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…

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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…

How To Promote Your Nail & Beauty Business On A Budget…

Be prepared, be very prepared… as today’s chatter is one heck of a verbal marathon gals! How I managed to whittle on for that length of time without stopping for water (or air seemingly) is beyond me, HOWEVER, it may be a really useful chatter for many budding beauty enthusiasts out there, as well as being one that’s close to my heart…

So many of us, every day, make the brave decision to go self-employed. It’s an exciting aspect, but it’s also one that fills many of us with dreaded thoughts such as… What if I don’t get enough customers? What if I don’t make enough money? What if it fails? Usually, a lot of these fears are united around one aspect – advertising to ensure enough people know your business exists. But how do you do that when you’ve already emptied your pockets on making ends meet, stock & paying general bills etc. It’s tough, really tough.

Over this past year, I’ve spent quite a lot of time on Facebook interacting with others in both nail tech and beauty groups. For many that either dream of freelancing, are in the process of setting up or are struggling to fill their appointment book it can be a stressful and frustrating process. But what if you don’t have to spend the earth letting people know you exist? Cue today’s upload of useful promotional tips…

Okay, so I may not have a masters degree in marketing or business studies, but what I do have has certainly been worth its weight in gold for me – hands on experience. Heck, I’ve made mistakes, BIG mistakes – but each time it was part of a learning curve. Get your fingers burnt once and chances are you’re not going to be stupid enough to repeat the process. However, it does make celebrating the successes even more meaningful!

So in a nutshell, if you have a dream to be your own boss and fear is holding you back, stop and evaluate exactly why. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t achieve your goals, and furthermore never give up on them. For those that are embarking on their journey in the beauty industry, in whatever role that may be, I really hope you find this video useful in helping to inspire you to promote your business without having to spend a fortune – which may make reaching your goal seem that little bit more achievable. Who knows 😉

Once again guys, a huge THANK YOU for helping me reach my YouTube goal of reaching 1000 subscribers! Wow, I still can’t quite believe it! And if you haven’t done so already, why not *CLICK HERE* to pop by and subscribe too – you’d certainly make my day!

Have you ever wanted to set up your own business and become your own boss? Do you have fears that hold you back? Is self-employment a goal you’re aiming for in the near future? Whatever your thoughts I’d love to hear from you in the comments below so do stop by for a quick chatter 🙂

Cheerio Chums…

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Catch me on:

Twitter   /   Instagram   /   YouTube   /   Facebook

Keeping Up With Karen…

Howdy Beauty Buddies…

What a fabulous weekend it’s been. Friday night was a loooong overdue evening out to Belfast for a yummy meal with my little sis, which I must admit was deeelish – followed by a few cheeky cocktails thereafter 😉 I know, I’m a sucker for a strawberry daiquiri, needless to say my IBS didn’t show the same enthusiasm *sigh*  However, on Saturday afternoon Emma attended her bridesmaid fitting for her sister’s big day! I can’t quite believe my beautiful little step-daughter is getting married. Hayles and I first met when she was just a teeny bit older than Emma – it’s been such a journey over the years and I know I’m going to be a mass of tears and hankies on the day. Yes, waterproof mascara is top of my makeup essentials gals! Needless to say, I can’t wait to make the trip over to Wales for it, it’s been soooo long since I’ve seen the Welshies. There’ll certainly be lots of hugs and catching up to do!

Talking of catching up, if you aren’t up to speed with this week’s shenanigans, then why not grab yourself a cuppa and check out some of the fun features I’ve linked below. Hope you’ve all had a fabulous week, don’t forget you’re welcome to link any of your own blog posts you’d like me to stop by and check out too 🙂

Okay, I’m off to dig out the suitcases and make a packing list, what’s your plans for today?

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Competition Closed

Monday’s post was a quick reminder to get your entry in pronto as it was the last day of the Kat Von D competition! Competition is now CLOSED – all entries will now be placed into a hat and one lucky winner will be drawn from random… could it be you?!

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Chrome Nail Tip (with a sparkly dash of Holo) 

Following one of the key nails trends at the moment, Chrome, I thought I’d attempt a funky chrome tip with holographic fade. Clients are certainly loving this look right now – perfect for upcoming festive designs don’t you think?

Don’t forget, *Click Here* to subscribe to the Confetti & Curves YouTube channel so you never miss an upload!

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The Beauty Collective… What do YOU wanna know?

Following on from the success of Behind The Blog, The Beauty Collective is an exciting new series that gets up close and personal with beauty bloggers of all levels – novice, amateur & professional! Regardless how long you’ve been blogging you’re welcome to get on board. Why not submit a burning question that you’d love to ask other bloggers about their beauty & blogging habits too?

As always, thank y’all so much for the support, comments, re-tweets, shares, likes & just darn right loveliness. You lot really are an awesome bunch. Do feel free to pop a favourite link from your blog in the comments below for the rest of us to check out, otherwise do stop by & say a quick hello!

Cheerio Chums…

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Catch me on:

Twitter   /   Instagram   /   YouTube   /   Facebook

The Beauty Collective…. What Do YOU Wanna Know?

Fancy taking part in something exciting? Course ya do!

Wanna interact with others? Meet new blog buddies? Find out what makes your fellow bloggers tick? Then why not roll up your creative sleeves and take part in an exciting new mini-series The Beauty Collective!

Okay, bit of a back story for those of you who’s ears are perked and eyes are peeled… As you can see (up along the menu bar on Confetti & Curves) there’s an intriguing little tab entitled ‘Behind The Blog‘ – this was a series of fun weekly interviews that a whooooole host of fabulous bloggers took part in over a two-year period. The point of it? To allow the rest of us nosey bloggers to learn a little more about you & your fabulous corner of the interweb.

Of course after taking a break from Behind The Blog I’ve been inundated with emails from new bloggers asking if it’ll be making a return. However, fear not my little computer companions as it’s high time we started afresh  – and YOU have control in choosing the questions.

SO, in a digital nutshell, I’m inviting you lovely lot to submit a burning question you’ve been itching to ask other bloggers… this can be anything like:

‘How obsessed are you with your stats?’

‘Are you a self-confessed blog-stalker?’

‘What made you start blogging?’

‘Where do you see your blog in 5 years time?’

‘What ticks you off the most about blogging?’ 

‘How do you organise your blog schedule?’

(…and lots of other blog & beauty related questions)

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A list of chosen questions will be compiled into a questionnaire and used as a great way to get to know fellow beauty bloggers. Sounds simple? Thought so 😉

For those eagerly waiting to take part, feel free to submit a question and if YOU would like to be a featured blogger on The Beauty Collective leave your details in the comments below & I’ll be in touch with more info very shortly.

Cheerio Chums…

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Catch me on:

Twitter   /   Instagram   /   YouTube   /   Facebook

DIY Spooky Halloween Bat Display…

As Halloween swiftly approaches, I always get an overwhelming desire to roll up my sleeves, break out the acrylic paints, paper glue and dive right into making cute little Halloween crafts. Of course having an 11 year old daughter only adds to the excuse to run riot, and as per usual Emma’s roped into peppering our little abode with all sorts of spooky artistry.

This year I thought I’d attempt a really cute bat display I spotted in Tesco Food & Living Magazine. Although the original creation is displayed with the twigs pushed into a Pumpkin, Em’s and I thought we’d save ours the pain of piercing him with garden sticks and opted a glass flower vase instead finished off with black ribbon.

I must admit, this is probably one of the easiest and most effective Halloween crafts I’ve created (even the most novice of crafter can’t go far wrong), it doesn’t make too much mess (though a table covering is highly recommended) and is relatively quick so you’re not left grumbling a few hours later – great for eager kiddies who prefer to see their efforts come to life rather pronto!

So here’s what you’ll need:

Firstly, get yourself out to the garden or local woodland and find some decent size twigs. Thankfully our garden is edged with rather bulky bushes so uncovering our twigs wasn’t too much of a task, however, you’ll also need to rustle up:

Some paint (acrylic works really well)

A decent child’s sized paint brush

Some black card

Twine or thread

A pencil and pair of scissors…

Something to display the twigs in when done: vase/pumpkin/large jar/ empty bottle etc.

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Here’s how to do it:

After rummaging around the garden to find your chosen sticks, clear them of all dirt and debri. I’d suggest you also give them a clean under warm water to remove any hidden nasties that could be lurking. If necessary leave them to dry.

(We found ours right beside Peppa the cat)

Once dry it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get painting! Em’s and I chose a gorgeous coppery acrylic paint for a touch of autumnal shimmer. However blacks, browns and even purple will look equally as impressive. Just make sure you get all the nooks and crannies covered, then leave the paint to dry – this really shouldn’t take too long if using acrylic, ours were touchable in 30 minutes!

Next take your black card and draw a template of a bat with your pencil. Cut this out and use it to draw another 4-6 bats… or as many as you darn well like! Carefully cut out your little colony of bats and trim to neaten. You’ll also need to rub out any obvious pencil lines.

 

Next make a hole in the head of your bat *ouch* and carefully tie your thread through. I used a hole punch as my card was rather thick. Now make a loop on the other end of the thread to dangle your bats from the twigs.

 

Display your twigs in a vase (or pumpkin) and enjoy your crafty art work… voila!

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Top Tips…

• Sprinkle your twigs with glitter for an extra twinkly effect… black glitter looks fantastic over black acrylic paint!
• Once done keep them for Christmas. You can always swap your bats for mini baubles!
• If you’re limited for space why not make a miniature version to display on your desk? Your bats could look super cute in a jam jar with some spooky themed ribbon tied around it!

Will you be attempting any Halloween themed crafts this year? Whatever your thoughts I’d love to read them in the comments below so do stop by for a quick chatter 🙂

Cheerio Chums…

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Seven Deadly Sins Of Beauty…

Howdy Beauty Buddies

Bit of an ominous title today but I assure you it’s all in the name of some cosmetic fun gals! Being slightly addicted to these TAG’s recently I thought I’d try my hand at the Seven Deadly Sins Of Beauty to see how I’d fair.  Never the less these seven questions really do get you thinking. So grab your cuppa and lets take a few minutes to scan over my seven deadly answers…

GREED: What is your most inexpensive beauty item? What is your most expensive?

Considering I fricken LOVE a good bargain I have a ridiculous stash of goodies in my makeup drawers that have cost in or around £1. Most of my MUA shadows, blushes and a few lippies from Makeup Revolution have by far been the cheapest in my collection – bizarrely some of them actually perform just as well as high end spends too!

My most expensive items would probably be my Naked 1 & 3 palettes, as both weren’t far off £40 each. However I love working with these shadows when my brush is slightly dampened as the pigmentation is incredible & they stay put all night long – having said that working with them dry can be tricky as there’s quite a lot of fall out for the price tag in my opinion.

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WRATH: What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with? What product has been the hardest to get?

Eyelashes.  No matter how hard I try I just can’t seem to master the application… regardless how easy peasy some of the YouTube pro’s make it look. A combination of shaky hands, lack of patience and dodgy sight doesn’t help matters.

Oddly enough the product I found hardest to come across was a few years ago – which just so happened to be the EOS lip balms. Every store I asked in the staff hadn’t a clue what Iwas talking about. However as part of my birthday pressie my little sis managed to track one down for me. Typical though as since then I’ve seen them in a few drug stores but am still working my way through my cranberry one!

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GLUTTONY: What are your most delicious beauty products?

Hmmm, it would probably have to be my MAC lippy in Brave – the smell of it is just incredible, like vanilla cupcakes. Nom ❤

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SLOTH: What beauty product do you neglect, due to laziness?

Again I’d have to say eyelashes, simply because I can’t be assed futtering around with them for ages and potentially wrecking my eye makeup to some degree or other. I’ve gotten to the stage now where I just whip out my ultimate mascara (Max Factor False Lash Effect) and layer up the lashes that way. Job done 😉

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PRIDE: What beauty product gives you the most self confidence?

Liquid Liner. When my eye liner is ‘on fleek’ I feel so much more confident about my makeup – nothing more satisfying than a sleek line that perfectly matches it’s twin. #eyegoals

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LUST: What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex?

Hmmm – not sure how this one relates to beauty but hey ho…

Apart from the darn right obvious = hygiene, smelling as awesome as can be etc. I’d have to say humour. If a man can make me laugh he’s won my heart.

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ENVY: What items would you most like to receive as a gift?

Oooh there’s just so many… however, my top three would have to be the Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick Wardrobe,  Laura Mercier Artist Eye Palette & Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop – which looks utterly gorgeous!

Fancy giving the Seven Deadly Sins Of Beauty Tag a go for yourself? I’m leaving nominations open for all that fancy a bit of tagging fun so consider yourself cordially invited to take part. Id love to read your answers too. Don’t forget to say a quick hello in the comments below!

Cheerio Chums…

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Get To Know Me…

It’s FRIIIIIDAY…

There’s always a jolly feeling about Fridays, I love it – if only that could be bottled and sprinkled on some of the other days it would be bliss 😉 So the weekend is here, what are your plans? I’m (hoping) to dust off the barbecue and bask in the glorious sunshine – under my parasol of course! hehe Keeping fingers and toes crossed that this glorious flip-flop weather continues chums ❤

However onto today’s shenanigans… a huuuuge thank you to our lovely Laura over at Polka Dot Teapot for nominating me to take part in this fun questionnaire/tag. It’s been many moons since I’ve tackled one of these, so to get back to what feels like retro blogging I thought I’d give it a go. Why not eh? I’ve also nominated a few special blog buddies of my own to take part 😉

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What is your middle name?

Heidi

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What was your favourite subject at school?

English Literature. I had the most loveliest teacher who was both smart and funny – plus, we got to read books for most of the class. What could be a better way to pass an hour?!

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What is your favourite drink?

Overall Coca Cola, however if I’m indulging in a little tipple I’d most certainly opt for West Coast Cooler, which is a very yummy fruit flavoured spritzer!

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What is your favourite song at the moment?

I’m shocking when it comes to keeping up with music trends, though the artists I listen to most would be Ellie Goulding, Lana Del Ray & Taylor Swift. Love a catchy wee tune to warble along too.

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What’s your favourite food?

I looooove Chinese. Noodles with veg are most definitely my thing!

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 What is the last thing you bought?

A pack of heavy duty kitchen rolls. Yes, my spending habits are that exciting.

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Favourite book of all time?

Oooh this changes so often but I reckon pretty much anything from Marian Keyes – in fact I’ve just finished Under The Duvet and it was fantastic!! Hilarious!! She’s the only author that can make me laugh and cry all in one chapter.

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What is your favourite colour?

Although I keep *trying* to convince myself it’s ‘raspberry’ I notice that pretty much everything I buy is white or neutral. I’m clearly colour confuddled.

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Do you any pets?

 A beagle boy called Toby, a Tuxedo moggy called Gomez and a Mainecoon kitten called Boris!

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Favourite perfume?

Has to be DKNY. Beautiful, fresh and very distinctive.

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Favourite holiday?

I find that really hard to narrow down as every holiday I’ve been on has been special for different reasons. However I’ve whittled it down to a few:

Portrush: This is where we went as children every year with mum & dad. So many happy memories with my siblings… just a regular seaside town with amusements & souvenir shops, but as kids we thought it was amazing.

Disneyland Paris: Again another family holiday & the first time my gran travelled on a plane. Paris was freezing cold & eye-wateringly overpriced but it was worth it for the experience.

Ibiza: My first ‘girls only’ holiday. Needless to say we stayed away from the notorious San Antonio. A whole week of feeling totally chilled out, shopping at hippy markets & enjoying cocktails on the beach. Amazing.

The Lake District: Our honeymoon spot. The sun shone for all 7 days we were there and only started to rain when we were getting ready to drive back home! What a week sight seeing in gorgeous rural England.

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Are you married?

Yep, and very happily at that too 😀

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Have you ever been out of the country, if so how many times?

Just a few times on holiday, otherwise I’m a home bird.

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Do you speak any other language?

A teeny bit of French… but that’s dating back to GCSE so it’s beyond rusty now.

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How many siblings do you have?

I’ve two fantastic brothers (Curtis & Kirk) and my lovely little sis Leah!

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What is your favourite shop?

Boots. Or pretty much anywhere that sells makeup for me to gawp at for a few hours.

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Favourite restaurant?

Blue Chicago. It’s a rather funky American diner that sells the yummiest burgers and an awesome choccie fudge cake!

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When was the last time you cried?

This afternoon… I tend to hit low points and get so fed up trying to cope with chronic pain and how life altering it’s been. It’s tiring and wears you out every single day in so many ways.

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Favourite blog?

There’s just too many –call me a whimp but I just can’t choose. You’re all amazing!!! 😀

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Favourite movie?

Sex And The City – I NEVER get tired of catching up with the gals!

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Favourite TV Shows?

I’ve such a bizarre eclectic mix but… The Undateables, Ghost Hunters, Street Outlaws & Keeping Up With The Kardashians (don’t judge… it’s my guilty pleasure!) and Canal Journeys. Yep, I’m being totally serious.

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PC or MAC?

I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’d love a MAC!

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What phone do you have?

Wait for it…. An Apple iPhone 4. Yes I’m one of the few still using them but it works like a charm and I’m oddly attached to it. That little phone has been through a lot with me!

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How tall are you?

5ft 11” bare foot

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Can you cook?

Abso-fricken-lootly.

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Thanks again to the lovely Laura over at Polka Dot Teapot! My nominee’s are:

Traci Ann Loves

Galit – Coffee n Notes

Emma – Puddleside Musings

Icy Sedgwick

Anne – Doves & Roses

Jo – Pores For Thought

Rachael – Helpless Whilst Drying

Chanelle Hayley

Sangeetha – Lifestyle Bites 3

Country Girl Em

& YOU!!!

Just to be clear there’s absolutely no pressure whatsoever ladies – in fact for me, this was just a breath of fresh air & fun as it’s been soooo long since I’ve published anything like this! So if the Get To Know Me Tag sounds like your kinda thing then why not give it a go. We’d love to check it out!

Wishing y’all a fun filled weekend & I’ll see you all Sunday for a quick catch up 🙂

Cheerio Chums…

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