D.J. Charette and Laquita Sanders use Backscratchers' new show demo station, which allows for...

D.J. Charette and Laquita Sanders use Backscratchers' new show demo station, which allows for many techs to encircle the educator for better visibility.

Downstairs CND had another area set up to handle the many requests for Shellac demos,  CND's...

Downstairs CND had another area set up to handle the many requests for Shellac demos,  CND's Anna Boyer-Creek watches while educator Vickie Sutton applies Shellac's Fedora on Angelle Crosby of Destin, Fla.

On the first day of the show, CND educators Kim Jones and Margo Reed show off the Shellac line...

On the first day of the show, CND educators Kim Jones and Margo Reed show off the Shellac line that was available to purchase.

Backscratcher's owner Michael Megna poses for a photo with me (left) and educator Sandi Earwood...

Backscratcher's owner Michael Megna poses for a photo with me (left) and educator Sandi Earwood in front of the company's newly designed trade show shelving unit.

OPI educator Jeany Perez shows off her nails, which were polished in a cross-cut pattern using...

OPI educator Jeany Perez shows off her nails, which were polished in a cross-cut pattern using Blue My Mind and the new shade DS radiance.

Tracy Martin has been an OPI educator for three years

Tracy Martin has been an OPI educator for three years

OPI's Burlesque collection looks like rock star toes in a bottle!

OPI's Burlesque collection looks like rock star toes in a bottle!

LeChat's sales director Aaron Hill and educator Yvette Holt stand in front of a large unit...

LeChat's sales director Aaron Hill and educator Yvette Holt stand in front of a large unit filled with LeChat products.

LeChat's professional UV gel polish comes with a complimentary matching tradtional polish for...

LeChat's professional UV gel polish comes with a complimentary matching tradtional polish for the client to take home.  She can then match her toenails, polish over her outgrowth like a fill, or invite her BFF to wear a matching clor--hence the name "Perfect Match".

To use Migi Nai Art pens, gently squeeze the pen allowing the color to flow out in order to...

To use Migi Nai Art pens, gently squeeze the pen allowing the color to flow out in order to create a series of lines, dots, and squiggles.  Plus you can use the white pen for a French manicure.

Bruce Atwood of Atwood Industries mans the booth where techs can get their hands on "The...

Bruce Atwood of Atwood Industries mans the booth where techs can get their hands on "The Monster," an electric file bit that's perfectly designed for reducing length on gels.

Techs may not know that the Eye Kandy line of glitter, besides being used as makeup, can be used...

Techs may not know that the Eye Kandy line of glitter, besides being used as makeup, can be used for bling nail creations.  The finely ground glitter powder is unlike the chunky glitter of craft stores and can be mixed with acrylic, gels, and even polishes.

Essie educators Meredith White and Azlin Farre give me a sample of Fill the Gap ridge filler,...

Essie educators Meredith White and Azlin Farre give me a sample of Fill the Gap ridge filler, with binding and conditioning ingredients to create a chip-resistant bond.

Educator Samantha Morales shows how easy it is using the Dashing Diva French Wrap Plus to get a...

Educator Samantha Morales shows how easy it is using the Dashing Diva French Wrap Plus to get a perfect French manicure every time.

Dashing Diva Metallic Nails are full coverage nails that last up to a week (or longer), come in...

Dashing Diva Metallic Nails are full coverage nails that last up to a week (or longer), come in a variety of colors and designs, and are easily soake doff useing acetone.

These nails by Kira Frazier-Jones called "Time Piece" were created by embedding intricate pieces...

These nails by Kira Frazier-Jones called "Time Piece" were created by embedding intricate pieces of the inner workings from clocks and watches into Amy Becker's Masterowrks gel.  Very striking (no pun intended!).

While shopping at the OPI booth, I met Phyllis Weller (a.k.a. “the Slapper”) from Amerikan Body...

While shopping at the OPI booth, I met Phyllis Weller (a.k.a. “the Slapper”) from Amerikan Body Art, who was wearing this glitter tattoo of a heart with a peace symbol. Many attendees were walking around sporting many versions of these glitter tattoos, which some even placed at the temples of their closely cropped hairstyles. (I was afraid to ask how Phyllis got the nickname “the Slapper”!)

 

Joe and Debbie Solar of On the Boulevard Salon Spa in Baton   Rouge, La., were buying up a...

Joe and Debbie Solar of On the Boulevard Salon Spa in Baton Rouge, La., were buying up a storm. Inside their bags were OPI polish, facial products, tanning products, Migi nail art pens, CND Shellac, and more. They also had purchased a CND Brisa UV light, a facial machine, and a tanning spray booth and gun.

Joanne Grant of Winchester,  Tenn., is getting back into the business after being away for 15...

Joanne Grant of Winchester, Tenn., is getting back into the business after being away for 15 years while raising her child.  Inside her bag were many CHI products, such as the crystal nail fi le, cuticle oil, polishes, top coat, base coat, and Hawaiian oil treatment.

I met Jessica Downey of Hair Envy in Vicksburg,  Miss., as she came out of an OPI class. Inside...

I met Jessica Downey of Hair Envy in Vicksburg, Miss., as she came out of an OPI class. Inside her bags were OPI polishes, a tool kit, a tote bag, Axxium gel system, and an OPI scrub.

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View all
D.J. Charette and Laquita Sanders use Backscratchers' new show demo station, which allows for...
1/20
 
Slider

D.J. Charette and Laquita Sanders use Backscratchers' new show demo station, which allows for many techs to encircle the educator for better visibility.

Downstairs CND had another area set up to handle the many requests for Shellac demos,  CND's...
2/20
 
Slider

Downstairs CND had another area set up to handle the many requests for Shellac demos,  CND's Anna Boyer-Creek watches while educator Vickie Sutton applies Shellac's Fedora on Angelle Crosby of Destin, Fla.

On the first day of the show, CND educators Kim Jones and Margo Reed show off the Shellac line...
3/20
 
Slider

On the first day of the show, CND educators Kim Jones and Margo Reed show off the Shellac line that was available to purchase.

Backscratcher's owner Michael Megna poses for a photo with me (left) and educator Sandi Earwood...
4/20
 
Slider

Backscratcher's owner Michael Megna poses for a photo with me (left) and educator Sandi Earwood in front of the company's newly designed trade show shelving unit.

OPI educator Jeany Perez shows off her nails, which were polished in a cross-cut pattern using...
5/20
 
Slider

OPI educator Jeany Perez shows off her nails, which were polished in a cross-cut pattern using Blue My Mind and the new shade DS radiance.

Tracy Martin has been an OPI educator for three years
6/20
 
Slider

Tracy Martin has been an OPI educator for three years

OPI's Burlesque collection looks like rock star toes in a bottle!
7/20
 
Slider

OPI's Burlesque collection looks like rock star toes in a bottle!

LeChat's sales director Aaron Hill and educator Yvette Holt stand in front of a large unit...
8/20
 
Slider

LeChat's sales director Aaron Hill and educator Yvette Holt stand in front of a large unit filled with LeChat products.

LeChat's professional UV gel polish comes with a complimentary matching tradtional polish for...
9/20
 
Slider

LeChat's professional UV gel polish comes with a complimentary matching tradtional polish for the client to take home.  She can then match her toenails, polish over her outgrowth like a fill, or invite her BFF to wear a matching clor--hence the name "Perfect Match".

To use Migi Nai Art pens, gently squeeze the pen allowing the color to flow out in order to...
10/20
 
Slider

To use Migi Nai Art pens, gently squeeze the pen allowing the color to flow out in order to create a series of lines, dots, and squiggles.  Plus you can use the white pen for a French manicure.

Bruce Atwood of Atwood Industries mans the booth where techs can get their hands on "The...
11/20
 
Slider

Bruce Atwood of Atwood Industries mans the booth where techs can get their hands on "The Monster," an electric file bit that's perfectly designed for reducing length on gels.

Techs may not know that the Eye Kandy line of glitter, besides being used as makeup, can be used...
12/20
 
Slider

Techs may not know that the Eye Kandy line of glitter, besides being used as makeup, can be used for bling nail creations.  The finely ground glitter powder is unlike the chunky glitter of craft stores and can be mixed with acrylic, gels, and even polishes.

Essie educators Meredith White and Azlin Farre give me a sample of Fill the Gap ridge filler,...
13/20
 
Slider

Essie educators Meredith White and Azlin Farre give me a sample of Fill the Gap ridge filler, with binding and conditioning ingredients to create a chip-resistant bond.

Educator Samantha Morales shows how easy it is using the Dashing Diva French Wrap Plus to get a...
14/20
 
Slider

Educator Samantha Morales shows how easy it is using the Dashing Diva French Wrap Plus to get a perfect French manicure every time.

Dashing Diva Metallic Nails are full coverage nails that last up to a week (or longer), come in...
15/20
 
Slider

Dashing Diva Metallic Nails are full coverage nails that last up to a week (or longer), come in a variety of colors and designs, and are easily soake doff useing acetone.

These nails by Kira Frazier-Jones called "Time Piece" were created by embedding intricate pieces...
16/20
 
Slider

These nails by Kira Frazier-Jones called "Time Piece" were created by embedding intricate pieces of the inner workings from clocks and watches into Amy Becker's Masterowrks gel.  Very striking (no pun intended!).

While shopping at the OPI booth, I met Phyllis Weller (a.k.a. “the Slapper”) from Amerikan Body...
17/20
 
Slider

While shopping at the OPI booth, I met Phyllis Weller (a.k.a. “the Slapper”) from Amerikan Body Art, who was wearing this glitter tattoo of a heart with a peace symbol. Many attendees were walking around sporting many versions of these glitter tattoos, which some even placed at the temples of their closely cropped hairstyles. (I was afraid to ask how Phyllis got the nickname “the Slapper”!)

 

Joe and Debbie Solar of On the Boulevard Salon Spa in Baton   Rouge, La., were buying up a...
18/20
 
Slider

Joe and Debbie Solar of On the Boulevard Salon Spa in Baton Rouge, La., were buying up a storm. Inside their bags were OPI polish, facial products, tanning products, Migi nail art pens, CND Shellac, and more. They also had purchased a CND Brisa UV light, a facial machine, and a tanning spray booth and gun.

Joanne Grant of Winchester,  Tenn., is getting back into the business after being away for 15...
19/20
 
Slider

Joanne Grant of Winchester, Tenn., is getting back into the business after being away for 15 years while raising her child.  Inside her bag were many CHI products, such as the crystal nail fi le, cuticle oil, polishes, top coat, base coat, and Hawaiian oil treatment.

I met Jessica Downey of Hair Envy in Vicksburg,  Miss., as she came out of an OPI class. Inside...
20/20
 
Slider

I met Jessica Downey of Hair Envy in Vicksburg, Miss., as she came out of an OPI class. Inside her bags were OPI polishes, a tool kit, a tote bag, Axxium gel system, and an OPI scrub.

The Premiere Show in Birmingham, Ala., (held September 18-19) is only a four-hour drive from my home in Kentucky. Since I don’t have to spend money on airfare; that leaves me with more money to purchase supplies. I like the fact that it’s a mid-sized show and I can navigate it easily. I dedicate the first day to taking classes and networking with techs to promote the Nail Tech Networking Event of the Smokies, which I host. I also spend a little time cruising the show floor so I can spot the best deals that will sell out the fastest (I snap them up before they do). The second day is all about checking out the booths on both levels, making more purchases on my list, maybe taking one more class, and inviting educators to demo at our next networking event. Here’s a look at my time at the show.  By Jill Wright

 

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