On My Mind: What a Year!

2018 marks the 35th anniversary of NAILS Magazine — and the nail industry loves an anniversary. I know this because the first issue of NAILS I worked on was our 30th anniversary edition in February 2013. I experienced my first cover shoot (with Tom Bachik, no less), wrote up my first salon experience for On the Road, and wrote my first New York Fashion Week piece.

Some things haven’t changed in the last five years. For example, you can still read On the Road and learn about the trends at NYFW. When looking back at the editor’s letter in the debut issue of NAILS titled, “The Right Time, the Right Product,” I realize some things have remained the same since 1983: This magazine is the right resource for the industry, providing decision-making information on issues, trends, techniques, and style. Sure, the nail industry has expanded (hello, gel-polish), media has changed (enter email, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest), but I would argue that now more than ever, NAILS Magazine is still the right product.

Of course, a little change can be good. For example, look at the achievements of the 35 nail techs we profiled who paved the way for innovation in our industry . What’s more, like our readers, we enjoy updating our look to stay current and fresh. So we gave ourselves an anniversary gift: a redesign.

This isn’t the exact same NAILS that debuted in February 1983. It’s better; and it will only continue to get better, to grow, and adapt to the times. Doing right by our readers has kept this magazine going for 35 years, so here’s to 35 more.