ENTER TO WIN!

Taking place at Professional Beauty & Hair 2025 on 9-10 March, the Nail Competitions feature some exciting new categories this year

Hosted by Jacqui and Sean O’Sullivan, this year’s Nail Competitions are a chance for nail techs to show off their skills and creativity in a unique setting.

There are two levels – professional and student. The professional level is for anyone who has been qualified for over one year, including educators. To be considered a student, you need to be on a foundation nail course or qualified less than 12 months. Evidence should be submitted via email to pbcompetitions@thepbgroup.com.

With eight categories in total, including live and off-floor categories, there is something for everyone looking for an opportunity to be recognised in this thriving sector.

SUNDAY, 9 MARCH

1 STRUCTURE/BUILDER IN A BOTTLE

Create 10 salon-style nails using structure/ builder in a bottle gel. This competition is completed on natural nails only. No design element is required, and the end result is to be a flawless set of nails. No manicure procedure is necessary during this competition.

2 LEARN A SKILL

Show an ability to replicate the demonstrated design, provided by Kirsty Meakin. Display your creativity in using the technique, while adding your own twist.

3 ON LOCATION: RED CARPET NAIL DESIGNS

Create three nail designs using the brief given prior to the competition start time. You will need to bring all nail art products and tools that you would usually have in your kit to create the designs. To help you with choosing your products, the theme will be based on a scenario around the Oscars.

MONDAY, 10 MARCH

1 MANICURE

Focus on perfect and safe preparation of the cuticle and surrounding skin, and immaculate painting using traditional nail polish. A ‘before’ picture will be taken by the lead judge on a smartphone. One hand is to be painted in a French traditional nail polish, and one hand painted in a crème dark colour traditional nail polish. Top coats are allowed. Cuticle oil can also be used, but not excessively

2 UV GEL POLISH

Demonstrate accurate and safe application of UV gel polish to one hand using French and dark colour. This competition is completed on natural nails only, and nails will be checked prior to the start. Nails should be ready for gel polish and coated with any type of gel polish/soak-off system/product in a bottle. No design element is required. The end result is to be a flawless set of nails. No manicure procedure is necessary during this competition.

3 SALON NAIL

Create the perfect salon nail in a system of your choice (liquid and powder or UV cured product) with either tip and overlay or sculpt. One hand to include three nails finished to a high shine, and two nails (thumb and pinkie) to be polished in a crème dark colour with gel or regular nail polish. If sculpting, nail adhesive cannot be used. Adhesives will be confiscated from any competitor choosing to sculpt.

OFF-FLOOR CATEGORIES

1 INSTANAIL PHOTOGRAPHIC

Irish Myths and Legends is the theme, so with that in mind, create a photo to showcase your skills and creativity. There will be two awards for this competition, chosen by the judges and the public. Your image must be of a high resolution for printing purposes (300dpi), and you must provide a short video reel of you creating the design. Images can be used on social media after you have submitted your entry. You may submit a maximum of three entries into this category; however, they must each be different and cannot be the same nails in a different pose. All entries must be submitted to pbcompetitions@thepbgroup.com before 5pm on Thursday, 27 February 2025. The online public vote will take place on Wednesday, 5 March 2025.

2 MIXED MEDIA BOXED

Nails to be designed on five nail tips (varied sizes) and placed together. Art on the nails must not exceed an inch/2.5cm in height from the surface of the nail. Any embellishment to the actual tips will count, and must not extend further from the nail surface, or points will be deducted. Please ensure your entry is no bigger than an A4 sheet of paper. Your entry must be accompanied by a description in English of the work involved, including types of nail art media and techniques used. Please hand in your entry at the show. The deadline is 10am on Monday, 10 March. For more information on the Nail Competitions, visit professionalbeauty.ie/show.