Too Cute
In the time that I’ve been paying attention to it — almost 30 years now — I’ve seen trends in nail art come ’round full circle more than once. I live in an area where nail art
Maggie Franklin
Blogger
Quality Control
I’ve been seeing a lot of pics around the Internets (and Instagram) of nails that are grown out by several weeks, and still appear to be in great shape, with captions like, “3 Weeks Old! Quality!”
Timing Is Everything
I’ve gotten pretty good at just being blunt and honest when clients arrive too late. I’m usually pretty comfortable telling them that they missed their chance and will have to reschedule. I’m bad, however, at enforcing
Oh Me of Little Faith
When OPI introduced their ProWide brush in their polishes, I rolled my eyes. I admit it. I was all like, “Whatever! Just some stupid gimmick to try convince people that you found a way to improve
Not as Good as Mine
Lately I’ve really been feeling self-conscious about some of the hand-painted nail art I’ve been turning out. My circles are wonky, straight lines are fuzzy, everything seems just a little off. Like my eyes are going, I’m
Coral Corral
Once again, a new season has blossomed and failed to produce the colors my clients are clamoring for.This year? It’s coral. Since about February (when the sun starts shining and the trees start blooming in these parts)
A Horrible Celebrity
Despite my reputation for the inflated ego, and how much I enjoy playing off like I’m so awesome (I mean, I mostly am awesome, but I play it up a lot), in real life, I’m terrible
A Clear Difference
Ever have more than one dish of polymer out at once? It’s so easy to tell the pinks from the whites, but it would be so helpful if you could tell the difference between the clear
Move Over Gel-Polish
When gel-polish hit the market a few years ago, I jumped on it. Invested an embarrassing amount of money into the stuff and have continued to do so because it really is the first major technical
A New Meeting Place
I talk about Facebook a lot. But only because Facebook has become so bloated that it now reaches into so many of our lives — and businesses. Aside from recent changes that will concern users financially
Breathing Easy
When I met with the leasing agent for the space where I currently call my salon, I was very clear about my intentions to blow the landlords’ preconceptions of “nail salon” to smithereens. Since I was
Pretty on Bad
Over the years I have had so many people tell me they could never be “good at nails” because they can’t paint. I’ve heard many different versions of this thought, but essentially it always comes down
All About You
Gotta love the Internets: 4,925 “friends” on Facebook, 2,407 “likes” for the salon page on Facebook, a smattering of followers on the website, Twitter, and Instagram, and an unknown number of readers for this blog —
Will It Stick?
Even though I don’t really know what system/scale/criteria is used in testing nail products, I do have a working understanding of the ways that substances are tested for things like strength and hardness. So the other day
A Better Way
I often get requests for referrals in far away places — places that far outreach my ability to refer myself. I know a lot of other nail techs all over the world. I know a lot
I Am Old
Have you ever walked into your favorite lunch place — one that you’ve been going to for like 30 years — and looked at the menu and mentioned casually to the 18-year-old behind the counter that
Eclectic — Like the Industry
It never fails to baffle me every time someone feels compelled to criticize me, my work, or something I’ve said by referring to, or comparing it to, my overall “portfolio.” Especially when that criticism includes accusations