My Nail Space…

Come in, come in.. make yourself comfy… grab a cuppa & take a seat! I think we’re due a catch up, don’t you?

So finally I grab myself a hot minute to start work on an exciting feature, My Nail Space! If you’re anything like myself then I’m sure you’ll enjoy having a good nosey about any beauty or nail related interiors… and if you’re a nail tech in search of inspiration for your own little nail bubble then Waa Hoooo – you’ve come to the right place *excited air punch*  as we’ll be regularly showcasing a new nail room for you to feast your eyes on! So whether you’re in the beginning stages of setting up your own space or simply love taking inspiration from others; this is most definitely the series for you! And what better way to start than by having a snoop around my very own work area? So let’s get started….

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***THE AREA***

Okay… so it ain’t high-end, nor will it win any interior design awards, but I BLOOMING WELL LOVE IT! I’m blessed enough to have a good sized spare room with beautiful wooden floors (easy for sweeping up mountains of glitter and nail dust) – the seaside view is super pretty too. It’s bright, airy, cosy but yet has lots of great natural light from morning to afternoon and is relatively easy to keep clean. I love everything a blank canvas to add pops of colour into with ornamental trinkets. As I’ve only moved in (less than 3 months ago) I’m still in the process of hanging pictures and deciding what wall art I’d like – yep my to-do list never stops growing, one of these days I’ll FINALLY get it finished *dramatic eye roll*

One of my absolute favourite pictures is this button frame. I used to make button bouquets when I owned my bridal suites so I’ve always got lots of super cute buttons lying around. When I rediscovered an unused Ikea frame I had stashed away I decided to get creative and make myself some fun & funky wall art. It’s totally unique to me and a great feature that adds so much colour. It was cheap & easy to make too – you really don’t have to spend a lot to make your space totally personalised to your tastes!

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***THE DESK***

Anyone who knows me, knows I’m a total Ikea addict – their prices are just too darn good! And if you can’t already tell, I adore white – it’s clean, bright & goes with pretty much all my additional decor pieces. This desk was an absolute bargain… it’s the Adils Linnmon desk and costs £35! Yep, £35! Not bad eh? I also purchased an Alex 5 drawer set (£50) that sits perfectly underneath it, giving me lots of drawer space for all my nail essentials!

Unfortunately my exact chair doesn’t seem to be available any longer however if you’re looking for a similar design I’d recommend the Janinge chair (£40) or perhaps the Adde chair (£10) if you’re looking for something on a slightly smaller budget. What a bargain!

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*** THE STORAGE***

Considering I already have a stock room for Nail Sugar I’m pretty blessed in terms of storage, however, my everyday nail essentials fit neatly into both the Alexa drawer set & a little chest of drawers I’ve had since I was a baby!

I’m ridiculously sentimental with stuff like that so I bought some furniture paint and gave it a total makeover. It’s kinda shabby chic looking, but again I love it. Not only is it useful, it has such a sentimental value to it – perfect for storing all my overflow/extras in such as lint-free wipes, photographic backing paper etc.

Whereas the Alex drawers stock everything I need to reach for when I’m in the process of doing nails such as tips, forms, primers, gel polishes, acrylic etc.

My next venture is to get a gorgeous display stand for all my jars of super sparkly Nail Sugar glitter – I’m thinking more a library of bling… sounds good, right? 😉

There you have it folks, a quick tour around My Nail Space. I would love to read your thoughts in the comments below so do say a quick howdy!

As always, thanks for stopping by 🙂

Cheerio Chums…

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Ps: Don’t forget *Click Here* to pop over & join the Nail Sugar facebook group for lots of nail chatter, glitter news, inspiration and exciting giveaways!

 

 

Meet The Tech Monday featuring Hazel Clarke…

However you plan on spending your Monday, I’d advise you to stop whatever you’re doing, flick the kettle on & pop your feet up for a five as we’ve another exciting chatter for you all to feast your eyes upon. This week, we catch up with the lovely Hazel about life as a Nail Tech Educator & Distributor for Moyra Nail Products!

Don’t forget, if you’re a UK based Nail Tech (or training to become one) then *CLICK HERE* to get yourself over to the Nail Techs UK Facebook Group where you can meet oodles of new nail buddies, pick up a wealth of insider knowledge & chatter with a wide variety of like-minded techs – including some of the UK’s top educators too!

Anyway, that’s enough from me… sitting comfy?! Then let’s meet Hazel…

Name:

Hazel M Clarke
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Age:

33
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Are you mobile, home working or salon based?
Salon based @ Sapphire Hair and Beauty Academy
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What training have you undertaken or are intending to take?
I have over 150 qualifications in the beauty industry, from basic customer care to level 4 salon management as well as a full holding a full qualified teaching and learning degree and internal verifiers award.
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What nail brands do you enjoy using & why?
My absolute favourite nail brand is Hungarian based Moyra, to which I am now an educator and distributor of.
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How long have you been involved in the industry?
17 years!
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Do you offer any other services other than nails?
Yes I offer all aspects of beauty therapy and aesthetics as well as educational NVQ courses
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Where do you get ideas for upcoming nail designs?
My 6-year-old daughter has some amazing ideas which she asks me to try out and develop
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What is your most memorable or favourite set?

My absolute favourite set ever are my tartan extreme shape nails which have appears in 3 industry magazines, they were inspired by my Anderson family tartan
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What has been your least favourite set and why?
A set of bright yellow acrylics with back swirly leaf patterns on, my poor mum had to endure them for her holiday as she allowed Sapphire (my daughter) to have total free rein as long as it wasn’t pink! Big mistake!
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Are there any nail pro’s that inspire you?
There are so many and I am blessed to be friends with many of them Andrea Norka and Alex Andrea Snobs, Frank Scherble, Scarlet Senter and of course my amazing Paragon training team every single one of them is an inspiration.
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How do you deal with difficult clients?
To be honest, I don’t really have any difficult clients but I am very to the point and honest I stand my ground but also for those fussy customers I smile and nod and as long as they’re happy I’m happy to deal with their little quirky ways.
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How do you keep yourself motivated during quiet times or tough days?
I’m always wanting to do better or be better a quiet day means a day to look at what’s next on my to do list, I love to learn so a quiet day means a training day!
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What do you find is the most challenging thing about being a nail tech?
The lack of regulation and correct education in the industry it infuriates me that the nail industry is not properly regulated in the UK.
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How do you cope with business competition?
I don’t look at my competition, I am too busy looking at how I can be better and what I can improve on, if your too busy watching your competition you’ve already taken your eye off the ball and handed them the advantage.
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Are there any aspects of your skills you’d like improve on?
One stroke my one stroke is shocking! Lol
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What current trends are your clients loving?
My clients are living transfers and stamping at the minute especially when they are combined with free hand
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What are your interests outside of nails?
Other than spending time with my fantastic family, I love to make and decorate cakes but since having the training academy I don’t really have much time for that or my allotment
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What advice would you give to others thinking about starting off in the nail industry?
Go for it but be prepared to work hard being good doesn’t come easy to everyone and there’s always something new to learn.
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What social media links can we find you on
Facebook sapphire hair and beauty academy
www.sapphirehairandbeautyacademy.co.uk
#sapphirehairandbeautyacademy
#hazelmclarke @sapphirehba

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A huge thanks to Hazel for taking part in Meet The Tech Monday… be sure to pop by her social media pages to check out her fantastic work or why not take a moment to say a quick howdy in the comments below.

As always, thanks for stopping by 

Cheerio Chums…

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*Click Here* to join the NAIL SUGAR facebook group

Meet The Tech Monday featuring Julie-Ann Powell

Helloooo lovelies…

How are you all keeping? Well, I hope! It’s been a busy little weekend here and the last of the kids being off for Easter jolly hols… not gonna lie and say I won’t enjoy the peace & quiet of an empty house yet again!  Anyone else with me? *happy sigh* 😉

However, it’s back to business today and as planned we have another exciting chatter for you all to feast your eyes upon as we catch up with the lovely Julie-Ann about life as a nail tech!

Don’t forget, if you’re a UK based Nail Tech (or training to become one) then *CLICK HERE* to get yourself over to the Nail Tech Chat & Support UK Facebook Group where you can meet oodles of new nail buddies, pick up a wealth of insider knowledge & chatter with a wide variety of like-minded techs – including some of the UK’s top educators too!

Anyway, that’s enough from me… are you sitting comfy? Then let’s meet Julie-Ann…

Name:
Julie Ann Powell – Tip Top Tips
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Age:

30
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Are you mobile, home working or salon based?
Mobile and home based
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What training have you undertaken or are intending to take?
Essential nails distance training in gel tip and overlay, spa mani/pedi, gel polish and nail art. Living miles away from family and having a two-year-old this was ideal for me as I could learn at my own pace and fit in around my family
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What nail brands do you enjoy using & why?
Ink London for gel extensions – customer service is second to none and products are amazing quality yet affordable. Magpie for glitter, stamping queen U.K. For all nail art foils/brushes etc. Dixie plates for stamping products. Currently using Gelaze for gel polish (until I can rob a bank and purchase the magpie gels )
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How long have you been involved in the industry?
Just over a year, so still very much a newbie
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Do you offer any other services other than nails?
Not at the moment – other than a gossip
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Where do you get ideas for upcoming nail designs?
Everything and anything! I love trying new designs and enjoy all aspects of nail art
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What is your most memorable or favourite set?

Pictured Above: Best set of nails  – homecoming nails. After a 13 week non contact deployment these were such a pleasure to do

Pictured Above: Favourite set of extensions, simple yet the first time I’ve been happy with the shaping

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What has been your least favourite set and why?

Pictued Above: Worse set, one of my first… I’ve since learnt to streamline!
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Are there any nail pro’s that inspire you?
Kate Dix from Dixie plates for her take on the nail industry. Anona Grice and Sophie Hudd for nail art. All incredibly talented ladies!
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How do you deal with difficult clients?
I’ve been lucky enough not to have many difficult clients. I stay true to myself, I’m honest and I think people respect that
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How do you keep yourself motivated during quiet times or tough days?
I am only part time and work around my husband who is in the forces and a 2 year old so I don’t have quiet periods if I do I usually will do my own nails or practice some new designs
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What do you find is the most challenging thing about being a nail tech?
My own self-confidence, I am my harshest critic. Although I see this as a good thing. I am always finding ways to improve

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How do you cope with business competition?
I try and work with them. We are all trying to achieve the same thing and I think we should support each other where we can
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Are there any aspects of your skills you’d like improve on?
Everything, I am in awe of other nail techs and would love to be at a standard they are providing their clients. Shaping is the one thing I am always eager to improve on
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What current trends are your clients loving?
Stamping! Everyone loves stamping!
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What are your interests outside of nails?
My little boy, he is the light of my life. Trying to make the world a safer and better place for him is my main goal in life
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What advice would you give to others thinking about starting off in the nail industry?
Do it! What do you have to lose? I’ve met some amazing clients and spoken to some fantastic nail techs. My confidence has improved and my self-esteem is far greater, I feel like I have purpose – even if it is just painting nails
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What social media links can we find you on?

Facebook – https://m.facebook.com/JAtiptoptips/

Instagram (still new to this) – @jatiptoptips

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A huge thanks to Julie-Ann for taking part in Meet The Tech Monday… be sure to pop by her social media pages to check out her fantastic work or why not take a moment to say a quick howdy in the comments below.

As always, thanks for stopping by 

Cheerio Chums…

Meet The Tech Monday featuring Hannah Sykes…

Heeeeello lovelies…

Are you all full to the brim on yummy chocolate eggs and the likes? It was a full house here yesterday in Confetti & Curves HQ as the family descended upon us for their Easter dins!! All went fabulous as planned… lots of giggles and catching up – plus we couldn’t move for hours after such a lovely dins. A successful family gathering I’d say! However, it’s back to normal today and as planned we have another exciting chatter for you all to feast your eyes upon as we catch up with the lovely Hannah about life as a nail tech!

Don’t forget, if you’re a UK based Nail Tech (or training to become one) then *CLICK HERE* to get yourself over to the Nail Tech Chat & Support UK Facebook Group where you can meet oodles of new nail buddies, pick up a wealth of insider knowledge & chatter with a wide variety of like-minded techs – including some of the UK’s top educators too!

Anyway, that’s enough from me… are you sitting comfy? Then let’s meet Hannah…

Name:

Hannah Sykes

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Age:

36

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Are you mobile, home working or salon based?

Home based.

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What training have you undertaken or are intending to take?
Essential nails acrylic course, gateway workshops brow and lash lift and tint courses.

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What nail brands do you enjoy using & why?
CJP is my main acrylic; I’ve tried essential nails, the edge, IBD and NSI. I suffered lifting, complete popping off, hard removals. When you’re first starting out and your self-esteem isn’t great and all these problems really affect you. I’m so pleased I found cjp I have no problems at all.

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How long have you been involved in the industry?
I’ve been qualified since February 2016.

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Do you offer any other services other than nails?
Elbrus wax, thread, shake and tint. Lash lift and tint also.

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Where do you get ideas for upcoming nail designs?
Pinterest, Facebook groups, instagram.

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What is your most memorable or favourite set?

I don’t have favourite lol it’s probably my most liked on my Facebook page.

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What has been your least favourite set and why?
Anything encapsulating glitter. I just feel they’re still a bit bulky.

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Are there any nail pro’s that inspire you?
Kim Tu, Liz Guild, Lyubiv, the nail boss, Lucy Fell so many more.

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How do you deal with difficult clients?
I’m there to offer a service that they are paying me for. I’ll do my utmost to meet their expectations and give them a fantastic service. I’m easy going, thick skinned but not naive. I can normally please most.

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How do you keep yourself motivated during quiet times or tough days?
I practise techniques I’m not confident in or new techniques I’ve not tried.

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What do you find is the most challenging thing about being a nail tech?
Having confidence in yourself, believing your work is worth every Penny.

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How do you cope with business competition?
I don’t want to steal or poach anyone’s clients. I’m happy to take on anyone new and I’ll look after each client exactly the same. I work part time as well as doing nails, I also have a family and a house to run. I follow nail techs I’m area and I’m positive towards their work. After all I know hard it is.

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Are there any aspects of your skills you’d like improve on?
Uniform shaping to all nails.

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What current trends are your clients loving?
At the moment Mylar is quite popular.

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What are your interests outside of nails?
My family is where any spare time goes.

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What advice would you give to others thinking about starting off in the nail industry?
Named and branded courses are not necessarily the best courses to take. Research what you want and get reviews from students or people that have done the courses before. Be open to criticism, strive to be the best in what you do. Practice, practice, practice!

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What social media links can we find you on?
https://m.facebook.com/Hannahs-Nails-191265894661776/
Instagram: @hannahsykesnails

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A huge thanks to Hannah for taking part in Meet The Tech Monday… be sure to pop by her social media pages to check out her fantastic work or why not take a moment to say a quick howdy in the comments below. As always, thanks for stopping by

As always, thanks for stopping by 

Cheerio Chums…

Meet The Tech Monday featuring Sanita Ozolina…

Howdy lovelies…

It’s that time again for another dose of Meet The Tech. A fun feature where we make room on the virtual sofa for an aspiring or professional nail artist to tell us more about their experiences in the industry so far! This week we have the lovely Sanita Ozolina with us chatting about life as a nail tech, including sharing some pics to be proud of!

Don’t forget, if you’re a UK based Nail Tech (or training to become one) then *CLICK HERE* to get yourself over to the Nail Tech Chat & Support UK Facebook Group where you can meet oodles of new nail buddies, pick up a wealth of insider knowledge & chatter with a wide variety of like-minded techs – including some of the UK’s top educators too!

Anyway, that’s enough from me… are you sitting comfy? Then let’s get started…

Name:

Sanita Ozolina

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Age:

30

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Are you mobile, home working or salon based?

Salon based

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What training have you undertaken or are intending to take?

I have completed gel beginner course, lady glam nail art course, e-file course, hard gel fading, gel polish application and design, just gel course( gel sculpting and reverse French),One stroke Level1, currently undertaking gel to acrylic course to learn basic acrylics.

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What nail brands do you enjoy using & why?

I use Mosaic and Naba. I love Mosaic as they have good range of gels and I was trained with them in my beginner course. I adapted to Naba during my just gel course and I am taking training with Naba acrylics. Both are high quality brands with reasonable prices and long lasting results.

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How long have you been involved in the industry?

I started my training March 2016. Before that I had training in classic manicure and pedicure as part of my Beauty Therapy studies. Actively have started to work just around month ago.

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Do you offer any other services other than nails?

I do offer some beauty treatments, but my mine focus at the moment is towards nail industry.

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Where do you get ideas for upcoming nail designs?

I go on free workshops when I have a chance, and see what others share in groups and their pages.

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What is your most memorable or favourite set? 

I think it was my first completed set of my gel beginners course, that made me proud and my teacher as well.

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What has been your least favourite set and why? 

Hard to tell which has been my least favourite set, as I kind of love them all.

However, this is my least favourite set, it is gel polish. Why? Because I think I can do better than this

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Are there any nail pro’s that inspire you?

I get my inspiration from Zsuszana Varga and Chrissie Pearce.

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How do you deal with difficult clients?

I always try to be polite and do my best to satisfy them.

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How do you keep yourself motivated during quiet times or tough days?

As I am in transition between jobs and work in 2 places at the moment, I do not have too much free time, but I try to use quiet periods to practice and improve my skills.

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What do you find is the most challenging thing about being a nail tech?

Being responsible for your own time and income and dealing with difficult clients, as well as last minute cancellations and no shows challenge.

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How do you cope with business competition?

I simply am what I am and always do my best.

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Are there any aspects of your skills you’d like improve on?

Product application, structure and shape.

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What current trends are your clients loving?

Simple designs with full block color and a slight accent on nails.

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What are your interests outside of nails?

My amazing kids and my professional development.

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What advice would you give to others thinking about starting off in the nail industry?

If you feel that it is what you want, go for it! I didn’t had confidence that I will love it as I hated to work with normal nail varnish, but I am glad my friend encouraged me to give it a try as she saw my potential of becoming great nail tech and I am thankful for that.

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What social media links can we find you on?

Facebook and linkedin

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A huge thanks to the lovely Sanita for taking part in Meet The Tech Monday… be sure to pop by her social media pages to check out her fantastic work or why not take a moment to say a quick howdy in the comments below. As always, thanks for stopping by 

Cheerio Chums…

Meet The Tech Monday featuring Jess Wells, The Nail Engineer…

Welcome lovelies…

So, in order to shake off those pesky Monday blues I’m insisting you take a moment, grab your cuppa & get settled to take a peek at yet another Meet The Tech Monday! And what a treat we have this morning as the fabulously funny Jess Wells joins us on the virtual sofa to chat about her transformation from Project Engineer to Nail Technician. Quite the change eh?!

Don’t forget, if you’re a UK based Nail Tech (or training to become one) then *CLICK HERE* to get yourself over to the Nail Tech Chat & Support UK Facebook Group where you can meet oodles of new nail buddies, pick up a wealth of insider knowledge & chatter with a wide variety of like-minded techs – including some of the UK’s top educators too!

Anyway, that’s enough from me… are you sitting comfy? Then let’s get started…

 

Name:

Jess Wells, aka The Nail Engineer

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Age:

38

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Are you mobile, home working or salon based?

Mobile / home working

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What training have you undertaken or are intending to take?

VTCT Level 3 Nail Services, should complete Q2 2017

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What nail brands do you enjoy using & why?

My main gel polish brand is Madam Glam because they have a great range, the colours are pretty true to the website, the formula is vegan, cruelty free and 5 free, delivery is swift and the price point is great. The polishes are generally highly pigmented and well behaved, with hardly any shrinkage or wrinkling throughout the range. I also use The Gel Bottle Inc, but mostly for their amazing builders, which are my best buy ever! Me and my girls have such lovely long and strong nails now, thanks to this amazing product! The colours are great too and many are practically opaque on the first coat. I’ve recently tried Missu builders (for P&W) and initial impressions are very good. I don’t work much in acrylic but when I do, I like CJP best.

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How long have you been involved in the industry?

I was a hobbyist on and off for 19 years but only had the opportunity to train October 2016, when I took redundancy from my job as a Project / Quality Engineer. I’d just had my 4th miscarriage, with each happening after particularly stressful events and heavily work-related, so I just decided I had to change something. Now I fit my work around life and despite packing a year’s training into a few months, while starting a new business, I never feel strung out like I did. I just hope it pays off and I can get pregnant and stay pregnant long enough to have a live birth next time.

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Do you offer any other services other than nails?

No, unless armchair psychology counts?!

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Where do you get ideas for upcoming nail designs?

Everywhere! Art, films, music, life events, scenery, books, eras, nature, science, family, even Lush bath bombs! The list goes on! There is beauty in everything, so everything can be inspiring. In addition, I like to keep up to date with nail trends on nail art groups, instagram and YouTube.

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What is your most memorable or favourite set?

This set inspired by @helennails_yeg.

I was just so amazed and intrigued by the colour combination of aqua, pale khaki and olive green glitter. My only regret is that my mandala detail isn’t freehanded, like the original. Oh, and that I didn’t buy a pale khaki before attempting this mani – I had to hand mix it from a mint green, sage green / grey and yellow polishes

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What has been your least favourite set and why? 

This set took an extra 1.5 hours of faffing due to a last minute mind-change by the client and the plate being awkward. They were going to be simple and classy in holographic silver and black, over nude pink, but the client decided she wanted this sickly pink instead and to avoid overkill, I had to painstakingly fill in only part of the designs, to avoid it looking super trashy. She loved them but I really hate that pink and wish I’d just said “pick something else!”. Lesson learned for next time….

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Are there any nail pro’s that inspire you?

@helennails_yeg, @deadlynails, Sarah Richardson / @therealmrsgrey, Sarah Abbott, @ninanailedit, Rachael Wilders, @ladycrappo, Annie Sarah Collins, Melanie Lewendon, Cassie Pattrick-O’Hara… The list never ends; there’s so many nail ninjas out there!

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How do you deal with difficult clients?

Relationships are key, and they’re built on trust. I work really hard for my clients, to ensure that every mani is personalised or significant in some way. I can only do that by building strong relationships and getting to know the client inside out. I always believe that honesty is the best policy. I am too old to just sit back and bite my tongue and I don’t need the stress of pussyfooting around prima donnas. If I’m not happy, I’ll say. I changed careers to reduce my stress so I’m not about to trade one hassle for another. Of course, a sense of humour helps and when someone questions your skill or judgement, the results speak for themselves.

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How do you keep yourself motivated during quiet times or tough days?

I have plenty of other things going on in my life so I just switch my focus. Dwelling on issues generally doesn’t help. Of course, you must analyse the situation, identify what went wrong and work on improving but, above and beyond that is just a waste. Life’s too short to spend it worrying and you’re only as bad as your last set, so get out there and do a better set

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What do you find is the most challenging thing about being a nail tech?

Working with women. After working in engineering for 19 years, mostly with blokes, and being a bit “Rainman” myself, I know I’m not a touchy-feely, huggy-kissy girlie girl and I totally get how many men think we’re from different planets. I’m getting used to it, but it is like learning a foreign language!

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How do you cope with business competition?

I don’t dwell on it. There will always be someone quicker / cheaper / nearer / whatever but I have yet to hear of anyone in my area who puts as much thought and effort into each mani, will try just about anything, has the range of products I can offer (without being a salon) and will totally tailor the service to suit. By offering a diverse range of niche services, competition is massively reduced – something I learned during my engineering career.

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Are there any aspects of your skills you’d like improve on?

I would say Acrylic, as it’s my Achilles heel, but I prefer using gel for a whole host of reasons, so I’d say my ability to multitask, or maybe to be less clumsy!

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What current trends are your clients loving?

Negative space, sharm effect, mermaid powder, chameleon chrome and direct decal stamping.

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What are your interests outside of nails?

Mechanical engineering, DIY, upcycling, sewing (I make all my own curtains and upholstery), cooking, reading and films. I’m currently compiling a planning application and completing my VTCT coursework, so it keeps me pretty busy!

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What advice would you give to others thinking about starting off in the nail industry?

Think long and hard about what you can offer – do you have a USP or hook? If so, you need to really focus on that. If not, think on. There are a lot of good techs out there so you need to be really talented and / or dedicated. You really need to build a brand identity and get it out there on social media, especially instagram. I also recommend going down the NVQ / VTCT route, as opposed to brand-specific qualifications so that you’re not tied to brands and can follow the trends without having to fork out for conversion courses.

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What social media links can we find you on?

https://www.instagram.com/thenailengineer https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC55CeVyyXRbliD_s0IPJ42g https://m.facebook.com/TheNailEngineer/

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A huge thanks to our lovely Jess for taking part in Meet The Tech Monday… be sure to pop by her social media pages to check out her fantastic work or why not take a moment to say a quick howdy in the comments below. As always, thanks for stopping by 

Cheerio Chums…

Meet The Tech Monday featuring Clare Kirk…

Well hello lovelies!

What a better way to kick start the new week than with our brand new series ‘Meet The Tech Monday‘… and just as the name suggests, each Monday we’ll be welcoming a Nail Technician onto our very own virtual sofa, answering all those questions so many of us would love to ask!

Every Nail Technician we feature is a current member of Nail Tech Chat & Support UK, who take pride in supporting professional industry practice by ensuring all members are either fully qualified or a student in accredited training. So if you fancy joining the UK’s best support group for nail technicians of all abilities simply *Click Here* – don’t forget to have your proof of training at the ready 🙂

Okay,  that’s enough from me, it’s time to grab a cuppa & get comfy so we can Meet The Tech…

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Name:

Clare Kirk
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Age:  

Ekkk 37 lol
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Are you mobile, home working or salon based?

I’m self-employed in a salon 5 days a week.

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What training have you undertaken or are intending to take?

I did my HNC in beauty, which included manicure and pedicure. Then I studied sculptured acrylics, acrylics and gel nails with essential nails, then CND gel polish
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What nail brands do you enjoy using & why?

I use Naio products for all my acrylic and prep, Bluesky and Missu gel polish. I’ve used many products over they years and find these have the best range or colours and last the longest. I’m an ambassador for All That Sparkles glitters and I always rely on their high quality too
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How long have you been involved in the industry?

I’ve been qualified since 2003 but didn’t really do much as I had a very successful career in fitness which was brought to an abrupt end due to a very badly torn calve muscle. I always knew I’d have other qualifications to fall back on if this was the case
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Do you offer any other services other than nails?
Yes, waxing, tinting and lash extensions
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Where do you get ideas for upcoming nail designs?

Usually the internet, or on pages like this (Nail Tech Chat & Support UK), which is awesome BTW!
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What is your most memorable or favourite set?
I’ve a signature set which was actually a complete fluke as client came in for nude nails and loved all the sparkles so I waved my magic wand

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What has been your least favourite set and why?
These were for a Zumbathon I taught about 7 years ago, looking back I just cringe but at the time I loved them, the shape, apex everything is wrong, I won’t even mention my design

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Are there any nail pro’s that inspire you?
Yes, Kirsty meiken, Gemma lambert, Tony ly, Kim Tu
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How do you deal with difficult clients?

To be honest I always try to give my best service possible and if I’ve a client that isn’t happy I always offer to correct work for them. But I find with these clients I always allow more time to consult with them before continuing treatment
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How do you keep yourself motivated during quiet times or tough days?

This is where I get my art head on and create some of my best work, if you want business you need to up you game and be magical

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What do you find is the most challenging thing about being a nail tech?

Concentration!!! People always say “you only paint nails” but it’s so much more than that. You need to have a rapport with your clients, and be able to communicate with them
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How do you cope with business competition?

I keep my head down and work really hard using the best products I can buy so my business speaks for itself.

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Are there any aspects of your skills you’d like improve on?
Yes, I’d love to learn one stroke nail art, it’s so pretty. I recently won the newbie category for 3D nail art on 3D fantastics fb page, which I aim to now compete in against some very talented people in the badass category too.

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What current trends are your clients loving?

 Definitely unicorn nails, and now with the release of beauty and the beast I think these will be a big hit too
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What are your interests outside of nails?

I still go to gym 6 days a week and I’m still very eager to step on a bodybuilding stage
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What advice would you give to others thinking about starting off in the nail industry?
Go for it!! It’s not going to be easy but with all the right tools and amazing groups you’ll get there, be patient and trust in the process
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What social media links can we find you on?
IG: @spellboundnailsandbeauty
FB: Spellbound nails and beauty
SC: Spellbound01
Twitter: @nailsspellboun1

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A huge thanks to Claire for taking part in our very first Meet The Tech Monday… be sure to pop by her social media pages to check out her fantastic work or why not take a moment to say a quick howdy in the comments below. As always, thanks for stopping by 

Cheerio Chums…

Changes…

 

Hello, Howdy, Bonjour…

Wow, what a sabbatical it has been!  And yes, I’m having major blogging withdrawal symptoms *sigh* In fact, if you’d have told me 6 months ago that I’d be taking a 60-day break from blogging I’d have laughed merrily and told you to catch a grip… you all know how damn addicted I am to my scribing. But it’s been so so SO worth it as there’s been so many exciting things happening over the last number of weeks that I’ve needed to prioritise… but all will be a bit clearer very soon.  However, in the process of recent events I’ve discovered a few home truths:

 

Cherry Bakewells are not considered part of your ‘five a day’ *sigh*

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Ticking the tiniest tasks of a To-Do list is so satisfying that you start writing things like ‘Wake Up’ & ‘make more tea’.

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I go through more post it notes in one day than toilet roll in a week.

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2 am is most definitely my EUREKA hour.

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I’ve developed a keen skill for looking interested when in fact I’m making mental notes about something completely irrelevant.

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Wearing odd socks is absolutely okay – wearing odd shoes is not.

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Cats make the best company… they listen but don’t interrupt with a reply.

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Toilet trips are utterly inconvenient.

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Time is of no meaning when I stray onto YouTube.

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A mason jar full of jelly babies looks super cute on my desk… however consuming vast quantities of orange ones because they may be ‘nutritionally beneficial’ is not an acceptable excuse.

Anyways, what have I missed? How have you all been? Is everyone keeping well? For those that have been so supportive throughout my break, – thank you! The subscriber count continues to grow daily & I promise to get round to all your recent emails & comments very shortly. In the meantime, you may begin to notice a few new changes with the blog and social media, especially over the next number of weeks… all positive and exciting and I’ll be keeping y’all updated as I go! Don’t worry – more info to follow 🙂

Don’t forget to say a quick hello! It’s been a while  X

Cheerio Chums…

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Catch me on:

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Doing my Own Nails: Mint Green, Grey & Chrome…

If there’s one thing us nail techs quite often find a drag it’s doing our own nails… I guess it’s kind of like a gardener not being arsed enough to keep his own lawn manicured or a hair-dresser overlooking her mass of split ends. It takes multiple cups of tea and a firm talking to in order to get me at my nail desk for some TLC of my own… not to mention the task of doing the non-dominant hand too – arrrghh! Yet on the other hand (excuse the pun) I could sit and watch YouTube videos from my fav nail gurus for hours without a single grumble – if anything, there’s something slightly therapeutic about it.

So if you’ve got a few minutes to burn and fancy seeing how I tackle bringing my own pinkies to life then why not get yourself comfy & hit the play button… if you’re feeling super generous you might even want to subscribe to keep up with my latest uploads – which you can do by *Clicking Here*

Anyways, more from me when I’ve recovered from my dose of the winter lurgies…. yes, I’m huddled up drinking copious amount of Lucozade and munching my way through vitamins to lift the aches a little quicker with any luck.

Cheerio Chums…

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Catch me on:

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Ebay Nail Dust Extractor Fan… Does It Really Work?!

Any nail tech will most likely agree that nasty dust particles & gritty teeth (if you’re not wearing a mask) generally comes as part of the job description when prepping a fresh new set of extensions or whittling down an old set. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve emerged from my little nail nook with a chest area resembling an icing sugar explosion from the Great British Bake Off! Apart from my recurring ‘dusty boobs’, there’s also the nail desk, lamp, shelves, floor, books, my eyelashes – EVERYTHING gets a sprinkling of the white stuff when the hum of my nail drill starts up. Needless to say, it certainly keeps Tesco’s sales up on furniture polish & my beloved Henry vacuum cleaner in a job too.

“Surely to heavens breathing in that dust is horrific for your lungs” hubby pointed out a few weeks before Christmas. ” Yep” I sighed, blattering my bosom fiercely. So after dropping a few sledgehammer sized hints, I tore open a pressie on Christmas morning to reveal the dust extractor I’d dropped into conversation (MANY times) throughout December. Of course, having spotted it on Ebay, after wincing over the price tags of the much bigger & more powerful extractors, I thought to myself that anything is better than nothing and so I was delighted to receive my very own little ‘starter’ edition that would hopefully save me a few quid on cleaning paraphernalia and most importantly, save my lungs from the nasty dust particles.

So after it sat in a box for a few weeks, I finally found the chance to relay my first impressions… Is it really any good? Or has £30 been flushed down the drain? I guess you’ll have to make yourself comfy and press play to find out…

Ps: You can *Click Here* to subscribe to the Confetti & Curves YouTube channel so you never miss an upload!

As always, whatever your thoughts I’d love to read them in the comments below, so do stop by and say a quick howdy

Cheerio Chums…

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Catch me on:

Twitter   /   Instagram   /   YouTube   /   Facebook