TECH TALK: Hannah Taylor of Hannah Taylor Beauty & Makeup

Scratch chats to Magpie Beauty brand ambassador, Hannah Taylor of Hannah Taylor Beauty & Makeup about her career and future goals.

Tell us about your nail career so far…

My name is Hannah, and I’m a nail tech, make-up artist and beauty therapist. I’ve been working in the industry since 2013, but the road to where I am now was a little rocky! Throughout studying my A-Levels, I knew that my passion was in beauty, however I spent this time battling against the negative stereotypes that my teachers had about a career in the beauty industry. They heavily dismissed my aspirations in favour of pursuing university instead.

I left college with the seeds of doubt that had been planted over the years, and instead, went to work for an agency that would send me to work for various call centres.

It was then that I realised that you spend an extremely long time at work – every single day and for a significant portion of your lifetime. It’s such a waste to not do something you love!

At 21, I enrolled at college whilst working part time at two different jobs. Therein I discovered my biggest obstacle. My desire for perfection, along with the pressure I put on myself to make people happy, meant that I couldn’t physically paint a set of nails due to a debilitating anxious tremor.

With some help from my doctor, who prescribed a medication to slow my heart rate down, cognitive behavioural therapy, and a whole load of determination and passion, I was able to overcome my crippling nervousness and build my confidence enough to work without any other help.

Now, at 29, I have my own very popular salon in Worcestershire, with a team of talented ladies working alongside me. I can’t thank Magpie Beauty enough for the brand’s generosity and support – becoming a  brand ambassador has been a massive, and emotional, highlight in my career. I never thought I would be here, so I hope this may help others out there that may also be struggling, especially with their mental health.

I first discovered Magpie in 2016. At the time, the company focused on selling glitters. The mixes were mesmerising, and their marketing was brilliant. I’ve spent a good few hours over the years queuing up just to get my hands on some Magpie goodies at the beauty shows!

What is your favourite nail art style to create and why?

I absolutely love to create marble nail art! The possibilities are endless and always unique. There are so many ways to create beautiful looks – you can get lost in the depth of layering with some marble creations I’ve seen from techs!

What is your favourite professional Magpie range to work with and why?

My favourite professional Magpie range is its gel line. It’s so versatile and quite prescriptive, so there’s always something that works for every type of client and lifestyle.

What are your five top tips for growing a large following on social media?

My social media following really took off over the first lockdown. This was a time where the anxiety inducing news updates, combined with a lot of spare time, forced many creatives to take to their passion for comfort. Creating nail looks on press-on nails allowed me some escapism. Aside from everything else, it was lovely to see techs come together in union, we all had more time to browse Instagram – and in turn a lot of us found inspiration, built a support network and made friends.

My top 5 tips would be…

1. Consistency is key. Not just with the aesthetic of your grid, but regular posting on your stories too.
2. Interact with other accounts
3. Utilise your hashtag limit
4. Tag your favourite brands
5. Support others!

What are your top five most reached for Magpie products?

1. The Build Me Up Bottle. It’s the perfect consistency and self-levelling, which makes it pretty much do the work for you.
2. Like A Diamond Top Coat is the glossiest top coat I’ve ever used!
3. Pearls A Singer in the spring and summer months is the very best lilac shade that I’ve ever seen.
4. Cherry Pie in the autumn and winter, it’s the most elegant, rich and easy to apply burgundy shade.
5. Elizabeth Dust is the perfect antique gold chrome which is also amazing mixed into Give Me Strength for line work.

What nail career goals do you have for the next two years?

I’m looking at expanding certain aspects of my salon, but mainly just want to stay happy and comfortable in my working environment. I’d like to get to a stage where I could take a step back as day to day running (and cleaning!) of the salon, as it all leaves little time for anything else. I would love to work more behind the scenes with products, development and marketing, and hopefully see a growing relationship with Magpie in the future.

What is your favourite Magpie nail art range to work with and why?

This is almost an impossible question! I would have to say the glitters, as the choice is absolutely endless! But would like to give a special mention to the Magpie Inkies, as they really levelled up my marble work.

Which Magpie technicians inspire you in the nail industry?

There are so many talented Magpie technicians! The two that stick out to me the most are Amanda Byrne and Sarah Mills. I think Amanda’s work is stunning. Her shaping is always so perfect and crisp, and the shine on her sets is dazzling. Sarah’s designs are always so beautiful and unique. I really enjoy watching her tutorials too!

What advice do you have for nail technicians who have just begun their nail career?

My advice to new nail techs is be easy on yourself. Like everything on social media, it’s easy to compare your work to insanely talented technicians on Instagram – but they all had to start somewhere, too. The nail world is such a creative industry, so take inspiration, but be yourself and let that shine through in your artwork.

Be kind to others, support those that may feel like your competitors, because clients will go where they wish, but there’s enough room for everybody, so the only competition you should be in is with yourself. Work hard, even on the days you don’t feel like it, and stay passionate.

This job can be demanding physically and mentally. Be prepared to be a counsellor as well as nail tech. So, look after your clients, but don’t neglect your own wellbeing. Most importantly, enjoy yourself! There’s a reason beauty is often voted as being one of the happiest jobs, it’s super fun and rewarding, and can lead to all sorts of amazing opportunities if you put your mind to it!

You can follow Hannah on Instagram, here.