Since the finale of last year’s competition at ISSE Long Beach, we have waited excitedly to see who would compete to be NAILS Next Top Nail Artist. After two pre-challenges, we have eliminated half of our semi-finalists and have found 12 worthy competitors.

One of the artists named below will be crowned NAILS Next Top Nail Artist at ISSE Long Beach 2015.

Congratulations to the following 12 nail artists who will be competing for the title.

Amy Gustafson (Diamond Nails Studio, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada)

Nail tech for: 16 months

Preferred nail art medium: acrylic

Favorite nail trend: Swarovski crystals

FACEBOOK:  amysnailstudio

INSTAGRAM:  designdiamondnails

Danielle Constantino (Gel Essentialz, Lincoln, R.I.)

Nail tech for: 2.5 years

Preffered nail art medium: gel-polish

Favorite nail trend: I love how artists are taking risks with unconventional nail shapes.

FACEBOOK:  NailsByDanielleC

INSTAGRAM:  NailsByDanielle

Karrie Bowers (Beautopia Nails, Morgantown, W.Va.)

Nail tech for: 3 years

Preferred nail art medium: soak-off gel and art gels

Favorite nail trend: jewelry elements

FACEBOOK:  beautopianails

TWITTER:  beautopianails

PINTEREST:  beautopia

INSTAGRAM:  beautopianails

YOUTUBE:  beautopiablog

BLOG:  beautopianails.com

WEBSITE:  beautopianails.com

Lauren Boyd (Graffiti Nail Bar, Memphis, Tenn.)

Nail tech for: 9 years

Preferred nail art medium: gel-polish and acrylic paints

Favorite nail trend: graffiti writing

FACEBOOK:  graffitinailbar

TWITTER:  graffitinailbar

PINTEREST:  laurenscales

INSTAGRAM:  graffitinailbar

WEBSITE:  graffitinailbar.com

Lavette Cephus (Beaute Asylum, Toledo, Ohio)

Nail tech for: 7 years

Preferred nail art medium: acrylic, polish, and acrylic paint

Favorite nail trend: handpainted detailed nail art, nail bling, 3-D art, and stiletto nails

FACEBOOK:  vettenails and beaute asylum

TWITTER:  nail_trendin

PINTEREST:  Lavette Cephus

INSTAGRAM:  Beaute_Asylum

YOUTUBE:  Lavette Cephus

Lexi Martone (FingerPaints, Dix Hills, N.Y.)

Nail tech for: 2 years

Preferred nail art medium: gel-polish, acrylic paint, and colored acrylics

Favorite nail trend: pointy nails and 3-D nail art

FACEBOOK:  fingerpainted

TWITTER:  leximartone

PINTEREST:  leximartone

INSTAGRAM:  leximartone

YOUTUBE:  lexadoos

BLOG:  fingerpaintedblog.com

WEBSITE:  leximartone.com

Lini Sherburne (Spa in the Valley, Sparks, Md.)

Nail tech for: 2 years

Preferred nail art medium: gel-polish with mixed media accents

Favorite nail trend: stiletto nails

FACEBOOK:  lini.sherburne

PINTEREST:  thelini

INSTAGRAM:  _thelini

YOUTUBE:  silliebutterfly

Marisol Alvarado (The Beauty Parlor, Stockton, Calif.)

Nail tech for: 3 years

Preferred nail art medium: sculpted acrylics

Favorite nail trend: encapsulated nail art

FACEBOOK:  MIZZ.MAKEUP.HAIR.N.PHOTOGRAPHY

TWITTER:  SCA_ALVARADO

INSTAGRAM:  sinplycreativeartistry

YOUTUBE:  sinplycreativeartistry

NailGurl (New York, N.Y.)

Nail tech for: 7 years

Preferred nail art medium: polish and gel-polish

Favorite nail trend: anything pop culture or fashion related

FACEBOOK:  NailGurl

TWITTER:  NailGurlNYC

PINTEREST:  NailGurlNYC

INSTAGRAM:  NailGurlNYC

YOUTUBE:  NailGurlNYC

BLOG:  www.nailgurl.com

WEBSITE:  www.nailgurl.com

Sherri Traweek (The Nail Asylum, Redlands, Calif.)

Nail tech for: 2 years

Preferred nail art medium: handpainted and 3-D acrylic

Favorite nail trend: anything sparkly!

INSTAGRAM:  sherbear4331

YOUTUBE:  user/sherritraweeknailart

Simon Gilbert (Urban Bliss Beauty, Victoria, Australia)

Nail tech for: 10 years

Preferred nail art medium: gel

Favorite nail trend: gradient/ombre nail art and feather nails

FACEBOOK:  urbanblissbeauty

INSTAGRAM:  @urbanblissbeauty

YOUTUBE:  Urban Bliss Beauty

Yesenia Oliva (Bladerunner Salon and Spa, San Luis Obispo, Calif.)

Nail tech for: 2 years

Preferred nail art medium: 3-D, freehand, fantasy, rockstar, acrylics, and gels

Favorite nail trend: I love everything!

FACEBOOK:  nailsandhairbyess

PINTEREST:  yessierodriguez

INSTAGRAM:  yessienhearts

We hope you follow the competition at www.nailsmag.com/ntna2014 when the site launches in mid-July. You can also follow along on social media (#NAILSNTNA). The contest officially begins in September, at which time you will be able to vote for your favorite artist to help us choose a winner. And if you think you know the competition from last year, prepare for some surprising twists.

Join us and our sponsors in congratulating these talented 12. In addition to CND, sponsors include Bio Seaweed Gel, Dashing Diva, Entity, Gel II, Gelish, INM, It’s So Easy, SuperNail, Orly, and Young Nails.