Celine Cumming teaches nail art classes for preteens and teens at local libraries in Delaware.

Celine Cumming teaches nail art classes for preteens and teens at local libraries in Delaware.

Nail tech and NAILS’ 2017 Cover Tech Contest winner Celine Cumming is bringing the joy of nails to an important group: the teens and preteens who take her nail art classes at local libraries in Delaware. The idea to teach classes at libraries came easily to Cumming, whose mother is a librarian.

She finds the experience rewarding in several respects. “It reminds me of when I started playing around with nail art at the age of 10,” says Cumming, who works at Angel Nails in Middletown, Del. “When I tell them that I was their age when I started, and explain my nail art journey through the years, I find that they are very impressionable and motivated to learn and practice.”

The students love playing with all the different polish colors she brings and leaving with freshly decorated nails. Their favorite techniques, says Cumming, are the ones they can easily achieve with household items, such as using plastic wrap to dab a pattern on nails or using a toothpick as a dotting tool.

After teaching techniques using household items, Cumming introduces simple line-based designs such as bows and diamonds.

After teaching techniques using household items, Cumming introduces simple line-based designs such as bows and diamonds.

Nail art isn’t Cumming’s only passion; she’s also studying geology at the University of Delaware. She likes showing the girls that they don’t have to pick just one focus. “I can be an example for them, demonstrating that it’s possible to be successful in and love two rather different worlds: science and beauty,” she says.

Students leave the class with freshly decorated nails.

Students leave the class with freshly decorated nails.

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