A UK tech makes it big across the pond, and we tour S2’s new HQ

Nail News

AMERICAN DREAM

Professional Beauty Nail Professional of the Year 2018 finalist Katie Barnes has also made the finals in the fifth edition of US industry award Nails Next Top Nail Artist.

The only British tech among the 12 finalists, Barnes must complete a series of challenges to show off her skills between January and March, including shooting step-by-step video tutorials and demos. Following that, post-competition rounds will take place from April to June. The winner will be crowned in Florida, US, in summer 2018.

Barnes commented: “I am proud to represent the UK in this worldwide competition and want to show others that they can too achieve their dreams and ambitions.”

HOME SWEET HOME

Sweet Squared (S2) put a group of beauty journalists to work picking and packing orders at its Leeds warehouse in November. Press including PB’s assistant editor Georgia Seago were invited to check out the warehouse and new HQ, situated much closer to the city centre than the distributor’s previous space.

Hosted by co-owners Samantha and Samuel Sweet, the group had afternoon tea at the Marriot Hotel, the place the couple first met 20 years ago, to hear S2’s creation story.

At head office the journalists toured the new purpose-built space, which features a pro shop, training rooms and staff bistro, and had Shellac and Vinylux manis by educators Kate Sawley and Liza Smith. Seago went for mink shade Unearthed, from the new Nude collection.

5 minutes with

Angie Gunter, head of education for INK London

I began my nail journey in 2012 after working in the motor industry for 10 years. I did a basic manicure diploma. After further training, I started doing nails in the evenings and weekends. I wanted to give up in the early days because painting nails wasn’t quite as easy as it looked.

Now, I can honestly say that leaving my secure job to start out in nails is the best thing I’ve ever done. It’s never too late to change your career. If you have the passion and determination to succeed, everything else is irrelevant.

I was approached by INK London at the Professional Beauty show in 2015 and a few months later I joined as head of education. Training is the biggest challenge in the industry – it’s also about the risks to techs and their reputation from using non-professional brands.

I think it’s imperative that you help your students understand this industry, be honest and explain the ups and downs that they could face as a nail tech starting out. It’s not just about painting nails.

Teaching beginners is where my passion lies, and I also run one-to-one courses for experienced techs who want to convert to INK, work on their speed or need troubleshooting help. I have an amazing team of 22 educators so I tend to leave the majority of courses to them.

Great nail professionals never stop learning. The day you feel that your work is perfect and there is no room for improvement is the day you need to quit and choose another industry.