This guide outlines the strategies Nataliia Zapara uses to triumph in nail industry competitions.
Professional competitions in the nail industry
Professional competitions in the nail industry are not only spectacular events but also a significant platform for demonstrating the highest level of skill, innovative techniques, and artistic vision. Participation, and especially victory, in such contests substantially increases the professional status of a technician, opens new career opportunities, and contributes to the development of the industry as a whole.
The relevance of researching this topic is due to the growing competition in the nail service sector and specialists’ desire to gain recognition through an objective assessment of their skills in the competitive arena. However, success in nail competitions is the result not only of impeccable technique but also of a carefully developed strategy and serious psychological preparation.
Nail competition strategies and psychologies
The purpose of this article is to analyze the strategic and psychological components underlying the victories of highly qualified nail technicians in professional competitions.
Nail competitions as a phenomenon of professional development and industry
Nail competitions serve several important functions within the professional community. They act as a tool for validating and recognizing a high level of specialist qualification. Winning or placing in a prestigious championship is an objective confirmation of skill and can be considered a kind of quality mark.
Competitions motivate technicians to continuous learning, mastering new techniques and materials, as well as searching for original creative solutions [2]. Often, new trends in nail design originate on competition platforms and later gain wide popularity.
For the millennial generation, oriented toward dynamic professional development, competitions offer valuable opportunities. Such events become an effective platform for establishing professional contacts with recognized industry experts, judges, and representatives, which facilitates the integration of young specialists into the professional community and their further career growth.
Strategic aspects of preparation and participation
Achieving high results in nail competitions is impossible without a thoroughly developed strategy. Preparation begins long before the event itself and includes several stages.
Initially, a thorough analysis of the specific competition’s regulations is conducted: the rules, evaluation criteria for each category, time limits, and requirements for models and materials are studied. Based on this analysis, the technician chooses the categories in which their skills and creative potential can be most fully revealed.
The next stage is developing the concept of the competition work. For artistic categories, this includes creating sketches, selecting a color scheme, and working out the details of the image. For technical categories, the focus is on choosing the optimal shape, length, and architecture of the nails.
An important element of the strategy is the selection of a model whose hands and nails best suit the implementation of the planned design and comply with competition requirements.
Practical rehearsal of the competition task is the most labor-intensive part of preparation. Technicians repeatedly perform the work under conditions as close as possible to the competition, with strict time control [3].
This allows them to hone the technique to automatism, identify possible difficulties, and find ways to overcome them. Special attention is paid to the quality of materials and tools used.
At the competition itself, the strategy includes the competent organization of the workspace, strict adherence to the time schedule for completing individual stages of the work, and the ability to quickly adapt to unforeseen circumstances, such as changes in lighting or issues with the model.
Psychological resilience and mental preparation of the participant
The psychological mindset of the participant greatly influences their performance under intense competition and stress. Elements of sports psychology are directly applied in the preparation of nail technicians for competitions [1].
Motivation is the driving force. This can be a desire for self-realization, professional recognition, the wish to prove one’s skill, or to gain new knowledge and experience. It is important that motivation be internal and stable.
Stress management is one aspect of preparation. The competitive environment, presence of judges and competitors, and limited time create significant psychological pressure.
Relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, visualization methods, and positive thinking help to cope with nervousness and maintain concentration [4]. Visualization involves mentally rehearsing the process of performing the competition task, which helps to consolidate the sequence of actions and tune into success.
Developing concentration allows the technician to fully immerse themselves in the work without being distracted by external stimuli. This is especially important when performing small and precise design details.
Confidence in one’s abilities, based on quality preparation and previous experience, also contributes to successful performance. The ability to analyze one’s mistakes, draw conclusions, and maintain fighting spirit even in case of failure forms the psychological resilience necessary for long-term participation in the competition movement.
Analysis of judging criteria and their impact on strategy and results
A deep understanding of the judging system and evaluation criteria is an integral part of a successful competition strategy. Judges typically score works using a point system where each aspect has a certain weight. Standard criteria may include:
- Technical execution: cleanliness of work, absence of lifting, correctness of artificial nail architecture, quality of cuticle treatment, uniformity of coating.
- Complexity: use of advanced techniques, design elements, detailing.
- Composition and design: harmony of shapes and lines, color scheme, originality of the idea, compliance with the theme (for themed categories).
- Overall impression: aesthetics, wearability (for salon categories), degree of completeness of the look.
Knowing which aspects of the work bring the highest scores allows the technician to allocate efforts and time correctly during the competition. For example, if the regulations assign high points for cuticle cleanliness, special attention will be given to this element during preparation and execution.
Analyzing past winners’ works can also provide insights into judges’ preferences and current trends in competition nail art. However, blind copying of others’ ideas is discouraged; individual style and innovative approach within the established rules are valued. Technicians aiming for victory often develop checklists based on judging criteria to conduct self-monitoring during practice.
Winning a professional nail competition is a synergy of high technical skill, a well-thought-out multi-stage strategy, and stable psychological readiness. Analysis shows that none of these components can be ignored on the path to success.
Technical excellence forms the foundation without which a competitive work cannot be created. Strategic planning, covering all stages from category selection to behavior at the competition site, allows optimizing resources and minimizing risks. Psychological preparation, including developing stress resistance, concentration, and motivation, enables the technician to fully realize their potential in a tense competitive atmosphere.
Recommendations for nail technicians aspiring to competition peaks include the need for a comprehensive approach to preparation, regular practice under conditions simulating competitions, studying principles of sports psychology, and continuous analysis of both their own performances and works of industry leaders.
For competition organizers, it is important to ensure maximum transparency and objectivity of judging, clearly formulate evaluation criteria, and create conditions for healthy competition that promotes professionalism growth in the nail industry. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of competition preparation can also be useful in developing effective educational programs aimed at training a new generation of highly qualified nail specialists.
Author
Nataiia Zapara. Internationally Recognized Nail Artist Transforming the Industry Through Art & Business Strategy.
References
1. Weinberg R. S., Gould D. Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 7th ed. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2019. 680 p.
2. Nordmann L., Appleyard L., Linforth P. Professional Beauty Therapy: The Official Guide to Level 3 (Hairdressing & Beauty Industry Authority). CENGAGE Learning, 2000. 348 p.
3. Ericsson K. A., Krampe R. T., Tesch-R̦mer C. The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance // Psychological Review. 1993. Vol. 100Р3. P. 363-406.
4. Terry P. C., Karageorghis C. I., Curran M. L., Martin O. J., Lane A. M. Effects of music in exercise and sport: A meta-analytic review // Psychological Bulletin. 2019. Vol. 146, 2. P. 117.
Photo by Cheda Stankovic
