The iron found in animal products is easier for the body to absorb which is bad news for vegetarians. Those who don’t eat meat should make sure they eat fruits & vegetables high in iron to ensure ample amounts in their system.

Here’s where it gets tricky, for the body to absorb iron effectively you must also consume a diet with adequate supplies of vitamin C and vitamin B complex.

Necessary for nail plate structure & formation, an adequate supply of iron in the body will ensure that nails remain strong and supple with smooth, healthy cuticles.

Food Sources

The best sources are animal products, but there are plenty of plants pumping iron too.

Animal Sources
Oysters, liver, lean red meat, poultry, eggs, tuna & salmon.

Fruit & Veg Sources
Dried beans, whole grains, dried fruits, nuts, molasses, leafy greens, lima beans, soybeans, kidney beans, almonds, broccoli, spinach, kale, collards, asparagus, grapes & apricots.

Signs of Deficiency

Generally those lacking iron will find themselves lethargic, weak and unable to concentrate. Their nails may be brittle, ridged or splitting and prone to recurring infections.

Get Your Iron Every Day

Clearly important for your overall health, getting enough iron is essential. Meat eaters shouldn’t rely solely on meat for their iron intake, when animal sources are eaten with leafy greens iron absorption is amplified.

Be sure to take a look at other essential nail vitamins & minerals such as A, B, C, E, calcium, copper & iodine.

Regardless of your field, this expo will prove educational and informational for attendees whether you are in spa marketing or an independent stylist.

Features

• Extensive Trade Show
• Business Forum
• Exhibitions & Presentations

When

March 14 – 15

Where

Palais des Congres de Montreal
201 Avenue Viger Ouest,
Montréal, QC, Canada?
(514) 871-8122?

More Information

Beauty Show – Montreal

Stay Tuned

Be sure to check back for the 2011 events calendar, & for information about the Beauty Show – Montreal 2011.

Important to the proper functioning of our whole system, this mineral is only found in small amounts in our body & a variety of sources makes it easy to consume an adequate supply.

As for your nails, this mineral helps their overall condition & prevents infection. In fact, white (or de-colored) iodine can be used topically to help strengthen weak & brittle nails.

A good way to heal nails damaged from removal of artificial nails, try applying white iodine daily for a week, then once a week after. Make sure you only apply daily for a week or it could exacerbate the problem.

Food Sources

There is a wide variety of yummy options.
Animal Sources
Eggs, milk, yoghurt, fish & other seafood.

Fruit & Veg Sources
Strawberries, kelp, seaweed, asparagus, garlic, lima beans, mushrooms, sea salt, sesame seeds, soybeans, spinach, summer squash, whole grains & turnip greens

Signs of Deficiency

As with many of the nutrients important to nail health, symptoms of an iodine deficiency include dry & brittle nails with irritated cuticles & hangnails.

Keeping Those Nails Healthy

Eating a well-balanced diet rich in raw fruits & vegetables, lean meat and whole grains is all you need to ensure you are consuming ample amounts of iodine. Easy as pie, strawberry pie.

Be sure to check out some of the other nutrients important for nail health such as A, B, C, E, calcium & copper.

Tell us a little about you, what is your background & where do you come from?
I live in Singapore. I majored in economics and management in university, and I’ve worked in a corporate environment for a good number of years before taking on a fulltime career as a professional nail instructor and nail artist after finding it more fulfilling than a desk bound job. That is how unpredictable life can be but I love every moment of my career. It’s a dream job that takes me places, make new friends all the time and do what I love most!

Teaching gives me the freedom to experiment and express myself, to inspire others through my creativity.

You take nail art to a whole new level, did the nails or the art come first?
Art is almost second nature in me, I think I just express it better with nails. It’s wearable and it could also give someone’s nails a total makeover, put a smile on their face.

More than qualified, do you find your extensive education and education experience gives you an edge in the industry? 
Most definitely, I can’t stress enough on continuing education, to open your mind to learning new things and most importantly to not be afraid to share.

You’re very well-known in the industry and you’ve written 7 books already with your latest one released this March, the sequel to ‘Nail It’, what aspect of your career do you love the most?
My latest book launching in March is NAILQ Signature. It means a lot to me when people appreciate my work and want to be like me. When I see the excitement in the eyes of those I’ve motivated and inspired with my work. I know how that feels, because I also have my nail idols which I worship and respect a lot.

What kinds of changes have you seen in the nail industry over the years?
There are more emphasis on designs, people are more open to wearing different shapes and colourful nails, and there are definitely more good quality nails in terms of structure and appearance.

Where do you see the Industry in 5 years?
I know for a fact that there are more and more educational classes available, with the internet people from all over the world can share the most up to date information and ideas in the forums, networking sites etc, there are a lot of support to help technicians to improve and advance their skills, so the quality of nails will get better.

This also means that competition will get tougher and techs who do not upgrade themselves will lag behind.

How did the collaboration VivCat come about?
Viv and I hit it off the moment we met and there are a lot of similarities in our personality, business ethics and artistry. We both love to teach and are people-oriented. We definitely complement each other when we present our designing style as she is meticulous and a perfectionist, while I’m more spontaneous and impulsive.

What are some of your favourite nail products?
I love collecting good brushes as it’s the most important tool for nail artist, coloured acrylic because I love 3D work, UV Gel Topcoat as they give a lasting shine without ever getting dulled by solvents and Soak Off Gel polish because the colour doesn’t chip like polish do.

What effect do you think the Internet will have on nail art?
An excellent way to see and share different styles and techniques from all over the world and this makes people want to have them.

How do you use the Internet in conjunction with your nail business?
The best tool for networking, generate interest and keeping in touch with my nail friends all over the world.

Your career has taken you all over the World, how does the nail art differ?
The main difference with nail art all over the world is in the degree of exaggeration. Some like it simple, practical and some like to make a statement. I believe nail art is largely influenced by culture.

What is the one piece of advice you find yourself giving your students over and over again?

Never ever give up if you have the passion for it. Do what you love and love what you do by working smart.

Have any advice for people wanting to specialise in fantasy nails?
To live an artistic life, you must remove the fear of being wrong, think outside the box, work on the details.

All nails aside, what else puts a spring in your step?
Having good mentors and learning the right thing from the beginning, having a supportive family for all the travelling I do and time away from home and being pro-active and self-motivated.

Many Thanks

Thanks to Catherine for answering our questions & sharing a little more about herself. Stay tuned for more interesting interviews with other fun and fearless members of the nail industry.

The business forum offers a comprehensive group of seminars presented by industry leaders. There is also a large trade show filled with exhibits, goods, supplies, equipment, furniture & more.

Features

• Day Spa Award Announcements
• Extensive Trade Show
• Business Forum
• Exhibitions & Presentations

When

March 13 – 15

Where

Las Vegas Convention Center
3150 Paradise Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 892-0711

More Information

Business Forum Schedule
Registration
Exhibitor List
Local Hotels

Stay Tuned

Be sure to check back for the 2011 events calendar, and check back for information about the Day Spa Expo & Business Forum 2011.

Featured Books

For salon owners

For Professors and Students

Nail Artistry

How to’s

Hands & Feet

Medical

Can you recommend a book not in the list?

Leave us a comment below and we’ll be sure to add it

You are a makeup artist and body painter, how did you become involved in such a unique business?
I started body-painting by meeting a french artist called René Boëlle. I was makeup artist and graphic designer (I was doing canvas also as a hobby). I just wanted to try and took a training course with him. I soon became very passionate about body-painting.

Did you learn the techniques you use in school or are you a self-taught artist?
I used to do the brush and sponge technique when I was living in France, like René Boëlle. Then I met Alex Hansen in Canada when I immigrated in 1999. He is now a body-painting world champion in Airbrush. He became a friend of mine and we started working a lot together, doing photoshoots and shows. I learnt a lot from him. Now I mix all the techniques.

Where do you get your inspiration?
Everywhere in fact, in nature, magazines, from the web, books and most of the time in my head With Alex we tried to finds things that nobody has done before. We create new concepts.

You are active in body painting competitions, tell us about some of your highlights.
Yes, I really like competing. It’s always a challenge to create something new and to try to be the best.

When you work for clients you have to do what they want. In competition you are free. It’s also good to see if your work is as good as the body-painters working in the same market as yours.

Out of all of the bodies (and faces) you’ve painted, which one is your favourite?
My favorite is always the last one I’ve done, as I try to do better each time, creating new things, with more technique. But, one of my favorite is the Ice Queen I did two years ago, and the Monster I did for FABAIC last year (I won 2nd place with it).

You also teach training courses, is painting people a difficult art to teach (and learn)?
I have been teaching body-painting for a few years now. It’s not really difficult to learn if you are good in Art. What is difficult is to create in 3D, as the body is not a canvas! Also, you have to find your own style, and to do that, it takes a few years as you have to create your own look that everyone can recognize and say, “Oh, that’s Gaelle’s work” (for example).

Tell us about your involvement in Color Mundo.
I created Color Mundo 4 years ago now. I wanted to make people share my passion and show them that body-painting is Art.

I wanted to really expand people’s perception of body-painting, and have them understand that it’s not just painting on fake clothes for girls at a motorcycle show, or launching a new bear!

You’re an active editor for ExceptioNail.Beauty Magazine & Les Nouvelles Esthétiques Spa Magazine. Is writing another art form you enjoy?
I like meeting passionate people, and this is what is so great about editorial work. I meet a lot of makeup artists, massotherapists, aestheticians, spas owners, manufacturers… I learn a lot from them and try to pass their knowledge and passion on to readers through the magazines ExceptioNail.Beauty Magazine & Les Nouvelles Esthétiques Spa Magazine.

Nail design is a natural progression in your work, have you always done nails or is that a talent you developed later?
Well, I like to know what I’m talking about.

I had to write a lot of articles about Nails in Exceptionail.Beauty magazine, so I decided to take a training courses. Then I used it for my body-paintings to add accessories to my characters. It’s all part of my touch!

Does the Minx line allow you more creativity with nail design?
Ho yes! I like doing futuristic and fantastic characters, and the Minx Silver and Golden Lightning are some of my favorites. But I also like the new Teaser line from Minx. They have so many designs, you can really create without end!

We know you love Minx, what other nail products do you like & use?
I work with INM or CREATIVE NAILS products to make nail enhancements. I use those Acrylic products also to create 3D nails.

What effect do you think the Internet will have / has had on the beauty industry?
It already helps artists working in the industry to show their art to a much wider audience. It’s also easier to find products and to learn new techniques. Soon, people won’t be able to work without the Internet!

How do you use the Internet in conjunction with your business?
I use the Internet to find pictures, to get inspiration, to track down new products. I also use it to learn and to share with other artists, thanks to Facebook.

I meet a lot of artists during shows all over the world, and thanks to the Internet we keep in touch all year long. I also find models thanks to the Model Mayhem website. It’s difficult to works on bodies without models, so the Internet is very useful for me.

Besides painting people what else are you passionate about?
Dance, Tattoo, Cinema and Art in general (I love going to museums, and seeing the various canvases).

Many Thanks

Thanks to Gaëlle for answering our questions & sharing a little more about herself. Stay tuned for interesting interviews with more fun and fearless members of the nail industry.

We’d also like to thank Stéphane Tétreault (Minx Canada) who is also responsible for some of the nails pictured as well as the lovely models Marie-Andrée Tailly, Clara Cloutier & Lily Sushi.

The three new Minx designs feature components of “Small Birds in Foliage,” an original work created by Carlo, who has lived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti all his life and has been personally affected by the earthquake.

Meet Carlo

A widower with seven children, finding food right now for his family is very difficult. Five of his children were attending school and it is certain that school will not recommence this year so that they will lose the chance to advance their studies. Carlo also supports elderly parents in poor health and several in-laws.

Everyone depends on him and his sole source of income is his art.

Minx co-founder Janice Jordan explains, “We are hard pressed to find words to describe this tragedy, and we absolutely wanted to do something to help the people of Haiti. We decided to use Carlo’s paintings to create the special edition Minx because that gave us the added opportunity to showcase a very talented artist that the rest of the world has not had a chance to see.”

Where You Can Get Yours

Available now to nail professionals through the Minx Nails website, $4.00 from the purchase price of each special edition Haitian Relief Minx will be donated directly to Food for the Poor charity, and an additional $1.00 per set will be provided to the artist. Options for additional contributions are also available online.

More About the Artist

Carlo Valtrain was born on October 26, 1959 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and began drawing and painting at age eight. He sold his first painting at age 14, and at 16 he left school to begin work as a full-time artist.

A versatile artist, Valtrain has worked in different media although he is best known for his paintings. Unlike many Haitian artists who maintain one style in all their works, Valtrain’s themes and styles vary. He paints intricate foliage, colourful birds and wildlife, abstracts, landscapes, and social commentary scenes depicting the difficulties of life in Haiti.

A widower with seven children, like all Haitian artists, Valtrain struggles to live by his art and to share his creative vision in a country that has little tourism or economic vitality.

For more information about Carlo and how to purchase his artwork, please visit his website at Haitian Art Online. These are originals and are not prints – it is not possible to purchase already sold paintings.

These three special edition Haitian Relief Minx designs will only be available for sale until the end of July 2010 so Find a salon near you.

About Minx Nails

Minx is made of flexible film that is applied with heat and pressure. Unlike liquid nail polishes, Minx does not require any drying time, and removal is fast and easy with only heat required instead of chemicals or nail polish remover.

The Minx manicure and pedicure line includes designer styles, personalised graphics and sparkling metallics available to high-end beauty businesses. Check out celebrities wearing Minx Nails including Carmen Electra, Pamela Anderson and many more.

Although important for overall body & immune system health, this mineral is only needed in trace amounts. Anyone with a balanced diet should intake an ample supply as both deficiency & toxicity are rare.

Copper has been used in medicine for thousands of years, largely due to it’s antifungal & antibacterial properties.

Those same qualities help to fight infections of the nail & nail beds. This is especially important for those whose nails are exposed to elements that promote the growth of harmful bacteria.

Food Sources

Here are a wide variety of fabulous sources.

Animal Sources
Oysters, organ meats, red meat, poultry & shellfish (contains the highest concentration).

Fruit & Veg Sources
Whole grains, legumes, cherries, dark chocolate (yay), dried fruits, nuts , leafy greens, prunes, soybeans, tofu, mushrooms, potato skin, coconut, papaya & apples.

Signs of Deficiency

Aside from a raging nail infection, other signs that you are deficient in copper are dark spots under nails which can be brittle & thin.

Important Heavy Metal

Not just a metal, copper is clearly important for the health of our whole bodies. Lucky for us its easy to find (even in chocolate) and even easier to make sure you have an ample supply.

Be sure to take a look at other essential vitamins & minerals for healthy nails, such as vitamins A, B, C, E & calcium.

Only open to licensed beauty professionals, this is an opportunity for further education and relevant business marketing.

Featured Nail Classes Include

• Red Carpet Manicure
• Greening Your Salon
• The Ideal Client
• Building Your Own Business
• Watch Your Business Boom

When

March 7 – 9

Where

The Jacob Javits Convention Center
655 West 34th Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 216-2000

More Information

IBS New York
Nail Education
Rules for Registration
Student Registration Form
Local Hotels

Stay Tuned

Be sure to check back for the 2011 events calendar, and check back for information about the International Beauty Show 2011.