
The Beauty Pro Book Club: 4 Reads to Inspire Growth and Success
Four publications for beauty industry professionals to enhance their leadership skills, financial awareness, professional growth, and joy!
Tom Holcomb is no stranger to photo shoots. In addition to the many cover shoots he has done with NAILS, Tom also does the nails for EZ Flow’s ads.


Who: Tom Holcomb, creative director of EZ Flow Nail Systems
What: NAILS photo shoot, photographed by Caesar Lima
Where: Caesar Photo Studio, Calabasas, Calif.
When: Tuesday, June 4, 2002
Why: To shoot the October cover of NAILS.
Something different: Tom Holcomb is no stranger to photo shoots. In addition to the many cover shoots he has done with NAILS, Tom also does the nails for EZ Flow’s ads. We’ve all seen his work. Nail techs clamor to take his classes just for the chance to see him work. He does stunning pink-and-whites as well as amazing artistic work in colored acrylic. (Remember the New York City nails we ran in the May 2002 issue?) His smile lines and sculpted moons are legendary. For this month’s cover, we asked him to "Reality Nails," a more natural-looking acrylic enhancement.
Get this look: The secret to the Back to Reality nail is the use of EZ Flow’s yellow Rainbow Drops in the monomer. By adding yellow color drops to the liquid, you can match the color of the natural free edge (which is actually more beige than white). Do the nails the same as you would regular pink-and-whites, but with the tinted monomer.
“Make sure to pull the pink over the free edge to create the beige, natural-looking nail,” stresses Tom, who goes along the natural smile line to keep with the more natural look. “I don’t do any correcting or deepening of the smile line when I do this style.” You might have to play around with the ratio at first to get the ideal color. Tom suggests that if your clients like this look, keep a recipe card of how many drops of color you use amount of monomer so that you can keep a consistent look.

Four publications for beauty industry professionals to enhance their leadership skills, financial awareness, professional growth, and joy!

The most successful salon suites balance personality, function, and comfort. Megan Communale of My Salon Suite shares her best advice for designing a space that supports your business goals and leaves a lasting impression on every guest.

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When Bowie Lau and Jeffrey Ching opened JBW Jeffrey Ching Salon in 2011, they weren’t just launching another luxury hair destination—they were building a business rooted in passion, artistry, and thoughtful growth.
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Want to grow your career as a beauty professional? K18 Sales Manager Sabrina Sanborn shares advice on networking, mentorship, and self-advocacy—from attending hair shows to finding the right guidance to reach your goals.

A combination of clear policies, effective communication, and strong client relationships has helped me create a more reliable and efficient booking system.

Founded by Cleveland serial entrepreneur Shaura Rodgers, Nailtorious has grown to include a nail supply megastore, training facilities, and retail line for nail techs.

This period after the holidays can bring on a huge lull for hairstylists. We asked Cosmo Prof's team of professionals to offer their best advice on how to deal with the January-February slow period.

Key highlights include a push toward inclusive spaces for all abilities, an emphasis on maximizing livable square footage, and a continued love for modern farmhouse exteriors.

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Sponsored by Amex

Want to become savvy about your personal finances, but don't quite know where to start? Anna Manukyan identifies six important concepts for building a strong financial foundation.

Salon owner Nuri Yurt had a dream of owning a salon on New York City’s Madison Avenue. "Through perseverance, hard work and stellar customer service, he and partner John Kaygisiz founded Toka Salon in 2007.
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This guide is your one-stop shop for a plethora of technology tools, software and services created to keep your salon or spa thriving.

Anna Manukyan shares a breakdown of what different types of financial accounts should be used for.

Vagaro has consistently been at the forefront of salon software technology, helping businesses be more efficient, create more effective communication, and even improve company culture. Now, Connect by Vagaro, the platform’s two-way communication capability, and Vagaro’s new generative AI tools are giving owners new opportunities to grow and expand.
Sponsored by Vagaro

Young Nails' Greg, Habib, and Tracey discuss whether getting too close to clients can damage your business.