SCRATCH COLUMNIST

STAR sessions

Shoot for success with advice & inspo from North America’s Star Nail Artist – Season 2 champion,

JESSICA VERO

W hether you’re working on clients, creating content or producing an extreme nail art piece for a competition, safety practices must be a priority. We all hope to have long, successful careers in this industry, but developing an allergy or sensitivity to a product you work with every day can not only be a huge hindrance, but potentially end your career. concerning when the art is going to be worn by a client for multiple weeks. What looks like a solid, fully cured piece on the outside may not have completely polymerised on the inside. It is important to know the cure depth of the product you are working with, and if you choose to use a moulding gel for your 3D art, build the design in thin layers rather than trying to create the entire shape at once.

Lately, I have been thinking about how social media is changing the way we learn and work as nail professionals. My current goal is to grow my social media presence, and I know how difficult it can be ‘‘ to gain visibility and attract new followers. Algorithms reward content that grabs attention, and in the nail industry that can often mean bigger, stranger and more visually impressive designs – which I love. I am a nail tech who specialises in extreme artistry; I want to push boundaries and see what can be created. However, it is important to ensure that the necessary precautions are being taken to stay safe when experimenting with new techniques.

What concerns me most is how difficult it can be to distinguish professional education from entertainment online. Social media is a melting pot of professional nail techs, DIY creators and nail enthusiasts, and the algorithm doesn’t know the difference between a safe technique and an unsafe one.

Social media is a melting pot of professional nail techs, DIY creators and nail enthusiasts, and the algorithm doesn’t know the difference between a safe technique and an unsafe one.

A great example of this is the rising popularity of 3D moulding gels. When you add pigment to gel, it affects how the light penetrates the product, and therefore how effectively it cures. If you are sculpting a thin petal on a flower, this may not be much of a concern. But as you start creating larger or thicker 3D elements, the risk of uncured gel becoming trapped inside the design increases. This is particularly Personally, I choose to use the liquid & powder system to create 3D and extreme nail art, because I find that it allows me to sculpt without limitations on size and thickness. As acrylic cures through chemical reaction rather than relying on light reaching through the product, I ‘‘ can create much larger sculptural elements without the same concern about light penetration. This doesn’t mean that acrylic automatically makes a design safe; using a correct liquid to powder ratio, choosing the recommended monomer for the powder system and following the manufacturer’s instructions are essential.

Ventilation also becomes a greater consideration. When I am working on large competition pieces, the amount of product used can be equivalent to creating multiple sets of nails at once. That means I am potentially releasing significantly more vapour into my workspace than a typical service, making adequate ventilation even more critical.

Something I see daily on social media that deeply concerns me is the amount of people touching and moulding uncured products with their bare hands. It is so important to wear gloves, especially when you are creating this type of art. Repeatedly exposing skin to the product will increase the risk of sensitisation and allergic reactions, which can have serious consequences. As soon as a glove becomes contaminated, it must be replaced, because a glove that has product on is no longer doing its job to protect you.

Trend talk

I am enjoying the rich dark cherry and plum palette that has been so popular this season, and was inspired to create several nail designs to suit the trend. I used L&P acrylic to fashion enhancements featuring 3D figs and grapes, and created a cat eye and chrome combination with leaves.

Seasonal styles

During the fall and winter months, if I am not doing nails, there is a good chance you will find me curled up with a hot tea and a book – so I love an excuse to create book-inspired nail art! With new releases from the popular Fourth Wing and ACOTAR series, I seized the opportunity to create some fantasy-themed nail styles.

When you are completely focused on creating a competition piece, it is easy to become so absorbed in the finished result that you stop thinking about potential overexposure. I learned this lesson personally during one of my North America’s Star Nail Artist (NASNA) challenges. I got a little bit of product on my forearm without realising, and developed a rash. This was a wake-up call for me, and led me to look at ways to create a safer workspace.

I had the pleasure of spending some time with Doug Schoon during the NASNA Season 1 finale weekend, and I have recently read his book, Advanced Chemistry of Nails: A Modern Education Guide. It reinforced how important it is that we, as nail techs, continue to educate ourselves about the products we work with every day. Understanding the chemistry behind our products isn’t just about becoming a better nail technician; it is also an important part of protecting ourselves, our clients and the longevities of our careers. And while we continue to push the boundaries of art, our goal should be to create boldly, responsibly and safely.

Follow Jessica Vero: www.jessicavero.com @jessveronails @jessica.vero

‘‘ Understanding the chemistry behind our products isn’t just about becoming a better nail technician; it is also an important part of protecting ourselves, our clients and the longevities of our careers. ‘‘