Nail professionals can show the world their creativity by designing and photographing their best work to enter in the International Nail Technicians Association (INTA) Stars Nail Design photo competition. The concept for the Stars Nail Design competition is for nail techs to create a set of design nails using extensions, nail art, colored acrylic, or gel to achieve a creative presentation of their work. Entrants are judged on both technical execution and creativity along with photo expertise. Finalists will be selected and judged by industry celebrities and editors, including Jan Arnold, co-founder of CND, nail technician Vicki Peters, and NAILS editor Hannah Lee.

The Stars Nail Design winner will receive:

• $500 cash and prizes

• INTA membership for one year (including free admission to the 2012 America’s Beauty Show)

• Free admission to America’s Beauty Show, March 12-14, 2011

• Commemorative plaque

• Winning photo entry on www.americasbeautyshow.com

• Local and national publicity

The deadline for entries is February 11, 2011. Applications can be found at www.americasbeautyshow.com/starscontest or by calling (800) 648-2505.

2010-2011 nail competitors ranking

Taking part in a competition takes courage and determination. Just waiting for the results is nerve-wracking in itself, but in the end, competing is worthwhile — for many reasons. That’s why we encourage all nail technicians to compete. You may even see your name

on our Top 25 list. Each month, winners from participating shows are added to

NAILS’ Top 25 ranking. First place earns 6 points, second earns 5 points, and third earns 4 points. For SuperPoints competitions, point scores are doubled (for veteran or master divisions) and fourth place earns 6 points. If you have questions regarding your points, call (310) 533-2457 or e-mail judy.lessin@ bobit.com. All placements must be verified by show sponsors.

SuperPoints Competitions for the 2010-2011 competition year are as follows:

• ISSE Long Beach, January 29-31

• ISSE Midwest, March 26-28

• Premiere Orlando, June 4-6

• IBS Las Vegas, June 18-20

NEW SCORING FOR SUPERPOINTS COMPETITORS

So that the ranking more accurately reflects competitors’ skill levels, winners in the novice or student division will not receive double points for their wins at SuperPoints events. Also note that no points will be awarded to participants in relay or group competitions in regular or SuperPoints events.

Top 25 NAIL COMPETITORS

London Nailympics (September 19-20)

Acrylic Sculpture, Division 1:

1^st: Yeo-Ran Jung

2^nd: Hye-Joo Kim

3^rd: Seiko Yamamoto

Acrylic Sculpture, Division 2:

1^st: Seung-Hyo Baek

2^nd: Svetlana Yudkina

3^rd: Elena Zavertiaeva

Acrylic Sculpture, Division 3:

1^st: Karin Strom

2^nd: Linn Limberg-Larsen

3^rd: Dong-Won Lee

Gel Tip & Overlay, Division 1:

1^st: Anna Katarzyna Wesolowska

2^nd: Yeo-Ran Jung

3^rd: Mi-Ok Kwak

Gel Tip & Overlay, Division 2:

1^st: Zsuzsa Teodora Kovacs

2^nd: Judit Kobori

3^rd: Olesya Zhilcova

Gel Tip & Overlay, Division 3:

1^st: Zsuzsanna Fekete

2^nd: Maria Malekne Vigh

3^rd: Gabriella Kovacs

Acrylic Tip & Overlay, Division 1:

1^st: Ana Katarzyna Wesolowska

2^nd: Marie Louise Appels

3^rd: Sasha Schmalgemeijer

Acrylic Tip & Overlay, Division 2:

1^st: Svetlana Yudkina

2^nd: Anastasia Schadenko

3^rd: Antoinette Scheffel

Acrylic Tip & Overlay, Division 3:

1^st: Jessica Strom

2^nd: Karin Strom

3^rd: Simone Groenenboom

Wrap Tip & Overlay, Division 1:

1^st: Yeo-Ran Jung

2^nd: Mika Oki

3^rd: Han Min Hee

Wrap Tip & Overlay, Division 2:

1^st: Lee-Jin Young

2^nd: Lina Nyberg

3^rd: Lina Valerieva

Wrap Tip & Overlay, Division 3:

1^st: Jessica Strom

2^nd: John Hauk

3^rd: Zsuzsanna Fekete

Nail Embellishment, Division 1:

1^st: Mi-Ok Kwak

2^nd: Monica Pierini

3^rd: Alessandra Zagato

Nail Embellishment, Division 2:

1^st: Svetlana Yudkina

2^nd: Sabrina Scuccimarro

3^rd: Silvia Ortenzi

Nail Embellishment, Division 3:

1^st: Dong-Won Lee

2^nd: Kirsty Meakin

3^rd: Natalia Penkova

Fantasy, Division 1:

1^st: Elena Manta

2^nd: Yeo-Ran Jung

3^rd: Naomi Kabe

Fantasy, Division 2:

1^st: Elena Husainova

2^nd: Sabrina Scuccimarro

3^rd: Carmen Gamero Lopez

Fantasy, Division 3:

1^st: Szabina Varadi

2^nd: Maria de Lourdes

Desfassiaux Vergara

3^rd: Marta Maslo

Mixed Media, Division 1:

1^st: Hye-Joo Kim

2^nd: Hye Kjung Kim

3^rd: Mayumi Saito

Mixed Media, Division 2:

1^st: Tatjana Keester

2^nd: Seung-Hyo Beak

3^rd: Jin-Young Lee

Mixed Media, Division 3:

1^st: Maria de Lourdes

Desfassiaux Vergara

2^nd: Dong-Won Lee

3^rd: Kirsty Meakin

Nailpro Sacramento (October 10)

Hand Painted Nail Art, Novice:

1^st: Dosa Sengphachen

2^nd: Lakia Lewis

3^rd: Maiko Kido

Hand Painted Nail Art, Veteran:

1^st: Pisut Masanong

2^nd: Yasushi Arakawa

3^rd: Marina Lopresto

Salon Success, Novice:

1^st: Chiho Hoshino

2^nd: Mayu Suehiro

3^rd: Nicole Vasher

Salon Success, Veteran:

1^st: Lynn Lammers

2^nd: John Hauk

3^rd: Azumi Kanane

Sculptured Nails, Novice:

1^st: Chiho Hoshimo

2^nd: Kezuyo Wokisaka

3^rd: Mariko Takeya

Sculptured Nails, Veteran:

1^st: Lynn Lammers

2^nd: Megumi Sawase

3^rd: Azumi Kanane