Posts by Katie Barnes
Know when to book in the next nail appointment
Educator and award-winning nail technician, Katie Barnes, offers advice on knowing when to book the next nail appointment – and what happens if too much time is left between enhancement services… Many techs are responsible for letting their clients go too long between nail appointments. Nail appointments should be scheduled two weeks apart, which is…
Read MoreHow to rebuild damaged toenails
Educator and award-winning nail technician, Katie Barnes, reveals how to rebuild toenails to get them looking tip-top in time for the summer months – with a step-by-step photo guide and nail knowledge to boot Damaged, broken or bitten toenails can be an extremely common concern, but it is something your client needn’t be embarrassed about. The…
Read MoreHow to choose the right nail shape for your client
Educator, former Scratch columnist and award-winning nail stylist, Katie Barnes, reveals how to select the right nail shape for your client… Nails come in a variety of shapes and sizes and everyone has fingers and nails of different lengths and shapes. Some have long, slim fingers while others have short fingers with short nail beds and every combination…
Read MoreHow to select the correct nail form for enhancements
Educator, former Scratch columnist and award-winning nail stylist, Katie Barnes, reveals why knowing the differences between nail forms is so important… Form fitting can seem like a minefield and with so many different types on the market, it is hard to know which form you should be using and why. This blog will explain what you should be looking…
Read MoreHere’s how nail competitions have helped my career
Salon owner, educator, former Scratch columnist and award-winning nail stylist, Katie Barnes, reveals more about her journey in Nails magazine’s Next Top Nail Artist competition to inspire, excite and help you on your own competition journeys… Last week, season five of the Next Top Nail Artist (NTNA) competition, hosted by US trade publication, Nails magazine, kicked off, and the…
Read MoreHow to correctly remove nail enhancements that are lifting
Salon owner, educator, former Scratch columnist and award-winning nail stylist, Katie Barnes, reveals how to correctly remove enhancements that have lifted What is lifting? Enhancements that lift away from the natural nail show a sign of service breakdown. This can occur with any nail coating but is often more common with L&P and gel enhancements. Lifting is typically…
Read MoreKatie Barnes on why you don’t say ‘Chinese salons’
Salon owner, educator, former Scratch columnist and award-winning nail stylist, Katie Barnes, addresses the issue of non-standard salons and incorrect terminology – with a helping hand from CND educator, Anna Lee Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Many technicians and clients are guilty of referring to non-standard salons as ‘Chinese salons’, ‘Viet salons’ or ‘chop shops’. It…
Read MoreNail anatomy: an overview
Salon owner, educator, former Scratch columnist and award-winning nail stylist, Katie Barnes, serves up insight on nail anatomy… As a professional nail technician, it is paramount that you familiarise yourself with all parts of nail anatomy to ensure you are offering your clients a professional and thorough service. Understanding the purpose and growth of the nail The function…
Read MoreHow to prolong nail polish wear
Salon owner, educator, former Scratch columnist and award-winning nail stylist, Katie Barnes, assesses the demand for traditional lacquer – and how to make the most of a nail polish service… With the popularity of gel polish, traditional polish may be viewed as outdated by many techs, so is there still a call for it? Client preference, allergies, job requirements and policies mean…
Read MoreHow to store nail products correctly
Salon owner, educator, former Scratch columnist and award-winning nail stylist, Katie Barnes, offers advice on storing your nail products to get the most out of your purchase… It’s important to understand how long nail products last last, how to store them for optimum usage and safety and how to dispose of them when necessary. Nail products can go bad,…
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