I'm quitting

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

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

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

Health and Beauty Scandinavia

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

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!

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!

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!