SCRATCHCOLUMNIST

STAR Quality

Preparing for nail competitions: a handy guide

North America’s Star Nail Artist Season One champion, ANASTASIA TOTTY, shares tips & tales from her colourful career

s

N ail competitions have a special place in my heart, because they have heavily influenced my daily work. They offer opportunities to learn, refine your skills and raise your profile. In my 10 years of competing internationally, I have learned so much that I am happy to share with those taking their first steps into the competition field.

You will never feel ready to compete, but you should do so in order to showcase and improve your nail techniques. If you plan well in advance and fully comprehend the task, you will increase your chances of winning or being noticed. For competitions such as Nailympia, start in Division 1 (if eligible) and gradually move up to compete with masters in Division 3. If you are most comfortable using the gel system, begin your competition journey by entering a gel category. If you feel you would be anxious within a competition arena, consider a turn-in or online entry, which you can complete at your own pace, in your own environment.

Rules and scoresheets get updated regularly, so check the competition organiser’s website as often as you can, and print out the guidelines to follow while you are preparing your entry or practicing. Email the organiser if you have any questions or need to clarify points. After each competition, you will receive scoresheets and have the opportunity to get all-important feedback from judges.

Practice – and practice more!

To fare well in the arena, you have to dedicate plenty of time to practice. Do not switch to unfamiliar products prior to a competition, and understand how your kit works at different temperatures. If you compete within a convention centre, you may find that L&P acrylic sets slower because the air conditioning keeps the environment cool. When you practice for a nail competition, try working in cooler temperatures to see how much time you need to complete the task in those conditions. Set aside some hours each week when you are not seeing clients, and concentrate on a particular skill. Practice creating beautiful results – and after that, focus on completing them within the allotted time.

Set a timer and break down the task into stages. For example, if the competition offers 90 minutes to create nails on one hand, I usually plan to finish within 80 minutes, so that I have extra time if I fall behind. Competitors lose so many points for dust, excess oil or uncured top coat due to stress, poor time management and things not going to plan on the day.

For certain categories, a great hand model is a major part of success. Finding someone with beautiful nail plates that are about 15mm long from cuticle to free edge, with a nice C-curve and consistent length and width, is the goal. Most champions I know have one hand model who travels with them everywhere. Believe me, it’s worth finding a great hand model who has the ideal canvas on which to showcase your skills. Depending on the competition, you may be able to work on your own hand.

Arena pointers

The products you use within a competition arena should be clearly labelled. Use a new bottle of top coat for a crisp finish, and work cleanly and efficiently. I separate the products I use on clients with the ones I use for competitions.

Many competitions take place at trade shows and within big events, which can be noisy and overwhelming. I find it helpful to wear headphones in order to focus while I work and maintain a sense of calm. However, you must still be able to pay attention to your surroundings and listen to any instructions and comments from arena judges. Wear comfortable clothes, and plan breaks and snacks for yourself and your model.

North America’s Star Nail Artist

I am excited to follow the journeys of the top 25 North America’s Star Nail Artist competitors for Season Two. In my role as a judge for the contest this year, I’m keen to see creative, over-the-top nail artistry and new techniques taught within the tutorials. Points are imperative, so if you’re competing, make sure you follow the rules and take beautiful photos. Give yourself time to conceptualise, execute your design and most importantly, edit your video. It is the only way to avoid having to pull all-nighters and rushing your entry before each challenge deadline. I can’t wait to help find the next North America’s Star Nail Artist champion!

Good luck on your competition journeys,

Viva Las Vegas!

In July, I attended Cosmoprof North America – Las Vegas: the equivalent of Fashion Week for the beauty industry. Brands from across the globe launched innovative products and set trends for the upcoming year, and distributors, salon owners and influencers browsed the booths to decide which products to invest in.

At this year’s show, which took place 15-17 July, I worked on the LECHAT booth, in my role as brand ambassador & educator. LECHAT showcased new shades in the Perfect Match Mood Collection and Liquid Gel Builder range. I enjoyed networking and planning education events with the team, seeing the new products and partying after hours. Las Vegas is such a fun place!

Hot pick

I am obsessed with dual forms and using them to create beautiful nail enhancements for myself. I created a cat’s claw shape with a tortoiseshell design using dual forms, which were a hit at Cosmoprof North America – Las Vegas. I’ve also created a Russian almond-shaped hard gel nail with dual French and encapsulated abalone shell. The beauty of using dual forms is that I can create the nails ahead of time and add beautiful nail art, then use clear gel or L&P acrylic to adhere them to the natural nails. This requires minimal filing and means I have beautiful results – even on my dominant hand. Keep an eye on my Instagram account for a tutorial.

Out & about

This month, I’ll be hosting free workshops and demos at the LECHAT booths at Premiere Columbus on 14 and 15 September and Premiere San Antonio on 28 and 29 September. I’m also looking forward to following the Nailympia San Antonio competition.

The LECHAT team is planning an educator training and corporate event at its headquarters in Hercules, California on 9 November. We are inviting nail techs, salon owners and distributors to an open-house style event to meet the brand’s founder, Newton Luu, and the award-winning team of educators. There will be live demos, and opportunities to try out the products and connect with the team.

For more information, visit www.lechatnails.com

Creativity corner

My favourite recent nail creation was for a client who works at an antique and vintage resale store. She likes a mix of goth-inspired nail art with 3D and chrome features, and wears charms and spikes. Her nails featured a black base with neon green blooming gel art. I added crystals and textured chrome art to finish. Her nails are popular with visitors to the store, and people love taking photos of her nails when she’s working.