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On My Mind: Staying Polished

NAILS executive editor Beth elaborates on Polish Preview and the goings-on behind the scenes of other NAILS shoots. 

August 28, 2018
On My Mind: Staying Polished

The clothing rack is one of my favorite spots on-set.

2 min to read


The NAILS team completed a colorful Facebook Live shoot with Team Orly.

The clothing rack is one of my favorite spots on-set.

Photographer Kim Pham amid the massive lights on-set with CND.

Twice a year, we’re just like you — we live and breathe color. It starts with waiting patiently for the mail to arrive so we can unbox the upcoming seasonal polish collections. The NAILS team immerses itself in planning a concept around these color families. It takes a fair amount of time to brainstorm, prep, and execute the Polish Previews we are proud to bring you every September (see the fall color collections here) and March. Because, like you, we know that the colors of the season are more than just that. They’re a creative tool, a business opportunity, and a glimpse at upcoming trends.

We take our shoots at NAILS very seriously. We go through every idea as a group and see what we like the best and what is the most doable. Ideally, we try to introduce new concepts that haven’t been featured before, but with 35 years of history behind us, you can imagine that this isn’t always easy.

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Whether we are shooting in-house or on-location, we’re committed to bringing out all the beauty that abounds at the hands of nail professionals. While the end result is a beauty shot, the behind-the-scenes work is not always glamorous — but it is always worth it. Take it from Ashley Gregory, who breaks down the secrets of backstage manicuring. If you’re hungry for even more behind-the-scenes secrets from the nail world, make sure and follow us on Instagram and Snapchat (@nailsmagazine) so you never miss a thing.

We love creating these visually inspiring stories for you! Do you have a favorite Polish Preview (view them all at www.nailsmag.com/polishpreview)? Is there a concept you would like to see us bring to life? Email me or comment below and let me know.

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