to create a spike-like layered look, it was so horni. 

Now I know the answer to this one already but I had to put it in here because I’m obsessed with them.. What’s your sign? 

Taurus sun, Gemini rising, Aries moon. 

Iconic! Tell us how being in touch with your spirituality affects the way you might do someone's nails? 

For me it’s the combination of connection and intuition; I love to feel as vulnerable as possible, to hold space for someone to feel vulnerable also.

When your walls come down, fear melts away, intuition is at the forefront, and love enters in. Something magical happens, you see people, and they allow you to see them, acceptance is what’s holding you in a unity. Then to allow space for the creativity to have no limits, it’s horni. 

Keep up to date with Horni Nails on Instagram @horninails