Nail Competition Preparation & Performance Tips

1. Research & Choose Your Competition

– Type of Competition: Decide whether you want to compete in-person, online or in a business-related competition.

– Study Standards: Review previous winners to understand the expected standards and styles.

– Rule Familiarity: Print and thoroughly review all competition rules and guidelines to ensure compliance.

2. Training & Preparation

– Invest in Training: Seek training from reputable educators with competition experience.

– Consistent Practice:  Practice regularly on models or use alternatives such as simulated hands and regular nail tips when models are unavailable.

– Perfect Every Detail: Dedicate time to refining your techniques. Practice sidewalls, smile lines and filing to ensure every detail is precise and sharp.

– Organised Setup: Arrange your tools and products in the same way during both practice and competition to find everything easily under pressure.

– Create a Practice Schedule: Integrate competition practice into your salon routine. Allocate time to focus solely on competition skills and use these sessions to pack and refine your kit.

3. Product Familiarity

– Avoid Last-Minute Changes: Stick to one brand or product line at least a month before the competition.

– Environmental Adaptation: Practice with your chosen products in various conditions to understand their behaviour in different temperatures and humidity levels.

4. Mental & Physical Preparation

   – Stay Calm: Use techniques or natural remedies to manage stress and keep composed during the competition.

– Mental Preparation: On the day of the competition, close your eyes to centre yourself. Visualise your focus on your table, model and the trophy. Hold onto this feeling as the competition starts, directing all your concentration towards winning.

– Checklist Use: Prepare a detailed checklist to ensure you have all necessary items and keep your area organised.

   – Adequate Rest & Hydration: Get plenty of sleep before the competition day and stay hydrated to maintain focus and energy.

– Maintain calmness and confidence: You’ve prepared thoroughly so take pride in your participation and remember that every competition is a step towards perfecting your craft.

5. On the Day of the Competition

– Early Arrival: Arrive early to get accustomed to the venue and set up your area calmly.

– Tidy Workspace: Keep your area neat, with all products correctly labelled and within easy reach.

– Prepare for the Unexpected: Have your model prepared and comfortable and ensure both of you have eaten and visited the bathroom. Keep your workspace organised, as you won’t be able to retrieve items from your bag during the competition.

 – Model Preparation: Ensure your model knows what to expect, including attire, timing and role during the competition.

– Get Nourished: Eat a good breakfast rich in carbohydrates to sustain your energy. Visit the bathroom beforehand and then focus on relaxation and enjoyment. This is your moment to shine.

– Using Music for Focus: Consider wearing headphones with a timed playlist. This method helps you manage your time and blocks out distracting noises, enhancing your concentration.

6. Post-Competition

– Seek Feedback: Engage with judges for valuable feedback to improve future performance.

– Utilise feedback: Critique and advice from judges and score sheets helps identify strengths and areas for improvement. This constructive criticism is invaluable for enhancing both your competition and salon work.

   – Skill Enhancement: Use competition experiences to enhance your skills and deepen your understanding of industry standards.

Detailed Tips & Insights

Finding the Right Mentor & Model

Attend Classes and Find a Mentor. Even if you are a successful nail professional, competition nails are different from salon nails. Seek out competition classes or a mentor to guide you through the specific requirements and techniques.

Choose the Right Model

Select a model with suitable natural nails and a compatible personality. You’ll spend considerable time together, so it’s essential to have good rapport. Regularly treat their hands and nails to keep them in optimal condition.

Model’s Role During Competition

Your model should assist with time updates and act as an additional pair of eyes. Their support can significantly impact your performance.

Consistency & Practice

Consistency in your work is crucial. Even if the smile lines aren’t exceptionally deep, having all 10 smile lines uniform will score higher than inconsistent, deep smile lines. Achieving this consistency comes with regular practice. Applying your competition techniques in the salon will help build muscle memory and increase your speed.

Table Organisation

Place all tools and products in the same position during both practice and competition. This habit helps you find what you need quickly under pressure. Don’t compare your speed to others; focus on finishing at your pace. Decide early on which brand or products you’ll use and practice consistently with them to build familiarity.

Skill Building

Develop your skills methodically by focusing on one aspect at a time, such as the moon, sidewalls or smile lines. Each practice session should target a specific skill to gradually build your overall ability. Engaging with past winners for insights and advice can also significantly improve your techniques.

Handling Competition Stress

Plan for all possible scenarios to stay calm during the competition. Understand how different temperatures can affect your product’s setting times and adjust your application process accordingly. Prepare for temperature variations by dressing in layers and ensuring your model is comfortable.

Practical Application

Regular practice is key to building speed and confidence. Practicing under different conditions helps you adapt to the competition environment. Maintain a consistent timing routine and be prepared to start over if an application doesn’t go well.

Kit & Equipment Preparation

Your competition kit should be thorough and well-organised. Include all necessary products, tools, extension cords, adapters and multiple lamps. Good lighting is critical and having hand warmers and pillows can enhance comfort and performance.

Read & Understand the Rules

Rules can change, so review them thoroughly before each competition. If anything is unclear, contact the organiser for clarification to avoid penalties or disqualification.

Artwork Advice

Begin your artwork early, ideally 6-9 months before the competition, as creating detailed pieces can take hundreds of hours.

Use as much of your nail products as possible to showcase your skills. Add shadows and highlights to give depth to your design.

For the fantasy competitions remember the costume is a significant part of the score. Ensure it aligns with your chosen theme and complements your nails. Incorporate hair and make-up to enhance the overall presentation.

Do a complete practice run before the competition to manage your time effectively. Number the tips to know their placement and carefully package the nails for transport to prevent damage.

Focus on intricate details and consider a unique twist on your theme. Research previous winners to ensure your design stands out.

Specific Hints for Photo Competitions

Assemble a reliable team, including a hair stylist, make-up artist, model and photographer for trial runs.

Ensure the nails are the main subject in the photos and maintain the theme in all elements without overcomplicating the image.

Keep your concept clear and aligned with the competition’s theme.

General Competition Tips

Research thoroughly, organise your tools and timings and ensure your work is of the highest standard.

Keep up-to-date with the latest in nail competitions through social media and professional magazines.

Approach each competition as a learning experience. Enjoy the process and strive for personal progression.

Final Thoughts

Competitions offer various categories, catering to different strengths. Whether you excel in precision (like pink & white sculpting) or creativity (like Fantasy Nails), there’s a category for you. If you’re versatile, challenge yourself across multiple categories to strive for a ‘Champion of Champions’ title.

Learn from Experience. Each competition is a learning opportunity. Enter with an open mind, ready to absorb knowledge and experience. Winning isn’t the only goal; the journey and the skills you gain are equally valuable.

Competitions push you out of your comfort zone, challenging you to excel. They offer a unique way to gain recognition and experience a different facet of the nail industry.

Engage with the competition community, learn from each event and strive for constant improvement. Whether you win or not, every competition adds to your expertise and understanding of what it takes to create winning nails.

Achieving Consistency in NAILYMPIA Tip & Overlay & Sculpture Competitions

Consistency is key in the French T/O & Sculpture competitions and can significantly impact your score. Ensuring that each nail is identical in length, size, depth of smile line, sidewalls, and free edge thickness demonstrates precision and mastery.

To achieve this, start by meticulously measuring and shaping each nail to match. Use precise tools and techniques to maintain uniformity in length and size, making sure all nails align perfectly when viewed from different angles.

Pay special attention to the depth and curve of the smile lines, ensuring they are consistent across all nails; this requires a steady hand and careful control during application.

The sidewalls should be straight and even, creating a seamless contour that complements the nail’s overall shape. The free edge’s thickness must be uniform, not too thick (be mindful that it wants to be as thin as possible across the 5 nails to showcase your skill),  providing a balanced and professional look.

Achieving this level of detail and symmetry reflects your technical skill and can make a significant difference in your competition scores, showcasing your ability to deliver flawless, high-quality nails under pressure that look stunning and aligned.

Thank you to the contributors of this advice: Alex Fox (UK) Reni Mobrandt (Sweden), Tracey Lee (Netherlands), Hazel Dixon (UK), Antony Buckley (UK), Samantha Goddard (Australia), Kelly Melanitou (Greece), Gemma Lambert (UK), Gabriella Kovacs (Hungary)