From student to success: how mentorship shapes nail industry talent
By Jess Watts | 27 October 2025 | Feature, Tech Talk, Training
Lead image: nails courtesy of Instagram.com/beautybyalafair_
Alafair Shove of @beautybyalafair_ is a 19-year-old self-employed pro who has been blossoming in the nail industry for three years. She shares the secrets to her success…
Kent-based beauty business owner, Alafair, has gone from strength to strength over the last three years. From placing second in the WorldSkills UK Regionals to establishing her own business, the tech has been making waves in the nail and beauty industry.
Her success, she says, is largely thanks to her mentor: industry icon, Denise Wright. Owner of long-standing salon, Perfect 10 Nail Studio in Kent, Denise is a multi award-winning tech, educator, academy director & international judge (amongst an array of other achievements).
“Denise has literally taught me everything I know,” says Alafair with a smile. “My confidence is thanks to her mentorship, and I wouldn’t be where I am without her.”
Denise met Alafair while the latter was still in education. “She came to me for work experience while in college,” says Denise. “We looked at what would be beneficial for her and that turned out to be working part-time in nails while still taking classes.”
Three years later, Alafair is thriving as a self-employed nail and beauty pro. “She has even just bought her dream car,” Denise notes with pride.
Denise is no stranger to mentoring, and attributes a lot of her own success to the people that guided her early career. “My first mentor was my boss, Annette, who inspired me with her effortless skill and a warm, welcoming salon atmosphere,” Denise tells Scratch. “This is a business model I still follow today. Watching her, I realised that success came from working logically and efficiently.”
It seems that Denise has transferred the skills she learned throughout her career to help inspire other techs flourish. “Building a career in the nail industry is a constant learning process,” she notes. “Alafair used to tell me she could never do nail art, and now she produces the most amazing art for completely satisfied clients!”
Staff development and training have always been priorities for Denise. “I invest in their training, encourage them to reach their full potential and keep their work varied and engaging,” she continues.
“Training, in my view, is best experienced in the classroom, though online learning has its place for theory and product updates. Trade shows remain invaluable; being able to watch, ask questions and learn visually is something that has always inspired both me and the technicians I’ve mentored.”
“Every day I learn something new,” says Alafair. “I am where I am because of Denise’s mentorship, support and belief.”
Follow Alafair on Instagram.
Keep up-to-date with Denise via Instagram.
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