Sweet Squared

When did you start your career – October 2003, after completing my qualifications in Beauty Therapy I soon landed a job in a local salon, I soon realized I had a lot to learn and it was NOT a way of making a quick buck!  I gained great experience not only in how a working salon is run day to day but most importantly the need for excellent education and quality products.

I joined the Cuticles franchise in 2005 and this helped me set up a mobile beauty business, I was also able to receive more product training too and each time gaining more experience and knowledge.  I left the franchise about 2 years ago but the franchise gave me knowledge and confidence to basically go it alone.

I now have a home salon with an excellent regular client base; I offer nail, beauty and tanning treatments and yes all excellent and professional products used with every treatment.  Of course I have completed the education with each supplier so I am using their products correctly and safely for my clients.  This gives them confidence in me, my products and treatments as well as fabulous retail opportunities for my homecare items.

I am also involved with London Fashion Week twice a year working alongside an amazing team of nail professionals backstage to achieve the nail designs we all see on the catwalks and in magazines.

I am CND Education Ambassador for CND and I have an academy in Cheltenham and educate from Ellison’s in Coventry too.

I was introduced to CND in 2004 and completed my L&P conversion; I started working on friends and family but soon realized this was not as easy as I thought, so gave up!!  A few months later I was at a beauty show and stumbled across CND and thought I would have a chat with the lovely ladies on the stand about my situation.  They introduced me to my local ambassador who was demonstrating at the show and lucky for me (but not for her )  it was Amanda Fontanarrosa who took me under her wing as I began to continually hassle her about all things nails.

I started with a 121 and was soon hooked by the pure enthusiasm and encouragement that was given to me and this gave me what I needed - fire in my belly! I wanted to be the best I could be!

I soon booked on all the other courses available by CND and then went down my Masters route with L&P in 2005.  It was clear I wanted more and I wanted to be a Grand Master so I continued the Masters route and gained my Grand Master status in 2006. But I still wanted more - I wanted to be an Educational Ambassador for CND!

A couple of years later the email eventually came in July 2008 - an invite to qualify for Bootcamp and there it was right in front of me and I turned it down!!!  Why, I hear you ask?  Well to be honest I was afraid that I couldn’t do it and that I might not pass and that simply wasn’t an option so it was easier to turn the invite down.   I soon had an email from Amanda and Samantha telling me this was not an option, so off I went to Pre-Qualification Day; I survived and passed and then it was Bootcamp and again I just about survived and PASSED!

In all honesty I have never looked back; I learnt more than I ever thought I could, not just about nails but about myself too and I also met some very good friends from our time spent together.  We all wanted one thing but most of all we also wanted it for each other.

I love educating so much and I love inspiring and encouraging students and most of all I want to give others the opportunities, knowledge and confidence that was given to me by my educator.

What are your strengths – very organized, professional, bold, passionate, hard working, caring and not forgetting a complete perfectionist!

Why you love CND – why wouldn’t I!!  - On a serious note because it offers the best products and best training and can make the best out of any nail professional as long as they are willing to work for it.

Character questions:
Favourite music (and bands) - a bit of everything really depends on my mood, you will find a weird collection on my iPod!

Favourite movies (some specifics) – it has to be Dirty Dancing, and of course James Bond! (Mainly Daniel Craig, he is so hot)! I shouldn’t admit it but I do love Shrek too!

Favourite food – curry washed down with wine, no chicken curry please I have a phobia of chicken!

Coolest place you have ever been (and why) – Strange I know - Cheltenham General Hospital the day my sister gave birth to her twin boys by C-section.  They were premature and in the Special Care Baby Unit; they were so tiny and helpless hooked up to lots of machines.  It makes you realize how precious life is and how we are born into this world to grow into whatever we want to be.

Place you would most love to go to before you kick the bucket  – I think it would need to be a polar cruise to both poles (Antarctic/Arctic)  to see the wildlife surviving in those conditions from a little penguin to a massive whale or polar bear.

Your most favourite quote - Life is a coin, you can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once.
 
Creative Academy - Cheltenham situated in the heart of the Cotswolds, 2 minutes away from the famous racecourse where the Gold Cup Champions race past the finish line, located in Three Sisters Lane, Prestbury.  At the moment it can house up to 3 students depending on the class, (larger premises are hopeful in the near future).  It is a working home salon that transforms into a Creative Nail Academy  which allows the students to experience fabulous education with a working business to gain knowledge of not just how to create beautiful nails but how to set up your business too.
Creative Academy Coventry is situated in Ellison’s just off the M6.  A beautiful spacious bright pink room designed with fabulous large nail desks for each student.  For any students wishing to purchase products, the cash and carry is two doors away.