A new tech with lots more questions than answer, Debbie Doerrlamm created a message board on America Online in July 1994, providing the first forum for nail techs on the internet. And the rest, as they say, is history.

In March 1995, Doerrlamm started NailTech, an Internet mailing list for nail professionals and just a few months later launched a single-page internet website also called NailTech, making her the first nail technician with a commercial site on the web and ensuring her legacy as the self-proclaimed “Nail Goddess of the Net.”

The next step, BeautyTech.com, became a reality in September of the same year. BeautyTech expanded its scope to cover the entire beauty industry, including nails, hair, skin care, and tanning. Now containing more than 750 pages, BeautyTech offers technical and business advice, networking opportunities, class and trade show calendar, quizzes, articles, and more. In 2002, Doerrlamm created beautytech.info, a site directed at educating consumer about what to expect from salon service and addressing concerns about MMA and sanitation, among other things.

We’re proud to say that in November 1996, Debbie signed on as NAILS’ internet correspondent writing a column first known as Nails on the Net and now called E-Nails. In it, she shares the world of the online tech to those who may not be plugged in and does her best to demystify the technology we can also use to make our business more productive. In recognition of her 10 years of service to our industry, we’ve prepared an interview with Doerrlamm in this issue in place of her usual column.

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