Born in Europe and now based in New York City, Margarita Yutsaitis built an uncommon path in nails: from evening classes after university to teaching, writing manuals, and ultimately winning on the competition stage. After relocating to the U.S. – and rebuilding from literal ashes – she refined a signature Russian manicure method that blends meticulous e-file prep, safety-first sanitation, and sculptural gel work. In this conversation, Margarita explains how early setbacks fueled her progress, why competitions sharpen salon results, and how teaching small groups and one-to-one sessions became a force multiplier for the craft. We also discuss her award-winning Extreme Nail Poster projects and what it takes to open a studio in Manhattan from scratch.
Margarita Yutsaitis – Russian Manicure Artist, Educator in NYC
Q&A
Beginnings & Early Motivation
Q1: Where did your journey in nail artistry begin, what pulled you away from finance, and how did early setbacks shape you?
A: Margarita – I started with evening manicure classes after university, purely so my mother could keep up her manicures when prices rose. A practical favor turned into a creative outlet: my first sets took 4–5 hours (modeling 6–7), but I was obsessed with clean prep and finish from day one. I paused YouTube tutorials frame-by-frame, studied international techniques, and kept iterating. Early on, an instructor called me her “worst student.” It stung – but it also flipped a switch. I found free models and practiced relentlessly. When a friend asked for a white-to-pink gradient, my first attempt was a disaster; her encouragement pushed me to master the technique. That challenge eventually grew into my own gradient course.
Q2 — From First Clients to Teaching (Studio – Skill-Building)
Q: How did you progress from home appointments to a dedicated studio, and when did teaching enter the picture (and why keep studying while you taught)?
A: I began at a regular table with a budget e-file; about a year later I rented a tiny studio my friends joked looked like a “stable” – construction boards for a faux-loft vibe. It wasn’t glamorous, but it let me say yes to complex designs other techs turned down, and that challenge stream steadily grew my clientele. Training requests followed naturally. I kept upskilling – design, sculpting, and instructor programs across Europe and major Russian cities – because teaching forces precision: when you must explain angle, pressure, and bit pathways, your own technique tightens. I wrote two manuals (basic & advanced), ran online marathons, and recorded video lessons with structured feedback so students wouldn’t have to learn in isolation like I once did. One mentee grew so quickly that I eventually passed my studio to her; she’s now an educator herself.
First studio interior
First students
Q4 — The Move to the USA: Adapting & Opening in NYC
Q: Your U.S. start was dramatic – how did you recover, adapt to New York, and open a Manhattan studio so quickly?
A: Two weeks after we arrived, an electrical short sparked a fire in our shared apartment. We lost equipment, documents…everything. Colleagues stepped in with supplies, and soon I was invited to teach a sculpting course in the U.S. – a risk that paid off and jump-started my rebuild. From there, I went into disciplined routine: 10-hour days, one day off, learning English on the job, saving every dollar (my first Starbucks was a year later). I studied the market and standards, and found the core wasn’t so different – clients who loved bold looks, florals, and nail art started finding me. Within a year, I invested in my own space in Lower Manhattan (FiDi) and focused on durable architecture and under-cuticle precision.
Symbolic “restart” image (post-fire or early U.S. teaching day)
Current Manhattan studio
Q5 — From Curiosity to Competitions – First Live Win (San Antonio)
Q: What finally pushed you to compete, and how did that lead to your first live win?
A: A Canadian nail tech I met online kept nudging me to try. I hired a coach, learned the rules and judging criteria, and dove into creative categories. Nailympia absolutely stunned me – the complexity was exhilarating. I chose “Stiletto & Beyond” with a NASA theme and kept iterating until I embedded an LED inside the gel.
When I flew to San Antonio for my first live championship, my only fear was whether the light would still work on display. I knew no one. Alex Fox handled my registration, and Michelle Soto kindly made sure the judges saw the light effect. After two intense days, my stiletto placed 1st at an international U.S. championship — proof that risk and rigor can pay off.
Q6 — “Cosmic Butterfly” & More Wins (Orlando + Mexico)
Q: You later embedded two LEDs in a butterfly piece — what inspired that, and where did it win?
A: A graffiti mural I saw in San Antonio gave me the palette and energy for a new piece, but the next outing was in Anaheim, where I presented “Cosmic Butterfly.” I embedded two LEDs – one in each wing – so the sculpture glowed symmetrically. It took 1st place and drew attention on the exhibition floor. Around the same time, I competed in Mexico and took 1st in manicure. Those live formats sharpened my speed and control without sacrificing finish quality.
Official results: MEXICO results link
Q7 — Extreme Nail Poster (Team Project)
Q: What did it take to win Extreme Nail Poster?
A: It’s a full production: concept – nails – casting – styling – lighting – post. I started with retro futuristic idea and built a team: model (client), seasoned photographer, and makeup artist. On set, nothing glued right at first; we changed background, wardrobe, and lighting mid-shoot. Embracing that pivot gave us the image that won 1st place.
Q8 — Teaching, Outcomes & Where to Experience It in NYC
Q: What does your curriculum look like, what results do students achieve, and where can New Yorkers experience your work in person?
A: I teach a three-track curriculum – Basic, Advanced, and Sculpting/Extensions – all with supervised live-model hours so students translate theory into salon-ready skills. We focus on the mechanics that matter: angle, pressure, bit control, apex balance, and under-cuticle color lines. Most graduates report faster service times without sacrificing finish quality; many see longer wear on clients, and a number go on to place at competitions or start teaching.
Class sizes are intentionally small, with structured feedback: demo – guided practice – micro-corrections on posture, hand stability, and e-file pathways. Each track ends with a skills check and personalized notes for continued growth.
Readers in New York can experience this approach firsthand in my FiDi studio, Mars Nails — where we specialize in the architecture and durability of the Russian Manicure.
Outside of the studio, I share process notes and competition pieces on Instagram. I also teach on Glossary Live, a leading U.S. platform for professional nail education – for example, my Tropical Leaf hand-painted nail art tutorial.
New Yorkers, come visit my studio!
11 Broadway, Suite 804
New York, NY 10004
Hours:
Open daily: 10am-8pm.
