IWD 2020: How a nail design helped raise awareness of a serious illness
By Zoe Wickens | 06 March 2020 | Feature, Tech Talk
Scratch speaks to some successful and inspirational women in the nail industry leading up to International Women’s Day, 8 March…
Suzie Eglon
Suzie Eglon has worked in the nail industry for around five years and is currently employed by Quintessential Beauty, a salon in her hometown of Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. “I turned 30 and decided I needed a change and to do something that had always interested me, so through a private nail educator I gained various certificates and started my nail tech career,” she says.
Lucy Dawson
Lucy Dawson became Suzie’s client in April 2019 when she moved back to Market Rasen following her rehabilitation.
“Lucy’s life was turned upside down in October 2016, a month before her 21st birthday and two years into her criminology degree at Leicester University,” Suzie explains. “She was taken to hospital with seriously worrying symptoms and three months later was diagnosed with encephalitis. Symptoms of ordinary migraines progressed to medical professionals suspecting a mental breakdown and culminated in seizures and a catatonic state. Doctors warned her parents to prepare for the worst.
“Lucy, however, proved just how strong she really is and defying all odds, fought back this devastating brain disease. She went back to university, got her degree and now campaigns through her blog, social media and public speaking at events to increase awareness of this extremely rare disease.”
The Word Encephalitis Day nails
“When Lucy asked me to create a set of nails based around World Encephalitis Day to be the central focus of her social media campaign posts four days before the awareness day, I couldn’t wait to get stuck in,” Suzie continues. “Having done some of my most challenging sets of nails on Lucy, I jumped at the chance.
“Incorporating the recognisable red and navy colours that features heavily in World Encephalitis Day promotion material, the nails also feature my take on logos from her personal blog. After many drawings and practice runs on tips, we ended up with a set we both loved following three hours of work.
“No brief has ever given me such drive to create an epic set of nails and I just hope that these do the cause justice.”
The zebra is featured in the design as medical students are told “if you hear hoofbeats, think horse, not zebra,” suggesting that they give the most obvious diagnosis and not to expect it to be a rare disease.
“In my case, the doctors heard hoofbeats and thought mental breakdown, when in fact, I was the zebra – with encephalitis,” Lucy adds. “No small matter of brain disease is going to stop me, and I’ll look damn fine while I’m doing it. I’m far more than my disability, I’m still Lucy.”
Read more about Lucy’s story here.