Talking to… KIRSTY McDONOUGH

PB’s Nail Professional of the Year 2025 tells Josie Jackson why the time is right for her to transition into becoming a nail educator and salon owner

After years working in a self-employed capacity under her KM Nails and Beauty brand, award-winning nail tech Kirsty McDonough has decided to take the next step in her career: opening up her own salon, Famoria, with her sister – who works as a lash and brow technician, alongside offering makeup services.

New beginnings

Having worked in the nail industry for 15 years, this move has been a long time coming, halted due to external factors such as Covid. Discussing the new venture, which is due to launch in October, McDonough says, “When I was younger, I worked in a salon that wasn’t run in the best way, which made me wonder how I could do things differently.” While she doesn’t underestimate the amount of hard work that comes with running a business, there are certainly some aspects to look forward to. “You can buy the products you want to buy, and in terms of creativity, you can market yourself in a way that aligns with your personal style,” she says.

While decisions are still being made, McDonough says she wants to use this opportunity to pass on her knowledge to a team. “I’m going to see if I can find somebody who’s new to the industry so I can guide them, teach them to the standard that I am proud to provide. Then, if I ever go on holiday or take time off, I’m happy for my clients to be in their capable hands.”

Class is in session

In fact, McDonough’s aspirations go far beyond training up one nail tech. Once her new salon is up and running, she plans to convert part of the premises into a classroom, helping to shape the next generation of beauty professionals.

With many beauty professionals claiming to be “educators” on social media, McDonough doesn’t plan to do anything by half measures. “About six years ago, I gained a teacher training qualification, but I haven’t been able to put it into use yet – so I’ll be updating that before we start offering any courses.”

Expanding on the importance of a training qualification, McDonough adds, “I’m dyslexic, but I didn’t find out until college. Once I received the diagnosis, I felt a lot better. I started to learn about different teaching styles and how they work for different people – something I’d like to learn more about.”

However, sound technical knowledge and practical skills are still an essential part of being an educator, with McDonough noting, “I’d like to refresh myself on a couple of particular skills too – I just want to make sure I have all the correct, up-to-date knowledge before I pass it on to anyone.”

A love of learning

Over the past year, there has been a growing discourse surrounding education within the beauty industry, particularly fast-track qualifications, often obtained through online-only training. While McDonough notes that some online education can be effective, she cautions newcomers that if a course looks too good to be true – especially in terms of what it offers for the price – then it probably is. “When looking for courses, I try to go off the reputation of the person teaching. They need to have a lot of experience in the industry, and a lot of positive reviews praising their skill level and knowledge,” she says.

Despite establishing herself as a skilled nail technician, with multiple competition wins to her name, McDonough isn’t about to succumb to complacency. “Science is evolving, products are changing all the time, new techniques are always being introduced. That’s why every single year, I do at least one new training course,” she says.

For the thrill

It was this desire for growth that led to McDonough entering her first nail competition, after being encouraged to attend by educator and competition judge Hazel Dixon, whose course she had been attending. “I was terrified, shaking like a leaf,” she recalls. However, McDonough went on to win second place and left with an appreciation for the thrill of live competitions.

While she has now taken a step back from competing, she reflects on it with a warm appreciation. “When I first started, I thought my work was quite good – then after about four years, I looked back and it was actually quite terrible,” she admits. “But then one day, I got a message from one of the judges, Katie Barnes, who told me that she’d really enjoyed watching my work progress over the years. It was so nice to get that message.” While McDonough confesses that sometimes the feedback can be brutal, she credits it for the evolution of her work.

“I think my biggest piece of advice would be to enter nail competitions if you’re not already – I wouldn’t be where I am today without them,” she says. Candidly, she shares that the longer you compete, the worse the nerves can get, divulging, “The pressure increases, everyone expects you to win.”

However, as soon as you sit down and start working – doing what you do best – the fear washes away. “If you’re travelling quite far to compete, I would sign up for as many categories as you can,” McDonough advises. “If you’re spending money on travel, you might as well get as much experience as possible – and give yourself a chance to warm up for the day.”

Now, in a full-circle moment, McDonough has joined the judging panel for the nail competitions at Professional Beauty North. “It was on my bucket list,” she admits.

Winner takes all

Aside from taking part in live nail competitions, McDonough is also a Professional Beauty Awards winner, having taken home the title of Nail Professional of the Year in March this year. While she shares that her dyslexia sometimes impacts her ability to express herself on paper, taking the entry form one step at a time allowed her to demonstrate both her skills and passion for the industry. “That would be my advice – I wrote the questions down separately, as opposed to filling out the form directly, which made it easier to break down what I wanted to say.” McDonough acknowledges the impact competitions and awards have had on her career, noting that new clients have told her that her winning credentials were the deciding factor when booking.

The next chapter

Talking to McDonough, it’s clear she is passionate about getting Famoria off the ground, in addition to continuing to offer an exceptional service to her clients.

When asked what this looks like, she explains that it’s about consistently educating herself in all aspects of nails, because ultimately, there isn’t just one system to suit every client.

Discussing her five-year-plan, she tells us, “Right now, I work five days a week, and each of those days is spent with clients. Looking ahead, I’d like to reduce that to four so I can spend time teaching, too. Perhaps in 10 years, it’ll go down to three days.”

Asked whether she can see herself stepping away from clients entirely to focus on educating the next generation, McDonough says no. “I think it’s important to keep seeing clients because it ensures your skills, and your knowledge of trends, are up to date – and it also enables you to relate to your students if they’re having any problems, which I think is an indicator of a great teacher,” she explains.

KEY DATES

2010

Kirsty McDonough qualifies from college

2014

Takes the step to work self-employed

2016

Begins competing in live nail competitions

2025

Wins Nail Professional of the Year at PB Awards, plans to open Famoria salon