NAIL BITES

Nail News

Working relationship

The Creative Beauty Group has announced a partnership with wholesaler Alan Howard to distribute Entity Nails products in the North, including the Dip & Buff Dipping System and One Colour Couture Gel Polish.

JUDGEMENT DAY

Four talented techs went head-to-head in London in November in a bid to be crowned PB’s Nail Professional of the Year 2018.

The judging day included both a trade test and individual interviews, which gauged the techs’ knowledge of the industry as well as what they are doing to better the profession.

This year’s finalists – Bethany Denby, Michelle Brookes, Kayley Cairns and Katie Barnes (pictured below, left to right) – had one hour and 45 minutes to perform four treatments: three nails with a natural nail manicure; two in soak-off gel polish; four with pink and white enhancements; and one with nail art of their choosing.

The techs then each had a 15-minute interview, where the judges grilled them on everything from the biggest challenges facing the market, to how they manage difficult clients and what they do to help the nail industry. The winner will be revealed at the Professional Beauty Awards 2018, which takes place in London on February 25

GLOBAL VISION

OPI has signed celebrity nail tech Tom Bachik as its new global brand ambassador.

A session tech for more than 20 years, Bachik has high-profile celebrity clients including Jennifer Lopez and Selena Gomez. He also regularly works with fashion designers on looks for catwalk shows.

In his new role with OPI, he’ll work with the brand’s education, product development, digital and social marketing teams to create brand awareness and excitement among OPI techs on the professional side.

5minutes with

Alison Dowse , Izabelle Hammon premier pro artist

I started with Izabelle Hammon as an administrator in 2009. The more I learned about the brand, the more interested I was to be involved, and I started seeing clients a few years later.

As an educator, I run all sorts of training courses for the brands. I’ve travelled to South Africa to assist Izabelle Hammon with its launch there, and hopefully I’ll be heading to New Zealand in the New Year to train educators there too.

Securing session work is about who you know and the relationships you develop. I always make the effort to chat to new nail techs and make sure I carry business cards with me.

If you’re confident, friendly, can work under pressure and love nails then all you need is a contact in the industry to get that all important foot in the door.

My first show at Fashion Week was the best event I’ve worked on, simply because of the buzz I felt. I can’t wait to do it again next year.

If I could only wear one colour for the rest of my life it would have to be Calgel’s Pink Blossom.

My favourite nail art technique is waterfall glitter, hands down. It’s easy to achieve but looks so effective and really changes up a plain mani.