Questions, answered

A design and art brand creating wearable sculptural forms. We use digital sculpting and 3D printing to make objects that begin as ideas and become physical forms designed to be worn. We're beginning with the nail, but the idea extends beyond it.

LUWAKI is an alternative to press-on nails. Each nail is a sculpture: designed by our team in 3D sculpting software, 3D printed as one complete form in the size fitted to that nail, then finished by hand. Applied with glue, they can be worn again.

No. LUWAKI designs and produces the sculptural nail pieces. We don't run a salon or colour pieces ourselves: colouring and application happen at our partner salons (opening soon), with a nail professional of your choice, or at home.

No. LUWAKI pieces arrive clean and uncoloured. The colourways on our website are examples of the possibilities, there to inspire your own interpretation. Your sculpture is yours to colour.

Yes, by a nail professional of your choice, or at our partner salons once they open. Salon services aren't part of the LUWAKI price: they're paid directly to the salon.

First, get fitted: each of your ten nails is matched against the complete range of LUWAKI sizing forms, and your sizes are saved to your account. Then choose your design and the shape of each nail, and place your order. Our partner salons are opening soon; until then, we arrange your fitting with you.

You can explore the collections without being measured, but you need a complete sizing profile before your first order: your sizes are what let us produce your sculpture for your hands.

Twenty, numbered 01 to 20. The sizes increase progressively in width and height to suit different natural nail proportions.

Yes, it's part of the LUWAKI experience: you choose the shape of each nail, so you're never limited to one shape for the whole set.

Five core shapes, each at its own length: oval 20 mm, square 25 mm, almond 30 mm, coffin 35 mm and stiletto 40 mm.

Collection pieces are made at their designated lengths. A shorter, longer or otherwise modified version is a Private Edit.

Absolutely. The colourways shown are examples of what each sculpture can become. LUWAKI provides the form; you decide its colour, applied by a nail professional, at a partner salon once they open, or by you.

Any time, under My fit, and every future order uses them. Sizes rarely change unless your nails or fingers do, or hands are still growing. An order already placed keeps the sizes it was placed with.

Your set of ten sculptural nail pieces, in LUWAKI packaging. They arrive clean and uncoloured. Application and care products are sold separately.

Yes. Each sculpture is designed by our team in 3D sculpting software and 3D printed as one complete form; then it's washed, cured, refined and individually inspected by hand.

Yes. LUWAKI sculptures are designed with structure, strength and everyday wear in mind: they're made to go with you through normal life, not to be kept still like museum pieces.

A wear is one continuous application. With the recommended glue it typically lasts one to two months; it depends on the application and how you use your hands.

Yes, they can be reworn. Careful application and removal help keep your sculptures for the next one.

Yes. Every piece is inspected before it leaves the studio: its form, its structure, its fine details and its surface.

The Makartt Nail Glue & Remover Kit: the system we've tested with LUWAKI, and recommend if you want to wear your pieces again.

No. You may use any glue and remover you like, but other products or methods may affect how long your sculptures last and whether they can be worn again.

Yes, at a LUWAKI partner salon: builder gel is a salon process. It holds for about a month, and it's single-use: once the gel is removed, the set can't be worn again. To wear your sculptures more than once, use Makartt glue.

Yes. A Makartt kit is bought for a set: beside a new set in your bag, or for a set you've already ordered from Account → Orders → ADD A GLUE KIT.

With the Makartt remover, following its instructions, or with your nail professional. Never force or pull a firmly attached piece off: the right removal keeps it for its next wear.

Replace just that piece from your account: Account → Orders → your delivered order → REPLACE A NAIL. Your order already records exactly which sculpture, shape and size you received. Each finger of a set can be replaced once; after that, it's a new set.

Yes, at today's price for one nail, once for each finger of a set. You don't need a whole new set if only one piece needs replacing, and the same goes for a nail you've lost.

No. A replacement reproduces the piece from the original order: if your Butterfly Cove coffin pinky breaks, the replacement is the same Butterfly Cove coffin pinky, in the same size. A different design or shape is a new order.

Every piece is made to order: production takes 5 business days from the time your order is placed. Delivery time is on top, and depends on where you are.

Within Kenya. If you're outside Kenya and would like to order, contact us and we can discuss it.

Delivery is paid by you and depends on where it's going. We confirm the cost and timing with you before your order is dispatched.

Once our partner salons open, yes: you'll be able to have your order delivered to the salon for your appointment.

No. Every LUWAKI is made to order, to your design, shapes and sizes, so orders can't be returned. Please review your choices carefully before you order.

No. Because each order is produced specifically for you, orders can't be exchanged.

No. Your order enters production once it's placed, and it's made specifically for you, so it can't be cancelled.

Every order is inspected and leaves the studio intact. If something is damaged in transit, message us within 7 days of delivery with your order reference and photos of the package and the piece, and we'll help with the next steps.

By M-Pesa or card, through Paystack. Your card details never touch our site. Prices exclude VAT, which is added at checkout.

LUWAKI's commissioned design experience: bring us an idea, and our design team turns it into an original sculptural form. It can begin with almost anything: a sketch, a photograph, an object, a memory, a symbol, a character, or an idea that exists only in your imagination. Prefer to talk it through first? Ask for a video or WhatsApp consultation with your brief.

No. You bring the vision; our design team works out how to give it form. Already have a 3D model (STL, OBJ, 3MF or GLB)? Send it with your brief.

Private Edit is intentionally open-ended. If you can imagine it, bring it to us and we'll explore what's possible.

Every commission is quoted individually, after our design team has reviewed your idea. You'll have the quote before anything is made, and it's yours to accept.

Two rounds of revisions after the first draft. The third draft is the final approved design, unless further rounds are agreed at an additional charge.

Yes. By default, a Private Edit may be developed further within the LUWAKI universe if it fits the brand. To keep the design exclusive to you, ask for exclusive rights in your brief: they're discussed and priced separately. Exclusivity doesn't transfer ownership of the design itself.

As early as you can, especially for a wedding or an event. Give us your date in the brief and we'll tell you honestly whether we can make it.

No. LUWAKI is the design and production studio. Professional colouring and application are offered by our official partner salons, opening soon.

No. Use a partner salon once they open, take your pieces to your own nail professional, or colour and apply them yourself.

No. The LUWAKI price covers the sculptural pieces; any colouring or application is charged separately by the salon providing it.

The colourways throughout the site are examples, showing how a sculpture can be interpreted through colour. Your pieces arrive clean and uncoloured, ready for your own expression.

Because imagination shouldn't have to shrink to fit the limits of a technique. 3D fabrication lets our design team explore structures, details and forms that would otherwise be difficult to create at this scale. It gives us room to make what we imagine.

We don't begin with what a nail is expected to look like. We begin with the idea: architecture, art, nature, fantasy and design can all become a wearable sculpture. The nail is the canvas; the sculpture is the expression.