4 mins
ARTISTIC Achiever
Meet Fran Humphrey, voted winner of MISSU’s online nail art challenge for 2024, as she shares her creative passions, home salon setup & artistic advice
Fran Humphrey
In May, professional nail brand, MISSU, invited techs from across the globe to unleash their creativity via a 14-day online nail art challenge. All abilities were welcomed to elevate their skills by submitting a nail design each day to fit a theme comprising three artistic elements. Participants who created nail looks for all themes scooped goodies from MISSU, nail-focused booking & business management tool, Polishpad, and Scratch. All submitted designs were entered into a public vote to decide the winner of a grand prize from the companies and Scratch’s sister brand, Nailympia. Lincolnshire-based nail artist, Fran Humphrey of Gels By Fran, was announced as the winner, after one of her nail styles received the highest percentage of the 836 valid votes.
“I found out about MISSU’s nail art challenge for 2024 via Scratch’s live Instagram interview with Helen Zeng, founder & CEO of MISSU,” Fran reveals. “It sounded like a fun way to get creative alongside like-minded nail artists, and I signed up straight away.” The Cleethorpes-based home salon owner joined the nail industry in 2019, seeking a career that would allow her to work flexibly around caring for her son. When her friend and previous nail tech became a Magpie Beauty ambassador, she embraced the opportunity to enrol on a manicure course.
Fran describes herself as a ‘creator of tiny art’, but admits that she didn’t expect to triumph in the public vote of MISSU’s challenge. “I feel very blessed to have won the vote. Like most techs, I experience creative slumps and I had no expectations from the challenge other than to ignite ideas,” she says. “My family, friends and clients followed my challenge entries on social media and offered a lot of support, and there was such a positive feeling amongst those taking part. I’d like to thank Helen Zeng for her efforts and congratulate all the talented techs involved.”
Fran’s winning design was created on day one of the challenge, to fit theme, ‘animal, glitter, marble’, and like most of the 14 styles she created, ideas to represent the theme came quickly.
“I was watching Blue Planet when the first theme was published, so inspiration was in front of me,” she comments. “I wanted to incorporate 3D elements and sculpted these both on and off nail tips using Magpie Beauty Perfect Poly Acrygel and SISSI 3D Clay. I applied Magpie Beauty Jellie Gel Colours in Yellow and Blue to mimic the divide of the sand and sea, and created the foam effect of waves using the brand’s blooming gel with milky white Gel Colour, Fresh As A Daisy.”
Fran’s design that won the MISSU public vote.
Fran’s entry to day seven of the challenge, inspired by the Monsters, Inc. film.
Other designs that Fran particularly loved creating for the MISSU challenge included a Monsters, Inc. style for theme, ‘Disney, ombré, chrome’, and weather-inspired character look for the ‘weather, glitter, chrome’ theme. Within all designs, she used Magpie Beauty products, and has been loyal to the brand since the start of her career. “The range of products is vast, and the online community for the brand is so supportive, with educators and techs on hand to offer guidance,” she beams.
Fran’s entry for day nine’s weather theme.
“It’s a joy to create nail looks suited to clients’ individual styles and personalities. They describe my studio as a safe, inclusive space.”
“Every nail artist started out in the same way, so don’t be scared to make mistakes: it’s how you learn.”
Fran uses Magpie Beauty products to create her signature colourful mix and match nail styles. “I love incorporating elements such as glitter, hand-painted art and isolated chrome into nail looks, and have recently enjoyed adding dimension to designs via sculpted and pre-made 3D elements,” she details. “Clients of my home nail business, Gels By Fran, have varied requests, and it’s a joy to create nail looks suited to clients’ individual styles and personalities. They describe my studio as a safe, inclusive space. It features a mixture of wall art and plants, along with sentimental items and cherished gifts from clients.”
The nail professional doesn’t only prioritise the needs of her clients. In 2023, she and Emily Langford, Scratch Stars Awards 2024 finalist & owner of home salon, Studio 109, Holton le Clay, founded Lincolnshire nail pro community, Nail Tech & Natter. “We started the group as a way to bring local nail techs together and share support, encouragement and inspiration, prioritising friendship over competition,” Fran says. “We regularly meet for coffee and aim to put on a nail event once a year. Last year, Magpie Beauty educator, Terri Copeland, joined us for our Host An Educator event, which covered a range of nail art techniques, tips and tricks.” Looking to the future, Fran wants to continue helping nail techs by completing a teaching qualification. “My vision is to offer one-to-one workshops for newly qualified nail professionals,” she smiles.
Inside Fran’s home salon, Gels By Fran.
FRAN’S NAIL ART TIPS
• Practice: “Set aside time to try various designs and understand how to use different products in order to boost your confidence. Every nail artist started out in the same way, so don’t be scared to make mistakes: it’s how you learn.”
• Invest in high-quality products and tools: “This will make a huge difference to your work. There are many professional brands with an array of art products and tools, so shop around to find which best suits your needs.”
• Learning doesn’t have to be expensive: “Utilise social media, such as YouTube for nail art tutorials, to support design creations free of charge. If you’re looking to learn something more specific, there are a host of nail techs offering workshops at low costs.”
Follow Fran:
/gelsbyfran
@gels_by_fran
@gels_by_fran
Follow MISSU:
www.missubeautynetwork.com
/missubeautynails
@missu_beauty_nails
/missunails