About Maria

For over 30 years, award-winning nail technician Maria Salandra (@RedHotNails) has had a major influence and is now one of the most recognized celebrity nail artists in the entertainment industry. Maria opened her first salon in 1990 and her career skyrocketed from then on. Working with everyone from the cast of The Sopranos and Ocean’s 8 to Rihanna.

After a chance encounter of doing Rihanna’s 2013 MTV music awards nails more opportunities were to come, including working on the pop sensation’s 2018 Met Ball nail set that took over 2 days to complete. Maria’s been there for Rihanna’s biggest performances in the world, Savage X Fenty, her fashion collaborations with PUMA, and the launch of her groundbreaking makeup brand Fenty Beauty.

Maria looks at nails as a type of accessory. From custom stick-on tips to hand-made Acrylics, she never disappoints. She always focuses on her client’s skin nourishment and swears by coconut oil and Weleda lavender oil. Some of her favorite polish brands include OPI and Christian Dior. Her go-to neutral color for every skin tone is OPI “Put it in Neutral”, which she has used on Rhianna many times. When doing acrylic sets, she uses Tammy Taylor products, creating a polished finish.

Before getting into nail art, Maria was a recording artist and actress. Although this may not be the field Maria truly saw herself in, she would not change it for the world. She is not only successful in her profession, but it is also a form of relaxation for her. Maria’s new salon RedHotNails located in Cliffside New Jersey gives her a chance to decompress in other ways than working on the road. Her once side-hustle as a nail artist has completely flourished into something she never could have imagined.

Maria’s clients include Celine Dion, Nicki Minaj, Kylie Jenner, Angelina Jolie, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kelly Ripa, Rachel McAdams, Sandra Bullock, Anne Hathaway, Julia Roberts, Howard Stern, Liv Tyler, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Garner, Queen Latifah, Nicole Kidman, and Julianne Moore.

Why wait? Book your appointment today.