When You Gaze Into the Eyeball Pedicure, the Eyeball Pedicure Gazes Back

NIGHTMARE FUELWhen You Gaze Into the Eyeball Pedicure, the Eyeball Pedicure Gazes BackWhat do you see? 

By Gabi Thorne

May 20, 2022

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Courtesy of Instagram/@nailedbytav

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My Instagram explore page is almost always full of intricate beauty looks: think manicures with 3D charms, bold avant-garde eye makeup, and intricate braided hairstyles. Often, I'll stumble upon a look that's equal parts imaginative, impressive, and flat-out weird — for example, folks using makeup to transform themselves into mythical television characters are as beautiful as they are terrifying. Most recently, though, my own eyes zeroed in on something so creepy it made me do a triple-take.

When I first saw these scary-ass eyes appear on my feed, I was shocked when I realized that they were actually just a pedicure — an original design that took California-based nail artist Tahvya Krok three hours to complete. The first photo in Krok's Instagram carousel spotlights the big toes, adorned with one eye each: one with a hazel iris, and the other light blue. These eyes look incredibly lifelike — at a closer glance, you can see all the faint strokes in each iris surrounding the pitch-black pupils. The eyelids are also raised to jut out further than the rounded eyeballs themselves, making for a more realistic effect. 

After swiping, I realized all ten toes were decorated with their own little eyeballs, each even creepier than the last. Krok tells Allure that she drew inspiration from one of her previous sets to create this pedicure for client Benny Blanco. The duo usually tends to lean toward kooky nail art when they collaborate, which is something Krok loves. 

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All of Krok's work is hand-painted, and one of her appointments can take anywhere from two to four hours, which includes removing previous polish and sculpting the nail to her liking before starting the design. Her work can be creepy, like this eyeball pedicure, or more conventionally beautiful like this pink-to-purple ombré manicure with marbled swirls. Krok is as thorough as she is talented, so she always prioritizes giving her clients a one-of-the-kind design, even if it takes half a day. 

"Not everyone would enjoy or choose to sit for a two to four hour nail appointment, but those that do always leave my chair with a smile," she shares, "and that's why I do this."

Read more stories about nail art:

• 27 Almond Nail Designs That Show Why It's a Go-To Shape for Manicurists
• Geode Nail Art Is Taking Off, and It's so Easy to Do at Home
• Fresh Nail Art Ideas From Manicurists Around the World

Enjoy our June/July cover star, Chlöe Bailey, breaking down her best looks:

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Gabi Thorne is the associate news editor at Allure. Since graduating from Harvard University, where she received a student writing fellowship from The Nation to research political news and social media as they pertain to students and communities of color, Gabi has covered beauty, pop culture, news, and more... Read moreAssociate News Editor

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