My name is Classic and I am 31 school days away from graduating from my cosmetology school. My school is actually my third college I have attended, and while I’m in my late-20s it has only been recently that I realized what I wanted to do for a living. I have grown to not just love, but obsess about, my new nail career (trading in the smell of coffee beans for polish).

I came across this obsession randomly, as are most things I find in my life. Six years ago in Arizona I met a cowboy. We went on three dates then he fled home to California. Three years later and on a spur of the moment (pardon the pun), this cowboy decides to fly out to visit me (his first flight in an airplane, I might add).

And so while relaxing in Lake Tahoe, we passed a chapel, and on July 7^th, 2007 at 7 p.m., I was married. The next day I took my cowboy to Japantown San Francisco, where we both fell in love with these magazines that had the most amazing nail art I had ever seen.

Boom! I knew I wanted to create all the photos I had seen. After two years or so playing around with “over the counter” products, I gave in, and signed up for cosmetology school. I currently have over seven school competition titles under my belt and am focusing on the Future Professional Expo where I will compete in the Nail Display category. I also plan to compete in more prestigious competitions this year.

First stop, ISSE Long Beach.

I never knew that becoming a nail technician could open so many doors. My friends and family looked at me like I was completely bonkers when I so proudly went home and told them I signed up for cosmetology school (or maybe it was the price tag).

As I approach my last month of school and am getting ready to take the state board, I now know this is exactly the field I want to be in. You can be creative, make others feel good, and even compete to be the best. In the world of competing you can travel, push yourself to do better, and meet some of the most amazing people. Here is where my story really begins.

Just starting out, competing can become very overwhelming. Travel, registration fees, time off work, trying to find a model… the list goes on, but the most important thing is to take it step by step.

K.I.S.S.— Keep It Simple Sweetie, because as the champ Lynn Lammers says, “Set small goals and make small advancements,” because while it sounds like a fantastic idea to go ahead and jump straight into the deep end and attempt to accomplish competing in every event, don’t. There will always be competitions both internationally and here in the US.

Having gone through the shell shock of the weeks coming up on my first competition, I am learning very quickly that one, maybe two events is great to start. Many people follow the “Do as I say, not as I do” mind set, but I can honestly tell you that doing hand-painted or 3-D art at home to turn in the day of competition, and to compete in a salon success or French Twist is my game plan. And I think it would be a great way for any new competitor to start out. Yes, I want to do each and every event, but I think that amount of pressure would drive me nuts, especially right out of the gate.

— Classic Mully