Congrats Kelsey Waldo! The judges only had eyes for your awe-inspiring astrological set.

Challenge 2, sponsored by En Vogue, asked the Top 11 to show us their zodiac on one hand and a compatible zodiac on the other. NTNA past competitor and En Vogue ambassador Deanna Stelmaschuk was this week’s guest judge.

Congrats to Allison Goertzen on your Romantic masterpiece! The judges fell for your painting, multi-dimensional design, and clever video.

Challenge 1, sponsored by CND asked the Top 12 to create Romantic nail art using CND’s English Garden collection. Artwork had to be 3-D and done on five nail tips.

After two dazzling pre-challenge rounds sponsored by Swarovski, 12 of the Top 24 were left standing. Judges for the pre-challenge rounds included NAILS staff, CND’s Jan Arnold, Swarovski’s Gina Silvestro, and Season 6 champion Ashton Harlan.

Swarovski’s newest Nail Art Report gave the company insights into three nail art wearing personas. These consumer profiles are: The Crystal Lover, The Color Freak, and The Style Setter. For the second pre-challenge of NTNA S.7, Swarovski matched each of the Top 18 with one of the consumer profiles. Contestants then had to create a wearable set of nails inspired by this profile.

NAILS Next Top Nail Artist is always an emotional experience. For the first pre-challenge of Season 7, Swarovski asked the Top 24 to express their emotions and embrace their power. Contestants could choose any emotion and bring it to life on five nail tips. These tips must not be on an actual hand. Swarovski Crystals must make up at least 50% of the design and there must be some sort of 3-D artwork built on the design. (Sticking the nails together in a shape does not count as 3-D artwork). See all 24 entries below.

In its seventh year, NAILS Next Top Nail Artist is the ultimate reality-style nail art competition for professionals. NAILS, top sponsor CND, and other professional nail manufacturers take pride in identifying the next crop of up-and-coming talent within our industry. This year’s Top 24 come from around the world, and even feature a few familiar names from Season 6.