How to make it as a… Session TECH

1. Build your contacts

“I’ve always had a passion for nails and fashion. Having worked for Nails Inc in the North East for five years, I decided to branch out and open my business The Daily Nail in 2009. I started working with nail brand Jessica, which is distributed by Gerrard International, and that’s when I began to chase my dream of becoming a session tech as they helped me source some work.

“It was tough to get my name on the map at first because I’m based in Newcastle and a lot of the work is in London, but I persevered and now have jobs including London Fashion Week, editorial shoots for The Daily Mail and working with the Geordie Shore cast under my belt.

“However, social media is now the best place to find people advertising for help on shows. Follow the #fashionweek and #sessionwork hashtags and you’ll find out which nail techs are working which shows. Direct message them to see if they need help. It may be an unpaid job as an apprentice but it will lead to paid work in the future. It’s all about making contacts.”

2. Be adaptable

“Working these events is really chaotic. At the fashion weeks, you have to work on a model at the same time as a make-up artist and hairdresser. I often find myself sitting on the floor, working in crazy positions to get the nails done. Your nail knowledge needs to be strong, too. It’s about knowing which fast-drying products are best and how to apply polish quickly without it being too thick.

“A good trick is to do models’ feet first so they can put their shoes on if they need to do a first walkthrough for the runway, which happens a lot. Use lacquer rather than gel as it saves time on application. Models often smudge their nails during the run through too, so you’ll most likely need to reapply a nail or two. I often help models get dressed to reduce the risk of this happening.”

3. A good attitude is everything

“Whether you get booked again comes down to your personality, work ethic and how you cope with stressful situations. You have to be professional, efficient and able to work under pressure. My first London Fashion Week was tough because it was such a different environment to what I was used to. The focus is on getting the models out on the runway ASAP, rather than taking your time and building up a rapport like you would in a salon. Be polite but efficient, following your notes carefully to make sure you nail the design.”

4. Put in the hard graft

“People think session work is glamourous but it’s not; it’s long days and really hard work. You are called in early with only an hour or two to get all your models ready, you have to muck in and help others who are struggling, and you can’t leave until the runway has started. Also, your travel won’t always be paid for. I’m lucky enough to get it covered but when starting out, you may need to foot the bill like I did until you become more established.”