aNAILogies: the hangnail
Tiny, smothered truths are hangnails of our emotional lives. They distress you more than you ever think they will. End them. ~Oprah.com
Top 5 Treats for Nail Techs
Quick! Nail that last minute gift for the nail tech in your life with these internet order-able items:
1. A gift subscription to trade magazines
Of course we want People magazine in the salon, but in our spare time, nail techs just wanna have fun looking at other nails. It’s also a swapping of stories of business, community, technique and style. You can get a hardcopy delivery(most people like a page turner) and/or digital gratification. Here are 3 top publications:
2. Give them a Nailgasm
This documentary on nail art and what it means to our civilization is available as a rental or inexpensive purchase. Techs everywhere will recognize many in this film, making it more up close and personal.
3. Techs like tools of the trade:
LaVaque Collection – FNF Combo
Like all nerds, techs sweat gadgets too. I saw this cute, useful and affordable little ring palette a while back, but LaVaque paired up with Holly Schippers (aka Fingernail Fixer) and made this into a sweet set. For $32 you can get the ring, a full sized spatula with spoon and a mini spatula with spoon. Guys, I know I said ring, but this doesn’t exactly cross into jewelry territory. Still, it’s a gem of gift for the nail artist.
4. Art Supplies
Nails techs can never have enough glitter or paint. A deluxe box of acrylic paint will send fingers flying into a frenzy, as well as $25 worth of foil:
5. Professional Help
Is the beauty industry a bona fide career for your nail tech? Then she/he will take it seriously and focus on professional training along the way. Continued education in nail skills, that’s a given. Focusing on business development? That’s going to give them the edge.
From personal products to pampering spas, Susan Cox has spent the majority of her consulting career working with major beauty companies like Joico, WeCare and CND at events worldwide. If the world’s largest nail company finds her training so valuable it is practically mandatory for all staff and freelancers, it’s worth a peek into it for your tech.
Susan has audio DVD’s for personal pace learning. If you are in powerhouse mode, Remote one-on-one training is available at an hourly rate. Contact her directly for more information or to order at susan(dot)coxceo (@)gmail.com
What else would you add to the list?
Top 5 Nail finds for your Nailphile
When she talks double digits, she means five on the left hand, five on the right, and possibly an additional set at her feet. She couldn’t make gift giving any easier for you. Here are top five selections to keep her happy these holidays:
1. Tom Ford Nail Lacquers – 16 piece set $480
This Neiman Marcus exclusive will slay the fingertip fashionista. A beautiful range of colors from pale to pow (including my favorites, Indian Pink and violet Noir), there is just no nail set comparison. Utter opulence. This set might polish off what’s in your wallet, but you can opt instead for the equally sexy four piece ($120) or custom mix at $30 per individual bottle.
2. Julep Maven $20-$200+
A series of nail parlours in the pacific northwest, Julep has taken nail polish sampling to new level. Surprise with a premix set (shown in GEM), or purchase 3, 6, or 12 months of Maven boxes for a surprise every 30 days. A foot scrub, lippy, hand mask or some other surprise beauty item is always tucked in with the polish. I just completed a year of gratis Maven service with Julep and found the testing to find personal style fun, and eagerly looked forward to the unique black packages each month. Plus, I’m fantasizing the new copper color called Hilary in the Bombshell collection (my style) was named after me!
3. Zoya Dream Boxes $24
A staple at fashion week, Zoya churns out an enormously creative number of colors all year long. They’ve introduced Dream Boxes, a way you can select three of your favorite colors to create a custom box of colors. These black beauties are the same high quality, custom foam fit boxes Zoya houses their Fashion Week designer color collections. Another bonus? All Dream boxes ship free.
4. Essie + Bauble Bar $50
Pick a color, any color. It comes with a matching bracelet! Now pick another bracelet of your choice. And another. Now, put your polish and three bracelets into the tote Essie gives you. Voila – one classy Christmas. Sign up now and get an additional $10 off.
5. CND Shellac Gift Certificate $35-$60
Let’s get real – some woman have neither the time nor talent to polish their talons. Those ladies might be pining for the authentic two-week, no chip Shellac service that can only be found in salons. Hit up a nail technician and add a paraffin dip to the tab for an especially pampering service. Search CND.com for the salon nearest you.
CND Additives Sparkle – s 2013
What goes with the new pastel Sweet Dreams Shellac collection for spring 2013? Why, it looks like a little neon Additives Sparkle. March 2013? Boo.
CND Pink Grapefruit – Matched sets?
CND debuted Pink Grapefruit at the Christian Sirano show at Fashion Week in New York
What was one of the prettiest colors to show at fashion week appeared to be a lacquer that CND is releasing spring 2013.
Now with the early release photos of Pink Grapefruit in CND Shellac(!) it makes one wonder – is the demise of Colors & Effects leading to matching polish? The most amazing possibility for this is that clients will be able to easier extend their Shellac wear if traveling.
ETA for the spring line of Shellac is March 2013. We can hardly wait!
We need your new or gently used manicure products/tools for Hurricane Sandy nail tech victims!
To say Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc feels like an understatement. For many nail techs in the path of destruction, supplies and shops were lost and some insurance doesn’t cover “natural disasters” like a hurricane. To add insult to injury, Sandy hit well beyond New York…
I’m reaching out to Milwaukee area nail technicians to join me in sending product to Nail Talk Radio’s drive to help these manicurists get back to business. Whatever you have – polish, orange wood sticks, UV lamps – anything that will get someone back to work, please consider donating. If you have product or supplies you’d like to donate, please drop it off by Saturday, November 17th to:
- Scenario Hair Design
- 2317 E Capitol Drive
- Shorewood, WI
I’m hoping with a combined effort our Milwaukee area will be able to help even more nail techs that have lost everything in Hurricane Sandy. And remember, if you live outside of Milwaukee, consider your own drive for Nail Tech Radio. Spread the word! xo
