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Colour ~ Nailed !!!
At Scarlet Pixel, we take our colours very seriously as colour can literally be everything, so you can imagine our interest
and excitement in coming across the unusual phenomena of airbrushed coloured
fingernails!
Les soon arrived at the fingernail epicentre of Bournemouth,
UK, the famous seaside resort and home of Nailworx, the fingernail paradise of the South Coast.
Les began by asking Laura to divulge some of her in house secrets of airbrushing and colour preferences... LI: Good morning Laura, thank you for taking some time out of your busy schedule to talk with Scarlet Pixel.
LT: That's quite alright Les, its nice to have a break from work; it has been a busy morning.
LI: Well Laura, I guess it would be nice to start with the basics, so how long has nail art been big business in the UK and the USA? LT. As far as I am aware the interest in this kind of finish has been growing in popularity in the UK for about the last three or four years. I know in the USA it has been common practise for about ten years and the whole business of silk extensions has been an industry standard for at least twenty years. LI. How did you develop your airbrushing skills, did you receive some personal tuition? LT. Yes, a local airbrush supplier called Brushworx supplied most of our equipment and training courses in the skills required; they also provide a training school for those interested in furthering their airbrush skills. (see end of article for details)
LT. After we have completed our artistic work the surface of the nail is sealed by a standard topcoat sealer, this has a very high gloss finish to ensure durability and gives the effect of really enhancing the colour depth of each nail. LI. Tell me about the colours and designs that are the most popular and unpopular as this would be of great interest to our regular readers... LT. The most popular design that we are asked for is French polish/bridal lace; this is quite a conservative look, giving the nail a strong and healthily look with a whitened tip. By far the most popular colours are within the pink range (seasonal) also burgundy and purple. The least popular colours are definitely oranges and greens. LI. Can the nail paints be mixed to produce different effects?
LT. Yes, very much so, this is where the airbrush comes into the foreground.
Using a process of gentle layering, it is possible to produce a very wide range of effects and
colour.
LI. What colour combinations do you think provide the most interesting and contrasting designs? LT. Well the most striking colour combinations are pink and gold, although blue and purple is always sure to turn heads. We have found in our experience, that if people really want to make a statement they will often turn to a simple black and white design - these can be really effective. LI. What kind of age group does nail art appeal to and in what kind of situation or occasion would you expect people to ask for a special design? LT. The age group really is quite diverse; nail art seems to appeal to all ages, however most of our customers are female and in the 30's plus age group. As for a special occasion, well, our customers are always telling us their stories and experiences and it would seem there are many reasons why women choose to do something extravagant in the nail department. Mostly our nail extensions and colour designs create a flash of excitement and originality in our customers day, we have been asked to provide our services for birthdays, weddings and for those one-off occasions where a terrific set of nails really compliments and enhances the perfect look! LI. How long does a design last and does it chip or mark?
LT. Generally, a finished design will last for about three to four weeks. The nail is treated first
with an adhesion agent to provide a good key for any top layers, then the whole nail is
protected with a tough anti-chip coating. All of these procedures are designed to prolong the life of the nail, so of course any extra caution on the part of the customer will
only promote further longevity.
LI. What kind of person has nail extensions and designs, do you find it is a similar type of person? LT. This is a very difficult question to answer, in my experience. I have been asked to create a nail look for a great variety of people, they are all very different and have many diverse reasons for wanting it done, many different ages walk through our door, we have had customers as young as 16 right up to 85 years old. I would have to say no, sorry Les, there are no stereotypes in the world of nail extensions, it really does cater for all types! LI. What is an average cost per visit to your salon and what percentage of customers are repeat clients? LT. The cost of nail extensions and painted designs are very much dependant upon what kind of work the customer is looking for, we have a price structure for basic procedures but these are always being modified as most women like to get slightly more ambitious with each visit. A general guide would be a basic cost of about £18 per session. On the question of repeat custom I would have to say that most of my customers come back and continue to upgrade their nail extensions and painted designs. LI. How many of your clients have had a personal colour analysis and do you think it might appeal to them? LT. Although I work with colour all the time its something I tend to take for granted as I just go with 'intuition' when deciding on a colour. However, now I have seem some of your own work in this fascinating area, I think my perspective on colour and its implications will never be the same. I will certainly be recommending to my customers that total colour co-ordination could be a worthy consideration when choosing the look and colour of nails that is right for them. Maybe Scarlet Pixel's Personal Colour Analysis service would be the perfect opportunity for them to explore a new dimension in their life? LI. Yes I agree, colour is so often taken for granted, it can be a powerful tool when used correctly and can
really say so much about you! ... Thanks Laura, we really appreciate you giving up some time to talk with us about your work!
...
LT. Yes, every year the interest in nail extensions grows stronger and I am sure it will continue to grow, I hope this article will help to encourage this trend! If there are any women (or men?) out there teetering on the edge and are still undecided, I would say give it a go! You won't be disappointed... it looks great and feels terrific! Scarlet Pixel are extremely grateful to Laura and Karen at 'Nailworx', and to Andrew and Jo at 'Brushworx' for their help in the production of this fascinating article.
© Scarlet Pixel 1999 - 2006 |
As a matter of some urgency, we sent our roving reporter Les Ismore out to
investigate further! What follows is the third of our articles investigating the effect of colour on
various parts of the human body - check out our 'All about colour' section of
the website if you missed
the previous topics.
Even from the outset Nailworx's frontage openly declares its difference from the
regular high street offerings and the interior quickly reinforces this position.
The whole look of the salon appears very oriental, with a spacious and functional but at the same time comfortable and inviting look.
As Les passed through the door he was immediately greeted by the young and smiling face
of Miss Laura Taylor - 'owner and top manicurist'; she wasted no time in showing
him to a comfortable chair, taking his coat and offering him a cup of exceptionally nice coffee.
LI. What kind of fixer or varnish is used in your process and is it difficult to apply?
Depending on the finished look required, the airbrush can be used in a 'freehand' way, using no masking; this gives a very soft and misty edge. If masking is preferred, it gives the nail a much more defined look. To enhance
each nail feature, a soft background will allow the central design to really stand out, as if it has been raised up and away from the surface of the nail, a kind of 3D effect.
I am sure some of our readers will find this an intriguing and tempting subject. Maybe those who had always considered nail extensions but had never ventured into this expressive field will
now feel confident enough to 'take the plunge' and create a new look - both unique and stunning!
