Francis Hétu is the artist behind Nailed By Bonnebez, a custom nail business operating on Instagram since late September. We commissioned a pair of Also Cool nails from him for this article, and he created the pastel-rainbow-Sagittarius of our dreams. Check out the nails modelled by Gabbois, and photographed by Malaika Astorga.

Another one of Francis Hétu’s standout creations—a pair of green stiletto nails glazed in cat-eye polish, adorned with gemstones—is fit for a glamorous Wicked Witch of the West. The green set was intended for the hands of drag queen Gina Gates. The nails are rich in colour, almost aquatic. With one look at these nails, you feel like you’re swimming in a pool of glitter. Crafting this kind of fingertip magic is a regular task for Hétu. 

While he creates nails for drag performers, he is an artist in his own right. “He’s always been meticulous about his looks and his makeup,” said drag queen Taylor De Vil. “You get the same thing with his nails.” De Vil owns a few pairs already. She said that Hétu always makes sure she likes what he is creating for her: “It’s a collaboration between two creative minds.”  

Hétu listens to the needs of his clients, and when they land on a concept after exchanging ideas, he gets to work on virgin nails—a blank canvas for his art. “I rarely, rarely do simple designs, because it bores me,” he said.

After making a prototype for himself, Hétu made his first pair of nails for his friend and drag queen, Ben Addiction. Addiction said that Hétu truly listens to the needs of his clients, and qualified his nails as demonstrating amazing craftsmanship. “He’s an amazing artist and a really sweet guy to work with.”

Addiction added that custom nails are the final touch to any look. “If you’re going to have a custom pair of nails on your hands, I want my customers to say ‘oh my God, these are unique,’” said Hétu. 

In 2018, fueled by a strong desire to try drag, and a if-not-now-when? attitude, Hétu entered the Sherby Drag Race at the (now-closed) bar Les Grands-Ducs de Wellington in Sherbrooke. “I said to myself that another opportunity might not come up and who knows what tomorrow will bring?” reminisced Hétu. “You can’t push back on what you dream about, and if you don’t seize it, you might just lose it forever,” he added. 

While Hétu doesn’t perform anymore, in starting Nailed by Bonnebez, his main goal was keeping in contact with the drag community, and to give back. On making his his first pair of nails, he said he “was just so giddy to see so many stones and crystals shining in [his] face.”

Hétu is a self-taught nail artist, but has been watching the Ontarian YouTuber Simply Nailogical for a few years. “One thing led to another and I delved deeper into nail art tutorials,” he said. “I keep my natural nails too short to sport nice nails, so I started off with practicing on clear press-on nails.”

“When I wear nails, it just clicks,” said Hétu. “You move your hands differently, you look in the mirror differently. I would [find myself] pointing a lot.” Hétu said the nails are a form of expression within themselves; no different from your hairstyle or clothing. They are a statement. “You are loud as fuck,” he said. “I’m gonna wear them and represent me.”

It’s important for him that his nails be reusable in this time of climate crisis. You simply have to dip your hands in warm water and remove them carefully. This kind of outlook has made him stand out in the community. “I think it’s really important to encourage small businesses,” said De Vil, “especially when they’re LGBTQ+ friendly, but even more importantly when it’s your friends’.”

Hétu hopes that someday, he’ll happen to be at a drag show and see his nails on a performer: “That would be a dream.”

To order your own custom pair of nails, send Hétu a DM on Instagram and detail the idea you have in mind. Hétu will reach back with design ideas and pricing. Check out the “Measuring” highlight on his page for instructions on how to measure your nails. 

Victoria Lamas is a Montreal arts journalist. She is the former copy editor and current arts online editor at The Link. She writes about the queer art scene, emergent visual artists, and hip hop.

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