Fingernails are Max Estrada's canvas.
With inspirations that range from Hello Kitty to Playboy, from ladybugs to tigers, Estrada, 22, paints fingernails with a passion and abandon.
His exotic designs and unique talents have won him an international competition in nail design.
Estrada works out of his Exclusive Nails Couture salon at 723 W. Irvington Road and charges $30 for a manicure.
Early this month, he took first place at the Premiere Orlando International Competition. Competitors came from such countries as Sweden, Barbados, Korea and Japan. Among the criteria the three judges used: the cleanest nails, most consistent work, the shape of the nails and overall best.
The theme of the nail is given to competitors a year in advance. Estrada's design won with a purple and gold outer-space design, with a golden planet resembling Saturn in the corner, a white planet in the center and various golden and light purple planets lining the bottom of the nail.
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Estrada's next competition will be in Sacramento, Calif., and he'll compete against about 400 teams from around the world.
"I am so proud of my baby," said Sylvia Estrada, his mother, mentor and right hand. "He is so young, and is one of the only Mexican-Americans doing this."
Over the phone and on a visit to his pretty-in-pink salon, where he stayed hunched over a customer's nails as he chatted, Estrada answered questions about his work.
When did you start doing nails?
"In 2005. My mom did nails for 20 years, and it was very organic for me to get into the industry."
What separated you from the other competitors and put you in first place?
"Practice, determination and patience."
How long did the outer-space theme nail take?
"Two and half hours."
What do you plan on doing in the future?
"I want to win the world championship in Düsseldorf, Germany, by the time I'm 25 and expand my store, Exclusive Nails Couture."
Have you done any famous nails?
"No, not yet. But I want to do someone flashy like Paris Hilton or Cher."
What separates you from other nail salons?
"It is a very different experience. Everyone is well-trained and well-educated. The difference is like a real Coach bag and a fake one."
Do you do feet?
"Yes, I can do them to match hands."
Do you prefer hands?
"I do. I don't like to get my hands wet."
When you meet someone, do you look at their hands first?
"It is the very first thing I notice. When I go to the grocery store I look at everyone's hands."
What do hands tell you about a person?
"How they take care of themselves and who they are. Women are more attractive with nails and more self confident. . . .
"Because (if) they always get compliments on their nails, that makes them self-confident. Like, 'Oh my God, where did you get your nails done?!' "
What's the most complicated nail job you have ever done?
"Clients always push me to do more and more, but the hardest was (an) Ed Hardy (design)." (Hardy is an illustrator who does complex, detailed illustrations.)
What's the hardest part about doing nails?
"Dealing with people. I spoil my clients too much and give them too many options. Sometimes they go berserk; it's hard for them to chose."
What's the best?
"You make people's days and that's really rewarding. And the support I get from the community to help me practice before competitions. That and winning."
What's unique about your salon?
"We are the only place in Tucson that I know of that does stiletto nails. We also have a new style which is a pyramid shape that comes from Ukraine."