Sculpture is undertaken on the MODEL’S RIGHT hand

Tip & Overlay on the MODEL’S LEFT hand.

• Competitors are required to sculpt on the model’s RIGHT hand with L&P acrylic and tip/overlay in UV hard gel on the model’s LEFT hand. This means there is an opportunity to enter 2 competitions in one sitting.
• Competitors can take just one comp on one hand. One-hand competitors will be given 75-minutes to complete the hand and be positioned in one area together. Those doing both hands will be asked to stop after 75-minutes and have a 10-minute break before starting on the second hand.
• Competitors must polish 2 fingers on each hand (thumb and pinkie) of the model with a red cream polish/lacquer only – no base coat, ridgefiller or top coat may be used. The polish may be of the competitors’ choice.
• NOTE - On the underside of the nail – the judges do NOT need to see white under the 2 red nails.
• The nail bed CAN be extended.
• NO premixing of camouflage cover pink or whites before the event. All overlay products must be in original packaging – with clear correct label.
• These are French style pink & white competitions with 2 red polished nails. Cover pink products are allowed.
• Cream, lotion, oil and polish dry products may be used. Excess lotion and oil will afford point deductions. If a competitor is seen cleaning hands and nails after the competition is closed with any product, such as canned air, it is immediate disqualification. Models may not put fingers in their mouth or rub them on their clothing.
• No UV gel products/sealers to be used on the L&P acrylic categories.
• Water and soap may be used in finishing.
• Tips must NOT be pretailored or touched before the comp starts. Competitors may not touch the nail tips prior to the start of the competition.
• Every competitor must arrive with an organised tip box with at least 10 tips of each size in each allocated size compartment of the box. A disorganised tip box will be removed from the desk by a floor judge.
• For sculpture a roll of JUST 25 forms per comp. Floor judges will be closely inspecting every form.
• Adhesive is allowed for tip & overlay. NO adhesive for the sculpt categories and must not be on the nail desk.
• E-Files are allowed.
• Gel competitors must bring a UV or LED gel lamp.
• You are only permitted to use Natural or Clear tips in both UV gel and acrylic tip & overlay categories.
• NOTE - It is not necessary to create lunula/moons on the nail – there are no extra points for lunulas.
• NOTE - No acry-gel products allowed in the traditional P&W comps. No hybrid UV gels, no gel polish.
• Only UV hard or soak off gels allowed.
• TIP – Read the score sheets. Check out the point distribution. Where you will gain the most points and where you gain the least. This will help your timing and focus. Knowledge of where you can gain points and where you can unnecessarily lose them is helpful.
• NOTE – For those doing both competitions – the hands will be compared for the Perfect Match competition and judged on three areas – apex, finish, c-curve - for a maximum of 30 points.
• NOTE - No tools to aid the creation of smile lines are to be used. Smile lines are to be created using a brush and/or hand file. (NO smile line cutters allowed.)

The Joy of Nails

• One hand only – competitor can work on his/her own hand.
• Liquid & powder, UV gel, tip & overlay, sculpting on natural nails are all acceptable – anything is allowed!
• Looking for desirable & gorgeous shapes, design, beauty, style & skill.
• Inviting professionals to show their most favoured and best nail designs, shapes and styles.
• Anything can be applied to the nails. No restrictions on shape and length.
• These nails can be commercial salon nails; they can be extreme; they can be fantasy; they must be original and inspirational.
• NOTE: Each nail must be different in length, shape and design. (Points will be deducted if 3 different nails are not shown.)
• They will be judged on the skill of a true nail professional. The judges will be looking for the ‘wow’ factor. The more skills and creativity used, the better. It’s a showcase for what YOU can bring to the nail industry to innovate and inspire.
• NOTE - NO more than 20% crystal embellishment on each nail.
• Crystal embellishment must be added to each nail with no more than 20% crystal added to each. Judges need to see the shape, form and structure of each nail.
• All nail work is to be done on the comp floor - no pre-made work allowed. NO pre-tailoring or touching of tips or forms etc.
• Please design 3 nails (no pinkie or thumb included).
• NOTE – This competition is designed to showcase a range of your creative and technical skills. This is an aspirational competition where you show other nail professionals what you are capable of.

STILETTO NAILS

• Nails to be sculpted on forms. No tips permitted. 25 forms only on the nail desk.
• Nails can be made using L&P acrylic, acrygel or UV gel systems.
• The application and length can be designed to the competitor’s desire and ability.
• Artwork can be applied on the surface or encapsulated. If artwork is applied to the surface it must be no more than 1/4inch (0.65cm) in height.
• Gel sealers and top coat are allowed.
• Paint, striper foils, rhinestones and bullion are allowed. Colour foils can be used for design. Products used can have colour or glitter added if desired.
• No decals allowed. This means no pre-designed or printed appliqués or decals to be used. No stamping of art allowed.
• Oil, lanolin, cream, lotion and polish dry products may be used.
• Water and soap may be used for finishing.
• E-Files are allowed.
• Gel competitors must bring a UV or LED gel lamp.
• All designs must be original and not seen in previous competitions or images.
• NOTE – Pinkie and thumb nails must be pink & white with crisp smile line.
• NOTE – Stiletto Nails offers the opportunity to demonstrate perfect structure plus showcasing creative art and design skills.
• TIP – Any debris or dust under the nails will lose points.
• NOTE – A traditional stiletto nail tapers symmetrically and consistently in a straight line from the natural free edge into a sharp point. From the side view, the free edge must extend straight out from the lateral folds to its point. A true stiletto ends in a point.

GEL POLISH MANICURE

• This competition is done on natural nails only - duration 30-minutes.
• The model is to come with manicured nails. NO manicure procedure is necessary during this comp.
• Nails ready for gel polish must be enhanced and coated with any type of UV gel polish product. One hand is to be created in a solid red colour. One hand is to be finished in a traditional French manicure style. Use white on the free edge and French shades on the nail plate. No glitter, shimmer or frost permitted. All colours must be free of pearl and opalescence.
• No design element is required. Just a picture-perfect flawless set of nails.
• Any UV gel polish is allowed that is hard gel or soak off. It must be correctly labelled and can be in a pot or a bottle. It’s not the pot or brush that counts here – it’s the finish on the nails.
• NOTE - The finish of the nails should be similar to a nail lacquer look.

FANTASY NAILS – The Complete Look – open theme

• All entries must be new to the Nailympia competition arena and can only be entered one time at this competition. No repeat entries from prior years allowed.
• The fantasy work must be adhered to natural nails only. NO polish colour, no French or natural enhancements, no gel polish – just natural nails only on the competition floor. The natural nails can be pre-manicured. 10-points deducted if the nails have polish or base coat on them.
• Only the model and competitor are allowed on the competition floor. The costuming, make-up and hair may be assembled before the competition and can be a team effort. The nails must be added to the complete look during the one-hour competition by the competitor with no additional help.
• All pieces or embellishments to go on the nails may be completely created prior to the competition, then assembled and placed/adhered to the nails during the competition. You must create 10 separate tips to adhere to the 10 nails during the competition. It must be 10 nails for 10 fingers.
• Three dimensional, pre-cast embellishments, feathers, decals, gems, accessories, ornaments or any form of fantasy is allowed.
• Models must wear their costume prior to the start of the competition, with final touches completed during the competition.
• The costume is a large part of this competition (1-20 points), as this competition stresses creativity, difficulty and how well the theme of the entire design and costume work together. Dress the model in the theme from head to toes.
• Complete your work with no more than 50 words on a small card (to be placed at the model’s feet during judging). Outline your theme and nail art media used. Explain what techniques, products and materials have been used for the creation.
• No step-by-step photographs accepted. Photos of the work or artist involved will lead to point deductions or disqualification.
• NOTE – Points can be lost if elements of design are bought ready-made and embellished.
• TIP – Keep all elements neat & well finished with no visible signs of glue, dust or debris.
• TIP – Difficulty is evaluated by the level of detail & intricacies noted within each element. Less is sometimes more and big does not always mean better.

SALON NAILS (one hand)

Show your skills as a salon nail professional: everyday nails for everyday clients.
Choose between one of these artificial systems (L&P acrylic, UV gel, fibreglass, hybrids) then shape, style and lengthen nails accordingly.

(No gel polish or dip systems to be used.)

• 60-minutes to complete a set of salon-style nail enhancements on ONE hand only - using any suitable artificial nail system.
• Sculpt or tip & overlay techniques to be used only. NO moulds or moulds labelled as nail forms – just nail tips & paper sculpting forms allowed.
• NO white tips. Use clear or natural tips only.
• French must be sculpted, not painted onto the surface.
• Competitors are required to use professional products. NO glitter, coloured powder, additives etc to be used – judges are looking for the most natural set of nails that suit the hand shape and skin tone. (NB: This rule does not apply to the ring finger.)
• Camouflage powders or gels can be used if appropriate for the ‘client’.
• No embellishment or encapsulation – judges want to see natural looking enhancements in any shape. The competitor is to choose the most relevant shape to suit the fingers and nail condition. (NB: This rule does not apply to the RING finger.)
• NEW - RING FINGER is to be embellished to create a feature nail. This nail must complement the overall look, not detract, but enhance the complete look and can be embellished in any way you choose. Foils, glitters, rhinestones, powders, hand painting are allowed. NO decals, pre-designed or printed appliqués to be used. No Stamping of art allowed.
• No tip sizing, touching or pre-blending allowed before the comp begins.
• NOTE - No tools to aid the creation of smile lines are to be used. Smile lines are to be created using a brush only. (NO smile line cutters allowed.)
• Cleansing and moisturising products (oils, creams, lotions, etc) are allowed. Excessive use of oil is not permitted. Judges will deduct points for excess oil.
• The nail enhancements must be finished in a natural/blended baby boomer pink & white or French style pink & white – gel top coats and sealants are allowed. No nail polish colour.
• French must be sculpted, not painted onto the surface.
• NOTE - Extra points are awarded for smile lines or a beautifully blended pink & white - baby boomer / ombré.