Why should I compete?

Competing will stretch & fine tune nail skills. It’s a place to extend & explore creativity. It’s where a nail tech can shed salon life & literally create without boundaries. It’s a place to show the world their artistic potential & ability.

Competitions challenge techs to step into a new place, to think & deliver their artistry in new ways – they get industry acknowledgement & become known, many become industry experts & mentors. Their salon business benefits as their marketing reflects this element & if an award is won, it helps them extend their menu & raise their prices. It can also open many other doors in the nail industry that they may not have considered such as being a brand ambassador, educator, designing posters, editorial shoots, advertising campaigns & fashion week teams too. 

Nail professionals love to compete to stretch & showcase their skills. It’s a place where they can extend their creativity & go wild, since this is their artistic platform to explore their own ideas. In the salon they can be limited & restricted by time & the client’s request. 

For nail professionals that want to explore their own creative avenue it’s a great way to challenge themselves, plus they get to see what other ideas & innovations are being used around the world by other techs & they get to network & can grow their salon business by marketing the fact they are competing. A medal also helps them extend their menu & raise their prices.

First time competitors should seek out a like-minded mentor to guide & motivate them through the process. These are easy to find on IG and FB. Past competitors are brilliant mentors. They could also take competition classes. These will show them special hints & tips that get them to their goal faster than finding it all out for themselves. The competition nail is very different from the salon nail. Finding a good, patient model with great nail beds, hands & personality is so beneficial. If entering a competition like Nailympia, bear in mind that you can only ever be in Division 1 once, so it’s best to enter as many competitions as you can, so you make the most of this division. 

Keep your confidence high, don’t let anyone take you off your path, focus & believe in yourself. Compete to see what you can achieve & don’t worry about what anybody else is doing. This is your experience, so most of all, enjoy it – it’s an exciting element to your work life. 

To those who need motivation. Remind yourself why you love nails. Feel the power & buzz that nails give to you then go & share that in the arena. You’ll be around like-minded people, your peers, surrounded by people that want you to be the best you can be.

It’s only you that’s holding you back. Another person’s nails is their experience. This is yours – so get out there & show us what you can do & ‘wow’ us with your skills, talent & creativity.

This industry needs you – we need to elevate & create together. So get your competition head on & show us your style. You just never know – a medal could be in your hands very soon. And that feeling is sensational. 

To prepare, find a nail professional that can mentor or guide you, Practice as much as possible. Practice on every client in the salon. Practice timings, smile lines, etc. Sculpting pink & white, nail art ideas etc. Find a model, try a competition class with a champion, refresh your skills & get hints & tips from those that have done it. 

Competing brings highs & lows that generate feelings. It’s emotive & exciting, it’s full of flavour & intensity & it’s downright exhilarating. It’s a powerful experience that all techs that truly love their nail craft should try out at some point in their career. After all, you have nothing to lose!

In Summary

Competing in nail art competitions is a powerful way for nail professionals to stretch their skills, explore creativity & showcase their artistic abilities beyond the salon environment. It provides opportunities for industry recognition, business growth & personal development. Competitions challenge nail techs to think differently & winning awards can elevate their status, allowing them to expand their services & potentially raise prices. For those new to competing, finding a mentor & practicing extensively are key steps to success & bring a new dimension to the tech’s persona. Overall, competition offers a thrilling & rewarding experience that can open new doors in the nail industry.