NAIL TECH TALK: Victoria Nichol of Victoria Nichol Nails
By Callie Iley | 30 October 2021 | Feature, Tech Talk
Scratch chats to Victoria Nichol of Victoria Nichol Nails about the importance of self belief and making progress in her work…
“I love that I can create something from nothing. Everything from shaping, filing, colour and the final design – the whole process is incredibly satisfying for me.
“There is no part of the process I don’t enjoy, from forming the nail, all the way to micro-brush strokes. The entire process goes into creating an individual piece of art for that person and that is what keeps me going.”
“There are many people I admire from this industry. The first names that come to mind are Kirsty Meakin, Isabel May, Amy Guy, Joely Ocean and Anouska Anastasia. Over the last two years of nails being my profession and having my nail account on Instagram, I’ve watched these women grow to have their own brands in nails.
“From brushes and products, to making an online nail technician community, and having collaborations with brands like Nike, Juicy Couture and Shrine. As Anouska Anastasia says, it’s more than just nails, and I could not agree with that more.”
“It’s clear to me that when you’re passionate about what you’re doing, you believe in yourself and your talent, then you can go on to achieve big things.”
“Most of my inspiration comes from Instagram, there are so many different inspiring nail technicians with various styles and techniques for creating nail art. I often find myself recreating or adapting their work, but also taking inspiration on the colour scheme or the aesthetic they have created to make my own unique designs.
“Pinterest is also a big source of inspiration for my clients and I. They come to their appointment and have one or two ideas they want to try out, and then we work together to create a finished product they love. On my own nails, I try different designs depending on what I’m feeling that day, whether it be full colour, French with a design or keeping it simple, I’m always up for a challenge.”
“The artistic possibilities of nail art are endless, every time a client sits down in front of me I get to paint 10 new canvases. I take the most fulfilment from seeing a client leave happy and excited about their nails and what I have created for them. As Booker T Washington once said, “if you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else”.
“It’s important not to worry about how well other people are doing and instead focus on what you’re doing. It can be easy to feel you are not growing rapidly or achieving things at a fast enough rate. The most important thing is to remember to focus on your own journey and progression. Expectation is the thief of joy so always to remember to live in the moment and enjoy it.”
“I love that in this industry, there are no limits to what you can do on someone’s nails.”
“At the moment I’m living and working in Malta which I’m really enjoying. My plans for the future are to move back to England and open my own salon.
“I try to enjoy all I have while pursuing all the things I want. When I do move back, I hope to build my own team of outstanding nail artists and become an inspiration to new aspiring nail artists like those women who inspired me.”
“As is the case in any industry, competition is the catalyst that fuels innovation. It is paramount to continue to evolve your own skill set and abilities in order to avoid stagnation. The nail world has come so far in recent decades as a result of this.
“If you are not advancing and making strides, the next person will. And if you cannot offer the service your client desires, they deserve to have someone who can. This is why passion for the work is so important, if you strive to provide the best for your clients you will always be learning, changing and evolving. That is the importance of advancement.”