Why should I compete?

Competing will stretch and fine tune nail skills. It’s a place to extend and explore creativity. It’s where a nail tech can shed salon life and literally create without boundaries. It’s a place to show the world their artistic potential and ability.

Competitions challenge techs to step into a new place, to think and deliver their artistry in new ways – they get industry acknowledgement and become known, many become industry experts and mentors. Their salon business benefits as their marketing reflects this element and if an award is won, it helps them extend their menu and raise their prices. It can also open many other doors in the nail industry that they may not have considered such as being a brand ambassador, educator, designing posters, editorial shoots, advertising campaigns and fashion week teams too. 

Nail professionals love to compete to stretch and showcase their skills. It’s a place where they can extend their creativity and go wild, since this is their artistic platform to explore their own ideas. In the salon they can be limited and restricted by time and the client’s request. 

For nail professionals that want to explore their own creative avenue it’s a great way to challenge themselves, plus they get to see what other ideas and innovations are being used around the world by other techs and they get to network and can grow their salon business by marketing the fact they are competing. A medal also helps them extend their menu and raise their prices.

First time competitors should seek out a like-minded mentor to guide and motivate them through the process. These are easy to find on IG and FB. Past competitors are brilliant mentors. They could also take competition classes. These will show them special hints and tips that get them to their goal faster than finding it all out for themselves. The competition nail is very different to the salon nail. Finding a good, patient model with great nail beds, hands and personality is so beneficial. If entering a competition like Nailympia, bear in mind that you can only ever be in Division 1 once, so it’s best to enter as many competitions as you can, so you make the most of this division. 

Keep your confidence high, don’t let anyone take you off your path, focus and believe in yourself. Compete to see what you can achieve and don’t worry about what anybody else is doing. This is your experience, so most of all, enjoy it – it’s an exciting element to your work life. 

To those who need motivation. Remind yourself why you love nails. Feel the power and buzz that nails gives to you and go and share that in the arena. You’ll be around like-minded people, your peers, surrounded by people that want you to be the best you can be.

It’s only you that’s holding you back. Another person’s nails is their experience. This is yours – so get out there and show us what you can do and ‘wow’ us with your skills, talent and creativity.

This industry needs you – we need to elevate and create together. So get your competition head on and show us your style. You just never know – a medal could be in your hands very soon. And that feeling is sensational. 

To prepare, find a nail professional that can mentor or guide you, Practice as much as possible. Practice on every client in the salon. Practice timings, smile lines, etc. Sculpting pink & white, nail art ideas etc. Find a model, try a competition class with a champion, refresh your skills and get hints and tips from those that have done it. 

Competing brings highs and lows that generate feelings. It’s emotive and exciting, it’s full of flavour and intensity and it’s downright exhilarating. It’s a powerful experience that all techs that truly love their nail craft should try out at some point in their career. After all, you have nothing to lose!