Making Nail Gems – Q&A with Alex Fox

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Kirsty Meakin

Kirsty Meakin is one of the most renowned nail artists in the world today. With over 100 nail accolades, including Social Media Star of the Year 2021, Nail Artist of the Year 2012 and UK Nail Professional of the Year 2010, Kirsty has also been nominated for Nail Artist of the Year at the American Influencer Awards 2019.

Kirsty has been honing her nail skills for over 20 years after uncovering her creative powers at a Youth Training Scheme. The advancement of nail products has allowed Kirsty to explore her ability and passion for nail art and she is vastly recognised for her freehand and 3D nail art skills.

Kirsty’s innovative creations have been exhibited at the V & A museum art gallery in London after Kirsty was commissioned to do a nail art piece for the “power of making” exhibition. Kirsty is passionate about educating nail technicians and provides a wide range of courses for qualified technicians to push their skills further to be the best they can be. Kirsty has a busy and vibrant Youtube channel, which allows her to teach and inspire worldwide with no constraints. She has simultaneously expanded the Kirsty Meakin Brand to include a clothing line, gel polish system, and a host of professional accessories and products.

Q&A with Alex Fox

Let's talk DIY nail gems and much more besides as Alex Fox quizzes Kirsty on her nail industry adventure. If you have any questions you'd like to ask Kirsty, just message them over to Alex at Glossarylive.com or DM @glossary_live and she'll deliover them during the Facebook Live on March 11 at 11 GMT. Feel free to join the conversation.

Do you have questions for the artist? GlossaryLive will present a LIVE interview with this artist. Email your questions to be featured during the Q&A session.

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Giselle Caballero | Artist of the Month

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

Giselle Caballero

The artful journey of award-winning nail artist Giselle Caballero, a nail professional in passionate pursuit of creativity on 10 tiny canvases

Article by Alex Fox | Published in 2024

The artful journey of award-winning nail artist Giselle Caballero, a nail professional in passionate pursuit of creativity on 10 tiny canvases In the dynamic world of nail artistry, Giselle Caballero stands out as a trailblazer whose journey began in 2009 upon her arrival in Canada. Her story is one of self-discovery, resilience, and the unwavering pursuit of creativity. From an initial interest in graphic design to becoming a celebrated nail artist and educator, Giselle’s evolution in the industry reflects her commitment to excellence and continuous growth.

 

Giselle’s creative spirit has always been evident, as she enjoyed painting, drawing, and working with her hands from a young age. Pursuing a career in graphic design, she found herself yearning for a more hands-on form of artistic expression. The transition to nails provided the perfect outlet for her creativity, allowing her to craft miniature art pieces on tiny canvases. As Giselle explored the world of nail grooming, it quickly transformed from a means to supplement income during a job search to a fully-fledged passion and career.

 

The establishment of her business, EGO Beauty marked a turning point in Giselle’s career. Focused on providing top-notch quality, unique designs, and personalized styles, she built her reputation on pillars of excellence – prioritizing service quality, cleanliness, correct technique, and high standards. Giselle’s dedication to creating a welcoming environment for clients and students alike has been integral to shaping EGO Beauty’s identity.

 

For Giselle, nails are not just a job; they are a passion that extends to educating others. As an educator, she’s developed techniques and tailored curricula to share her knowledge and skills with fellow enthusiasts in the nail industry. Giselle finds joy in fostering a supportive learning environment, encouraging her students’ development, and continually upgrading her own skills to share the latest techniques with them. If Giselle could change anything about the industry, it would be to advocate for more accessible education. Bridging the gap between novice and experienced professionals by ensuring quality training and continuous learning opportunities, she feels would elevate the overall standards of the nail industry.

From starting at home to opening her private studio and academy, Giselle’s journey is marked by milestones. Winning the championship in NAILS Next Top Nail Artist Season 7 was a pinnacle moment that opened doors for collaborations and projects beyond her initial scope and have given her untold opportunities since, proving that putting yourself out there can pay dividends to one’s career. A day in the life of Giselle revolves around a simple mantra: eat, sleep, nails, repeat. Her days start with breakfast before immersing herself in various nail-related tasks at her studio. From managing social media to working on class materials and planning new designs, Giselle’s commitment to her craft is evident. Living and breathing nails, she finds genuine enjoyment in her daily rituals behind the nail desk. Kindness and empathy are the guiding principles of Giselle’s life. Recognizing the diverse journeys of individuals and offering support in the form of encouragement or love are crucial to building a strong and supportive community.

 

Giselle offers this advice to aspiring nail professionals, “Stay passionate, keep learning, embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, and build a supportive network within the nail community. Continuous education is key, and letting creativity shine is essential for a fulfilling career.” Giselle attributes her success to the combination of passion, perseverance, and hard work. Staying focused, pressing on through challenges, and continually improving are the driving forces behind her achievements.

 

Looking ahead to 2024, Giselle aims to expand her team, enhance her educational programs, and contribute to the industry’s growth. She aspires to push creative boundaries, explore collaborations with influential brands, and foster a community of skilled and inspired nail professionals while continuously evolving her own skills and techniques. Actively embracing change by keeping up with trends, evolving techniques, and incorporating new technologies, Giselle has found that adapting to shifts in client preferences and industry advancements ensures that her skills align with the ever-changing nail industry. And speaking of the current nail trends in Canada, Giselle reveals, “The most popular nail trends right now are cat eyes (velvet nails), airbrush (aura nails), and minimalist styles, which are all currently dominating the Canadian nail industry,” she smiles.

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April Ryan

Born in Russia and currently living the American dream in Colorado, USA, April Ryan is no stranger to hard work and taking chances. Passionate about nails, April has spent hours creating nail art designs on herself and posting them on social media to high regard and much success. Over time, not only did her nail art gain recognition, but her beautiful hands did as well. It was from this activity that a huge idea was born that took her from nail tech to a Forbes magazine recognized business owner. This entrepreneur and CEO of Red Iguana, who enjoys a social following of nearly 400k on Instagram alone, shares a quick and easy nail art tutorial to jazz up your salon menu this season.

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Viv Simmonds

With over 29 years of industry experience, Viv Simmonds has achieved international status & recognition through many industry accomplishments. A champion tech, Viv has worn the title Australian Champion for five consecutive years, has earned the accolade Australian ‘Champion of Champions’, has been crowned EzFlow Educator of the Year & taken many more awards & titles across Australia over her near three decades in nails. An inspiring source of skill & creativity, Viv has created eight front covers for nail magazines & trade titles around the world & was listed in the Who’s Who of Australian Women 2010 & 2011. She’s been featured on television, as well as in industry & consumer magazines across Australia & around the world. Viv’s accomplishments have taken her all over the globe, where she’s conducted training events in Advanced Nail Technology & Design. One of Viv’s greatest achievements to date is the Australian & New Zealand Team of ACE Akzentz educators that she’s mentored & trained, who are now developing into multi-award-winning nail artists & educators themselves. Viv Clements-Simmonds is the director of VIVid Nails & VIVid Nails Academy, is the global education co-ordinator for Akzentz Professional (Canada) & ICE (International Certified Educator) for Akzentz Professional

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