She wears the crown… 2018 Nail champion: Uncovered

Name: Lena Kurach
Years in nails: 15 years
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Business name: Q by Better Nails
Current brand you use: Q by Better Nails
Favourite technique: French
Favourite product system: Gel 

Q: What year did you join the nail industry and train in nails?

I joined in 2005 when I completed my first nail styling course and opened my first beauty salon.

Q: Who have you trained with & with which products?

During the first 10 years I worked on my technique alone, focusing on hard work and observing the work of others. Tom Holcomb was my main inspiration. Those years of practice helped me create my own style and motivated me to start competing. This all helped me develop my own, one of a kind technique – the NSM Manicure, which gains great results without the use of scissors or cutting tools. At that time I didn’t have a favourite brand, I preferred using different products and brands in order to understand their differences and create my own, optimal, high quality line of products.

Q: Why did you start competing?

When I started to compete, I noticed that my work positively stood out compared to the majority of other stylists’ work at the time. The drive to enter my first competition was fuelled by simple curiosity, which ended with a victory and left me with a burning desire to go further, keep learning and obtain more accolades.

Q: Where was your first competition?

My first competition was a local one, the Nails Olympic Show in Poznan in 2015.

Q: Why did you enter a Nailympia competition and where was your first one?

I appreciate all competitions as they give me a shot of adrenaline and help me improve my skills and work under pressure, but I think, and am certain that most readers will agree, that Nailympia is the most prestigious one globally and is the biggest event in this field. My first Nailympia competition was in London in 2015.

Q: Why did you want to win the Nailympia Global Cup?

I’ve always felt my skills could get me through the toughest competitions and winning the Nailympia Global Cup was my goal, which I’m proud to say, I’ve reached.

Q: You went to four locations – USA, Estonia, Australia & UK for Nailympia. What motivated you at this level?

My fellow competitors were very tough that year and that required an enormous quantity of motivation and concentration in order to make my dream of winning the cup come true. Although I didn’t want to win at all costs, my commitment allowed me to become the global champion, without any negatives.

Q: How has competing changed your nail career?

Competing, and most importantly, winning has helped me prove to my students that they learn from the best and I feel that, thanks to their trust, they’ve managed to become leaders and award-winning competitors themselves. Since my victories, my students are mainly nail educators who desire to improve their skills. Moreover, being a widely renowned nail stylist has allowed me to start thinking about creating my own team and line of products.

Q: What advice would you give to anyone wanting to compete?

A: Since my journey brought me this amazing victory, I can only unveil my own recipe: work, study, improve and find passion in all you do. Last but not least, play by the rules, respect yourself and others.

Q: What will you do now – what is your plan – will you compete, mentor or judge?

I feel like I’ve already reached the top acknowledgment when it comes to competitions, so for now I will not be competing. Instead, I would like to share my experience by teaching and preparing others for their own path. That’s why I’ve recently launched my own academy, The Annual School of Masters, which helps them to become better educators and bring them closer to winning.

Q: How do you feel now you’re a world champion of nails?

I’m extremely proud and motivated to spread my knowledge and passion for perfecting nail structure and design.

Q: What are your future plans?

My victory, as well as success in preparing other stylists for their own career and competitions, has allowed me to believe in myself. I’ve recently created my own brand called Better Nails and my own product line, Q by Better Nails. ‘Q’ stands for quality, which is the most important ingredient in everything we do. I’ve also put together a team of instructors who educate in Poland and a few other European countries.

My brand incorporates quality salons willing to benefit from my know-how that use my products. Currently my team has 25 extremely talented instructors, but will grow larger this year. I’m always looking for ambitious and talented nail stylists that are ready to spread my idea of fair trading, fair play and are willing to join a team.