Where is the accountability?

Obviously, I’m a nail junkie. I surf through the web for nails. Nail colors, nail products, nail competitions…

I’m familiar with the nail magazines. Nailpro, Nails Mag, Nail Expert, Scratch…

I’m knowledgeable in all nail enhancement products. Acrylic, gel, gel polish, tips, wraps, powder dips, sprinkles, vinyls and veneers…

I’ve done my fair share of time in salon, on set, on platform and thoroughly entrenched in the nail competition arena...

I’ve even stood toe to toe with the “Board” in my state, challenging the legality or idiocy of an inspectors personal interpretation of the laws.

I’m fairly well-known and well-versed in this nail industry and I’ve made it my personal mission to be “legit”.

So, suffice it to say that when I run across the name of an “award winning-celebrity-in demand-international nail tech of the year” manicurist, I expect that I will actually find evidence of that person, in that role, in a google search with images.

If I can’t... I call bull shit!

Nothing irritates me more than some no-name, sub-standard nail tech touting...no, lying about their so-called successes to make a buck!

Oh, I suppose if you get just one trophy or even a certificate, that can make a person an “award winning whatever”. Even if the contest was a photo submission type of some nails, no way of telling who actually did them, who cares? It's “on your honor” right? Do they even have to be “nails” at this point? or can they be the modern day equivalent of Lee press-on-nails? Because how much talent does that take? Yep, just tape that little piece of plastic to that models fingers. Uh huh, that's a nail. Sure and the clients will be banging down your door to get some Lee press-ons!

Or maybe your entry was the only one that the competition received? Bingo! You’re a champ! Because the organizer needs to have at the very least, a name to submit for press release to give some semblance of validity to their “competition” so that they can keep taking money for it.

And while we're at it, it certainly doesn't take much effort to become a "celebrity" these days. Just do a little research into how Kim K. got her start and you'll see what I mean.

"In-demand?" Well sure, if you're the only manicurist in a 20 mile radius...and I ask you, readers, to put "international nail tech of the year" in a google search and what do you find? You guessed it, no competition, no event location, no way to register or participate...but anyone claiming to be one...yep, you'll surly find them. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

So go ahead, you award winner you. And make the rest of us, that got out of our salons and into an actual competition arena with other real nail stylists to do real nail enhancements on a live model to be judged by other factual award winners, roll our eyes in disgust at your fallacies.

Where is the accountability? I call bull shit.

Recent practice

Hey all! I have been so stinkin' busy lately, I haven't even had time to write. So when my model made a surprise visit last weekend, I jumped at the chance to practice.

See I've been having these fleeting ideas about competing again. Then I wake up and say "uh...no." But just because I'm not making any plans to compete doesn't mean that I should squander any opportunity to practice the "competition nail."

I never know what's going to happen. I may compete or just be training someone, whatever, I need to keep my skills up. And with Jenny now living 3000 miles away instead of 50, I have to jump on it.

So here they are. From the looks of it, I still need practice.

Whatever :P*

A little back story

Danny, after judging, fraternizing with members of the
 JNA , Mr. Nakajima on the left and some Japanese competitors,
Mayumi Hase on the far right.

So you may know that there are new directors of the I.N.C. or International Nail Championships, David and Steffi. (If you're not sure who I'm referencing here, you can do a search and find out for yourself.) But before I get to them, let me give you a little back story on an acquaintance of theirs.

I'm sure you're familiar with harmony's owner Danny, yes? And if you frequent Beautytech, you know all about the hubbub of him promising that his product would be a professional only product, and the public would not be able to buy it, etc. Well only a year later we find out that harmony will be on the shelves (or maybe it already is) at Sally's beauty supply-A well known national chain that sells to anyone and everyone. Guess that makes him a liar, huh? That's not all he is.

I was told by someone who will remain nameless (at this point) that he also rigged a competition in 2008 for his best friend and high school chum, none other than Mr. Tom Holcolm! GASP!

No? You think that Mr. Tom is unbeatable? I say Nay Nay. I was there. Remember when I told you I can pick the winner in the lineup? Well I can pick a loser too. And this is how it went...

At that time, I don't think I had seen Tom compete (outside of Japan- but truly, that's another can o' worms.) in about 4 years. Tom used his very good friend Alisha as his model (you may have seen her. Quite possibly as the winner of the “World Nail Championships” held in Austria in I think '05. Consequently, Tom was judging that competition.) Her hands are ok, but her nails are kind of hooked down for a competition model. Not the best choice. And Danny was behind the curtain. IMO Danny wouldn't know a winning competition nail if it flew up his nose. Tom hacked up his model so bad that 4 hours later she was still bleeding from at least four cuts on various fingers, he was lacking a high shine on the p&w hand, there were notches in the lateral sidewalls and his red polish left something to be desired. He told another person, who then told me, that he felt he had done such a lousy set of nails that he wasn't going to return for the awards the following day. But he did and he was given 1^st place by 10 points over me. 2^nd place was occupied by Mayumi Hase of Japan. I got 3^rd.

I had been had!

The confirmation came when Danny approached me after the competition and shook my hand. He didn't say a word, just shook my hand. I had only been introduced to him one time prior to that and he walked the entire perimeter of the competition area to reach me, which was held in the ballroom at the Long Beach Hyatt. He shook my hand and he left. I knew at that moment that the competition had been rigged and I was the sacrificial lamb.

Now, I was assured by the nameless person that after that fiasco, Danny would never judge for that magazine again. (Not remotely true.) And every time that I've seen him emerge from “behind the curtain”, I've pitched an all-out bitch about it. Because, like I said, he wouldn't know a winning comp nail...(but he doesn't need to), so he must have some other reason to be behind the curtain. Like some form of financial gain for his new company “producing a winner” maybe?

This guy is a cheater through and through with blatant ties to Japan. And I'm not just spouting off about that, I've been there and have seen it and felt it first hand, but I won't go into that here, this one is already too long.

In the next blog of this series, I'll get farther into the new directors of the I.N.C. because this stuff runs deep.

Peace (ha)

Can o'worms- preface

Before I can dish the dirt, I have to give you some info.

First of all, I have been competing for almost 6 years straight. I hadn't missed a competition in the states until the ISSE Midwest show just this past March, 2011 for those of you from the future. And in those six years, I made substantial gains in "eyeball" skills.

What are "eyeball" skills you ask? Eyeball skills are where you can walk the model line up looking at every set of nails and and just by eyeballing, can pick out the top three sets of nails, if not the winner. What I'm saying is that because I have competed and won so many times, and have studied so many sets of nails (winning or not) that I no longer have to study the nails to determine whether it is a winning set or not. I can eyeball it. But, of course, if I was assigning a score to that set of nails I would study, (and do when I judge) as I would expect every judge to study them. And every competitor that does not place 1st in any competition should also study the winning nails to see why they didn't win. Ok? Ok.

Second, you don't get to my position in the competition world without butting heads with people. Not only can I talk the talk, but I can walk the walk. And I can see bullshit when it arises and I'm not afraid to call it as such either. I'm not afraid to challenge discrepancies or be a thorn in the judges or directors sides and make them follow their own rules....

While I'm at this point, let me add that the reason I chose to call this blog my "Revolution" is precisely the reasons that I stated above. Large parts of our nail industry need a 180 degree turn around. And the only way that that can happen is for manicurists like you and me to be our own advocates and make the changes. We have a duty to ourselves and our fellow manicurists to identify problems, call them out and if we have the ability to effect change, then we have the obligation to effect change.

Those who can, must.

In other words, if we turn a blind eye to corruption because we are afraid of what we'll get (like being black balled) then we only get corruption. In the words of Leann Smith-Henderson: "If there is any doubt, then there is no doubt" that something is wrong and it's up to us to make the changes...to Revolutionize the industry.

Third. You don't gather as many 1st place trophies as I have without developing some technical skills along the way. I have yet to see anyone that has the control over products and tools that I have. Even the so-called godfather can't control a file in competition like I can. But that is a whole 'nother story. Now I know that it sounds like my ego is talking here, and I don't mean for it to be like that...I'm just sayin'.

But if there happens to be any doubt about my control, you can check out my youtube videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/lynnberry1972  where you can watch me handle an electric file, hand file and acrylic like nobodies business.  <---- Ok. That was my ego :)

So now that you have the supporting facts and info, we can move on to the good stuff.

Happy reading,
Lynn

I think I'm ready to open this can o'worms

I've had many people ask about the events that took place in Germany this year. I've been too angry to talk about it but in prior years, I've had only good things to say. Now I'm going to give my account/opinion of the so-called "2011 World Championships."

Over the next few blogs I'll lay out what happened as well as post pictures to prove my points and help you understand the alliances and connect the dots between the key players and what it is that they are trying to do.

So hold on to your hats, this shit is going to blow your mind.
BTW- these are my "4th" place nails.

Perceived value

For a very long time now, I've felt like something was wrong with my beloved nail industry. I couldn't put my finger on it because there are so many things in this great big nail world that need change. But the thing that  strikes me as most odd, is the value that manicurists place on themselves- or rather- lack of value.

Now when I say these next things, I hope that others in the beauty industry are not offended because I'm only using them as examples, so here it goes.

I have clients that will pay $200 to have their hair colored and cut. I personally have paid $120 for a massage, and my dear friend offers facials starting at $85 (to wash my face!) I'm shocked at these prices. Not because of the price per-say, but because of the perceived value.

My hair looks great, my skin glows and that pain in my neck is gone...for a while. So when people baulk at $45 for a fill, I have to wonder why?

"Oh! I only pay $8 down the street."

And yet- my hair grows and must be maintained. If I personally don't ex-foliate my face at least every other day, my skin dulls in a week and the fantastically relaxed feeling I get from a great massage only lasts till the next stressful event. But most pay these prices without complaint.

 It seems to me that the perceived value comes in part from the length of time that these services last, 4-6 weeks in most cases. Or the other thing that plays an important role in whether a customer will pay a price or not is (believe it or not) location. Say a spa or upscale salon with a fancy name on it. As if your physical location has anything to do with quality or talent.

Now I know that these prices are at the top end, where we all strive to be right?, but let's look at the time frame aspect. If we break the price down to a $$ amount per week this is what we get. A $200 hair "do" that lasts 6 weeks = $33 per week. $120 massage at 4-6 week intervals = $20-30 per week. An $85 facial every 4 weeks = $21 per week. With this price ratio in mind, if great nail enhancements are on the same level, customers should be prepared to pay $20-30 per week for nails. Or should I say, manicurists should be charging $40-60 for nail enhancement maintenance every 2-3 weeks.

I do not wash dishes with my hair or dig in the garden with my face. Not to mention all the other things that fingernails do. So why would any customer think that they should be able to have good, durable nails, that actually enhance their hands for dirt cheap? I have even heard manicurists say; "I can't charge that! I wouldn't have any clients left!"

And I say "Why not?"

I have to ask myself what's going on here? Where is the perceived value?

Food for thought...

Wow, it's been a long time

So I haven't posted anything in a while, I'm sorry. I really do want to keep up with this blog for you all, so here is the update:


I did really well at the ISSE Long Beach competition, with a 1st place in both sculptured nails and salon success. Plus I got to see all my nail competition friends. I also was able to catch a judge pulling some funny business. That is a very long story (which I will post soon) but right now I want to focus on the next event.


This is the big one. The International Nail Championships in Düsseldorf, Germany this weekend. I leave on Thursday with a Friday arrival, returning home on Monday. Germany for the weekend is not something that I recommend for the faint of heart, no no. But I've done it before and I can do it again.


I hope to be giving updates on my facebook from the competition arena and elsewhere while I'm there, so stay tuned. And wish me luck.


Oh yeah, if you're there, come by and say hi. I'll be in hall 12.


C-Ya