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 came across the world of nail art during the pandemic. I was furloughed and shielding due to having cystic fibrosis, and while scrolling on Instagram, I happened upon a floral nail design. I was instantly obsessed! It was a perfect time to work on my nail skills, as many techs were running online nail art workshops. I practiced on tips, immersed in as many tutorials as I could and fell in love with nail art. As soon as restrictions lifted, I trained to qualify as a nail tech.

My studio is floral-themed, and I fill it with inspiration, pictures and items for clients to enjoy looking at during their appointments. I love Japanese and Korean nail products, so showcase swatches of these.

A day in my life

I live by a fortnightly rotation, where one week I focus mainly on clients and tend to see five each day. During the second week, I create content for brands I collaborate with.

FLORAL NAIL ART ADVICE

Don’t overthink the process of painting flowers, and invest in good quality brushes that will support your artistry. Don’t try to make flowers look perfect, as imperfections will make them appear more realistic.

My inspirations

I get a lot of inspiration from Pinterest and Instagram. Mugs, bags, prints and dresses spark nail art ideas, and I enjoy adding my own twists to designs to suit each nail canvas.

What makes me happy

Being with my family and spending time in my garden or at the Lake District. Also my children, two cats and two dogs, who keep me busy!

Career highlights

I’m privileged to be a brand ambassador for KKookie, Nails Luxe and Brillbird. I’ve created tutorials for websites, partnered with NAILMAIL to create a nail art box, and teach in-person watercolour masterclasses, which has been my dream for so long!

Social media tips

My work started to gain a lot of traction when I began posting Instagram reels showing appointments from start to finish. It was a new idea, which I had seen on a hairdresser’s page, and thought it would work for the nail tech role. My Instagram following increased from 2,000 to 20,000 in five months! I became interested in watercolour styles and my floral nail art gained particular attention. It’s become my niche and has helped some of my designs go viral.

My top tips are:

1. Share what you enjoy seeing. It’s easy to think you need to follow the trends of successful nail pages, but posting what you enjoy makes it easier to stay consistent.

2. Post ideas that haven’t been done before to attract attention.

3. It takes a while to see results, so don’t give up and keep posting. Social media is a job in itself, therefore if you can post once or twice a week, you’re doing well!