It's All About the Nails...

My love affair with nails has existed for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories is getting in trouble when I was four or five years old for climbing up a bookcase and sneaking the red nail polish out of my mother's manicure supply basket so I could paint my nails. Luckily, when I got caught my Dad took the blame by asserting that he had given me permission. As I got older, the obsession grew and I moved into elementary nail art using decals, toothpicks and glitter polish. By eighth grade, my plastic two-tone Caboodle makeup case was brimming with all of the makeup and nail supplies that Wal-Mart and the Dollar General store had to offer.

Years later, I began work at a tiny satellite office of one of the world's largest international nail companies, KMC/Dashing Diva. The path I took to this career was most certainly the scenic route, yet somehow it seemed that I had been destined for it. I instantly thrived in the environment and quickly became a valued member of the staff. When they learned of my background in writing, I was drafted to compose the monthly newsletter for the company's signature brand of professional nail products. Soon I was also writing copy for advertisements as well as spearheading the social media presence for the brand. Not long after, I was approached by an executive at the company and encouraged to enroll in beauty school to acquire a New York State Nail Technician license...and I did.

In July of 2010, I began the four month long Nail Tech course at Christine Valmy International School of Esthetics, Makeup, and Nail Artistry. For four nights each week, I raced from my office to a tiny classroom two stories above Fifth Avenue and immersed myself in all things nails for several hours. My classmates and I were guided through our studies by the course instructor, Ms. Sheila Ando -- a gifted and knowledgeable Nail Technician. During our course of study we were presented with the opportunity to volunteer as student members of the Butter London Nail Tech Team at NY Fashion Week. At the same time, I was drafted by the lead Nail Tech at Dashing Diva Professional to work as a student member of their Fashion Week team. Thus began my continuing adventures at NY Fashion Week.

NY Fashion Week Spring 2011

Butter London Nail Tech Team Backstage at the Alexander Wang Runway Show

A full year later, I have graduated and completed all of my state exams. My Nail Tech license arrived in the mail a couple of weeks ago. Over the past year, I have attended beauty shows to do product demonstrations for Dashing Diva and Nail Bliss, was elevated to the Butter London Pro team for NY Fashion Week Fall 2011 and have continued to nurture my passion for nails by converting the spare room in my apartment into my very own nail salon. Now I'm sharing my thoughts and experiences through this blog as I have learned that there are precious few that understand the multifaceted world of the professional nail industry. It is creative and thrilling and brutal at times, but regardless, the nails always look fantastic. And let's be honest...it's all about the nails.

Katy Perry's Smurf Nails Steal the Show at NY Movie Premiere

Precious few celebrities know how to accessorize quite like the ever glamorous and eye-catching Katy Perry. Mere clothing is heightened to an art form when combined with the right accessories – and that includes nails, of course!

This past weekend, Mrs. Russell Brand glittered like no other on the red carpet of the New York premiere of The Smurfs movie. Rocking newly blonde locks and some 1970’s inspired eye shadow, Katy was decked out in her smurfiest finery, including a bedazzled Smurfette dress by The Blonds and Christian Louboutin heels in that beloved shade of cartoon blue. By far, the detail that pulled the entire ensemble together was her magical manicure created by the fabulous Pattie Yankee-Williams of Dashing Diva Professional. Each nail is a tiny work of art featuring images of the film’s characters, including the iconic Smurf vixen, Smurfette, aptly voiced by Perry in the film.

Thrilled with the finished results of her coordinating mani, Perry tweeted a photo of her nails before the event! Once again the combination of Katy Perry’s fearless style and Pattie Yankee-Williams’ creativity and skill is a winner, hands down!