TECH TALK: Get to know Emily Cording of Cuteycles Nails By Emily

Glean an insight into the daily nail life of Emily Cording, a talented tech from Castleford with a fondness for natural nail care and oh-so arty overlays…

How did your journey into nails begin?

Since I was a teenager, I have loved doing my nails. I’ve always thought of manicured nails is a staple accessory and my passion for gel enhancements grew when I started visiting salons from the age of 16. Nothing made me happier than a fresh mani! I would search Pinterest for hours for the perfect design. This love for nails then grew into a desire to learn the craft and enable others to have that same feeling. I trained in Gelish application via the Georgie Smedley Group (formerly known as Nail Harmony UK) in August 2018. After I qualified, I offered free manicures to close friends and family as a way to hone my skills and improve through practice.

I then decided to go part time with my job so I could practice more and within five months (Sept 2019) I was set up as a self employed nail technician. In February 2020, Georgie Smedley asked me to become an ambassador which was a dream come true having trained with the GS Group 18 months prior. In June 2020 I became a monthly columnist for The Salon magazine, sharing my top tips, trends and nail fashions, and in July, I was asked to be a brand ambassador for Enchanted Decals and hit 10,000 followers on Instagram.

What’s your work setup?

I work from my home studio based in Castleford full time, where my little Jack Russell pup Mollie is always around for a cuddle with clients. Post lockdown has seen me join a beautiful new salon based in Pontefract – Olive & Co, one day a week, allowing my clients to have a home studio or salon experience.  This also allows me to work alongside other talented techs who specialise in hair and beauty.

Emily’s work setup

What’s your signature nail style?

My signature nail style has to be the abstract design, a design that is unique to each client and a staple Cuteycles Nails By Emily trend.  I feel that my clients value the love that I have for creating different shape forms and lines whilst exploring multiple colours as a form of my artistic expressionism, thus allowing me to convey my style freely.

Contrary to the intricate nail art designs that I love to create for my clients, I like to wear a plain nude, pale pink or dark, short, squared manicure. My go to shades would be Gelish ‘Tan My Hide’, ‘Pink Smoothie’ and ‘Olé my Way.’ My go to Christmas mani is always ‘Gelish Gossip’, a super sparkly bright red.

An abstract nail design by Emily

What are the product essentials in your kitbag?

• Navy pro tools. Ethel is my favourite tool to use for prep. I would recommend it to any nail tech.
• Gelish Nail surface Cleanser.
• Gelish pH Bond is an essential dehydrator that I use prior to any base coat; gel or polish.
• Gelish Square Gel Brush Size 6 is the perfect brush for dry brushing the foundation layer prior to the gel colour application.
• The Gel Bottle Inc’s Builder In A Bottle; in particular the Teddy shade. I often wear this alone as it’s so flawless and love to apply as a base under gel colour.
• NAF! Stuff cuticle oils. Lavender is my personal favourite followed by Coconut. I love the handy desk oils to work with and pop the pens in my handbag. I keep pens in salon for clients to purchase to use at home between appointments.

How did you spend your time off work during lockdown?

I listened to the Beauty Edit Podcast that featured inspiring guests and industry leaders in the nail and beauty industry. I have found each podcast inspiring, uplifting and motivational.

I am lucky to have created close friendships with my fellow GSG ambassadors and other nail techs through social media. We spoke daily and had Zoom/FaceTime calls and quizzes which allowed us to support each other and stay connected throughout these unprecedented times. Having been inspired by my fellow techs I used my lockdown time to perfect and practice different nail art techniques and provide content for multiple magazine features. I also spent time researching local art colleges as it is something that I would like to pursue in the future.

What are your career goals?

I have always had three main career goals; the first was to be an ambassador for Gelish and GS Group which I have achieved. My second was to hit 10k followers, which I have also achieved. I attended my first Scratch magazine Scratch Stars Awards party in 2019 which inspired me to pursue a full time career as a nail tech, so my third main career goal is to become a finalist in the Gel Polish Stylist of the Year category, which I am working towards achieving.

I would love to attend art college and use this experience to express my individual artistic style within my role as a nail tech.  I would also love to work on the set of my favourite entertainment programme, Strictly Come Dancing, providing manicures and pedicures.

What do you love about being a brand ambassador for GS Group?

I really enjoy the supportive, close knit bonds that I have formed with my fellow GS Group techs. Being an ambassador allows me to interact with the company about exciting new products before any other techs. I have the pleasure of sharing ideas, designs and thoughts with some of the best technicians in the business.

Being part of the GSG team gives me a platform for opportunities for my own personal development and opportunities to celebrate the brand that I am so passionate about with my followers. Georgie and Jazz at GSG are forever going above and beyond for us as ambassadors, inviting us to events which allows us to network and build stronger working and personal relationships. The GSG is like a little nail family that I am proud to be part of.

What excites you most about the nail industry?

The nail industry to me is innovative and ever-changing. New styles, fashion and nails trends excite me daily and continue to keep my passion for my work alive.  I love that each day is an artistic expression which acts as a type of catharsis. 

What piece of advice would you give to someone thinking of entering the nail industry?

I would encourage them to follow their dreams. If you have a passion and a love for something and you are willing to work hard to put out your best each time you sit down with a client then I couldn’t recommend it more! I built myself up from nothing, just passion and determination and I have found myself in an industry that is full of talented professionals, supportive friends and an ever changing challenges. It has been the best thing I have done both professionally and personally as it has given me a new focus, hunger and desire to achieve my dreams. Be brave and do it!

Follow Emily on Facebook and Instagram.