Nailympia London is just over 5 weeks away!

On Sunday 15 & Monday 16 October 2023 the Nailympia team will come together, with competitors, judges, partners and sponsors live at Olympia Beauty, ExCel London for the first time in a year! The team can’t wait to welcome everyone to the competition arena, some for the first time.

Competing will stretch and fine tune nail skills. It’s a place to extend and explore creativity. It’s where a nail tech can shed salon life and literally create without boundaries. It’s a place to show the world their artistic potential and ability, and the judges can’t wait to see what will be created this year.

There will be nine fantastic competition categories taking place live in the arena including Gel Polish Manicure, UV Gel Tip & Overlay, L&P Acrylic  Sculpture, Perfect Match, The Joy Of Nails, French Twist, Salon Nails, Stiletto Nails and Fantasy Complete Look.

Registration for these categories closes at 11.59pm BST on Friday 29 September 2023.

Click here to register for Nailympia London 2023 today.

If you’d like to read the guide to competing at Nailympia click here.

The team is looking forward to welcoming you to the arena – there will be 16 trophies and 210 medals to award!

Invite this Wolf right up to your salon door

The first Nailympia global champion back in 2017, Sweden’s Madelene Wolf, has jumped into the slipstream of her success and launched a new nail system with education, known as Wolf.

“For a long time, I dreamt of having all the best materials gathered in one place instead of having to look for products I like from different suppliers,” reveals Madelene. “I also wanted to help others work with the best products in as simple a way as possible.”

Working alongside chemists since 2019, the Wolf nail system began its development journey with a vision of producing high quality products with fine pigments. Durability on the nail was another important factor for Madelene throughout the manufacturing process. “When I started my brand, it was not only to offer high-quality products that create beautiful and personalised nails, but also to help other nail therapists become the best in the world at their craft,” enthuses Madelene. “This is why I offer professional nail products and diploma courses in nail design at my Wolf Nail Academy, resulting in world class nails. People don’t really buy the products, they buy the purpose of them and the results they get.”

With an already saturated market, Madelene affirms she was guided by needing, “The best products for sale, salons and students. When I couldn’t find the level of quality on the market I required, I decided to produce my own.”

Training in nails back in 1996, this world class nail stylist from Gothenburg, has been working with nails ever since. “After being hired at various salons, I’ve had my own salon and school since 2008,” cites Madelene. “I train future nail therapists at the Madelene Wolf Nail Academy, however, no matter how much I think I know, I will never be fully trained and, as I love learning new techniques and shapes, I also make sure I regularly take courses myself.”

 

Reflecting on her journey into nails, Madelene fondly recalls, “I’ve been interested in nails since childhood when I would glue pieces of tape together, then cut them out to put on my nails. I then borrowed my mum’s red nail polish and thought the finished product looked great.”

Getting hooked on the idea of nails as a career was born from Madelene’s regular nail appointment leading her into a beginners’ nail course. “I thought nails looked like so much fun, so I went on a course and found it a great way to channel my creativity. I then decided to get further education.”

Climbing to the top of an industry ladder means taking education seriously, and as such, Madelene made it her mission to train with the best. Citing Najet Hamila Strand, Tom Holcomb and David Fowler, among a long list of industry greats, Madelene highlights, “If I have to pinpoint one industry professional I currently admire, it would be Olena Oezman, for her great passion for perfection. I can’t stop looking at her nails! But I also admire those who dare to follow their dreams and never give up, those who enter competitions and continue to take courses to keep improving.”

Proving that competing in nails can have a profound and positive effect on a nail career, Madelene notes her competition career (2001-2017), has afforded industry recognition, world travel, networking and further training and now the advent of her own nail brand.

“My biggest career highlight was when I became Nailympia Winner of Winners (Div 3) in London 2014, and then Nailympia Global Champion 2017. That is hard to forget! My heart was pounding so hard, and for a second I thought I would pass out before the results were announced. Another highlight is all the nail courses I’ve had the opportunity to arrange around the world, and now I’ve finally followed my dream of starting a nail brand.”

Living by the doctrine of never giving up on her dreams and living in a state of self-belief, Madelene’s eye for perfection and precision, alongside her persistence and determination, have led to the birth of an elegant and stylish product line, which delivers, in her own words, “Durability on the nails, ease of use and smooth application, high colour pigmentation, with brushes carefully developed by my colleague, Sandra Bergstrand, who’s been extremely picky regarding their quality throughout the production process.”

The Wolf nail system currently presents UV/LED hard gel, UV/LED gel polish, L&P acrylic, nail art products, brushes and accessories. Team Wolf is now delving deep into the R&D for an acrygel product to join the Wolf nail pack.

I want to reach the whole world with my products, work with those who are passionate about the same things as me and train even more nail therapists worldwide,” smiles Madelene. And offering her expert advice to aspiring nail professionals, she notes in closing, “You have to believe in yourself and never give up. Follow your dreams and goals!”

 

 

https://madelenewolf.com/

Meet – Rebecca Manz – Australia

Get to Know a Nailympia Expert in 25 Steps…

 

NAME: Beck Manz –  Bex to my overseas nail family

Business name: Beckz Nailz

Location: Brisbane Australia – just had my 24th move!

Nationality: Australian

Who Trained You: After a 6-week course, my mentor was Tanya Sherlock – we lived in a small country town of about 10,000 people where I ended up being the only nail tech after Tanya retired.

Years in Nails: 21 years  in salon, trainer/educator, running competitions

Years Judging: Around 10 years in some form or another as administration, on the microphone then comp manager Brisbane & Perth all while assisting Nailympia in Australia

Nail Brand You Represent/Use:  Nail Harmony

 

Role in Industry: Home salon & assisting with administration of Nailympia London

 

Favourite Trade Exhibition: Olympia Beauty – nothing has come close yet

Favourite Nail Tool: Cuticle Pusher

Favourite Book: Getting Your Sh*t Together!

Favourite Movie: Anything with Leonardo Di Caprio

Favourite Food: Thai

Favourite Vacation Destination: Canada

 

Your Hobbies: Swimming, renovating and it feels like moving house should be in here too…

What Inspires Your Work: Helping others create to the best of their own abilities and watching the penny drop with a newly learned technique

Who You Admire In Industry: Anyone who supports others to be the best version of themselves and pushes them to go beyond their own boundaries

Top Technique You’ve Mastered: Too many to remember!

Bex Manz & Alex Fox getting ready for the Nailympia London awards

 

Advice to Competitors: Leave your ego at the door because everyone is vulnerable when competing. Shit Happens to everyone no matter your experience – good shit and bad shit, so be proud of your good shit and learn from your bad shit.

 

Hot Tip or Trick for Competitors: Read the rules thoroughly – numerous times…

 

What Lockdown Has Taught You: That I need to keep very busy.

 

A Funny Day/Memory At The Nail Desk: Never ever even when learning did I ever give a cuticle cut to anyone – except my mother.

 

An Affirmation You Love: Life is all about the journey…

 

Why Nailympia: It’s my biggest nail family where I can use everything from hand signals to Google translate or a hug to a competitor – they all speak volumes to the right people.

 

Instagram: beck_manz

Facebook: Rebecca Manz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I’m so happy I now get the chance to be a judge…” says Nailympia Global Champion of 2017

“Nailympia has given me the opportunity to meet people from all around the world and see and learn from other nail techs too and got to measure myself against the best in the world. Nailympia offers the chance to develop as a nail professional. Everyone that competes can feel the lovely atmosphere on the competition arena and this is why you get a lot of new friends and learn so much from other techs. I’m so happy that I now get the chance to be a judge and see all beautiful nails from the other side of the competition arena!”
Madelene Wolf – Nailympia Global Champion 2017 – Sweden