<p>Alessandro is one of the major European nail manufacturers. The German-based company&rsquo;s booth was immense and constantly packed with nail techs buying products and watching demos.</p>

Alessandro is one of the major European nail manufacturers. The German-based company’s booth was immense and constantly packed with nail techs buying products and watching demos.

<p>This re-creation of the famous Gustav Klimt painting &ldquo;The Kiss&rdquo; was done by Zurich-based nail tech and educator Carmen Kasper using only gels on plexiglass. It took her two and a half months to complete, and she used 501 liters of gel (that&rsquo;s more than 16,000 fluid ounces). Kasper&rsquo;s company, Swiss NailArt, doesn&rsquo;t sell any products. She just offers gel and nail art education. (She also has a regular clientele who mostly prefer gel nails, like most of the women in Switzerland.)</p>

This re-creation of the famous Gustav Klimt painting “The Kiss” was done by Zurich-based nail tech and educator Carmen Kasper using only gels on plexiglass. It took her two and a half months to complete, and she used 501 liters of gel (that’s more than 16,000 fluid ounces). Kasper’s company, Swiss NailArt, doesn’t sell any products. She just offers gel and nail art education. (She also has a regular clientele who mostly prefer gel nails, like most of the women in Switzerland.)

<p>Zekiya Demirkaya (here with Marlise K&ouml;lliker) at Nails &amp; Cosmetics in Grenchen, Switzerland, welcomed us in to her salon. (Read my On The Road at her salon in next month&rsquo;s issue.)</p>

Zekiya Demirkaya (here with Marlise Kölliker) at Nails & Cosmetics in Grenchen, Switzerland, welcomed us in to her salon. (Read my On The Road at her salon in next month’s issue.)

<p>German nail tech Niko Ulrich was a guest artist in the Nail International by Marlise K booth. The owner of Fine Nails was showcasing his handpainted gel art. And yes, this mural was painted using gels! It&rsquo;s amazing what they&rsquo;re doing with gel in Europe.</p>

German nail tech Niko Ulrich was a guest artist in the Nail International by Marlise K booth. The owner of Fine Nails was showcasing his handpainted gel art. And yes, this mural was painted using gels! It’s amazing what they’re doing with gel in Europe.

<p>German nail tech Niko Ulrich was a guest artist in the Nail International by Marlise K booth. The owner of Fine Nails was showcasing his handpainted gel art. And yes, this mural was painted using gels! It&rsquo;s amazing what they&rsquo;re doing with gel in Europe.</p>

German nail tech Niko Ulrich was a guest artist in the Nail International by Marlise K booth. The owner of Fine Nails was showcasing his handpainted gel art. And yes, this mural was painted using gels! It’s amazing what they’re doing with gel in Europe.

<p>Founded 12 years ago by nail tech Josiane Trachsel, Akyado is one of only a few Swiss companies who have their own lab and chemist to make their own products. She teaches acrylic and gel classes, but she also offers courses on how to run a business.</p>

Founded 12 years ago by nail tech Josiane Trachsel, Akyado is one of only a few Swiss companies who have their own lab and chemist to make their own products. She teaches acrylic and gel classes, but she also offers courses on how to run a business.

<p>Swiss-born nail tech Elsbeth Schuetz was my wonderful guide through Europe. In addition to teaching classes, she also did demos for Swiss distributor Marlise K&ouml;lliker, who owns Nail International by Marlise K. She offers many different product lines but specializes in Nail Selection products from Germany.&nbsp;</p>

Swiss-born nail tech Elsbeth Schuetz was my wonderful guide through Europe. In addition to teaching classes, she also did demos for Swiss distributor Marlise Kölliker, who owns Nail International by Marlise K. She offers many different product lines but specializes in Nail Selection products from Germany. 

<p>One of the larger Swiss-based nail companies, You Nails has been around for 23 years, but Dimitri Paradakis, his wife Melanie Paradaki-Koch, and her brother Daniel Koch bought the company five years ago. You Nails had a very strong presence on the show floor with a two-story booth (the top story was reserved for VIP guests and customers to take a load off and enjoy drinks and snacks).</p>

One of the larger Swiss-based nail companies, You Nails has been around for 23 years, but Dimitri Paradakis, his wife Melanie Paradaki-Koch, and her brother Daniel Koch bought the company five years ago. You Nails had a very strong presence on the show floor with a two-story booth (the top story was reserved for VIP guests and customers to take a load off and enjoy drinks and snacks).

<p>Nail tech Jessica von Allmen operates Time for Beautiful Nails, a single-table nail salon in Grenchen.</p>

Nail tech Jessica von Allmen operates Time for Beautiful Nails, a single-table nail salon in Grenchen.

<p>Nails International by Marlise K is a full-service distributor based in Biel, Switzerland (the watch capital of the world). The company, which also has an extensive education center and an on-site salon, is the exclusive distributor of German manufacturer Nail Selection.</p>

Nails International by Marlise K is a full-service distributor based in Biel, Switzerland (the watch capital of the world). The company, which also has an extensive education center and an on-site salon, is the exclusive distributor of German manufacturer Nail Selection.

<p>While there is still no nail license in Switzerland, the National Association of Nails developed a certification where nail technicians can receive a &ldquo;Q&rdquo; rating to post in their salons. This shows clients the tech has taken a certain amount of courses to reach a higher level.</p>

While there is still no nail license in Switzerland, the National Association of Nails developed a certification where nail technicians can receive a “Q” rating to post in their salons. This shows clients the tech has taken a certain amount of courses to reach a higher level.

<p>Hodel Nail Beauty is the exclusive distributor of all Hand &amp; Nail Harmony products in Switzerland. Back row from left are Julie Grossenbacher, Linda Hodel, Jannike Grand, Nadia Hodel, and Yvonne Notario. Front row from left are Sofie Devlieger and Verena Hodel (who was a judge for the nail competitions &mdash; I actually met her on stage presenting the awards for sculptured nails and tip and overlay).</p>

Hodel Nail Beauty is the exclusive distributor of all Hand & Nail Harmony products in Switzerland. Back row from left are Julie Grossenbacher, Linda Hodel, Jannike Grand, Nadia Hodel, and Yvonne Notario. Front row from left are Sofie Devlieger and Verena Hodel (who was a judge for the nail competitions — I actually met her on stage presenting the awards for sculptured nails and tip and overlay).

<p>One thing that I found very different from U.S.-based shows was the presence of chemical companies, like Saremco, on the show floor. Saremco is a manufacturer of gels and color gels for many companies.</p>

One thing that I found very different from U.S.-based shows was the presence of chemical companies, like Saremco, on the show floor. Saremco is a manufacturer of gels and color gels for many companies.

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<p>Alessandro is one of the major European nail manufacturers. The German-based company&rsquo;s booth was immense and constantly packed with nail techs buying products and watching demos.</p>
1/13
 
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Alessandro is one of the major European nail manufacturers. The German-based company’s booth was immense and constantly packed with nail techs buying products and watching demos.

<p>This re-creation of the famous Gustav Klimt painting &ldquo;The Kiss&rdquo; was done by Zurich-based nail tech and educator Carmen Kasper using only gels on plexiglass. It took her two and a half months to complete, and she used 501 liters of gel (that&rsquo;s more than 16,000 fluid ounces). Kasper&rsquo;s company, Swiss NailArt, doesn&rsquo;t sell any products. She just offers gel and nail art education. (She also has a regular clientele who mostly prefer gel nails, like most of the women in Switzerland.)</p>
2/13
 
Slider

This re-creation of the famous Gustav Klimt painting “The Kiss” was done by Zurich-based nail tech and educator Carmen Kasper using only gels on plexiglass. It took her two and a half months to complete, and she used 501 liters of gel (that’s more than 16,000 fluid ounces). Kasper’s company, Swiss NailArt, doesn’t sell any products. She just offers gel and nail art education. (She also has a regular clientele who mostly prefer gel nails, like most of the women in Switzerland.)

<p>Zekiya Demirkaya (here with Marlise K&ouml;lliker) at Nails &amp; Cosmetics in Grenchen, Switzerland, welcomed us in to her salon. (Read my On The Road at her salon in next month&rsquo;s issue.)</p>
3/13
 
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Zekiya Demirkaya (here with Marlise Kölliker) at Nails & Cosmetics in Grenchen, Switzerland, welcomed us in to her salon. (Read my On The Road at her salon in next month’s issue.)

<p>German nail tech Niko Ulrich was a guest artist in the Nail International by Marlise K booth. The owner of Fine Nails was showcasing his handpainted gel art. And yes, this mural was painted using gels! It&rsquo;s amazing what they&rsquo;re doing with gel in Europe.</p>
4/13
 
Slider

German nail tech Niko Ulrich was a guest artist in the Nail International by Marlise K booth. The owner of Fine Nails was showcasing his handpainted gel art. And yes, this mural was painted using gels! It’s amazing what they’re doing with gel in Europe.

<p>German nail tech Niko Ulrich was a guest artist in the Nail International by Marlise K booth. The owner of Fine Nails was showcasing his handpainted gel art. And yes, this mural was painted using gels! It&rsquo;s amazing what they&rsquo;re doing with gel in Europe.</p>
5/13
 
Slider

German nail tech Niko Ulrich was a guest artist in the Nail International by Marlise K booth. The owner of Fine Nails was showcasing his handpainted gel art. And yes, this mural was painted using gels! It’s amazing what they’re doing with gel in Europe.

<p>Founded 12 years ago by nail tech Josiane Trachsel, Akyado is one of only a few Swiss companies who have their own lab and chemist to make their own products. She teaches acrylic and gel classes, but she also offers courses on how to run a business.</p>
6/13
 
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Founded 12 years ago by nail tech Josiane Trachsel, Akyado is one of only a few Swiss companies who have their own lab and chemist to make their own products. She teaches acrylic and gel classes, but she also offers courses on how to run a business.

<p>Swiss-born nail tech Elsbeth Schuetz was my wonderful guide through Europe. In addition to teaching classes, she also did demos for Swiss distributor Marlise K&ouml;lliker, who owns Nail International by Marlise K. She offers many different product lines but specializes in Nail Selection products from Germany.&nbsp;</p>
7/13
 
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Swiss-born nail tech Elsbeth Schuetz was my wonderful guide through Europe. In addition to teaching classes, she also did demos for Swiss distributor Marlise Kölliker, who owns Nail International by Marlise K. She offers many different product lines but specializes in Nail Selection products from Germany. 

<p>One of the larger Swiss-based nail companies, You Nails has been around for 23 years, but Dimitri Paradakis, his wife Melanie Paradaki-Koch, and her brother Daniel Koch bought the company five years ago. You Nails had a very strong presence on the show floor with a two-story booth (the top story was reserved for VIP guests and customers to take a load off and enjoy drinks and snacks).</p>
8/13
 
Slider

One of the larger Swiss-based nail companies, You Nails has been around for 23 years, but Dimitri Paradakis, his wife Melanie Paradaki-Koch, and her brother Daniel Koch bought the company five years ago. You Nails had a very strong presence on the show floor with a two-story booth (the top story was reserved for VIP guests and customers to take a load off and enjoy drinks and snacks).

<p>Nail tech Jessica von Allmen operates Time for Beautiful Nails, a single-table nail salon in Grenchen.</p>
9/13
 
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Nail tech Jessica von Allmen operates Time for Beautiful Nails, a single-table nail salon in Grenchen.

<p>Nails International by Marlise K is a full-service distributor based in Biel, Switzerland (the watch capital of the world). The company, which also has an extensive education center and an on-site salon, is the exclusive distributor of German manufacturer Nail Selection.</p>
10/13
 
Slider

Nails International by Marlise K is a full-service distributor based in Biel, Switzerland (the watch capital of the world). The company, which also has an extensive education center and an on-site salon, is the exclusive distributor of German manufacturer Nail Selection.

<p>While there is still no nail license in Switzerland, the National Association of Nails developed a certification where nail technicians can receive a &ldquo;Q&rdquo; rating to post in their salons. This shows clients the tech has taken a certain amount of courses to reach a higher level.</p>
11/13
 
Slider

While there is still no nail license in Switzerland, the National Association of Nails developed a certification where nail technicians can receive a “Q” rating to post in their salons. This shows clients the tech has taken a certain amount of courses to reach a higher level.

<p>Hodel Nail Beauty is the exclusive distributor of all Hand &amp; Nail Harmony products in Switzerland. Back row from left are Julie Grossenbacher, Linda Hodel, Jannike Grand, Nadia Hodel, and Yvonne Notario. Front row from left are Sofie Devlieger and Verena Hodel (who was a judge for the nail competitions &mdash; I actually met her on stage presenting the awards for sculptured nails and tip and overlay).</p>
12/13
 
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Hodel Nail Beauty is the exclusive distributor of all Hand & Nail Harmony products in Switzerland. Back row from left are Julie Grossenbacher, Linda Hodel, Jannike Grand, Nadia Hodel, and Yvonne Notario. Front row from left are Sofie Devlieger and Verena Hodel (who was a judge for the nail competitions — I actually met her on stage presenting the awards for sculptured nails and tip and overlay).

<p>One thing that I found very different from U.S.-based shows was the presence of chemical companies, like Saremco, on the show floor. Saremco is a manufacturer of gels and color gels for many companies.</p>
13/13
 
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One thing that I found very different from U.S.-based shows was the presence of chemical companies, like Saremco, on the show floor. Saremco is a manufacturer of gels and color gels for many companies.

Editor Hannah Lee traveled with nail tech and celebrity manicurist Elsbeth Schuetz to Switzerland where she went to a European trade show and learned the differences and similarities betwen the nail industry in the U.S. and Switzerland. Click here for the full Article. Click here to view Nail Snapshots from Germany.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here.