<p>Stephanie Rae Schoolcraft, Montgomery, W.Va.</p>

Stephanie Rae Schoolcraft, Montgomery, W.Va.

<p>Truc Nguyen, Lebanon, Tenn.</p>

Truc Nguyen, Lebanon, Tenn.

<p>Sarah Petersen, Salon Legacy, Rolla, Mo.</p>

Sarah Petersen, Salon Legacy, Rolla, Mo.

<p>Truc Nguyen, Lebanon, Tenn.</p>

Truc Nguyen, Lebanon, Tenn.

<p>Laura McCarthy, Bantry, Cork, Ireland</p>

Laura McCarthy, Bantry, Cork, Ireland

<p>Edina Aigner, Rathdrum, Idaho</p>

Edina Aigner, Rathdrum, Idaho

<p>2nd Place: Roxy Carrillo, Los Angeles</p>

2nd Place: Roxy Carrillo, Los Angeles

<p>3rd Place: Truc Nguyen, Lebanon, Tenn.</p>

3rd Place: Truc Nguyen, Lebanon, Tenn.

<p>Shannon McCown, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and Vancouver, Wash.</p>

Shannon McCown, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and Vancouver, Wash.

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<p>Stephanie Rae Schoolcraft, Montgomery, W.Va.</p>
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Stephanie Rae Schoolcraft, Montgomery, W.Va.

<p>Truc Nguyen, Lebanon, Tenn.</p>
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Truc Nguyen, Lebanon, Tenn.

<p>Sarah Petersen, Salon Legacy, Rolla, Mo.</p>
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Sarah Petersen, Salon Legacy, Rolla, Mo.

<p>Truc Nguyen, Lebanon, Tenn.</p>
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Truc Nguyen, Lebanon, Tenn.

<p>Laura McCarthy, Bantry, Cork, Ireland</p>
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Laura McCarthy, Bantry, Cork, Ireland

<p>Edina Aigner, Rathdrum, Idaho</p>
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Edina Aigner, Rathdrum, Idaho

<p>2nd Place: Roxy Carrillo, Los Angeles</p>
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2nd Place: Roxy Carrillo, Los Angeles

<p>3rd Place: Truc Nguyen, Lebanon, Tenn.</p>
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3rd Place: Truc Nguyen, Lebanon, Tenn.

<p>Shannon McCown, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and Vancouver, Wash.</p>
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Shannon McCown, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and Vancouver, Wash.

It took Robert Nguyen of Salon Nouveau in Bonsall, Calif., about six hours to complete the winning mural. “I did an instrument theme,” says Nguyen. “I wanted to show some well known people in the music industry: Stevie Wonder, Slash, Jimi Hendrix, Steven Tyler, and some people I made up.” To create the hand-painted mural, he used four different DNA brushes. “I didn’t use any special techniques. All the techniques I used are shown in the “1-2-3 Nail Art” books, which are available in NAILS’ online store.

Nguyen has never taken a formal painting class, so what’s the source of his talent? “All of my family are artists,” he says. “I didn’t know I could paint until I started doing nails. Before doing nails I took drafting classes. Everything I’ve learned has been from my older brother Vu Nguyen.”

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