Nailing climate change: What happens when science meets glamour?

Tackling climate change begins with talking about it. But it can be hard to find a way to spark those conversations. Aligned with our new challenge to ‘Talk’ about climate change; we decided nail art would provide the perfect platform for people to engage in climate conversations. With the future of sustainability high on the agenda, it is often easy to feel helpless and overwhelmed. Why should anyone listen to me? I’m not a climate scientist!

We wanted more people to talk about and understand the issues facing our climate. You don’t have to be a climate scientist to help the cause!  So, we decided to bring together a group of scientists alongside beauty bloggers, stylists, vegan chefs and sustainability gurus to help spread the word about climate change. Great I know, right?

Possible collaborated with beauty booking app, Ruuby, curatorial collective Visualogical, and six climate scientists to create nail designs with a purpose. The launch of climate nails was hosted by Cloud Twelve, wellness and lifestyle club in the heart of Notting Hill where we spent an evening filled with climate conversations across a diverse crowd, all with different backgrounds, professions and skills who helped to spread the message through their fantastic networks.

The nail designs were inspired by research done by climate scientists - Dr Tasmin Edwards, Prof.Tina van De Flierdt, Dr Ajay Gambhir, Prof. Anson W.Mackay, Dr Heather Graven and Prof. Ed Hawkins. Each nail art design illustrates a particular aspect of the scientists’ research on climate change and climate action. The inspiration for the designs range from Dr Tamsin Edwards’ research on the likely levels of sea level rise in the future, to Professor Ed Hawkin’s well-known warming stripes showing global temperature rises over time, which have recently gone viral. Other designs touch on ways to tackle the crisis, such as Dr Ajay Gambhir’s work on comparing the current mix of energy sources on one hand versus a low carbon alternatives on the other hand.

And if you are wondering, yes of course the nail polish was 100% vegan, courtesy of Manicurist polishes.

Pairing scientists up with nail artists to create climate inspired nail art has the ability to spark conversations in new places, putting climate change and the facts (literally) at people’s fingertips.

So, when someone compliments your fresh manicure, you can say ‘thanks, actually there is a message behind it….’. We can be inspired by the environment we live in, through different shapes, forms and yes even infographics.

Every single person can play a huge role in battling climate change. Reach out and connect with others, capture your curiosity and embrace your differences. Start a climate conversation with the people you meet. 

Possible look forward to continuing and expanding our climate nail art events in the future- keep an eye out! If you’d like to try to recreate the designs at home, you can download our Nail Art Menu below, make sure to tag us on social media so we can see your creations. You can also book an appointment through Ruuby to get the designs done professionally and 50% of the profit of each manicure will go towards Possible to help fight climate change.

For more tips on how to start conversations about climate change at home, in your community or on a wider scale, check out our challenge page and pledge to get talking. From hosting your own clothes swaps to supporting a campaign, there are so many ways you can get involved using our different challenges to guide you. 

Thumbnail image: Saskia_rabbit