BEHIND THE GRAM

Get to know social media nail stars as they offer an insight into their lives & share content creation tips

My nail journey

I became interested in art while I was at school, and when I began my nail career, I felt that I needed to explore my creative side in order to offer clients more than a basic manicure. I would practice designs on my family, friends and on nail art wheels.

Charlotte Cliff – Bristol @charsgelnails_ 149K followers

What makes me happy

I love spending time with my family and friends. The support they have shown and continue to show throughout my career is amazing.

My inspirations

I take inspiration from a variety of things, including clothing, décor and the work of other techs.

A day in my life

A typical day starts with getting my seven-year-old son ready for school. I drop him off, then head home to my summerhouse salon for client appointments or to create content. I try not to work long hours, so that my son and I can spend plenty of time together. I feel that I have a good work-life balance.

Signature style

My signature look is a mix of gradients, tortoiseshell and hearts. These designs are most requested by my clients and social media followers.

Nail work by me for the Essie Live Your Colour campaign.

Career highlight

My biggest career achievements are being a Social Media Star of the Year finalist at the Scratch Stars Awards in 2020/21 and 2023, and having my work on Essie stands in Boots and Superdrug stores across the UK. I was also awarded 16th place in the NHBF Top 100 Influencers Index 2023.

Social media advice

I posted a pastel pink nail design on Instagram in 2019 and it received a lot of attention. My following grew quickly, and continues to grow.

My top social media tips are:

1. Stay authentic. Share grid posts or stories as frequently as you can.

2. Stay connected to your followers by taking time to reply to comments and messages and doing Q&As.

3. Ensure your content catches the eyes of your followers. Consider how engaging each image or video is, and ask yourself if it has the intended focus.

4. Hashtags are a great way for people to find you and your work.

I would encourage UK&I nail pros to enter the Scratch Star Awards 2024. The entry process is straightforward, and I had so much fun and met a lot of new people at The Scratch Stars Party when I attended in 2021.