The Makeup Case was thrilled to have the opportunity to ask Sara Wong, Nail Artist and Nail Competition Organiser at the Sydney International Spa & Beauty Expo, a few questions about the amazing world of nails.
What attracted you to a career in the nail/beauty industry?
When I was younger I used to admire my mothers beautiful nails, so I started doing nails as a bit of a hobby. The more I did it, the more I loved it, so I completed a course and got my first job as a nail artist shortly afterwards. Since then I haven’t looked back – I really enjoy the lifestyle, the work, and most importantly, the fantastic and interesting people who I get to meet everyday.
What is your can’t live without product of all time?
There are probably two products I cannot live without, the first would have to be my iPhone (it pretty much has my whole life organised on it), the second would have to be lip balm.
What is your best tip for a smooth running event/competition?
Ha – if you have any great tips then please let me know. It may seem like everything is smooth running to the public and the competitors, but behind the scenes it can be really hectic. In the end it all comes down to having a great team of people all working together to produce a great event.
What criteria were you looking for in entrants in the competition?
This competition attracts the best nail artists from Australia and Internationally, so in order to stand out from the crowd, not only do you need to have flawless technique, you also need to have a passion for pushing the boundaries and creating designs that are contemporary and innovative.
How did the competition designs compare or differ from last year?
The most obvious difference was that the technical standards are continuing to improve each year and that is a great thing to see – this competition is all about encouraging nail artists to keep improving each year. We also added a new competition category, “Fantasy Runway”, where we saw the competitors go above and beyond to create a whole look for their models based on their nail designs.
What is the most creative/interesting nail design you have seen?
To be honest, some of the most creative and interesting nail designs that I have seen were in this years Fantasy Runway competition – I was blown away by talent and execution of ideas by a number of the competitors.
What nail trends can we expect to see for the coming season?
Well I am from Melbourne so I am always hoping that black polish will be all the rage haha. Putting my serious fashion cap on for a moment…I think we will see more dusty metallic tones like dirty rose pinks and tarnished golds and browns for a while. However I think as the weather warms up, people will be back to bright yellows, pinks, corals and blues.
What do you think about the rise of gel polishes like Shellac and Bio Sculpture?
Each product has its benefits. Gel polishes are great for people who wear the same colour polish for extended periods of time and therefore require resistance against chipping – traditional polishes may not last as long but they can be applied quickly and changed just as fast. Personally, I think it is great to see alternative products to the traditional polishes come onto the market – the more choices we can give our clients the better!
As a nail artist, what is something that people do to their nails that really frustrates
you?
I am a firm believer in wearing nails as a fashion accessory. All too often, people make the mistake of matching the colour of their nails with their lipstick and outfit – make your nails a fashion statement! And don’t get me started on unpolished toe nails…haha.
What are some basic nail care tips?
It may sound obvious, but the best thing that people can do for their nails is to eat a well-balanced diet – eating right can really help to build strong healthy nails. Also, make sure you give your nails a quick file at least once a week followed by the application of a good quality cuticle oil (like Handbag Holiday Cuticle Oil by Butter London), not only does this remove any chips, it also stimulates nail growth.
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