In February, Professional Beauty London at Excel welcomed the finest in nail technical talent at the International Nail Competition. Twenty-six awards were handed out to some of the world’s top technicians after a day of stiff competition testing all manner of skills and artistry.

Entrants were able to showcase their craft in categories such as Spa Manicure, Pink-and-White Style, and Permanent Polish, while categories of Showcase Nail Art and Photographic Nail Art allowed artists to demonstrate their creativity surrounding the theme of “black and white movies.”

For the most coveted awards of the day — the awards for International Nail Master, International Nail Art Master, and International Manicurist of the Year — entrants needed to demonstrate their superlative talents in a range of categories. The winners were Julija Barisnikova, Lina Nyberg, and Caroline Carrick, respectively.