Dafne Fernández | Artist of the Month

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

Dafne Fernández

Learn more about the person behind Nailympia Mexico, who's making a global footprint for nail mastery from her nail academy in Mexico City.

Article by Alex Fox | Published in 2023

Working as a nail professional since 2009, Dafne Fernández, known for both her nail sculpture, structure and art skills, is the founder and owner of Stanzy Nails & Beauty, Botica Puré, Mano Santa Nail Art and the director of the Stanzy Academy in Mexico City. Dafne became globally renowned after taking the role of global educator for Artistic Nail Design from 2012-2018. A champion tech, Dafne has won accolades in Orlando, Vegas, Pasadena and at the first Nailympia Canada in 2019. Dafne is an international judge, who has educated in Japan, the USA, China, Turkey, The Netherlands, the UK, Russia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, Australia and Greece. She’s also the host of Nailympia Mexico and the forthcoming Nailympia Brazil.

“I wanted to host Nailympia in my region because I believe that competitions are necessary in order to build and grow as a nail professional. This activity sets high standards and challenges that a competitor must work through in order to participate. As each element of competition tests the nail tech, abilities are realised and then stretched, skills and creativity are raised and the nail professional finds their purpose as success is enjoyed.”

Follow Dafne & Share this article!

Related videos, articles & glossary terms on GlossaryLive

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch

The Witch

tag that trend

Milena Mingozzi

Learn how to approach a piece of 3D mixed media / fantasy artwork using the L&P acrylic liquid & powder system. Here, Milena showcases how to start imagining your piece, drawing it out, creating its architecture, form & structure and then how you move into the crafting of the character as well as the detailing of all elements that bring it to life.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch

PRODUCTS USED

    • Hobbyist Clay
    • Orangewood Stick
    • Nail Art Tools
    • Acrylic Brushes in Various Sizes
    • A Series of Colored Powders
    • Liquid Monomer
    • Dappen Dish
    • Forms/wax Paper
    • Small Hand Roller
    • Bird’s Feather
    • Small Pin to Add Very Tiny Detailing
    • Brush Fibers
UPGRADE TO PREMIUM TO DOWNLOAD THIS WORKBOOK

Upgrade your account to access this Premium
workbook and so much more educational content.

STEPS

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 1

Choose a picture from which to gain inspiration & ideas for shape, structure & detailing.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 2

 Draw an outline sketch of the witch as you want her to look.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 3
GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 4

Build the shape of your witch using white hobby clay. Manipulate & sculpt it into shape, then leave it to harden. Place a pin inside the body for stability.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 5

Take a series of pink beads of acrylic & cover the entire clay form. Use a thin implement to start adding features to the body to sculpt her form. Start at her buttocks & down her spine.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 6

Now sculpt her nose & form her facial features, creating hollows for eyes & humps for cheekbones to give her a wizened look.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 7

Using a series of colored acrylic powders, monomer & brushes in a suitable size for each part of the body, give life & color to this witch.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 8

Use small beads of acrylic to build out her boney chin.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 9

Use a small nail art tool to gently sculpt her facial expression.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 10

Use black ink in a pen to outline the eyes with black liner.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 11

Take small dark colored acrylic beads & add warts to her face, & a big bushy eyebrow. Use a small nail art tool to give the eyebrow texture. Stick small hairs from an old art brush into the warts to make her look truly ghastly before they cure. A small white bead in the center of a darker bead to create her eyeball, will give the idea of a cataract, giving her a sense of moodiness.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 12

Build up the character in her face with small beads of relevant shades around the eyes. Bring her character to life with careful placing of tiny beads.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 13

Use varying shades of pink skin tone shades to highlight & shade the details on her face.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 14

Move to her buttocks & legs, cover with a very thin, wetter bead of your chosen shade for her stockings.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 15

Continue with the colored beads as you completely cover her legs.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 16

Create the black stripes of the stockings using black ink, a pen & brush.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 17

For the tailcoat to her cloak, take a wet bead of your chosen color & place it between two sheets of wax paper of the disused part of a nail form. Then use a roller to flatten & thin out the bead. Let it cure & then attach using an acrylic bead to the figurine.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 18

Add the hair using the filaments from a black raven bird’s feather. This was collected from Milena’s garden. “Nature gives us everything for our work & our imagination,” Milena cites.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 19

Use the same method as you used for the cloak to create a flat, thin piece of colored acrylic for her hat. Place this on your finger, use hot air if you need to make it softer, then fold it around your finger to create the shape of a hat.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 20

Using a small bead of acrylic pop the hat on her head to stabilize it.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 21

Before the hat cures, bend & shape it to make it look well worn.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 22

To shape the fingers create tiny beads of skin-toned acrylic & create each single finger to look lumpy & boney, remembering to create bumps where her knuckles will sit. Sculpt each one with a tiny tool & micro beads of acrylic. Next sculpt her hands onto the end of the arms & attach each individual finger using a very small 3D brush.

GlossaryLive Tag That Trend Milena Mingozzi The Witch Step 23

Complete your witch by adding more of her cloak, her collar & then check her all over to add in any further details, color shading, shapes, shadows & highlights. You now have a witch, you just need to sculpt her broom!

Want to see your nail art featured on Tag That Trend? Our team is excited to see your work and get you published. Contact us for details.

MORE TAG THAT TREND

RELATED VIDEOS

MORE TO EXPLORE

GlossaryLive Pro Tips Alisha Rimando Finish Filing

Finish Filing

UPGRADE TO PREMIUM TO WATCH THIS VIDEO

Upgrade your account to access this Premium
video and so much more educational content.

Finish Filing

Creating a seal on the natural nail can help avoid polish chipping and peeling off the layers of the nail plate. Let Alisha Rimando explain how this can be easily done with each manicure service, for a perfect finish every time.

UP NEXT ON PRO TIPS

RELATED VIDEOS

MORE TO EXPLORE

Global News from Glitterbels

NEWSWORTHY

Global News from Glitterbels

UK nail brand launches into the USA

Charli Jepson, head of education will conduct the Glitterbels launch into the USA on 20 November 2023 from the new Glitterbels premises in Atlanta, Georgia.

Article by Alex Fox | Published in 2023

The magical world of Annabel Maginnis, owner and creator of Nails by Annabel, now known as the UK-based Glitterbels nail brand, is to offically launch into the USA market on Monday 20th November 2023 from its new US HQ in Atlanta, Georgia. From its new premises in Atlanta, its head of education, award-winning nail professional, Charli Jepson, alongside a series of nail industry guests and influencers, will be offering discounts and giveaways to US nail artists via live feeds from its instagram account throughout the launch day. Having evolved and grown from Annabel’s mom’s kitchen table into a huge fairy-tale salon in Newcastle-Under-Lyme which houses its own state-of-the-art training academy, shop and full-size unicorn, this nail brand has grown beyond expectations into the nail giant we see today. Creating nail art masterpieces and running nail art masterclasses, Annabel wanted to create her own unique brand and led the way in nail technology to build up the Glitterbels brand in the UK. Now a worldwide professional salon, academy and nail brand, Glitterbels offers its unique brand of hema-free gel polishes, builder gels, acrylics, UV/LED gels and cutting-edge accessories all packaged up in pink. ‘Product innovation, trend-led colors and creating beauty must-haves’ is its driving force. With color its passion – from the catwalk to street-style, nature and lifestyle, Glitterbels inspires positivity and shares this love of nails with its customers. Find out more at glitterbels.com and keep an eye on its IG for more updated on its launch into the USA. @glitterbels @nails_by_annabel_m

Follow & Share!

GlossaryLive Life on the Free Edge Kupa Debut In Japan

Kupa Debuts In Japan

UPGRADE TO PREMIUM TO WATCH THIS VIDEO

Upgrade your account to access this Premium
video and so much more educational content.

Kupa Debuts In Japan

Kupa is no stranger to the global nail market, however, the brand is really feeling the love as it moves into the Japanese market for the first time. After introducing its efile brand, and more specifcally, its new Passport Hana e-file at Beauty World Japan, it's been all the rage across the country. A brand committed to education, Kupa enters this highly skilled market with Hirofumi Matsugi at the helm. Alex Fox talks shop with HIro, a 20-year veteran in the Japan nail and beauty market, about what Kupa is doing in Japan to win the approval of award-winning schools and salons across the nation and what sets the Kupa brand aside from others.

RELATED VIDEOS

MORE TO EXPLORE

Nailympia San Antonio 2023

NEWSWORTHY

Nailympia San Antonio 2023

The results are in: Winners unveiled

Overall Top Scorer - Katie Nguyen (787 points) with Elizabeth maskell of CND

Article by Alex Fox | Published in 2023

Nailympia San Antonio was the third Nailympia to be hosted on US soil in 2023. Attracting top class nail artists to battle for medals and points towards the Nailympia Premiere Cup, this event preceded, by just one week, the fourth US Nailympia location, Columbus, Ohio (8-9 October). The thrill of this new cup saw superb skills displayed on the arena as adrenalin kept spirist high and concentration swept over the floor.

Head judge, Alisha Rimando, founder of GlossaryLive.com, was impressed to evaluate such strong skills from the floor, alongside fellow judges Beth Livesay, Jesse Bruner, Gari-Dawn Tingler, Kalista Sims and Koko Kashiwagi. San Antonio saw contestants from across the USA, Germany, Ireland and Ethiopia, which was represented for the first time, who all showcased their nail skills and mastery to hungry spectators. Stepping in to host the event at the Premiere San Antonio beauty expo nail artist Hemi Park relays, “This Nailympia was a blast! This brand new major beauty event, hosted in San Antonio, Texas, delivered 11 categories over two days with 13 competitors from four countries taking 46 seats.
“Seeing such a diverse group of competitors from well-seasoned veterans to novices embracing the arena with such passion and drive to achieve goals was awe-inspiring.

Headline sponsor for the event was nail brand CND, which presented the Top Scorer trophy and prizes.”

Acrylic Tip & Overlay - Division 2
3rd - Provy McClellen - USA

Acrylic Tip & Overlay - Division 3
1st - Olena Oezman - Germany
2nd - Katie Nguyen - USA
3rd - Katarzyna Kruszynka - Ireland

Liquid & Powder Sculpture - Division 2
3rd - Provy McClellen - USA

Liquid & Powder Sculpture - Division 3
1st - Olena Oezman - Germany
2nd - Katarzyna Kruszynka - Ireland
3rd - Katie Nguyen - USA

Perfect Match - Division 3
1st - Olena Oezman - Germany
2nd - Katie Nguyen - USA
3rd - Katarzyna Kruszynka - Ireland

The Joy Of Nails - Division 1
1st - Mari Le - USA

The Joy Of Nails - Division 2
1st - Provy McClellen - USA
2nd - Ana Vega - USA
3rd - Syreeta Aaron - USA

The Joy Of Nails - Division 3
1st - Katie Nguyen - USA
2nd - Olena Oezman - Germany
3rd - Katarzyna Kruszynka - Ireland

Reality Nails - Division 2
1st - Syreeta Aaron - USA
2nd - Provy McClellen - USA
3rd - Ana Vega - USA

Reality Nails - Division 3
1st - Anastasia Totty - USA
2nd - Olena Oezman - Germany
3rd - Katarzyna Kruszynka - Ireland

Invent a Nail Shape - Division 2
1st - Provy McClellen - USA
2nd - Anna Sosina - USA
3rd - Ana Vega - USA

Invent a Nail Shape - Division 3
1st - Anastasia Totty - USA
2nd - Katie Nguyen - USA
3rd - Katarzyna Kruszynka - Ireland

Runway Nails - Division 2
1st - Syreeta Aaron - USA
2nd - Ana Vega - USA
3rd - Anna Sosina - USA

Runway Nails - Division 3
1st - Katarzyna Kruszynka - Ireland
2nd - Katie Nguyen - USA
3rd - Anastasia Totty - USA

Flat Nail Art - Division 2
1st - Provy McClellen - USA
2nd - Thao Pham - USA
3rd - Tammy Mazzaferro - USA

Flat Nail Art - Division 3
1st - Anastasia Totty - USA
2nd - Katie Nguyen - USA
3rd - Katarzyna Kruszynka - Ireland

Extreme Nails Styling Poster - Division 2
1st - Ana Vega - USA

Extreme Nails Styling Poster - Division 3
1st - Anastasia Totty - USA
2nd - Katie Nguyen - USA

Stiletto Nails - Division 2
2nd - Ana Vega - USA
3rd - Provy McClellen - USA

Stiletto Nails - Division 3
1st - Olena Oezman - Germany
2nd - Katie Nguyen - USA
3rd - Katarzyna Kruszynka - Ireland

Salon Nails - Division 2
2nd - Alexandra Podgorny - USA
3rd - Provy McClellen - USA

Salon Nails - Division 3
1st - Olena Oezman - Germany
2nd - Katie Nguyen - USA
3rd - Katarzyna Kruszynka - USA

Follow & Share!

Related videos, articles & glossary terms on GlossaryLive

GlossaryLive Pro Tips Lindsey Karnopp Filtering Photos

Filtering Photos

UPGRADE TO PREMIUM TO WATCH THIS VIDEO

Upgrade your account to access this Premium
video and so much more educational content.

Filtering Photos

Pro photographer, Lindsay Karnopp, shares her tricks to turn your smart phone pics into professional imagery for your portfolio or social post.

UP NEXT ON PRO TIPS

RELATED VIDEOS

MORE TO EXPLORE