NAIL TECH TALK: June Gilbert of June Gilbert Nail Artist
By Callie Iley | 20 February 2021 | Feature, Tech Talk
Scratch chats with Magpie senior educator, June Gilbert of June Gilbert Nail Artist, about her journey into the nail industry and her passion for education…
I have been in the nail industry since 1995. I started my career at college, completing an NVQ Level 3 in Beauty Therapy and then I went on to complete various nail courses. I got my AET in 2016, to be able to teach. I have worked freelance, been employed in a salon, and now I work from my own home based cabin. I have been educating techs with Magpie Beauty since the Magpie education programme started over three years ago, and I love every minute of it!
My advice to those starting a career within the nail industry would be to first of all train with a recognised, accredited course and get insured.
Use a reputable, safe brand, and follow brand training and instructions. Practice your skills as much as possible! You need to keep trying and practising at some techniques to get better at them. Don’t get disheartened if you don’t get it right first time. Stay in the loop with new trends and products and be aware of the current affairs in the industry. Make friends in the industry, it’s so important to help and support each other as much as possible.
“Keep educating yourself, never stop learning, constantly add to your professional development, complete courses and keep pushing yourself out of your comfort zone!”
I absolutely can’t live without Magpie’s Perfect Poly Acrygel range, it’s been a total game changer for some of my clients, as well as myself. It’s so good for all nail types but particularly for weak, oily and bendy natural nails. Paired with Magpie’s Rubber Up Base Coat, it’s phenomenal!
My favourite Magpie Glitter is Jasmine, she’s has otherworldly iridescence… I get lost in that glitter! It’s super pretty and goes with literally anything. I also love Magpie’s Marigold, it’s is a super iridescent mustard gold and is absolutely stunning. It offers such a lovely warm sparkle – definitely a high energy colour.
My favourite nail style to create would be something inspired by nature, like animal characters, tortoise effect, flowers, animal prints and wood effect. I love teaching nail art! The art of creating pictures, patterns and effects on nails is like painting on a tiny canvas. I think I’d burst without nail art as my creative channel. I’m always so proud to see students produce nail art they thought they could never achieve!
In terms of who inspires me in the industry, I call it ‘the collective’ – it’s all of us, nature and everything, what’s around us – it’s hard not to be inspired by more than one thing or person.