The nailblog

I'm quitting

2010-12-02T00:26:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry I haven't written in this blog for a long time. The reason for this is that I've decided to quit doing nails. My wrists and elbows can't take the monotone work anymore and to be honest, this is NOT a field to "grow old in". I've always said I'm going to do nails as long as I love it and have a passion for it, but it's not worth it if not.

I feel I've come a long way with nails: I managed to grow a really good business from it, I've won some competition and got lot's of friends. I've educated, been a distributor, made contracts, traveled etc... etc... For me there is nothing more to get as long as I can't do nails on a daily basis. Lots of people have asked me to educate in gel, but in my opinion, to be a good educator you should do nails every day, at least every other day. Unfortunately there are too many educators who have lost the passion and interests in doing nails. The sad thing is that instead of quitting doing nails, they become an educator. Too often I have gotten telephones from other nailtechs asking me for advices because their educator never do nails anymore and don't know the answer.

I might continue to write in this blog, about the industry. Now that I'm not a part of it anymore I'm sure I've got another perspective. :)

Judging-seminar in Gothenburg, Sweden

2010-02-20T21:19:00.000-08:00

This weekend I have been in Githenburg, Sweden, to take part in their judging-conference. I entered because I wanted to learn more about what the judges are looking for/after and also because I may want to become a judge one day.

We were 7, me included (I have a picture, but it is at my camera, will upload it later). We went through the Dusseldorf-rules, point by point. Rules that looks so easy at the paper were in fact very difficult to understand. We discussed every step and made sure nothing got judged twice. THAT was difficult! We also discussed how we WISHED it to be.

What really makes me wonder is... Why on earth do we have different rules in different championships/competitions/countries?Seriously, this field is so very small, why not make international rules and score-sheets? That would make the job a lot easier for both the judges and the competitors. And in my opinion, it would be more fare an less confusing. Like it is today you have to not only read the rules, but also speak to somebody who has done the competition before to ask what the COMMON rule is. For example a salon-nail competition is NOT the same everywhere. Of course the standard for a salon nail vary from place to place and from country to country, but that's why we have rules that should be clear enough that it should not be required to ask somebody what they REALLY mean.

In my dreams we should have an international judging-conference once a year, international judges that had to meet certain criterias and of course, they should be payed. Ok, I do have a lot of controversial thoughts and ideas about this issue, I think I will write about it later. But be prepared... :-)

Back to the conference. I learned a lot, both from a judges perspective, but also for my coming competitions. In fact it inspired me so much that all I want to do now is to go back home and practice. I might try to judge myself after! :-)

It was a pleasure to meet Maria and her team in Sweden and I wish we can continue to cooperate. I can see a Scandinavian cooperation
coming!

My first post from my iPhone

2010-02-16T23:36:00.000-08:00

Just trying to figure out how this is working... :-)

Health and Beauty Scandinavia

2010-02-14T11:13:00.000-08:00

The show was very small, compared to the big shows abroad, but it was nice to meet and chat with nail-friends. However I am happy I am happy I did the show in one day and went back home in the evening.

This is Anette and Kjetil. Anette is from the nail-magazine "Naglar i Norden" and Kjetil is from Entity Norway.

Lorena from Entity USA and Maya and her team from Entity Norway. It was sooo nice to finally meet Lorena! Tomorrow I will buy the Entity gel kit and try it out. I also bought the Harmony kit and will try that one too. Can't wait to try something new!

From the Tone Lise booth.

Ann-Christin and Anette from Neglakademiet.

The Norwegian Championship

2010-02-14T09:45:00.000-08:00

Exactly the same as happened in Manchester happened here, 5 tips cracked when I cut them... The result was that I lost too much time and I finished in the last minute. I even didn't get time to put top-coat on the red polish... A disaster... I am ashamed to show the picture, but I'll do it...:)

Long time no seeeee!

2010-02-14T09:39:00.000-08:00

I have been neglecting you for a long time. I am so sorry for that. The problem is that I haven't been in either "nail-modus" or "writing-modus". However I am in "modus" again and I do have a lot on my mind. Since last time I have been entering the Norwegian Championship and I have been to the show "Health and Beauty Scandinavia". Next weekend I am going to Gothenburg to enter the Swedish judging-conference before the Swedish Championship. I will not be competing in Sweden, but I will watch the competition and how they do it over there. I am really looking forward to this!

My RED nails!

2009-12-11T10:58:00.000-08:00

I am tired of doing French on myself. Today I thought it was a good idea to use colored gel instead! I ended up with this:

To my surprise I really like my red nails!

Proff. Beauty Manchester, the championship

2009-10-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

Something went terrible wrong at this competition too. One thing that happened, that were not at all my fault, was that three of the tips cracked when I cut them. This has never happened to me before, never in my 11,5 years of doing nails! I think I know why it happened. We had to stand outside the show-venue for 15 min. before we were allowed in and it was freezing cold. I think THIS must have made the tips fragile.

Because of the cracked tips I lost about 15 min. (I had to file them off and replace) and that were the 15 min. I was going to use for the polish and last finish. Again, this time I lost lots of points in the polish-section, but this time it happened because I was so stressed that I was shaking. The feeling was NOT good.

Other than that, I know I should have practiced before the competition. I didn't, so it was all my own fault. However I think I have gotten the inspiration to practice again now. Maybe I will take a session next week, I think so... :)

PS. I was the only one who used gel in the championship! In one way I am really tempted to switch to acrylic, because for competition, it is easier as you can pinch acrylic. I also think it is easier to make a crisp smile-line with acrylic. On the other hand... gel is *my* thing and I HAVE won with gel over acrylic. So yes, it IS possible, I just have to practice more!

Blocked or runny nose what is the worst?

2009-10-12T01:20:00.000-07:00

Have had a blocked nose all night and woke up with a slight head-ache. Not very good for todays competition. However I took some meds. and my head is feeling better. My nose? Well, it went from blocked to runny, not sure if that is better. My poor model.... Well, I have brought lots of napkins, fingers crossed we both will survive this! :-D

Right now I am looking forward to the competition. I haven't done 2,5 hours competitions since I won in London, in March, and I have a feeling that 1,5 hour simply isn't enough time for me.
I usually have plenty of time at the salon because I don't like to rush through, so I am not used to working with the clock in my **** :-D

Fingers crossed this will work better for me!

What went wrong?

2009-10-11T12:10:00.000-07:00

Well... The funny thing is... I lost all the good points in the polishing-section!!! :-( I am normally scoring very high there, so I just think I forgot to pay attention. Stupid...

Another thing I did wrong was that I changed to white tips (in this comp. you are allowed to use white, clear, natural tips, you don't get any scores for smile-lines) 5 min., before the competition started... I know, I know... I shouldn't have done that. Especially since I eh... this is embarrassing to tell... It's about 10 years since I last used white tips... (the only reason I had white tips was because I won some when I won the championship) :-/ I KNEW I would get problems, still I did it, to save time. Stupid, stupid, stupid...

And yes, I got the problems I KNEW I would get with white tips... the product too thick at the sidewalls and that again made the polish-work miserable.

I also forgot to WASH my models hands and lost lots of points for that. Stupid, stupid, stupid...

There is a new competition tomorrow, but to be honest, I am not looking forward to it...

Decided to compete in Manchester

2009-10-10T15:07:00.000-07:00

I decided, last minute, to enter the competition in Manchester. I must have had a very good day because I signed in for TWO competitions, the salon-speed and the championship. Luckily I got two models very quick, so don't have to worry about that, at least. The problem is that I don't feel the inspiration to compete, or at least to practice. I haven't practiced since June so really don't expect anything for these two competitions.... I just hope the competitions will get me into the mood again!

The salon-speed is first, tomorrow. I came to Manchester this afternoon without my luggage! My suitcase, with all my competition-stuff in, was left in Amsterdam. The woman I spoke to said the delivery-company didn't deliver in the evening, so she could only tell me I would get the suitcase before 12 tomorrow. Well, that was way too late for me. I decided to go back to the airport, to catch the last plane from Amsterdam, and LUCKILY my suitcase came with that plane.

I don't know if I am ready for tomorrow, but at least I have something to work with! :-D Fingers crossed I will finish in time..... 90 min., is not long... Luckily this is a REAL salon-speed competition and they are looking for natural nails, so no points for white free edge. I think I have decided to go for natural tips and not white. That will do the work a lot easier.

I wish myself good lusk for tomorrow! :-D

Do you expect people working in the beauty-business to look good?

2009-09-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

And if not, do you think they loose integrity? I don't mean good-looking like a model, more like looking "smart"... What do you think? (I might dig my own grave here... :-))

Working backstage - the feelings some days after the shows

2009-09-27T09:34:00.000-07:00

It is difficult to write a constructive and down to earth blog when you are in the middle of the excitement so I will now write a little bit more about my experience working for Marian Newman and her team.

For me, this was the very first time working backstage and I was both excited and scared because Marian had so kindly let me work at her team. I was very scared of not being technically good enough and excited because working at London Fashion Week is something very few people are allowed to do.

I knew that working backstage is not glamorous at all. And it is right. Nails are, naturally, not the primary "needs", hair and makeup come first. As a nailtech you have to fit in while the hairdresser or makeup artist is working. You never have a workstation, you just walk around trying to grab the model "at the right moment". (Sometimes it felt like that moment never came. :)) You don't have time to perfect your work, just to do it as good as you can with limited time.

You have to be prepared to creep at the floor (to do the models toes), working squeezed in between the hairdresser and/or the makeup-artist and even be yelled at for doing your work (maybe you were at the wrong place at the wrong time...) . Unfortunately I am not very thick-skinned and at one of the shows I became really shocked because a hairdresser yelled at me because I was sitting at HIS territory while doing a models nails. I still think it was kind of a strange behavior, but if it ever happens again, I will be more thick-skinned and not let it go into me.

Another useful thing I learned was how effective colored nail-polish can be. As some of you know I am very conservativ, mostly short nails with pink and white for me. After working for Marian, I think I will use more colors!!!

All in all I have learned so much from this experience. It is difficult to explain, you have to do it to understand how it works and I am very happy I now have gotten this precious experience. Working side by side with Marian and her team, asking, soaking up everything and asking again has been very useful for me. I feel a little bit more prepared for that kind of the industry now!

What about Oslo Fashion Week?

2009-09-27T04:42:00.000-07:00

As far as I know, after mailing with their PR-executive, they don't have teams with nailtechs working at their shows. Let's hope Oslo will follow London on this!

SHOES at London Fashion Week

2009-09-26T15:10:00.001-07:00

Backstage at Jonathan Saunders

2009-09-26T14:12:00.000-07:00

I worked for Marian Newman and her team at this show

Backstage at Paul Smith

2009-09-26T13:46:00.001-07:00

I worked for Marian Newman and her team at this show

I don't remember many of the names/faces, but I remember Katlin Aas. She really made my day when I polished her toes. After a day with creeping at the floor, sitting under tables, "sneaking" around to polish fingers while the hairdressers did the models etc... etc... I came to Katlin. She remembered me (I did her nails for some of the other shows) and said to the makeup-artist: "She is really good in polishing creeping at the floor!" And we had a laugh, but for me, it was nice to know that somebody appreciated what I did. Of course I know that nobodies recognize what you do, that's the norm, everybody is too busy, and it's fine, maybe that's why it was so good to hear what Katlin said! :-D With that said, I really liked Katlin the first time I met her too. So natural, so nice and very down to earth.

Backstage at Aquascutum

2009-09-26T13:37:00.001-07:00

I worked for Marian Newman and her team at this show

This was one of the shows I liked the most. Maybe because of the yellow nails! :-D

I love this model!

Backstage at Luella

2009-09-26T13:28:00.001-07:00

I worked for Marian Newman and her team at this show

Backstage at Richard Nicoll

2009-09-26T13:08:00.000-07:00

No "goody-bag", but at least a bag! :-D

Backstage at Julian McDonald

2009-09-26T12:50:00.000-07:00

I worked for Marian Newman and her team at this show

Mostly twitter from LFW as it is easier

2009-09-20T13:22:00.000-07:00

Backstage- the experience

2009-09-19T10:55:00.000-07:00

What a great experience it has been today! I can't pin-point exactly what it was, but I think it was a mix of soaking up how to do it, asking lots of questions, feeling the "buzz" and being part of the whole show. I must admit I was really proud of my backstage-pass! :-D

The only downside was that you really don't get the time to do perfect work, like getting rid of cuticles etc... Also, there weren't that many great nails either! Nice faces, nice bodies, but most of the nails were not good. :)

A funny story: I was in the middle of polishing a models nails. We were small-talking and a woman came to get her name. I heard it was a Norwegian name, so I asked her where she was from, and of course, she was from Norway! It was nice to speak Norwegian! :-D

The Osman show

2009-09-19T10:17:00.001-07:00

I worked for Marian Newman and her team at this show

I was picked up by David Barton who works at Marian Newmans team, and we walked to the Somerset House where the show was going to be held. It was REALLY hectic when we arrived and I am very happy we came early as we had some problem with getting our passes to get backstage. We finally got the passes for the whole team and waited for Marian to come.

We used Nails-Inc nailpolish which Marian blended very carefully.

Me in action!

LOOK at those SHOES!

This is not from the show, but from the test-round.

London Fashion Week (LFW)

2009-09-19T10:03:00.000-07:00

London Fashion Week, the shows I am going to work at:

2009-09-16T21:17:00.000-07:00

Here are the shows I am going to work backstage at:

19th Osman Yousefzada
20th Julien McDonald
21st Luella, Aquascutum and Paul Smith
22nd Jonathan Saunders

21st. is going to be HECTIC. We will have to start at 6.30am I am not sure on when we will be finished, but I will assume around 7pm.

I don't have internet-connection in my room-rate, but my iPhone and laptop (and of course my camera) is packed. I am sure I will find places with free wireless!

London Fashion Week instead of Nailympics this year!

2009-09-11T14:18:00.000-07:00

After some thinking I have decided to do London Fashion Week instead of the Nailympics. I am going to work at 3 shows, my favorites, the same days as I was going to compete. If competing I could have done only do 1, and I would have lost my favorite.

It was not an easy decision as I feel I am letting myself down by not competing, but after some discussion with people I trust and look up to, it wasn't that difficult anymore. :-D

WHOOOOOOHOOOO, I am so very excited for this event, I can't wait to get to London!

Counting down to London Fashion Week and Nailympics

2009-09-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

It's now 10 days until I leave Bergen for London Fashion Week and Nailympics. So far it looks like it is going to be a very, very busy week. Working backstage at LFW AND entering Nailympics in between. However I am really looking forward to get this experience. I just hope I am good enough. It's both exciting and scary...

Diet and beautyfair in Tokyo

2009-09-01T00:35:00.000-07:00

Because I knew this was mainly for beauticians and not for nails, as nails have their own exhibition at Friday, I didn't have high expectations for the show. It could have been very interesting if I knew Japanese, but since I don't, it was impossible for me to understand what they said or what they used. I only saw one nail-station, Christrio.

On the other hand, I met a FANTASTIC man, a brow-artist. OMG, he did some fantastic brows! He used a technique I haven't seen before. First he used a special pencil to mark the brows and then he used a scalpel with color and "painted" the hairs on. It looked sooooo real! It's the best I have ever seen! I didn't dare to get my brows done at the show, but he painted my brows with the special pencil (which I bought lots of... :-))

The picture isn't the best...

I tried to Google him, but couldn't find anything. However I have his e-mail address and I am seriously considering going to Singapore to get training with him.

Mental practice?

2009-08-28T20:40:00.000-07:00

My question today is... Is it possible to practice for a nail-competition mentally? I have realized it is only three weeks left for Nailympics and I am in Japan, without any products... Well... I have only myself to thank when I screw the competition... I should have practiced a lot more, but I just haven't been in the mood for it the last months. When I come back I have some very hectic days at the salon, with no time for practicing. I will have to enter the Nailympics without ANY practice this year. Did I hear SCREW YOU???? :-D

I got my confirmation from Nailympics today

2009-08-25T03:24:00.001-07:00

so yes, I *am* going to enter. It will be gel tip/overlay in 2 hours. I wished it was 2,5 hours, like last year, but hey, I HAVE done a set of nails in 1,5 hours! Sssshhhh... yes, it was not GOOD nails, but I at least I know I can... :) This time I am going to use Hannah, the model I used when I won in Manchester and London, at least I have done her nails before!

Since I am in Japan now, there will not be much time to practice for this competition. I'll go for the next-last place! :) It will be good competition practice anyway.

Hello from TOKYO!

2009-08-23T01:06:00.000-07:00

I don't have internetconnection, but there is a computer at the executive-lounge, so have to be quick. Just wanted to say we arrived safe. There were no delayes and we had no problems with reaching the flight in Paris, although we only had 1 hour.

The temp. is about 30 degrees c. and overcast. It's warm, but not as humid as in Orlando.

I found a shop with lots of nail-magazines. I don't understand a thing, but there are lots of nice pictures and "how to do, step for step".

Conrad Tokyo (our hotel) is VERY nice. I will write about that later. I think we will have wireless connection in Tsukuba, so will have some more time to write from there. Will also upload pictures.

My research today

2009-08-18T23:36:00.000-07:00

This morning I have done some research at the internet. I found Norwegian commercials and professional photos and tried to evaluate their nails, what was good and what would I have done different. What I don't understand is, when everything else is excellent, very often the nails are neglected at the models. Or even worse, you can see there has been a nailtech doing some kind of work, but not good work. I know, I know, doing photo-shoots, with very close-up photos, is really difficult as you have to be very, very accurate. BUT I would rather use a hand without enhancement than a hand with ugly enhancement, or a hand without polish than a hand with uneven polish.

When I did my research I found... haha... something I did years ago.... :-D It's here. I had forgotten all about this article!

Oval nails - very difficult to be consistent!

2009-08-17T12:39:00.000-07:00

I very seldom do oval nails with white free edge. Usually when I do oval nails it is with clear gel.

Today I did my own nails and found it surprisingly difficult to be consistent. Normally, when doing square nails, I don't have much problems with being consistent, but today... well... you can judge buy yourself....

Another thing I found surprising was that I really like my nails like this!

A very good site for those who want to compete

2009-08-16T13:31:00.000-07:00

Today I found a very good site for all those who want to compete. There were lots of pictures and lots of text PLUS some videos. I haven't had the time to watch and read everything, but I am sure I will read it, not only once, but several times. The site is written by Salina Rush, an award-winning nailtech. What I really liked with the site was that it was kind of broken down in small chapters so it was very easy to read. If you want to compete, take a look at the site!

There is a marked for verybody!

2009-08-15T01:46:00.000-07:00

I have said this before, and I say it again...

The last week I have gotten several calls from new clients. Because I know I am much more expensive than the others, I feel I have to tell them when they call. And of course, those who haven't heard of me ask me if I am INSANE! They also tells me they can't pay that much because they can get it 1/3 the next door. So of course, I am loosing clients to the cheaper once. Stupid?

Well... I have as many clients I want to have (I very seldom take new clients, but because of the recession I do take some new these days. It would be stupid not to). And the best thing? I only need 1/3 of the clients that the cheap salons have, to earn the same amount of money!

On the other hand, 2 out of 6 phones choose to come to me. So yes, there is a marked for everybody!

What really concerns me is that most of those who called me called because they were not at all satisfied where they had been. Despite of that, they would rather go back to the cheap one... I don't understand this... And they ask me why I am much more expensive??? But again, it shows that there is a marked for everybody!

My little finger!

2009-08-13T12:12:00.001-07:00

I didn't have much time today, but I decided to re-ballance my little finger. When I filed my nails round/oval some weeks ago I would never have thought I would like it. The truth is that I DO like it and I like it even better with French! I am going to re-ballance all my nails like this before going to Japan.

Yes, I filed off a little bit of the white, the ear...

Poison (toluen) in nail-polish

2009-08-12T02:02:00.000-07:00

This is a Norwegian article about toluen in nail-polish. It is illegal in paintings and adhesive but legal in nail-polish with a concentration up to 25%. The article tells that the Norwegian state-board (not exactly the right translation, but I don't know how to explain it...) is working for a law that says all nail-polishes should be marked with this: "Keep away from children, only to be used by grown-ups!"

And yes, it concerns me, as I work with it every day. Luckily I don't use polish that much, as I usually do gel enhancement. However I have always known that nail-polish and remover are some of the most dangerous products we are using so it's not new for me.

On the other hand... what is NOT dangerous these days, what will NOT give you cancer and/or brain-damages?

I bet more people die of too much fat and sugar than from using nail-polish....

The products I am using

2009-08-09T13:37:00.000-07:00

People have been asking me what products I am using. (Why do you write me on e-mail and facebook and not here?)

I am using Masterworks Innovation clear gel and primer. Creative Brisas white builder gel and top-gloss. (Sometimes I use Brisa top-gloss and sometimes Masterworks, I haven't decided which I like the best yet...) I know, I know, everybody tell not to mix products, but this works very well for me and my clients! I used to use Brisa solely before I found Masterworks. In my opinion Masterworks adhere much better, but unfortunately they don't have a white gel to use the traditional way, only the reverse. So far I have not found a white gel which I like better than the Brisa. As long as it works perfectly well for me, I mix the two of them.

My salon

2009-08-09T11:59:00.000-07:00

For a strange reason I have never showed pictures from my salon. It is very small. Four years ago I had a HUGE salon, 220 square meters, in the middle of the city center and people working for me. So yes, I have tried it, but prefer to have a small salon and being the only one.

Will I ever get better?

2009-08-08T07:13:00.000-07:00

These days I am lazy... I know I should practice for Nailympics, in September, but I can't get myself to do it. I don't feel inspired and I am afraid I will never get any better, no matter how much I practice. I am seriously thinking of not entering.... On the other hand... I may enter and see what's happening. After all, it can't get any worse than in Orlando! :-/

You can follow me on twitter

2009-08-08T00:33:00.000-07:00

#MicaCosmetics

London Fashion Week (LFW) here I come!

2009-08-04T22:25:00.000-07:00

I am so excited I can hardly breath!

I am going to work backstage with Marian Newman's team! I usually say that I am not lucky, it's hard work which has made me where I am today, but right now I feel LUCKY!

LFW is the same week as Nailymics, but I will manage to do my only competition Monday morning. Luckily that competition starts at 7.30 or 8, so I will finish early. Competition, LFW AND 6 days in London, ca I ask for more? I booked my airfare yesterday and will brows for hotel later.

This year has been amazing...... :-D

Competition-nails, not what we usually do.

2009-08-04T03:04:00.000-07:00

As I promised, in a previous post, I will comment some of Marians articles. There were an article about Nailympics here. I really liked the article, and I agree with mostly everything.

One of the comment I hear, very often, is: "Competitions are not about the real world, it is not what we usually do at the salon!. I am not a competitor, I do REAL work!" Sometimes I feel like some people like to think that competitors can ONLY do competition-nails. (This is not Marians view, but in general). Strange, as most of the competitors I know are salon-owners and/or very success-full nailtechs!

I do NOT make very long, un-natural nails at the salon. BUT I do make all my cuticle-areas flush, I have to be a steady polisher, I have to make all 10 nails the same lenght and form, I need filing-control and I need product-control. I am very sure that my salon work has improved after I started competing.

Marian said she wanted to see more salon-nails in competitions. I fully agree with that. What I have seen, at many competitions, is that they have increased in nail-art, but still only have one competition-nails and one salon-nails. At some competitions I feel the whole competition is mostly about nail-art! I wished they could introduce more categories in salon nails. What about:

Do your own nail, one hand.
Do a nail-biter - a kind of make-over.
Do natural nail overlay
Do a reballance
Maybe they could divide the salon nails into a square and an oval category?

I don't know how this could have been done practically, but I am sure it would be "do-able".

Another point is that competitions are very different from country to country and from continent to continent. In UK they have begun with salon-nails competitions. I really like that those competitions are *real* salon-nails. In the US they already have salon-style category, but those are very similar to the European competition-standard. The US competition-standard is waaaaayyy too long, in my opinion....

I wished there were an international standard for competitions and I wished there were an international judging certification with universal rules. This industry is very small so it shouldn't be that difficult to do this? Or???

Some interesting articles!

2009-08-03T22:23:00.000-07:00

This morning I read some interesting articles here. Marian Newman is one of the leaders in our industry, at least in Europe, and her book "The complete nailtechnician" was the first nailbook I read when I was a newbie. I remember I bought it the first time I was in London. I read it from page to page while the rest of my family were sleeping! Memories aside... :)

Later today I will write my view and some comments of the articles.

Filed off all my nails today! :-0

2009-07-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

When doing my own nails today I was very tired of doing French at myself. I also wanted to try out to have clear gel overlay. Since I am not going to travel or doing anything else fun the next weeks I though: "Why not"!

It is very, very strange, but in a way it feels nice. Haha, very natural! :-D

No nail-art for me, hate it!

2009-07-26T06:18:00.000-07:00

At every show, every class, at the internet, everywhere I see nail-art. To be honest, I don't like it. I can see and appreciate the talent and artistic flare the nail-techs have, but I would never walk around with nail-art myself. Somebody will shoot me when I say this, but *I* think it is kind of "tacky". When that is said, I must add that I am very conservative and I only were some small diamonds as jewelries. I even don't like big diamonds! :)

For a strange reason I feel I am not allowed to say that nail-art is not my cup of tea and I feel rude when I say that *I* think it is "tacky". Well... Everybody tell me how boring I am with my very short p/w nails! Is that rude? In my opinion, no. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion, also when it is not suiting everybody!

One of my clients today: A man!

2009-07-25T06:30:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have some men coming regularly to me, they are all guitar-players. Today I had one of them. He is studying music at the university in Bergen, the "Griegakademiet". When I was in the US he had to go to another nailtech and I was curious to hear why he chose to take the bus 30 min. to come to me instead of using one closer to where he lives. I must say I was really flattered that he said my nails were the best!

I have some of the guitar-players from "Griegakademiet" and it is interesting to hear their approach towards nails. They are REALLY dependent of their nails. If they break a nail they can't play. For them it is also very important that the nails are filed in a very special shape (I HATE it because they want me to file their nails in a shape that is quite unnatural for me... but hey, they are the clients! :-)) . My client today said that my nails are the best to play with, they give the best sound! Who would have thought of that?

Today I got to know that another client of me, a guitar-player too, won a competition in Poland. Haha, I am so proud because I did his nails before the competition! :-D

Am I loosing my mind???

2009-07-24T11:57:00.000-07:00

My last client today was talking in her mobile when she came. She sat down and I prepared her to do her nails - she was still talking...

I looked at her nails and became really worried because her nails looked really bad. Her nails were thick, uneven, the white was kind of "blurry" and they were not at all "flush" in the cuticle-area. While I looked at these strange nails I was thinking:

"When did she visit me last time?"
"Was I sick, ill, tired?"
"Did I have a very bad day?"
"Where was I when I did these nails?"

I felt really, really anxious and thought about my bad performance in the US. Maybe I was beginning to loose my mind? Maybe I *was* a crap nailtech? Maybe I should shut down my salon?

My head was spinning when my client finished her phone-call. Then I remembered she had been in the US and asked her if she had done her nails over there. THANK GOD, she had! :-D

My client had payed 40 USD and said she prefer to pay 165 USD for my work and she was thanking me again and again after her appointment. What a relief!!!

I am better today, but

2009-07-09T00:49:00.000-07:00

no work today either. Because I didn't know if I was going to be sick or not today, I canceled my clients yesterday. I am better, but not 100% so I am not feeling sorry that I am home today too. *MY* plan is that I will be 100% tomorrow! :-D

No work today either...

2009-07-07T06:21:00.000-07:00

Well, my tummy was better in the afternoon yesterday, but this morning it all started again. It's been very, very bad today and I had to cancel my clients. And yes, I have canceled the clients tomorrow too. I think this must have been the worst tummy-bug I have ever had and I can't wait to get well.

After all there are some positive things now. 1. I am not traveling alone. 2. I am not on a plain. 3. I am in my own house, my own bed and have my own toilet (THANK GOD FOR THAT!). 4. It's good for loosing weight! :-D

Luckily my schedule wasn't fully packed this week, so it will not be a problem to rebook my clients. After all I can work Saturday and Sunday if required.

Being sick and self-employed

2009-07-06T06:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I woke up with a tummy-bug. It was really bad and it didn't get better through the day. AND it continued today. Not good. Normally I go to work, no matter how ill I am, but not with a tummy-bug. It is impossible to go to work, running to the bathroom and feeling sick.

I had to cancel and rebook my clients for today. Luckily nobody were on their way to holiday and nobody wanted this bug so they were all happy not to come to me today. :)

The problems when being sick are massive when self-employed.

1. My clients will not get their appointment, and they may need it for a special occasion.
2. If you're quit new, you can loose clients.
3. The loss of income.
4. I have to fit in the clients in an already tight schedule.

I HATE to be sick and I always have to think twice before I stay in bed. Luckily my clients know this, so they understand.

I haven't decided what to do for tomorrow. Right now I don't know if I can do it, I don't feel good at all. AAAAARGH....

I have to sort out my models... again....

2009-07-02T23:03:00.001-07:00

So far I am going to enter three competitions this fall.

London - Nailympics. I will only need one model, as I am only going to enter the gel tip/overlay. I think I have sorted out my model for this competition. I will use Hannah, the model I used in Manchester and London. She has gorgeous nails and nail-beds!

Dublin - B.I.T.E. At this competition I will need at least two models. One at the everyday-extentions and one for the sculpturing. These will be on the same day, so I need seperate models. I also need one for the gel tip/overlay the day after.

Manchester - Professional Beauty. Hannah may help me out at some of the competitions as she is going to compete herself, but because of that, she can not help me for all three... Luckily I have some friends in Manchester, so I may get, literally, a helping hand here. :)

Searching and finding a model for each competition is exhausting. I WISHED I had a good model at home and I WISHED I had the money to bring her. The problem is that if I want to bring my own model, I will only be able to enter half of the competitions, because of the economy. What I really need now, is not to win, but to get the COMPETITION- PRACTICE. Of course I want to win, but if I will ever beat the best, I need all the practice I can get to avoid "loosing my head" as I did in Orlando.

Do you eat garlic the day before work?

2009-06-30T12:55:00.000-07:00

I did today, lots of... I LOVE garlic and today I made myself pasta-salad with lots of garlic for dinner. I think there is garlic in nearly everything today and I think most people are used to garlic-breath, at least that's what my clients are telling me when I excuse that I have been eating garlic the day before. Strange, isn't it... that if you excuse your garlic-breath. then people think it's ok, BUt if you just stink out without excusing, it's not ok... :-D I always excuse myself... :-D

Do your clients need to keep their shoes on while going to a sunbed?

2009-06-25T13:05:00.000-07:00

Well... I have a client whose been to another tech for her toes. She had gotten a gift-card but didn't want to use it for her finger-nails, but thought it would be great for her toes. She went in, got her French toes and was told they would yellow in a sun-bed.

Because she wanted some tan before the summer she went to get some sun. She first tried it with her sock on. BUT for a strange reason she felt like they were still curing and that they got warm! Her next step? SHE PUT ON HER SHOES!!! When she told me this I laughed so much I couldn't sit still. I can imagine me her in the sun-bed, with her shoes on.... :-D Next time she will do her toes with me...:-D (And she said she will think of me next time she will go to the sun-bed!)

About pricing and choosing a marked

2009-06-23T12:10:00.000-07:00

There are some fields in my industry I really burn for, and that is INCREASING the PRICES.

Our industry is one of the most increasing industry in the beauty-business. Why aren't our prices increasing as well?

I have travelled, and spoken to nail-techs from, all over the world. They all tell me they can't charge more than 30-70 USD for a full set of nails. I have heard competition champions charging as little as 40 USD! They all blame the clients, who don't understand they have to pay to get their nails done. Well, whose fault is it that the clients think like this? WHO is setting the prices and standard in our industry? The clients?

For me it seams like there is very little diversity in our marked and it looks like the little diversities that are here, has nothing to do with skills, as it normally is. It amazes me that competition champions don't dare to diverse themself from the other nail-techs.

In my opinion the pricing has a lot to do with daring to choose a marked and stay true to it. You can compare it with the clothing marked. You have H&M, Zara, Top-Shop etc.. in one end, and you have Gucci, Prada, Chanel etc... on the other end. You will never find any top at H&M for over 150 USD, and if you found one, I am sure nobody would have bought it. People expect to get cheap clothing there. On the other hand, would you find a top for over 150 USD at Cucci? Do you think they would get rid of it?

If people have money to pay a Gucci-top at 150-300 USD, why do you think they don't have money to get their nails done for more than 70 USD? It's all about what they expect to pay!

There is a marked for discount-salons, but trust me, there is also a marked for the more expensive salons, you just have to choose and stay true to it.

I found a picture of myself

2009-06-23T09:30:00.000-07:00

here

That's how I look when working! :-D

HRTE Anaheim

2009-06-23T09:25:00.001-07:00

I so WISHED I could go to this class! Unfortunately the only airfare to California at that time was for 1600 USD. So no, no way, my bank-account will not allow me to go. Besides, I have a full book at the dates, so no... but I wished... :-D

If you live close to Anaheim you HAVE to sign in to this class as there are so many great guest-educators there, among them is Trang Ngyen. Sign in here.

My practicing for 90 min. competition has payed off!

2009-06-22T12:23:00.000-07:00

It looks like my practicing for 90 min. competition has payed off. The work at the salon is going quicker and quicker!

French overlay on natural nails.

2009-06-20T11:29:00.001-07:00

Today I had a client who wanted French overlay on her natural nails. She had lots of eczema on her hands and her nails were also badly damaged from her eczema. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture before, but I remembered to take some after.

My practicing in sculpting

2009-06-20T11:20:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, in between two clients, I practiced sculpting at myself. I THINK I have "broken the code" on how to do it, but will have to do a full set as soon as possible. The problem is that I am so very tired as I have been up at 02.30 am. and 03.40 am. due to jet-lag. I think I will have to recover from the jet-lag and survive the coming week at work before I can practice any more.

Here are some blurry pictures from my practicing.

So far, this is what I have done today

2009-06-18T12:13:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I should do my travel-accounts at once, I am just so very tired. At least I have managed to find all my receipts...

FUNNY? :-/ :-D

I AM HOME!

2009-06-18T09:22:00.001-07:00

Can't wait to get to sleep in my own bed.

Tomorrow is 9-9 at work. Right now I am not looking forward to it, but I am sure it will be good when I get into it. The worst thing with having holidays is going back to work...:)

I have lots of pictures from the Las Vegas show, I will upload them later.

I wonder when I will stop beating myself up

2009-06-16T00:02:00.000-07:00

Today, after the competition, I thought about something. Will I ever be able to stop besting myself up? Whether I am winning or loosing, I do it. When I won, both in Manchester and London, I was pretty sure I wasn't that good. I thought it was luck and that the competitions couldn't have been that stiff.

Today, when I didn't make it to the top 10, I also beat myself up. I should have done, I shouldn't have done, I am a looser, I am not good, see, it MUST have been luck - my previous wins... etc.. etc...

I am afraid that the competitions, instead of making me a better tech and a more confident one, will make me feel the opposite. It is like no matter what I do and how I do it, it is not good enough for me. This has nothing to do with pressure from other, but the pressure I make to myself. I hate it...

My competition-nails, Las Vegas

2009-06-15T23:53:00.000-07:00

I am not proud of these nails, but it was what I managed to produce in 1,5 hour... I know, I know, they are fanning out and the line of light is not perfect and well... there are very much that is invisible at the picture that is not good too.

Not as good, but not as bad either

2009-06-15T17:53:00.000-07:00

I don't know what to say...

The competition today went much better than last time. I felt calm and I did the best I could, with the time i had, BUT it was far away from good enough as I didn't make it the top 10. It's only the top 10 who get to know their score and their placings, so I don't know more than that. On the other hand I am totally aware of what I have to do better. I have to practice like MAD to get my timings down so I can not only be finished, but make a good set of nails too. That is my next goal. I will also begin practicing doing sculpting instead of tips, I think that can help me both with timings and the issues I am having with the tip-fitting (not straight sides etc...). I also think it might be easier to use an unknown model with doing sculpting. (This is not an excuse for my bad performance, just a note to myself.)

I have pictures, but haven't loaded them to my computer yet. I also have a lot more to say about the competition, how I feel about it etc... but I am on my way out now, so I will have to write about that later.

The clock is

2009-06-15T06:05:00.000-07:00

06.06 am. and I am on my way to the convention-center.

Today I have decided to do everything as I usually do, although nobody else do it, I will use my uniform. If you see a woman with the name "Mica" on her uniform, please come and say "hi" to me.
I feel more calm today than I did last Monday. Fingers crossed that is a good sign.

Thank you!

2009-06-14T07:59:00.000-07:00

Over 400 people have been visiting this blog the last 7 days!

I have gotten e-mails and private messages from all over the world telling me they admire me because I wrote about my "screw-up" in Orlando. Even at the show, yesterday, people came to me, looked at my badge and said: "Wow, it is YOU, so nice to meet you, I have read your blog and I really like it!"

THANK YOU!

I am very happy I went to the convention-center

2009-06-14T07:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a great day.

Before I went to the show I got an e-mail from Iryna Giblett. She asked me if I still needed a model for the competition at Monday! I did have a model, but she wasn't the very best and after looking at Irynas nails I was sure she was much better. I have to give credit to the woman who originally said she wanted to modeling for me. She has always said that if I find a better one, I should go for the best. Not all models are like that, some get offended if you don't use them! In one way I can understand it, but if the model is a nail-tech, she should know how important it is to have *the* model.

At the show I met so many nice people. Some new and many who I have met at other shows, both in Europe and in the US. I feel very fortunate to be part of this industry when I am getting friends from all over the world.

After the show I went to see Iryna, to take off her nails, and after that we went for dinner. What a great couple Iryna and Bob are! We had so much to talk about and I had a very nice evening. I am now a little less nervous for Monday!

The nerves are coming back!

2009-06-13T10:52:00.000-07:00

It looks like I am beginning to get nervous for Monday. I am scared I will screw up again... No, no, no, I have to stay calm. I have to tell myself that it doesn't matter and it can't get worse than Orlando... Or can it?????

I am on my way to the convention-center in Las Vegas!

2009-06-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

My plan is to be at the convention-center Saturday, Sunday and Monday, but the pool at the hotel is sooooo nice..... I am very tempted to skip tomorrow, but I also know there are two classes I really want to join tomorrow. Monday is competition-day... And today there are also some classes I want to join... Well, it looks like I can't have both things! Luckily the flight back to Orlando isn't before Tuesday at 4pm!

I have a back-up model for Vegas!

2009-06-11T18:58:00.000-07:00

She is not the best model, but she is certainly not the worst either, so if I can't find another one, I will use her.

When I got the picture of her nails and her msg. that she WILL be there for me if I need her, but if I find another, better one, she understands, I felt a rush of excitement. I am sitting here, in the USA, and I have people here who is cheering me, hugging me, letting me cry on their shoulders, laughing with me, making posters for me, giving me THEIR model (thanks Bethanne, I still don't know how to thank you!) teaching me etc... etc... I am feeling honored to know all these great people who stands up for me and I don't know what I have done to deserve it! *THANK YOU, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, YOU ALL ROCK!*

SEE YOU IN VEGAS!!!

Hahahaha, I am soooo relieved!

2009-06-11T14:17:00.001-07:00

I recently looked up the rules for Nailympics. For a strange reason I thought I had to be in the Master-division, and do at least 3 competitions. Luckily I found, right now, that I don't have to be in that division! THAT is a relieve for me because I now don't have to learn myself l/p in the summertime and I can get away with doing only one competition, the gel. I am sooooo happy now!

What is wrong with this industry?

2009-06-10T09:50:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know, I am still in Orlando and I should be pool-side sunbathing, but I just have to let something off my chest.

When relaxing at the pool I got a sms from a former client of me. She moved to another city, a year ago, so obviously she had to find a new nail-technician. She have been trying lots of nail-techs, used a fortune of money, but either they have fell off after some days, or she have been taking them off because they have looked so bad she couldn't stand them. She tried a new one today, and it was a disaster, so she texted me.

"Do you know anything about the nail-products I can buy at the iternet, I have to try to fix my own nails!"

Well, what do you answer? In the beginning I thought it was a strange question to ask me, as she know I am a professional. But in another way... I do not blame her. She has been a client of mine for many years, she never complained about my prices and she never thought about doing her own nails, so she is not doing it to save money. She is doing it because she thinks she can do it better herself. She knows how a good nail should be and she is a hairdresser, so I guess she has some kind of artistic talent. So yes, it might happen she WILL do a better job...

And THAT is what making me fuming mad. WHY ON EARTH IS THIS PROFESSION SATURATED WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THEIR JOB????

I would like to blame somebody, but I can't. The only thing I know is that there is something wrong with our education-system. In my opinion it is wrong that the product-distributors are doing the foundation-courses. I know, I know, some of you would say that college-courses or other independent courses, is the worst, and I can not argue about that, because I don't know about it. What I am pretty sure about is that we would never allow the medical-companies to do the foundation-courses for the doctors to be. Why should our industry do it then? I know that the medical-companies have courses and that they are into the education-field, but that isbbbbbb decisions.

I could blame the distributors, who are selling professional products to everybody. And yes, I do blame them, but in another way... What the heck... If WE could do a PROFESSIONAL job, why would anybody non-educated, try to do their own nails, thinking they could do a better job themselves?

If you have any opinion on this, please write it here, I would LOVE to hear what you all think about this.

I screwed everything!

2009-06-08T14:59:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been sharing my ups, now you'll get the downs...

I went to the competition-area early. I set up my station, prepared my tips and prepped the nails. When the competition started I was relaxed and not nervous anymore. Not that I were aware of, at least... :)

The disaster already began with the first tip. Silly me thought that a resin was a resin. As I bought the competition-polish from OPI, I thought it would be nice to get some new glue too. WOW, a resin is not a resin... :-/ It was so thin and it floated all over the tip. I didn't realize this before I understood I had nearly glued myself to the tip!!! This is the only disaster I UNDERSTOOD there and then, that did, the rest of the disasters just happened. The next disaster was that I made the nails way too long. And this really made all the other disasters....

I promise, I have NEVER made that horrible nails before. I was so embarrassed and angry that I cried like a baby after the competition. And that too was embarrassing. I knew I would not get at the top ten, so i waited for my model, took her outside, and redid her nails sitting on the floor, in the hall without light. And guess what? Those nails came out WAY much better. How irritating is that?

I felt it very, very bad at the time. Every time people were asking me about how I did it, I began crying and I became even more embarrassed. BUT looking back at it now, I can clearly see what I did wrong, why it went wrong and what I have to do better for next time.

I think I put too much pressure on myself. Because I won the Championship in London I also had a reputation to take care of. I have NEVER been as nervous as I was today and I think the nervousness got to my head. I forgot everything I have learned and screwed everything.

Straight after the competition I told Amy, with tears in my eyes, that I will never compete again, not in the US at least. I felt like the worst tech ever. And I didn't cry less when I saw Athena, a good friend of mine, whom I met in Chicago, had made a "good-luck poster" for me and Gina. How cute is that? Hahahaha, and Nails mag were there... Taking pictures of me crying because I did rubbish... That was NOT my plan!!! :-)

Now I have a different view... After this day, I can only do it better in the next competition. I am so happy I redid my models nails, I learned a lot from it, and I got a little bit of confidence back. I have also learned that nerves and a bad day can, and will, happen.

In fact I am looking forward to Las Vegas. I am looking for a revenge, not compared to all the others, but compared to myself. I know I can do better and I WILL do better!

I am embarrassed because I didn't handle the disaster very well. I felt like a little kid when crying because I was so disappointed at myself. I will have to work with my feelings, but really don't know how to do it. That is how I am, crying when I am happy and crying when I am disappointed and even mad.

My friend from UK, Judy, once told me to "rock the socks" before a competition. Unfortunately the socks had gone today! :-D

A good night sleep? Hahahahah...

2009-06-08T03:00:00.000-07:00

The clock is now 06.03 and I am soon ready to go.

I am not sure if I have slept at all tonight. Maybe I fell asleep between 02.00 and 05.00, but I didn't sleep very well...

Right now I am fed up with my nerves, my work, with everything. I just want to finish this competition, no matter how it goes, just FINISH, so I can relax.

Fingers crossed my nerves will not ruin everything....

What a day....

2009-06-07T19:48:00.000-07:00

My search for a model has been nerve-wrecking. I woke up, went to the show and started looking. Finally I found a girl with LOVELY hands. Both me and Amy JUMPED up and grabbed her. Haha, Amy's husband said that while we were looking at her hands and nails, he looked at her face and she looked kind of scared...:) I convinced her she had to model for me and we decided to meet later. She never turned up.... This was at 5 pm. and the show finished at 6... I felt really, really bad. I didn't have a model and the time to find one was running out. I felt really, really lost, so lost I... yeh... as usually... I had to cry a little bit... Grrrr... I felt like a little child... I HATE it, why can't I just be like all other grown ups????

Luckily Bethanne decided she wanted to give HER model to ME! I really don't know how to thank her, and I will feel very guilty if I don't do a good job tomorrow... I just hope her model will show up... I know she will... :-D I hope... :-D

After the show the team went to eat dinner and we had a really nice time.

Now I have been practicing a little bit. I have just been playing with the wet gel, taking it on and off to get the feeling as I haven't been doing nails for 4 days.

I have to go to sleep... It will be a loooong and exhausting day tomorrow. WATCH out for the crying woman....:-D

Me, a veteran?

2009-06-06T07:15:00.001-07:00

As I have told before, I have to compete in the veteran class now. It feels very strange as I don't feel like a veteran at all, I still feel like a beginner. Yes, I HAVE been doing nails for 11 years (or is it 12??? I may think it is 12.... yes it is... sorry...:)), but I have only done competition for 1 year and this is my 5th. competition. How on earth can I be a veteran?

It's only 2 days left... and still no model... Haha, if any of you are going to the show, don't panic if you see a strange woman studying your hands, it is probably only me looking for a model! :)

The convention-center from the outside

2009-06-06T07:12:00.001-07:00

These pictures has been taken from our hotel-room at the 27th. floor!

I can't wait to see how it is inside... I may have to buy a new suitcase!

I am in ORLANDO!!!

2009-06-06T05:41:00.000-07:00

The 23-hour flight went very well, no delays and all my nail-stuff came through customs without any problems.

I am settled in my hotel, just across the street from the convention-center where the Premiere Orlando is going to be held. WOW, the convention-center is HUGE! The show will not open before tomorrow, but I hope to get a "sneak-peak" into it today as I will help Amy and the team to set up the booth.

Tonight I am going to the BeautyTech networking BBQ. I have heard there are 100 attendants from 7 countries! I know I will meet some of my friends from the HRTE-Chicago and can't wait to meet all of them. I also know there will be some new faces, some that I have been in contact with through the internet, but never met. How exciting is that? I have brought my family, my husband and our son at 14, but decided it's better to go to the networking dinner alone. It's more scary, but I also know it's much easier to get in contact with people if going alone.

I have to run to pick up some breakfast. See you later!

I LOVE my clients!

2009-06-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

Today was a good day at work and I had some great words from my clients. One of them said: "Well, you don't have to show anything, all your clients know that you are the best, so relax and have fun!"

I have now packed and I am very soon ready for my trip OVER THERE again. I can't wait to meet all my nailfriends. Haha, the Norwegian chocolate has been packed, so I am ready to get some new friends...:-D

SEEEEE YAAAAAAA!

I have done this for 11 years

2009-06-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

and I still have days that I am struggling a lot. Today was one of those days. It was like the gel didn't want to go *my* way. No matter what I did, it just didn't want to be where I wanted it to be. I am sure my clients didn't see how much I struggled, but deep down my throat I was swearing... I know the end-result was good. Although I managed to keep my time-schedule it felt like it took me ages to get there.

I hope tomorrow will be a better day as that is the last working day before I leave for Orlando and Vegas. I *NEED* a good day...

Philosophic today...

2009-05-31T03:24:00.000-07:00

Today I am not going to either practice or work. Instead I did some housework and as always, when doing housework, I become very philosophic. What would have happened if not, or if, blah... blah... why did my life turn this way and not another way? What is my story?

When thinking, in one way my story is pretty boring, but when thinking harder, I think it is kind of shocking, for some. People tend to have a certain impression on how you are and how you have become like that. Sometimes it fits perfectly in, but sometimes it doesn't, and then people tend to be shocked, like: "I had never thought that about you!" Maybe it is not shock, maybe it is relieve? Like I, who seem to be kind of lucky in the lottery (this is NOT my way of thinking, life is not a lottery, it is hard work), after all DO have some "incidents"?

Well, this became cryptic... Now I am going out, in the sun, resting my mind... :)

My prices

2009-05-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

Somebody asked me what I charge. I charge 1490 Nok/£150/$230/€170 for a full set of French and 990 Nok/£100/$165/€113 for French reballance. The prices in Norway varies from 400Nok/£40/$62/€45 and up to my prices. And yes, I have a full book (as full as I want to) and I don't take new clients unless they are recommend to me by other clients.

In my opinion, it's all about choosing a marked and stay true to what you choose. I will write more about that later today, now I have to eat dinner! :)

My very good friend Elise Pilkington, from UK,

2009-05-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

gave me a good advice. She said I should STOP practicing NOW. I know what to do and I know how to do it, so practicing more now will only wind me up. I think she is right, and I think I have felt down because I have been feeling kind of guilty for not practicing more than I have done. But it's true... I know how to do nails... I think.... :-/ After all, I am feeling much better after the conversation with Elise. She really made my day! AND it reminds me on why I LIKE competing, getting in contact with people like Elise.

This is getting harder and harder

2009-05-27T11:31:00.000-07:00

Normally I get a rush of anxiety 4-5 weeks before a competition and normally it calms down after some days. This time it has been worse than ever and I haven't been able to get rid of it. My mood is changing from hour to hour. In one minute I don't care, in the next I am concerned about the time, then I am getting scared of the whole situation and then again, everything change again and I am looking forward to it. I am feeling kind of mad, maybe I am???

I try to tell myself that nobody care about how I place, and that is very true. The problem is that I care very much about it myself. I know I don't have a chance at the top, but my goal, deep inside me, is to get a place among the 50% of the best. I don't know if this is a reachable goal, for all I know, I may be happy to not get the last place.... You see how I am? Totally screwed...

Still need A LOT of practicing!

2009-05-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

Today I had lunch with a friend whom I haven't seen in over 10 years. WOW, it was great! It was like we haven't been away from each other at all and we talked and talked for... 2,5 hours! We had so much to speak about, updating on our lives etc... And... she is doing photography, as a hobby, and she was happy to help me taking some good pictures with her professional camera! I can't wait to meet up with her to get some good pictures. I just have to find a GOOD model first...:-/

After lunch I went to the salon, for competition practicing. My model was a very young girl, 15 years, and her nails were not the best, but at least I had a model! I did her nails in 90 min. but I were not at all satisfied. Grrrrrr... what a pain.... I need to come up with some good ideas to do my work quick AND nice!

Finding a good model?

2009-05-23T23:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, when I practiced, it surprised me how difficult it is to judge if a model is good or not. I knew my model wasn't the best,but I didn't knew she was that bad. I didn't realized it before I began blending the tips. This is not the first time I have misjudged a model, so how on earth will I manage to do it for Orlando and Vegas? I don't have the money to bring a model. I know I will not place. I really don't see the point in paying 15-2000 USD to fly in a model when my only goal is to get finished in time. Normally this is NOT my goal, but I have realized it has to be my goal for this competition. I am not used to having only 90 min., normally I am used to having 150 min!

I am speaking as I already HAVE lots of models to choose between... I don't... In fact, I don't have one at all! Maybe I have to use the first days in Orlando looking for one... Not the best preparation for a competition, but it looks like I don't have a choice.... :-/

Hmmmm....

2009-05-23T04:43:00.000-07:00

Well, I did it... In 90 min. The result? Hahahahahahahaha, my goal was to do a set of competition nails in 90 min. My NEXT goal is to make a GOOD competition set in 90 min....

Unfortunately my model today didn't have good nails for competition. She has some flat nails, some very flat nails and some with a little bit of curve. I am not sure if I want to show the pictures, as I am not satisfied at all. I think I have to improve in all aspects... :-/ OK, I'll show the before and after picture..... The polish I used was not very good. Luckily I have ordered a better one...

Although I am not satisfied with the practicing today, I have to say the same as my model said to me: "At least you are one step closer to the goal. This practicing has not made you worse, it can only have made you good!"

What a great day today has been!

2009-05-22T13:24:00.000-07:00

This has been some of my best days for a very long time. I have done 4-5 weeks backfills in 1 hour and 10 min. I have done that before, but it is a long time since I did that so fast and still my work looked nice.

I had some hours gap between my clients so I decided to time myself when doing my own nails. I did one and one nail and found I had to do one nail from start to finish in 9 minutes. I stopped the watch when I had to cure the gel in the lamp. I managed to do all the nails in 8,5 min.! They are not the very best and I can see lots of places I have to improve, but at least, I managed to do it within the time.

After the practice-run I did one new client. She went to me 3-4 years ago but quited because I commuted to/from Liverpool and it was difficult to get appointments with me. Some months ago she tried another tech because I didn't have any appointment. She was not satisfied. After that she called me and got an appointment. I had to explain that I had raised my prices a lot since she last went to me and that I probably charge the double than the others, but she said it didn't matter, she wanted MY WORK. And today she came. She had badly bitten nails and I managed to do her nails with tip and overlay, pink and white, in 1 hour and 30 min!!! AND she was so very happy when she left. Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures before and after... it was amazing! THIS is why I love my work!

To win or to loose?

2009-05-22T01:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a practice round at myself. I like to practice at myself because I can try out new things, use the time to perfect my skills and nobody will ask me to hurry (except for my husband and son, but they don't count!). Ah, I forgot one thing, I can think very clear while doing my own nails.

When I sat there, pondering about my nail-life and trying to sort out how to avoid the dreaded shadows with doing the nails the traditional way, I understood my lack of confidence the last months.

4 weeks ago I had a wonderful time with Amy Becker, one of the best gel-techs in the world. She thought me how to avoid the dreaded shadows, but in a totally different way than I am working. It was to learn to how to walk again... I knew she used another technique and before I went to her, I was very clear that I would commit to her technique. I tried it and tried it and tried it. It worked very well for one nail, two nails etc... but I had a terrible time to get all 10 nails being consistent. On top of this, I am used to compete with tips and now I had to use forms. I have been practicing like mad the last 3 weeks. With very few good results. For every practice round my confidence went lower. The worst thing was that I transfered my low confidence to other
aspects of my work. Suddenly I struggled with everything, every client was a new "victim" and doing nails/thinking of competing was not fun anymore.

I have always thought a good nailtech should adapt to new things. I still think that, and I am then sorry to say I may not be as good as I thought I was. I know Amy's technique will benefit me, if I only managed to do it, but I don't Maybe I have problems with my learning-abilities? I don't know....

Yesterday I did some BEAUTYFUL competition nails, with tips, MY way and NO shadows! (Unfortunately I did not have my camera at home.) I then decided myself to commit to refining MY technique and getting the time down. It may not give me the winning nails, I may end up not being finished, getting the last place, but at least I now LIKE what I am doing. I can also feel the "fun-aspect" with competing coming back. I have always said I wanted to compete to have fun. The last weeks it has not been fun, only very frustrating.

The last months, competing has become too serious for me. I have put a heavy pressure on myself, demanding myself to commit to wanting to be the best. I still want to be the best, but not that badly. I also want to have fun and not taking it too seriously. After all, nobody will kill me if I get the last place and I will still have my clients. Maybe I don't deserve to win, if I ever do that again, since I don't feel I commit to wanting to be the best. And if I never win again, even if I get the last place, I will at least have peace with myself, that I have had an amusing time!

ORLANDO AND VEGAS, HERE I COME, WINNING OR LOOSING, WHO CARES?!?!!!!

I am doubting my skills again

2009-05-20T12:29:00.000-07:00

I am soooooo frustrated. Right now I am doubting my skills so much that I am thinking my former first-places have been pure luck. I have been doing some practicing today and the nails came out... awful... It's embarrassing and frustrating to see how inconsistent my work is as it usually is very consistent. Usually, at competitions, I am used to use tips. This is the first time I will be using forms and I just don't understand how I can be as consistent with forms as with tips.
I guess I have to practice more, the only problem is that it's only 2 weeks left until I am on *that* flight to Orlando. :-/ I don't feel ready at all.... ARGH...

I am still in need of people who are willing to model in Bergen

2009-05-19T13:36:00.000-07:00

The advantages of being a model is that you get a set of nails for free. They may me a little bit more dramatic than salon-nails, but after I have practiced I can file and reshape so you don't have to walk around with super-long nails. :)

Another advantage, for the right person, is that you can get to travel with me for free! I'll pay all your travel-expenses, you only have to pay for your own food. To get this you have to have long nail-beds (the pink area of your nail), long, thin and straight fingers and not "milk-white" hands. :) You also have to have a strong bladder, as you have to sit for many hours. You are not allowed to exit the competition-arena before AFTER all the judges have seen you. You also need to have good nerves, as it can be kind of nerve-wrecking for the model as well as for the competitor. I sometimes swear like a man if something go wrong (sorry mum...:-)). Sometimes I talk and sometimes I don't say a thing. You have to deal with me...:-D You have to manage to travel by your own as you may have to come after me and leaving before me. And to the last you have to be grown-up to like to have some time alone as I am not always very keen on partying etc... I don't like to be a baby-sitter! :) Well... that's a lot, but I think it is worth it. I am not *that* bad, although it can look like it....:-D

So far I have not felt the need of bringing my own model as I haven't taken the competitions *that* seriously. Or maybe it has been the pressure-thing. If bringing a model, the pressure become worse... It may now look like I need to be more serious and then I need to bring my own model. (Geeeee, I need a sponsor....)

Today has been

2009-05-18T12:34:00.000-07:00

a much better day. I did a set of nails, with forms, in 1 hour and 15 min. The client didn't have nice nails, so I "fiddled" a little bit to get the forms on. So yes, I think I can do a set of salon-competition nails in 1 hour and 30 min! I am relieved!

Today a friend of me came to visit the salon. It seems like she has very good nails to practice on. They are not 100% for competition, but for practicing, they are good. I now have, at least, one model to practice on, that's better than none! :-D

My improvements through the year

2009-05-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

My 1. competition. Nailympics, London May 2008. I had met my model once before, but never done any nails at her. I met her the day before the competition and did the tip-fitting, her cuticles and tried to figure how to do her nails. :) I went to this competition with the expectation of just being happy to entering and finishing in time. I was surprised and happy when I got a 3. place. It was embarrassing emotional. I am sure I am the only entrants who cried like a child for a 3. place! :-/

From Professional Beauty Manchester, October 2008. I had not been in the mood for competition-training because of some personal issues. I decided to enter in the last minute (some weeks before) and found my model at the internet. I thought it could be good practicing... To win was never in my mind, so when I got the 1. place I was, again, surprised. :) Managed not to cry this time!

This is from the Norwegian championship, Oslo February 2009. I was not very happy with my performance here, but it gave me a 4. place.

Professional Beauty, London March 2009. Since I won in Manchester I had to compete in the Champion category (winner of winners). I knew I had to compete against some very good and experienced techs and I also knew I was one of the very few who entered with gel. In this category you can use gel or l/p or fiber and tips or forms. You just have to make the ultimate competition-nail. Luckily I had used my model in Manchester, so I knew her nails. However I was sure I didn't have a chance and had prepared to get the last, or the next-last place. After the competition I was not happy with my work and I can still see I can improve very much. Haha, but it still gave me a 1. place. It was a FANTASTIC feeling, and of course, I had to cry... In fact I was so emotional I shivered and cried so much Sue (who gave me the price) had to ask me if I was ok! :-D ARGH, I hate myself for being so emotional... It is so very embarrassing. :-/

What made me most happy with this competition was the comment I got from Antony Buckley before the prize-ceremony. He said it was some of the best gel- nails he had every seen. WOW! I didn't believe him, and still not sure if I do.... :)

Well, that was all I have done so far!

I need to get into a positive track!

2009-05-16T08:29:00.001-07:00

OK, after some housework, dinner, coffee and a chocolate I have found I need to get into a positive track. I will tell why I LOVE competing!

First of all, it makes me a better nailtech. After I began competing, 1 year ago, I am sure my clients have seen improvements in my work. At least I can see it very clear. Although doing competition-nails is very far away from the nails done in the salon, both have a lot to do with controlling the product, working smart and being meticulous. I always practice when working at my clients!

Going into the competition-arena has made me a stronger person. Before I entered my first competition I was sure my nerves would ruin everything. I am a very "nerve-wracking" person, always think the worst etc... I deal with my nerves on a daily basis (yeeeeh...:-)), so it surprised me that I became so very calm at once the competition started. Maybe because I am used to handle my nerves? For once my nerves may have done me something good, I think...

Sometimes it can be very lonely to be a nailtech, working alone. When competing I felt like being part of something, something I would never have gotten outside the competition-arena. Although we are competing against each-other, we are also in the same (nerve-wracking) boat and people are always very friendly. After the competition some even share hints and tips!

I have gotten lots of good friends while competing. Nailtechs I have never spoken to, or seen before, can stop me and my model and look at the nails and have a "nail-chat". And when winning, EVERYBODY congratulate and are very happy (at least that's what they show/say! :-)).

Competing internationally has taken me abroad. Until now, I have only been to UK, but in June, I am going to Orlando and Florida and all my travel-expanses can be written off in my accountings! WHEEEHEEE! The Chicago-trip will also be "payed" by my company (although my company is me, so "paying" means less taxes).

I just LOVE the "buzz", the nerves and the excitement in the competition-arena! For a strange reason I always feel very happy and light-headed during the competition. I am having fun and I always have a chat with my model. My trainer and mentor, Amy, didn't like to hear that. She told me I have to be 100% focused. Well, she listens to music at her I-pod, I chat (of course, not a deep conversation...:-)), I take it it is just different approaches to being 100% focused? :-D

I am feeling better now! :-D

Not feeling better today...

2009-05-16T06:51:00.000-07:00

Grrrrrr.... Yes, I still wonder why I put myself through the competition-nightmare. And yes, once more, it really has become a nightmare this time. I don't see how I can manage to do a set of nails in 1,5 hours. Or, I might manage it, but I wonder how they will look like, certainly not as competition-nails are supposed to look.... Today I have been training to put on forms. Doing sculpting instead of tipping will at least save me some time. On the other hand, I am scared of not being consistent enough with doing sculpting. I am feeling really C * R * A * P today. (Sorry, I am sure my mother will not be happy for my nice expression here, but it is exactly how I am feeling right now.)

Since the day today has been such a depressing day I am going to practice some l/p. Maybe my very bad l/p technique will make me feel better about the gel... :-/ :-D I have never done any l/p course, still I have to make it at competition-level for Nailympics in London, in September. ARGH, why do I put myself into this????????????

Well, it's 3 weeks left! Next week I am going to train every day... Hope it will be a better week than this has been. Fingers crossed.

Why do this?

2009-05-14T12:38:00.000-07:00

Today somebody asked me why I put myself through all the hassle with competing. Sometimes I don't understand it myself. It's like a love/hate relationship.

I hate it the weeks before the competition. I always think the worst and I always get kind of a "breakdown", thinking that I am not good enough, that my victories before have been good luck etc... I regret I decided to do it and I am depressed. And yes, I am exactly at that stage now. I just can't understand why I have decided to do this. It's only 3 weeks left and I even haven't sorted a model yet. The only thing I have done is that I have payed a fortune in travel-expenses to go to Orlando and Las Vegas.

I will write the good things a day I am in a better mood!

Amy promised me

2009-05-07T20:24:00.001-07:00

that the day I BEAT HER in a competition, she will quit! I will do my best to help her quitting, but I can not promise anything. In fact, I am afraid I will never beat her… Well, it’s a goal, very long time into the future, we all have to have goals! :-D

Competition-training with Amy.

2009-05-07T20:22:00.000-07:00

After the HRTE-class we were some techs who drove to Amy’s for competition-training. Carla also came with us for the first day. OMG this training REALLY blowed me away! I have learned some totally new techniques and it was like learning to walk again. The first day I was so upset because I was afraid I would never get it to Orlando. Luckily I stayed for more days, and after some practice-nails, I found how to do it, at least so much that I can use these new techniques and practice like mad. I have decided to put all my old skills behind me and go for this new technique.