Finding Your Niche When it Comes to Nail Art

Nail artist Jessica Brogan sat down with us to share her experience in finding her niche in nail art, taking into consideration the influence of the pandemic.

2020 saw a systemic increase of nail art on social media. Something about being oppressed with lockdowns and restrictions meant our creativity was overflowing. Nail art can be quite daunting when it's not something you usually offer as a service, but the pressure is real to keep up with what's on trend and the skills so many have learnt over the last year.

As a nail tech myself I have to admit I went through many stages of feeling like my ability and precision just wasn’t up to scratch. Bombarded with images of so many influencer style nail techs and their work had me feeling inferior and overwhelmed. I have been a Nail technician for nearly 12 years, I pride myself on immaculate manicures and perfect cuticle work. I know my ability is of a very high standard and my knowledge of all things nails, anatomy and health and safety have never been questioned. So why was I feeling like I couldn't keep up?

Witnessing so many Nail techs thrive over the last year has been incredible, turning their hand to new business ventures and making the most of every opportunity. It just proved how adaptable and ever changing the industry is. Nail art became a form of expression in a time of oppression, we could show the world our artistic skills and build communities online that we would never have had the chance to do before. So I joined a few nail art groups, some I even paid for. Now, whilst I enjoyed them at the time, I found that when it came to practicing certain designs and feeling the pressure to post perfect work I was struggling to find my joy.

Everyday I would set time aside to recreate designs and then try to make sure when I posted that I gave credit to the person I sought the inspiration from. Giving credit for your designs seemed to be a big part of the process, you couldn’t post your own pictures without scrolling through pages of social media to try find the first person ever to have posted a particular set. Well this was almost impossible but necessary as to not face the wrath of another nail tech who deemed it their responsibility to tell you that you have ‘stolen’ someone else's idea to pass as your own. It really made me think about who we were doing this for and what kind of Nail Tech I wanted to be.

I started to see things in a different light, I wasn’t creating my best work and that was because I was trying too hard to be someone else. I was trying to fit in and show that I can do what you can do. When really my idea of art was not the same, what I find visually pleasing others do not, what I think is art others may not.  I didn’t want to become a machine mass producing generic insta worthy Nail art pictures for the likes. I wanted to focus on my strengths and my own vision, afterall art is from the art. You cannot simply follow and copy others and call yourself an artist, you can aspire to be as creative as these other technicians without aspiring to be the same.

I personally prefer more simple designs, I love a reimagined french manicure and abstract creations that demand attention yet are subtle in a classy way. I can however, appreciate other more out there designs without feeling the need to do them myself. I have found a whole new level of joy and respect for my work, staying true to myself and practicing what I visualize. You should never feel the pressure to be the same as others, you shouldn't look to other nail techs as a mirror but more as a guiding light. Be inspired by their creativity and their individuality without becoming obsessed with recreation.

Art comes in many forms, just because you're not painting a canvas or moulding a sculpture does not mean that you are not an artist. Use your platform and your skills to show the world what you love and what inspires you. Your clients will always find you, and the ones that do will be loyal to you as you are loyal to yourself. The more real you can be, the more trusted you are. Customers and potential customers will see your love and expression and that will be what attracts them to you. Do not worry about keeping up with the biggest names in the industry, there is more than enough room for us all. Whatever your vibe is, don't underestimate how much better your work will be when you’re doing something you love.

Trends come and go, although I do feel it is important from a business point of view to keep up with certain colours and trends, just know that everything is adaptable. You have the tools and the passion to create work that works for you, to produce nail art that you're proud to say is an extension of you and not a replica copy of the same thing we see over and over as we scroll through social media. I would love to see more individuality, more difference and more examples of what we're all really capable of. Let’s not conform but reform our own ideas of what being a Nail artist really is.

For me, I found the best way to reconnect with my own ideas was to unfollow any accounts that made me feel less worthy. I only connected with other Nail Techs who I felt were essential to my growth. There are so many inspirational Nail artists doing their thing that really helped me fall back in love with what I do and why I do it. Take it back to basics, if you're struggling with inspiration for designs then try and think back to what it was that drew you to the industry in the first place. Imagine yourself in 5 or 10 years time and what that looks like for you in your career. Focus on your strengths and enjoyment rather than forcing anything that drains you. You don't have to follow just Nail Techs for inspiration, you can get it in any area of your life that you enjoy. One of my favourite designs was a ‘diet coke’ one I did during the first lockdown. I went through a phase of drinking a can of diet coke every time I went to the supermarket. It was like a mini day out and the only freedom I had at one point. It seems so ridiculous that I was inspired by a can of coke but I really do believe it was some of my best work.

Another weird little trick I have is predicting the colour a client will go for before they even speak. So many times a client will sit down and they’d have a pink scarf or green jumper etc. Any little differences I notice is usually the colour they go for. They will then usually say something like ‘oh I don't know why I'm drawn to this, it's not something I would usually go for’. Then I would proceed to point out – ‘well it's the colour of your purse or the socks you subconsciously chose to wear today’. The point being subconsciously our minds are always inspired, you don’t always have to look outwardly for inspiration, more often than not your lifestyle will reflect your passions anyway. Be more intuitive to your own likes and passions and your artistic flare will surely follow.