E Mail address: jbelvers@hotmail.com

Web Site: http://beautytech.com/referrals/usr/nailstips.html

What made you decide on a career in nails and when did you start? I decided that eventually I wanted to give up my full-time job and be my own boss, I was also fed up of never been able to get in to a salon for a repair so I started Star Nails training last year. In July I did a conversion course for Creative Nail Design. In June I started the beauty side as well.

What environment do you work in? I work in my spare bedroom but I plan to have a conservatory built which is going to be my salon for nails and beauty treatments.

What services do you offer and which systems do you use? Temporary Nail Extensions, Tips and overlay: UV Gel, Silkwrap, Fibreglass, Acrylic (including sculpting), Manicure & Pedicure (both with massage), Nail Art:- Airbrushing, Rhinestones, Transfers, Charms, Glitter, Hand Painting Designs.

How many clients do you see per week? I see on average about 20 clients per week. At the moment I am part-time (doing nails weekends and evenings) as I have a full-time job as a P.A. Secretary. I am hoping to eventually give up my full-time job and do nails full-time instead.

What part of your job do you enjoy the most and why? I enjoy nail art as there are so many different designs, and every client likes something different.

How do you advertise? Talking pages, my A5 leaflets are all over the place, (shops, sports centres, theatres, back window of my car etc). I plan to advertise in Yellow Pages as well

What is your most popular nail art request? What is your favourite piece of nail art? Rhinestones, I think they look so nice on the nail with just a nail varnish colour underneath them. You can do so many different patterns with them.

What is the weirdest request you have had for any nail service? When I was doing nail art I was asked to paint bright florescent pink nails with thin black lines going horizontal across the nail. I thought she had gone mad but the finished look was great!

I you could have your dream come true in the nail world what would it be and why? I can’t wait to go to USA and see some of the salons and suppliers as it's so big over there. I want to learn new skills so that I can bring them back with me to England.

Tip to pass on to other nail techs? If you are on the Internet sign on to the NailTech dist. list and message board as there are loads of nail techs on there that can help with any problems or queries you might have. Also - Airbrushing, If you’re finding it hard (like I did) then keep at it, it comes to you in the end. Practice makes perfect!!

If you’re going to Professional nails at Olympia on the 12^th check out the Too Much Fun stand. They produce pre cut masking for airbrushers. In place of regular plastic stencils pre cut masking sticks to the nail guaranteeing you a perfect crisp edge to your designs. They may seem a bit fiddly at first and time consuming (you have to peel away the design from the backing paper) the result is definately worth it. It also gives you to option on blending colours without the tiny white edge you sometimes get when re-laying a stencil on the nail. TMF also produce excellent videos showing plenty of different designs with easy to follow instructions.