SCRATCHCOLUMNIST
STAR Quality
What I’d say to myself if I were starting out in the industry
North America’s Star Nail Artist Season 1 champion, ANASTASIA TOTTY, shares tips & tales from her colourful career
5 top tips for growth & development:
1. Attend at least one beauty trade show or conference per year.
2. Enter competitions and immerse in the feedback you receive from judges.
3. Invest in high-quality products and tools.
4. Value your time and skills, and price your services accordingly. Breaking even will never be enough!
5. Consider the bigger picture when starting and scaling your business, such as when you want to retire, financial security and healthcare.
As an educator and brand ambassador for LeChat Nails, I often visit cosmetology schools and meet amazing students who represent the future of our industry. I believe that being honest with them is crucial, because my experience could inspire the next stages of their careers.
My journey into the nail sector started as a hobby. I discovered enhancements when a friend got her first nail treatment in 2007. Coming from Moldova, a small Eastern European country, I had no idea such options existed for nails. I immediately fell in love with the look of nail enhancements and the tiny artistic canvases they offer. Little did I know that I would go on to become a champion nail artist.
I learned about nail anatomy and product chemistry the hard way: through trial and error. I would soak up any information I could find on YouTube or from nail magazines brought from Ukraine. I am very proud of my accomplishments and believe this was always meant to be my path, but if I were starting out today, I would enrol in cosmetology school to learn proper techniques from the start.
I would also embrace networking opportunities and be more confident in promoting my skills. In my culture, modesty is praised and appreciated, and talents should speak for themselves. Now that I have officially achieved and validated my talent as North America’s Star Nail Artist – Season 1 champion, I would say: ‘If you’ve got it, flaunt it!’. Since I have become more comfortable networking with people, trade shows have grown to be fun and exciting events.
Don’t be afraid to shine your light and embrace the nail community. It’s a very safe and welcoming space, and a true artist will never feel intimidated by another’s talent, because everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Let’s support and praise one another, as there’s room for everyone to thrive!
Anastasia
NASNA notes
Judging Season 2 of the North America’s Star Nail Artist contest is a pleasure and privilege. I love learning of the top three highest scorers each challenge, and wonder if my choices echo those of the other judges.
A piece of advice I would give to competitors is to imagine the final look. Just because something is creative and involves ‘out of the box’ thinking, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will offer an outstanding visual impact. Your motivation should be: ‘I want to see those nails on the cover of Scratch magazine!’
Turn to page 70 to check out the Challenge 4 entries.
Salon styles
Chrome remains popular with my clients, and I have been adding texture to nail enhancements and encapsulating glitter flakes to create striking styles.
‘‘ Don’t be afraid to shine your light and embrace the nail community. It’s a very safe and welcoming space. ‘‘
With UK nail stylist, Mino Vo.
Trade show tales
Premiere Anaheim was the first trade beauty event I attended this year, and I was asked to do a live tutorial on the show’s Demo Stage. It was my first time demoing at this scale and I wanted to have some fun with it, so decided to show how I create 3D elements from everyday nail essentials: builder gel and gel polish. It was a fun way to showcase what these products can achieve with imagination and creativity. I enjoyed meeting new people, and received some great feedback and support from those who attended.
Exhibiting and working at a beauty show requires a lot of planning and preparation. It’s never as easy as it seems! Every member of the LeChat team at Premiere Anaheim pitched in to ensure that the booth was set up in time, products were well-displayed and customers were kept informed.
Across the two-day event, I showcased techniques to nail pros who stopped by the LeChat booth, and enjoyed offering insight into the capabilities of the brand’s products. This is my favourite part of a trade show: watching techs in awe of what is being created. Popular nail demos involved cat eye looks, hand-painted art and chrome effects.