FLEEK TM CANADA

C O N T E N T

FLEEK MAGAZINE Meet the Team.........................................1 Letter from the Editor.............................3 Fleek Franchise........................................4 Why FLEEK?............................................9

01 BEAUTY Setting Yourself Apart From Your Competitors...........................................17 ”Lash-up” the Colourful Future..........20 How Important is to Choose the Right Eyepad....................................................24 Chrystacle the “Bling Queen”..............26 Libelino Lips Technique.......................28 When amazing canvas meets Art there is room only for success.......................31 Beauty of Art to it’s finest.....................35 3D Eyebrows - In Detail.......................37 I love confidence that makeup gives me...........................................................45

02 BUSINESS Photography as passion, love and than a job........................................................51 Social Media - Huge Impact on Quality in Beauty Industry.................................55 The Power of Education.......................58 Importance of constant education and investment in knowledge....................62 Has COVID killed the Nail Salon?.....89 The importance of Ethics in Beauty Industry...................................................72 Beauty and Business by Raman Chohan...................................................75 Step by step “Powder Puff ” .................79

03 CHAMPIONSHIPS COMPETITIONS & EVENTS

NAILON Online Competition.........85 Elite Lash Competition.......................91

B a k e r A n n a

Cover by FLEEK

Model/ Nails: Zrinka B Vuksan Mua: Sara Cirillo Photo : Anna Baker Location : Vancouver BC ,Canada

What will represent city such as Vancouver better than tall buildings and clear sky.

My team and I wanted to give you visual of beauty, power, city and bussines this city is carrying .

Location is in Downtown core and was filmed on parking lotb 15 floors above the ground.

As someone who dreamed about this city for years , being here, on top of it with amazing team I can only say SKY IS YOUR LIMIT !

Meet The Team MAIN EDITORS

Zrinka B Vuksan Editor-in- Chief

Petra Franceković Graphic Designer

JOURNALISTS

Olga P Villarreal

Tiffany Nyguen

Matea Lipošćak

Deanna Stelmaschuk

Natasha Harton

Ashley Luu

Sara Cirillo

Anna Baker

Aune Vourinen

Megan Taylor

Silva Petraite

Raman Chohan

Christina Cronk

Djurdjija Ilic

FLEEK

Letter From The Editor

IG@Zrinka_vuksan_bolancha Facebook @Zrinka Vuksan B www.zrinkabnailacademia.com

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My name is Zrinka B Vuksan. I’ve been in this industry for 9 years and fell in love with its variety of styles, expressions and possibilities.

Born and raised in Croatia, 3 years ago moved to Vancouver ,Canada.

It’s not that easy to write a story that would and will sound so promising so I leave our readers to see for themselves. “ Today in my mind, tomorrow in my hands” is a quote that guides me through my life . So meeting Maja Kiprovska a long time ago opened this amazing opportunity to show this part of the world many possibilities outside their comfort zone and try to lift standards higher,in all segments and industries.

We gathered in this amazing group of editors to show you and present Your beauty and business on many levels.

I will make sure to highlight every proud Canadian moment and artist and have Your support.

Thank you and good read

Editor-in-Chief

Zrinka B Vuksan

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F R A N C H I S E

C A N A D A C AL I F OR N IA U S A M E X I C O SWITZERLAND F I N L A N D C R O AT I A V I E T N A M S E R B I A

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www.mlbeautyeducation.com/fleek-magazine

FLEEK Magazine with the headquarters in London, UK is a new magazine devoted to BEAUTY and BUSINESS.

All about make - up, lashes, brows, small businesses, big businesses, artists,competition and championships - all about beauty industry.

If you are interested to be part of this global magazine please don’t hesitate to contact us. If you are interested in Licence for your Country, if you are an artist and want your work to be featured in the next issue or if you are an Editor - we provide many packages and advantages.

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FLEEK MAGAZINE Beauty & Business

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Elegance, style, attractiveness...that’s what Fleek is!

For any lash artist, it is essential to be able to learn and get inspired by the latest trends in the industry, as well as to have a space to share experiences and work results with other colleague lash artists and, among other cool things, Fleek Magazine offers that and more.

Working with Maja Kiprovska, who is not only an amazing lash artist, but also an extremely successful business woman, is a privilege and a pleasure. To be able to bring the international world of lashes to Mexico has been an incredible journey for me, and now with Fleek Magazine Mexico, we can offer the perfect space for mingling and learning to any lash artist, no matter if they are barely starting or are already masters.

Everyone is certain to benefit from the publication whether it is for inspiration, updating, or mere entertainment.

Contributing to the magazine by sharing my knowledge and experiences is, apart from a responsibility, an incredible opportunity to keep on growing. We never stop learning and having a space such as Fleek, gives us the perfect chance to connect with each other and get the best out of everything and everyone.

I’m more than thrilled to be a part of such an amazing mag!

Sonia Macias, Fleek Mexico

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My name is Zrinka B Vuksan. I’ve been in this industry for 9 years and fell in love with its variety of styles, expressions and possibilities.

Born and raised in Croatia, 3 years ago moved to Vancouver ,Canada.

Its not that easy to write a story that would and will sound so promising so I leave our readers to see for themselves. “ Today in my mind, tomorrow in my hands” is a quote that guides me trough my life.

So meeting Maja Kiprovska long time ago opened this amazing opportunity to show this part of the world many possibilities outside their comfort zone and try and lift standards higher,in all segments and industries.

We gathered in this amazing group of editors to show you and present You beauty and business on many levels.

I will make sure to highlight every proud Canadian moment and artist and have Your support.

Thank you and good read Zrinka B Vuksan, Fleek Canada

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I wanted to join the FLEEK family because I saw the opportunity to be involved in something that the beauty industry around the world desperately needs.

Magazine that includes everything from brand building, business, beauty and interesting & Inspirational stories.

I myself have focused on Quality and development In my own work and The beauty sector has become more than just a job.

Aune Vourinen, Fleek Finland

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Owner of the well-known salon M’s Beauty land in Karlovac Official Trainer for Flawless lashes by Loreta for Croatia.

Matea started as a Lash artist in 2015. She was trained by world famous trainers.

Her work was several times published in Lash Inc. Croatia and she was a Senior Journalist and team member.

She is a multiple awarded Lash Artist, Judge and a Speaker. Matea is also a Nail Technician, Lash Lift and Brow Trainer but her passion are lashes and trainings. She loves to travel and meet new people.

When Maja told her that will do Fleek magazine, she saw great opportunity to show the world what she can do. She want to artists, not just lash artists, all artists from beauty world - to show what they have to say and show off their beautiful talents.

That is the reason why she took franchise for Croatia.

Matea Lipošćak, Fleek Croatia

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It is indeed a pleasure for me to become the Editor in Chief of the FLEEK Magazine in America.

FLEEK represents the past, the present, and the future of today’s tremendous beauty industry.

Humanity has witnessed the significant evolution of the beauty industry, thanks to countless artists dedication. I have been working hard to build up the legacy from our previous pioneers.

Together with the FLEEK Magazine community, I hope to promote the ongoing growth, as well as to provide a fresh perspective for the beauty industry in the new era.

Tiffany Nguyen, Fleek USA

I started in 2015 with the nanoring hair extensions and brought them to Switzerland. I opened up my first Beauty Salon in 2016 - specialized in lashes and hair extensions.

After 3 years in business I started teaching.

Since Summer 2020 we are the first company that is producing Nanoring Hair Extensions in Switzerland. Also in 2020 we started with our second Online shop together with Ameeya Cosmetics to bring more lash product brands to our Swiss Stylists.

With Fleek I would like to ensure a platform for Swiss Beauty Stylists, to show off their talents - their artistry and education.

Mine Bolinski, Fleek Switzerland

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My name is Djurdjija Ilic I am 36 years old and I have been in the world of beauty for 9 years.

Winner of eyelash and permanent makeup awards, presented in Lash Inc. magazine.

Also a Distributor of ML Pro products and now Editor of Fleek Serbia!

I come from Serbia and I am very glad to be part of the Fleek family. I owe the greatest gratitude to the lioness woman Maja Kiprovska for this opportunity and I will try to justify it.

At Fleek I would like to present many artists from my country and they are going to, believe me, show of their best skills and present themselves in the best light. In the magazine, I will cover many topics and useful tips for all reader profiles. Thanks for the trust! I can’t wait to embark this magical business.

Djurdjija Ilic, Fleek Serbia Thank you Maja and Fleek Magazine team to give me this amazing opportunity to join and be part of this global magazine.

I promise I will work with all amazing members in our team to deliver as many knowledgeable content in Lash and Brow and Beauty industry.

Thank you for your support.

Hien Tina, Fleek Vietnam

It’s my honour to join the FLEEK magazine to share my skills, expertise and knowledge in permanent makeup industry.

Thank you so much for having me!

Ashley Luu, Fleek Vietnam

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Setting Yourself Apart From Your Competitors

by Olga P Villarreal

My #1 strategy for the past 10 years in business doing

eyelash extensions have been customer service. I never knew how handy it would be to have worked so many years in doing retail sales, cold calling and on the phone customer service. Now days it seems to be the bar is set low. If you want to retain the new and old clients, customer service is key!

Focusing on customer service can really leverage your business to a higher level. You can not please everyone, of course, but a little extra effort can go a long way. Respond fast and friendly. I recently had a client text me for a nail technician for the next day, this was around 9pm. I said “I am sorry I don’t know anyone” she was ok with that answer. I told her though I would text a hairstylist I know and soon enough I got her the information.

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All it took was an extra minute to text someone and this client has now gained my trust.

I love building relationships with my clients.

Even though I see them once every couple of weeks, for the past 10 years.

Not once I have seen them outside from work.

Still keeping it professional. This doesn’t mean you can’t treat them as friends. You build an emotion that connects to your brand. The emotions you build with people you come across can be positive with your brand and you or a negative emotion.

Hence the reason to establish boundaries, rules and regulations from the beginning. I see it as a two way road.

My second strategy is to do your own thing...

Third strategy to use is try something new.

Be a leader not a follower.

What works for someone else doesn’t necessary mean it will work for you.

Rethink, take it apart then put it back together.

You can bend the rules, or if you’re brave enough break them! Don’t get stuck on ‘we’ve always done it that way’. That is how new inventions come from.

Dare to be different, people tend to pay attention on what stands out more. If you do what everyone else is doing, don’t be surprised to have clients going in and coming out!

You want to be unforgettable, then you need to show them how different you are from the crowd.

Constant change is necessary for all business in order to succeed. Products and services evolve constantly.

We need to get used to be uncomfortable.

Like that famous saying says” If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten”

People ask me - “What else do you do?” My reply is the same for the past 10 years ; I respond - “Only eyelash extensions” - with a smile.

Fourth strategy to use is to learn from the people who came before you.

When I first learned how to do eyelash extensions, I had previously learned to do permanent makeup. I was studying to be an Aesthetician as well.

This implied me learning in to doing facials, waxing, makeup, you name it. I found a place where I soon started working, dedicated to only doing eyelash extensions.

I had never seen such a place.

A year later my business model was eyelash extensions only shop!

I learned from the pioneer in eyelash extensions in my town and followed her model. I still get that question “What else do you do?” My reply is the same for the past 10 years “Only eyelash extensions” with a smile. Have not looked back since.

Don’t get me wrong I am very passionate about skincare, but lashes stole my heart!

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LASH UP - The Colourful Future “We put colour in our hair, clothes, and nails, then why not eyelashes?”

by Tiffany Nguyen MILash Beauty Academy

.Although having been in the eyelashes designing industry for four years, Tiffany Nguyen has gained her reputation within her career with many significant achievements. She was the honoured judge of many beauty competitions worldwide.

Including the GALA PMU Universe 2019 in Vietnam, the L&L Battle Lash Championship United Kingdom 2020, and the SPRIN’s International Championship 2020 in Thailand.

In 2021, Tiffany will be the Speaker & Trainer in Visagio Beauty Academy in Germany and the Judge for Kingdom Beauty Crown Championship in London.

She is also the founder of MILash Beauty Academy company and has been training students from the U.S. and many other countries.

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Tiffany developed her very own path in designing eyelashes. Her reputation lies within the intricate techniques of Hybrid and Wispy.

Hybrid is believed to be a significant revolution in the eyelashes industry that would satisfy even the pickiest customer.

It is a combination of classic and volume lashes that can express the highlight of the eyes while retaining the natural element of the eyelashes.

This foundation of Hybrid lashes has become the inspiration for Tiffany’s signature Wispy design.

Understanding the ever going need for the beauty of her customers.

Tiffany emphasized the fashionable and the convenience element in her Wispy eyelashes. Wispy is developed based on Hybrid’s foundation and typical eyelashes strip that can be found in any department stores. The spikes on the Wispy create a striking feature that distinguishes it from any other eyelash technique.

The difference in the length of each lash from the spikes gives out an eye-catching, layering effect that will guarantee you to have at least one friend asking, “Where did you get those lashes from?”. The fact that Wispy will last up to 5 weeks without having the wearers taking them off every night like regular eyelashes strip is a cherry on top of the cake.

Unlike the black lashes tradition, Tiffany believed that there should be more room for creativity in the eye fashion design.

As someone who was brought up in Vietnam for 25 years, she was fascinated by the cultural idea that everybody has their very own destined colour, which will bring them luck and happiness.

“We put colour in our hair, clothes, and nails, then why not eyelashes?” – Tiffany shared. Wispy’s unique pattern has allowed her to explore every potentiality in taking eyelashes design to another level.

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Many people nowadays are gradually enchanted by the idea of having the colour of their lashes to match their hair and nails or even a special occasion such as Christmas or Thanksgiving.

In the era of COVID-19, where the masks have become a critical accessory, make-up lovers feel the need to put more emphasis on the eyes and have their lashes colour matches their face masks.

We never thought of colourizing our nails and hair in the past until we saw somebody else did it.

Tiffany sees eyelashes fashion the same way, and she has been one of the most famous pioneers in designing colour eyelashes. She believed that we are the ones to shape our trend and future, and she would dedicate her skills and career to accommodate the beauty needs of her beloved customers.

MlLash Beauty Academy has been Tiffany’s pride and hope.

She and her team have been working hard every day to contribute to the growth of her company, and they believed that MILash Beauty Academy has the potential of expanding to a global level.

Tiffany and MILash Beauty Academy team see the mutual interest between theirs and the Fleek Magazine community.

“We appreciate the contribution which the organization has given to the Beauty industry, and we are excited to be a part of it.” – said Tiffany.

By that, she hopes to provide a fresh perspective to the Fleek Magazine community and influence future fashion trends.

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How Important is to Choose the Right Eyepad Type “My recommendation is microfoam, because if we can make our job easier and preserve our

by Matea Lipošćak

eyesight, why not do it, right?”

A lot of women are allergic to pads and micro-pore tape, so that’s one of the reasons why I don’t recommend them.

The eyepads are used to separate the lower lashes from upper ones, so that they do not stick to the lower ones and that the eye can be opened after the treatment.

In my opinion, the original eyepads are not the best solution, because they are very thin, which increases the feeling of pressure of the tweezers during isolation and creates pain for the client. They contain hydrating gel and there is a possibility of spilling the gel into the eye. They are also quite transparent, which means that natural lashes are less visible, in turn prolongs eye strain in an attempt to isolate natural lashes, damages vision and increases dioptres.

I’m not even for micro-pore tape because it’s sharp, so if it’s placed too deep in the eye, it can cut the cornea and temple. Since it is narrow, one side must overlap the other and when we isolate the lashes, the tweezers get stuck to the joint, which irritates the client and creates discomfort for the technician, and therefore pays less attention to where she keeps the tweezers.

A lot of women are allergic to pads and micro-pore tape, so that’s one of the reasons why I don’t recommend them.

Microfoam tape is therefore the ideal solution. It’s made (as the name suggests) of foam.

It’s bit thicker than pads and micro-pore, which prevents the client from hurting if we press the tweezers harder. The fact that it’s thicker is its advantage because it „fits“ better in the eye of client who naturally can’t close it completely and that prevents glue vapours from entering the eye.

Another advantage is that it can be cut exactly by the eye for both the inner and outer corner. It’s anti-allergic so that even allergic clients do not have reaction to it.

One of the most important things is that it is white, so you can see even smallest lashes, so there is less possibility of sticking baby lashes. For the technician, the advantage of witness is that it doesn’t hurts the eye because there is no strain when you isolate the lashes.

Microfoam can’t hurt the eye because of the foam it’s made of and because of thickness. When you cutting, it is important that the scissors are sharp, that we do not make teeth who can irritate the eye (this is its only flaw) and that it is trimmed in the shape of a crescent, because then it best fit in the inner and outer part of the eye. This reduces the issues around the application of extensions on the parts of the eye that gives technicians the most problems.

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Chrystacle the “Bling Queen”

by Christina Cronk Fleek:Your Nail Story Coming out of highschool, I had absolutely no career path that I wanted to follow. Nails was not my first choice in the beauty industry. I originally wanted to be an Esthetician. At that time I was enrolled to take the Aesthetics training but had to withdraw because I did not have the money to pay for the tuition. I decided to take “Nails” as something to do, until I figured out what I really wanted to do with my life. I am thankful with my path and all the “stepping stones” I have gone over to lead me where I am today. I am so proud to be the General Manager, Director of Education and Master Educator for Ugly Duckling Nails. I was part of this wonderful company from day one and will always be part of the Ugly Duckling family.

Fleek:What do you prefer to use- Tips or Sculpt To be honest I love using both. There is a purpose for using both forms and tips, and with the right tips, you can still create a beautifully structured nail. I love the freedom I have to sculpt nails in different shapes and lengths while using a form. I have learned over the years of being a nail tech, that not everything may work for one client to the next. Some clients may want “Extreme Shapes” while others prefer a basic “Salon Style”.

Fleek:What do you suggest to New Nail Techs.

If I could offer some advice to the new techs coming into the industry it would be this, keep an open mind and never stop taking education. Just because you have finished your basic training doesn’t mean the education stops. The industry is ever evolving and as Nail Professionals we need to keep up with the changes to better ourselves as individuals and gain the skills to offer our clientele. Unfortunately there is a lot of negativity in this industry, especially on social media. Social media can be a very positive tool to build your business but can also be very damaging. If you are not sure of something, ask the questions and do your research. We are very supportive at Ugly Duckling and welcome all inquiries and questions related to products, we are here for your support.

Fleek: What is the philosophy behind UD. As a professional only brand, we at Ugly Duckling Nails not only believe in supplying the nail professionals with the highest quality products, packaging they can be proud to display on their desks, but also offering our support through education and customer service. We believe all the nail professionals deserve the best because without them, we are nothing. To every nail tech, “Your success is our reward”. We have greatly appreciated all the overwhelming support we have received worldwide from our customers and supporters since we hatched almost 5 years ago.

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Libelino Lips

by Djurdjija Ilic

Libelino lips is the No. 1 technique in the field of permanent lip makeup in Serbia for 2 years in a row!

My name is Djurdjija Ilic I am 36 years old and I have been in the world of beauty for 9 years.

Winner of eyelash and permanent makeup awards, presented in Lash Inc. magazine. Distributor of ML Pro products and editor at Fleek Serbia.

I come from Serbia and I am very glad to be part of the Fleek family.

This time I will introduce you to the Libelino lips permanent makeup technique Libelino lips!

Libelino lips is the No. 1 technique in the field of permanent lip makeup in Serbia for 2 years now!

Extremely light and natural variant of shading on the lips, with wonderful healed results.

After three years of work and research in the field of permanent makeup, educator Sladjana Miljanic designed and offered her students this fantastic technique. Among the first participants, I also adopted and applied this technique to my clients, and became a Libelino artist. Now I already have a lot of satisfied clients who enjoy the results that last.

Clients who want their lips to be highlighted and yet natural, this treatment is suitable for them, also a great choice for those clients where some irregularity on the lips needs to be corrected.

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This technique is intended for clients who want gentle, and natural tones, without rough and clear contours.

The technique is performed gently without pain, swelling and swelling by shading the area of ​​the lips with a clipper.

During the treatment, an anaesthetic is applied and the treatment is pleasant and suitable for sensitive people.

The colour is determined by the type of skin, each client is individual and the colour is determined for each individual.

The treatment is not done for pregnant women, people who are in the process of chemotherapy, people who develop allergies to colour.

Before the treatment, each client is given an allergy test by stabbing one spot behind the ear the day before with a sterile needle with a little paint.

Libelino lips technique is compatible with all makeup styles.

If the client does not have any reaction the day after, we can freely and safely do the treatment.

After treatment: do not expose yourself to the sun, do not go to the solarium, maintain hygiene.

Correction is done after a month.

The duration of permanent makeup is about 1.5 years but pigmentation can last longer.

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When amazing canvas meets Art there is room only for success

by Deanna Stelmaschuk

1. When did Deanna start and what made you fall in love specifically in nails?

I started my nail journey in 2014 when I was certified. I was seeing beautiful pictures of nail art when I looked online for ideas to take my nail tech. The techs in my area were uncomfortable with nail art and mostly just did French. So I dabbled in painting my nails with polish and was able to come up with designs that I would regularly get compliments on. I always wanted a manicure with art that would last longer than my polish which would chip after a day or two.

My mom suggested I take the nail tech course and thank goodness she did. I’ve always been obsessed with things that are miniature and loved art. Being a nail artist was a natural fit for me. I love the uplifting feeling and confidence boost I am able to give someone with a beautiful set of nails.

IG: @deannastelmaschuk

2. What and who inspired you the most in the beginning of your career and why them/ they?

5.Do you think working with certain brands is necessary to be successful?

Celina Ryden and Sarah Elmaz were very inspirational to me. I love their artistry and they show what heights you can achieve in this industry when you work hard.

Celina has provided so much value to the nail community with the information she shares. It was really helpful when starting out.

You need to decide what works best for you. I know many professionals successfully working with a brand and many that have found success going the solo route. It’s important to consider what any given brand offers to you and what you can offer the brand. It needs to be a symbiotic relationship where both parties feel they are benefiting from the collaboration.

Look for a brand that encourages and supports the growth of their professionals.

3.As someone who strives for artistic perfection and fine lines with brush, as someone who competed in Nail Next Top Artist, what would you say to readers: is it just talent or mixture of talent and hard work?

I would say hard work is far more important than talent. If you scroll back far enough on my social media you can see how much my work has progressed. I definitely didn’t start out good.

4. What do you think about nail competitions online now since we live in these crazy times?

I think online competitions can be very beneficial. I’ve competed online quite a bit and it really helped push me out of my comfort zone and try new things! The only thing you have to lose is losing but you have a lot more to gain from experience.

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6. As someone who took many educations, do you think each education brought you something and if not, why not. ( trick question but be honest, you will not offend anyone, but you don’t have to be polite in order to not hurt anyone) I would honestly say that I’ve learned something from every class I’ve ever taken. Of course some educators are a better fit for some techs than others.

Sometimes you are ready to learn the lessons and sometimes you are not. It’s also the job of the student to take their knowledge home with them to practice and apply it. Taking a class is not enough in itself to learn the technique.

7. How are you spending your time now, year after world stopped?

I’ve just relocated to Kelowna and am working from home as a brand educator (you can put en Vogue here if you want or leave it out. Totally up to you. ) 8. Has social media helped you since the beginning of your career?

Yes, social media has been very helpful. It helped me find clients when starting out so I could always have someone sit in my seat and keep practicing. It’s allowed my work to be known globally and make some really amazing connections and friends in the industry.

9. Imagine a month without social media? Do you think that would create an impact on your views and activity or you don’t see a problem?

I’m not always the most regular poster so I’ve gone a month without posting. It’s hard to gain back traction after being off for a while so I would say that it does create an impact of less views and activity.

10. In your opinion, do we need nail magazines in Canada?

I think it’s amazing to have a Nail Magazine in Canada. It can be really difficult to get representation and information for Canadian technicians.

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Beauty of art to it’s finest

by Natasha Harton

When we say Natasha Harton, you will agree with me, everybody knows what nail designer we are talking about. Corky, funny, witty and talented little gem from Victoria BC that creates amazing little canvases We spoke with her and discovered how she started, where and where she finds inspiration.

IG: @natashaharton

FLEEK:When did you start doing nails and what was your plan that 1st moment idea happened.

FLEEK: Natasha is known for her salon designs.

Where do you find inspiration?

Tell me your story:

As cliché as it may sound – inspiration is literally everywhere, we just have to be open to seeing it. I’ve been inspired by patterns I’ve seen on clothing, on mugs, covers of agendas, wallpaper, bedding, pottery… I can go on and on.

I love painting floral designs and patterns, but as i’m not familiar with a ton of flower breeds and what they look like, I’ll often go on google and search: flowers, flower patterns, etc. just to give my brain a bit of a jumpstart. Then, I start to create. Typically, my flowers are breeds of their own (haha) but I’ve been inspired by the images I’ve seen online.

I’ve also been inspired by other nail artists’ work on many occasions, which I know most of us have been (but I’m always sure to credit the original artist if I recreate their design!). I have random ideas jotted down on pieces of paper on my nail desk and in my phone lol inspiration is everywhere, and it can strike at any time.

I had played around with the Sally Hansen acrylic kits from Walmart on my own nails when I was a teenager (my mom got me my first set of professional acrylic nails for my 13th birthday!), but I always, always thought I would go into the hair industry.

That was until I quit my job in a restaurant and called the salon where my mom and I got our nails done. I asked if they still needed a receptionist, and they gave me a job on the spot.

It was a full-service salon (hair, nails, esthetics) and after watching the nail artists work, and seeing how creative they got to be, it completely changed my mind.

At 18 years old I enrolled in the September 2007 nail technology program at a local beauty school, and as fate would have it, Christina (Chrystacle) was actually my instructor! I graduated that January and started working in the salon where my mom and I got our nails done.

At 22 I opened a local nail salon with a friend and certified as an educator in 2011. In 2014 the opportunity for me to recertify presented itself, which crossed my paths with Christina again and she introduced me to Yvonne (the Owner/ President of Ugly Duckling Nails Inc.).

From there, I was offered a position to help teach evening classes at Yvonne’s school, which eventually led to me stepping away from the nail table and working at Ugly Duckling Nails both in our office and as a Master Educator :)

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FLEEK: Your biggest accomplishment in the Nail world.

There are 2 things that come to my mind that I’m quite proud of: becoming a Master Educator for Ugly Duckling Nails and getting to do the cover nails for the NAILPRO January 2018 issue with Christina (Chrystacle)!

FLEEK:Your fav UD product.

I can’t choose just one - How about 2? Lol Seeing as I’m a nail art girl, I can’t live without my Detailer II Brush or Ugly Duckling Art Gel… and Gel Polish.

Okay, that was 3. I love them all equally, I can’t choose just one. That’s like making someone choose their favorite child lol

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3D Eyebrows - In Detail

by Ashley Luu

The 3D Brows is a cosmetic procedure using the special machine to create each individual hair-line strokes combine with the light shading where pigments are added beneath the epidermis layers of skin to create the 3D effect to mimic the stunning, bluffy and natural look of your preferred brow shape.

There are many different techniques in doing permanent eyebrow such as microblading, digital hair-stokes, powder brows, ombre shading and the combination of hair-stokes and shading.

We can choose the best technique for each individual according to their desired look and skin types. After 10 years of doing Permanent Makeup, I have created my own technique called 3D Brows which I combine the define hair-line strokes and shading techniques to achieve a 3D effect that would give a natural realistic but yet high definition and bluffy looking brow.

3D Brows is one of the most cutting-edge technique in the Semi-Permanent Makeup business industry due not only to the trend of the fuller more natural looking brows but also suitable to all skin types and perfect for both male and female.

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What is 3D Eyebrow?

The 3D Brows is a cosmetic procedure using the special machine to create each individual hair-line strokes combine with the light shading where pigments are added beneath the epidermis layers of skin create the 3D effect to mimic the stunning, bluffy and natural look of your preferred brow shape.

Also the benefit of tattooed into the top layer of the skin leaving the epidermis intact which will heal quicker and last longer than other brows techniques for all skin types.

It can be performed to fill in sparse brows, create an entire brow or can be used to cover old eyebrow has been micro-bladed or tattooed and have got lightened.

You can choose up to three different pigments to create a natural multi-layers result of the 3D bluffy effect brows.

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After 10 years of doing Permanent Makeup, I have created my own technique called 3D Brows which I combine the define hair-line strokes and shading techniques to achieve a 3D effect that would give a natural realistic but yet high definition and bluffy looking brow.

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Does it look natural?

If the permanent makeup is applied by a licensed, well-educated technician who knows how to choose the best techniques, design your makeup and uses the correct pigment colors, the result should appear very natural

Is it safe?

Yes, it is absolutely safe if: You have a technician that is: licensed and well educated (certified);, licensed by the Health Department (if applicable); has a business license; current with their Blood Born Pathogen (BBP) education which in most states is required to be taken yearly; follows all of OSHA and CDC guidelines for cross contamination; uses only singles, sterile, one time use needles and machine parts as well as all the products and they are properly disposed of after the procedure that follows Personal hygiene Protocol.

Technician must use FDA approved pigments, as well as disposables needles and supplies for each procedure.

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What’s involved in the process of 3D Brows?

The initial consultation will be scheduled prior to an actual appointment. During the consultation interview, I will examine their facial structure along sketching the eyebrow shape and color that suitable to the client’s face.

Also, I will recommend which Semi Permanent Eyebrow Techniques would be suitable to their skin type.

The client needs to sign the consent and release form, a medical history and acknowledge of the Pre and Post Care instructions. The skin test will be taken and I also explain any contraindications that may have in the permanent makeup procedure.

On the procedure day, I will design the eyebrow shape, check for the symmetry and pick color that match with the client’s eyebrow hair. Then follow the shape to perform the 3D Brow technique to create a super natural stunning, beautiful, define and bluffy looking brows.

How long does the 3D Brows last?

If the technique is applied correctly (insert into the epidermis layer of skin), the pigments used are high quality and the client follows their aftercare exactly as prescribed by their technician, the procedure application will last.

Influence such as your general health, chlorine, sun, tanning beds, medication, skin care products containing exfoliating agents, the use of a total sun block on the procedure area, and the smoking can affect the longevity of the pigment colour.

How long does the procedure take?

Plan to schedule at least 1 ½ to 2 hours for the procedure. It may take longer depending on the condition and hydration of the skin, pain threshold, anxiety level and on any medication or homeopathics that would make the skin bleed. Anaesthesia will be placed on the procedure area for approximately 15-20 minutes. The procedure area will be drawn on and the implantation of pigments should take approximately 30-45 minutes. The colour refresher appointment will be quicker as I only needs to work on the area that need to be fine tuned.

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Is the procedure painful?

Pain is relative. I use the most effective topical anaesthesia available. I use a pre-anaesthesia, a drop of liquid numb ‘Ultra Duration’ in the pigment and once the skin is open, I use the ‘Magic’ anaesthesia. Using these 3 anaesthetics together most people are very comfortable during application.

If the client is anxious or tense during the procedure, they will fell more discomfort. In this instance, we suggest contacting their health care provider for an anti-anxiety medication. And if the client takes any medication, they should have a driver to take them to and from the procedure. There are also several homeopathic remedies that will calm you. I usually use essential oils as well to make the procedure more tolerable.

Furthermore, there are several things to consider prior to your procedure: such as no caffeine, no alcohol, do not schedule your appointment around your menstrual period cycle as all of these make you more sensitive.

If the client already had a traditional artistic tattoo or have piercing, they will find that permanent makeup is easier to tolerate than these procedures.

Some say tweezing their eyebrows is more painful than have permanent makeup.

Will it be swollen?

Each individual will react differently depends on their skin type. Person with very sensitive skin will be a little swollen or redness around the eyebrow and will go away after few hours.

Are there any contraindications for 3D Brow procedure?

Yes, if you are under physician’s care, we want you to obtain a release written on their prescription note pad stating that it is safe for you to have a procedure performed.

Your health care provider will know if you will heal without any complications or if you are prone to infections or have a compromised immune system.

Contraindications include but not limited to: blood thinners heart medications, aspirin or products containing aspirin, medications for any disease like diabetes, lupus, or any autoimmune disease.

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Also any vitamins or supplements that thin the blood would need to be stopped prior to the procedure but only with the consent of your health care provider.

Any type of antihistamine will slow down the release of histamine in the procedure are. This serves a two purposes: The antihistamine will lessen the swelling effect on the procedure area making the insertion of pigment easier.

The antihistamine helps many people to relax and fall asleep during the procedure.

Always consult with your health care provider before taking any medication. If you take any medication, do not drive to or from your procedure, but have someone to drive you.

What will I look like after my procedure?

Depending on how many tunes we had to go over an area to implant the pigment your skin may show very little signs of trauma or may be swollen and red.

If you have to taken an antihistamine, your swelling will be less than if you have not taken any medication. You may notice swelling for 24-48 hours.

You can ice the area for 10 minutes and then follow with heat for 10 minutes several times a day. This will bring the swelling down after.

The area will appear darker at first because if the blood and lymph that has been brought to the surface during the 3D Brow technique application.

The procedure area tissue will crust a bit and this tissue will slough off usually within 10-15 days leaving the skin with a softer colour.

The healing process depends on how healthy you are and how hydrated your skin is. The younger you are the faster you will heal and if you are older, your skin will take longer to regenerate.

All of this is required to explained during the consultation appointment and repeat again on the colour refresh appointment as well.

If you have an event to attend, its best to have the procedure done at least 8 weeks prior the event!

Healing process Day 1-4, Eyebrow appear darker, bolder and solid.

Minimal swelling will occur and the top skin layers will shed within 4-7 days. This results in a loss of colour which is normal, so do not pick or scratch.

Day 5-10, Eyebrow will begin to itch and pigment appear raised Day 10-15, skin is naturally beginning to exfoliate itself and shed. Colour will appear light, Day 30-40, tattoo is now part of the dermis layer and is healed.

True colour is visible after 28 days Note that the pigment may get rejected from the body thus resulting in a even lighter colour, If this occurs, touch ups may be determined.

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Eyebrow before care: Do no work out the day of the procedure Do not tan or have sunburn face No waxing or tinting 3 days before the procedure Do not take Aspirin, Niacin, Vitamin E or Ibuprofen 24 hours before the procedure No alcohol or caffeine on the day of the procedure Please note that you will be more sensitive during your menstrual cycle.

Eyebrow Aftercare: Dry healing is the best. No water and do not sweat.

Your hand must be clean when touching the area or using Q-Tip. After the procedure, use Q-tip cleaning the treatment area with distilled water every 4-5 hours.

Do not rub, pick or scratch the treated area. Let any scabbing or dry skin naturally exfoliate off. Picking can cause scaring.

Avoid direct sun exposure or tanning for 3-4 weeks after the procedure.

Avoid heavy sweating for the first 10 days.

No facial, botox, chemical treatments and microdermabrasion for 4 weeks.

Avoid sleeping on your face.

I prefer to use only the petroleum as it is non-reactive on the skin, Using Neosporin, bacitracin or other products may cause an allergic reaction on open skin. If client experiences any redness, irritation or pain, stop using the product and contact the technician immediately for further advises.

3D Brow procedure is NOT recommended for any clients who are or have: Pregnant or nursing Diabetic Chemotherapy (consult with the doctor) Viral infection and ?or disease Epilepsy Pacemaker or major heart problems Organ transplant Skin irritations or Psoriasis near the treated area (rashes , sunburn, acne, etc..)

Sick (cold, flu, etc..)

Botox in the past 2 months Accutane in the past year

Long term care: Use good sunscreen on your eyebrows if you plan to be in the sun for prolonged periods of time. Sun exposure will fade your permanent cosmetic procedure.

If you are planning a chemical peel, lase procedure or an MRI scan, please inform the technician of your permanent cosmetics.

The use of Retin-A/Tretinoin in any other rapid skin exfoliation products used regularly on the forehead area will cause the permanent makeup to the eyebrow area to fade prematurely.

The use of chemical peels and acid peels regularly on the forehead region can also cause eyebrow tattoos to fade prematurely, A touch up is recommended 1-3 months after the initial procedure due to many factors that can affect the pigment retention. Then annually colour refreshing afterward.

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Steps for 3D brow 1. Always follow the BBP Protocol, put on clean gown, mask and glows and sanitized all the working area and equipment with the Lysol wipes.

2. Clean the treated area with alcohol swab 3. Take picture of the eyebrow before the procedure.

4. Design the eyebrow shape and chose up to 2-3 colour pigments which will be suitable for the client’s facial structure and skin tone. Make sure to check the symmetry and the client signed off the consent form on agreement with the procedure.

5. Using single needle to open the skin and applied the numb solution “Ultra Duration” with a micro-brush. Leave it for 5-10 minutes and prepare the pigments while waiting.

6. Stretch the skin the on the part that you are working on and adjust your hand position for the right parameters and it may vary with different angle between 45-90 degree base on the area for better penetration of the needles and colour release.

7. Create a define hair-line strokes starting from the head of brows to tail within the eyebrow shape has been designed.

8. Clean the area with gauze after defining the boundaries for both eyebrow. Reapply the numbing solution during procedure.

9. Slow hand movement with a medium to high machine speed are required to implant more pigment into skin. Sometimes, it needs to perform the back and forth movement, push movement (same direction) or released movement (opposite direction) of the hair-line strokes in order to implant the pigments into the skin evenly.

10. After completed creating all the hair-line strokes, you use the lighter shade of the pigment to shade in between the hair strokes with the ombre effect and skip every other hair strokes in order to create the 3D effect looking brow.

11. After finished the second eyebrow, clean the brow with pamper sensitive wipes and apply more Ultra Duration.

12. Double check the eyebrows with the clients to make sure they are symmetrical and the result turn out perfectly.

13. Take pictures of the after procedure.

14. Before the client leaves, apply thin layer of Numpot, Aquaphor, or Cavilon to seal open wounds.

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I love the confidence that makeup gives me

by Sara Cirillo

Hello! My name is Sara Cirillo, and I am a Vancouver based Makeup Artist. I have been working in the industry now for about 5 years and love every minute of it.

My passion for makeup started at an early age. I would watch YouTube videos for hours and browse different brands websites and memorize all their products. Day after day, I would sit in front of the mirror and practice my eye liner and shadow until it was perfect. As a little girl, I have always loved art, therefore I use makeup as art and my client as the canvas.

Right out of high school I went to school where I finished my degree in their Global Makeup program.

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After the program, I began building my business. Starting off I did a lot of free jobs to build my portfolio and my reputation in Vancouver. Slowly but surely things began to pick up. I started working at MAC and managing which taught me so much about artistry and different skills. My clientele started to flourish and get me to where I am today. I have now worked on many fashion shoots and film sets, growing my artistry and technique.

My favourite type of makeup to do is beauty. Everything from bridal to fashion is my passion. As I say, there will always be a bride and opportunity to make her feel her best. I am a true believer that makeup is for you and your soul. You can express who you are by the flick of the wrist and to me that is so empowering. As women, this is an avenue to play and feel beautiful. Even for women who don’t usually wear makeup, there are so many fun products these days to keep you feeling fresh!

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I am now working at a laser clinic, starting my journey into medical aesthetics. Makeup and skin go hand in hand, and I am so excited to learn more and grow my business. I am a very social person, and this industry has so many amazing artists and creators. Nothing makes me happier and more excited than creating makeup and a story for a project; to see it come alive. Most importantly, this industry and job allows me to be me.

The shoot for Fleek was a combination of warm and dark. We wanted the model and the nails to be the focus to showcase her art. The first look is more blown out and warm toned, not drawing away from her nails too much. They created a great balance in the shots, really making the nails and the model pop. The second look is a bit more edgy.

We did a black graphic liner, which set the mood for our location around the buildings in Vancouver.

The make, nails, and shots really set the tone we wanted for Fleek!

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FLEEK:Did social media change the way makeup and beauty looks today?

With social media, it’s an easy platform for people to find artists. There are so many different styles of makeup and techniques. I believe social media has really influenced the younger generation, and with many non-professional artists with freedom to post, that means some funny tips and tricks.

There is for sure that “ Instagram makeup look” that has been trending for a while that’s extra glam and dramatic. As an artist realistically, not many people want that type of look.

To sum up, I think social media is a great platform to grow your business and show your work?

Absolutely, most of my clients come from Instagram! Do I think there are some techniques and makeup that may not be accurate as well?

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B U S I N E S S

Photography as passion, love and than a job

by Anna Baker

My name is Anna Baker and I am a documentary filmmaker and photographer from Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. Growing up I did not have my career choice set in stone. All I knew is that I wanted to educate others and use my skills to be as impactful as possible during my time on earth.

I was always the one taking pictures and videos on family vacations, editing them together to make a visual memory that would last forever. I would get a warm feeling inside when friends and family watch the videos and smile, sometimes even cry. It told me there was more to this than just compiling a couple videos together, it created a feeling. A year after graduating high school I went to Europe and became super observant about the people roaming the streets and wondered what their stories were.

After that summer I realized I could take my passion for film, my drive to teach, and my curiosity to discover stories and make a career out of it.

I believe documentary film is the most intriguing and impactful way for people to educate themselves in an effortless way.

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That alone is powerful and I wanted to be part of it. In 2018 I completed a one year Documentary Film program at Capilano University, and since I have been working in the reality television industry. Between contracts I spend my time freelancing, and doing a wide range of content creating. In all my projects I don’t want it to just be another video or photo, I want the audience to feel a sense of emotion while getting the message across.

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This cover photo for Fleek was inspired by the model’s story, her striking nail art, and it being Fleeks first print in Canada. When I look at this photo I think strong, independent and fearless.

All of which describe the model. The focus point is the model’s nails as I wanted to highlight the art and craft that goes into sculpting them. The city that surrounds her stands for new opportunities and journeys, moving from Europe to Canada.

The camera I used for this photo was the Sony A6500 with a Sigma 18-35mm Art lens. My life goal is to direct and edit films of my own all around the world. I want to spend my time making some type of difference through film, photography and storytelling.

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FLEEK:Do you think social media has a lot of influence on individuals and their success nowadays?

I believe social media has a massive amount of influence on many young individuals. It gives entrepreneurs a platform to make something of themselves and to advertise ideas in a fast and easy way. I believe we are in a time where society has the highest amount of self employed and driven people because of social media and its power for success.

Many go online and see how others live and what they are doing with their careers. I believe this can be super motivating but it also comes with some extreme negatives. I believe Individuals feel more pressure than ever to make something for themselves at such a young age. A lot of the time it affects people’s mental health as they constantly compare themselves.

This is where it goes wrong very fast.

Never compare yourself, go at your own pace and your successes will follow.

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Social Media - Huge Impact on Quality in Beauty Industry

by Zrinka B Vuksan

First of all, I would like to start this article and state that all opinions are based on my own private experience, are non bias and are expression of thoughts. My thoughts.

Ok, now that I fully “washed” any possible shame caused by my stated opinions, we can continue.

Social media! *”SM” Huge, increasingly important platform brought to us slowly for the last 15 years.

At 1st I was very cautious in usage but as a young business owner surrounded by many of similar kind, I decided to use it as a number 1 ally.

Why ally? Because Social Media, organ, as I like to call it, brought equal good and bad things to my attention.

What I’m going to touch in this article is huge difference in offer, quality and recognition in itself. How come SM (*social media) drastically lowered and raised bars in all industries, especially in mine: Nail Industry.

As someone who pays attention on lots of things around me, starting this career almost decade ago, I realized that SM can definitely help You to raise above any given or deserved line.

We are being attacked, swamped by YT stars, IG influencers with hundreds of thousands of followers and yet, having zero to minus knowledge in what they preach.

Who are the people You like to be followed by and what nails You aim to do ? Would You, as a young artist/stylist/technician would like to be follow by hundreds of thousands of fans who do their 9 to 5 jobs in some offices or would you like to be followed by hundred technicians who learn from you and your videos on daily basis?

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“

We are being attacked,

swamped by YT stars, IG influencers with hundreds of thousands of followers and yet, having zero to minus knowledge in what they

Would you like to do nails that influence or nails that are correct in structure and have respect from colleagues and patrons in the same industry?

preach.

I know what I choose and for me, rather correct than popular . But is that income and success?

When did it became normal to teach wrong and yet have massive support ?

Teaching wrong shapes, incorrect terms can only prolong lack of quality in this already low standard industry.

Companies are buying fame by taking and paying “influencers” to do art with their products, not caring that that product lays on incorrect form, cuticles filled with colour and architecture of nail looks like fortress I created when I was 6 y old.

As someone who teaches ppl from N. America , Europe and different other countries, I have a feeling that majority of famous ones are famous because of their good timing and funky attitude in front of camera and not because the quality of their work.

Where is the line?

You,I, we users and followers are the ones to change this.

Start pointing at wrong things, names, structures and work every day in order to push correct names on the top of the line.

Start investing in educators with great skills not influencers with good cheques deposited.

Its Your call.

Sincerely Yours, Zrinka (not the Influencer)Vuksan

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The Power of Education - Part One In a time like ours it would be easy to say - just put on some makeup and go for what you want. It is actually very good advice, but what if you don’t know how to do your makeup?

by Aune Vourinen

Online education is in!

The importance of knowledge.

Each of us will surely remember the feeling of being ready to do just about anything but to go to school. Some of us might have begged our parents for permission to stay home on the morning of school day. The question might arise in the mind - why would anyone want to sit in a classroom, listening to a teacher’s nonsense -when one might as well run around in the woods or play the computer at home. At some point, however, many wake up to the fact that knowledge brings power and opens up new possibilities. There can be plenty of different opinions about the importance of education - but hardly anyone can deny the importance and power of knowledge.

Good education takes you further than any sugar daddy!

In a time like ours it would be easy to say, just put on some makeup and go for what you want. It is actually very good advice, but what if you don’t know how to do your own makeup? Or if you are like me, helpless with any kind of styling - not to mention doing my makeup gives me a headache! What to do in that situation?

Educate yourself!

EDUCATION! Knowledge is power! In whatever field of knowledge it is, it doesn’t matter!

If you have it you are richer than a millionaire or you can even become one! And on that day YOU will be the sugar daddy!

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Online training - In or out?

It is true that in the time of the internet, there are millions of training and classes throughout the web. Some of these courses are really good! The content is made interesting and the teaching easily approachable - so when questions arise - students dare to ask for advice.

At its best, online teaching is easy, instructive, and eye-opening!

Are these classes free? Some of them, yes! The best ones, no!

Making material for the classes takes time and effort!

As you all know, time is money. So next time when you think between two courses, free and the one that costs 5.99, take the one that costs 5.99.

I promise you a little more content, and you make the trainer really happy, because you value her/his work so much that you are willing to pay a small fee for it.

Before booking a place for training, you should check out your trainer’s background. Hers/His own educational background, whether they have their own special field, preferences and above all RECOMMENDATIONS! Never pay for a course if you can’t find any information about the teacher. If the content of the course feels interesting, you can always ask the trainer for more information about themselves and decide after you get the information.

Course prices can be anywhere from 0-2000, so be careful when choosing your trainer!

So what conclusion did we come to?

Online education is in!

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www.mlbeautyeducation.com

courses

Beginners Classic B e g i n n e r s Vo l u m e Beginners Lash Lift Russian Volume Fantasy Lash Art Train to Teach

www.mlbeautyeducation.com

Online

Brow Lamination Henna Brow CONTAC T US for more info

Importance of constant education and investment in knowledge.

by Zrinka B Vuksan

Writing like this is very hard.

Hard to be focused on right words, right details and yet, aim for the proper ones.

But let’s try…..

“Standards. “ This one word says a lot . Standards in the beauty industry and business are necessary to lift expectations on a higher level.

“Zrinka B Nail Academia” in the heart of downtown Vancouver offers European structure and visuals like no other school in Vancouver.

After more than hundreds of students in Canada and Europe, Academia aims to satisfy standards and lift them up. Private studio as a part of it hosts many clients in search for European structure, art and connection with the owner itself.

Salon perfection, Art classes, Core Base level 1, Extreme shapes and Smart studio manicure are classes that will and can bring You more than just skills.

Be respected as someone who knows lines and perimeters.

Allow us to be mentor to You Or your studio Booking available trough Zrinkabacademia@gmail.com www.zrinkabnailacademia.com.

“Don’t be mediocre “ Be the best “I

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Has COVID Killed the Nail Salon? Stories and Statistics from Salons & Techs Across Canada?

by Megan Taylor

The first COVID case in Canada was reported on January 25, 2020. Now, four-hundred days later we are only beginning to see the long-term effects of the pandemic on small businesses. We made it through one mandatory country-wide lockdown, and additional provincial wide lockdowns and restrictions of non-essential services. Today our focus is on how COVID will impact the future of nail salons, their clients and staff.

Prior to COVID customers purchased salon services to improve their appearance and wellbeing but with so many jobless claims the fragile financial situation of many Canadians makes it difficult to predict their appetite for this newfound luxury.

In a survey conducted this month, 79.5% of Canadian salons were closed due to mandatory shutdowns under provincial orders and were left without a way of earning income.

A full third of the salons surveyed had to lay off staff during the shutdowns, which allowed those paid hourly to collect employment insurance benefits. However most of the surveyed nail technicians classified themselves as self-employed independent contractors which made claiming assistance difficult if not impossible for some. These individuals reported being ineligible for employment insurance benefits, and many were left without any sort of monthly income.

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A nail tech would often see five to ten clients per day. Tatiana, an intermediate nail technician from Ontario worked 10-hour days, three days a week as a self-employed contractor. Now, she is at home indefinitely while provincial restrictions remain in effect in her region. As a self employed contractor, she was not eligible for government funding like CEBA, but was able to qualify for some of the funding provided by the government to individuals. While this was helpful for her time off work, the amounts are a far cry from the money she would normally earn at the salon.

“It is stressful. I am a mother, who immigrated to Canada just a few years ago. My family lives abroad and cannot assist me financially. It’s been difficult to make ends meet on such a small budget.”

According to IBISWorld nail salons in Canada generated revenues of over $735 million in 2019, with a projected annual growth rate of 3.8 percent through 2025. However, the effects of COVID have already contributed to an 11.8 percent revenue decrease in the first half of 2020 alone. Despite salons earning impressive amounts on paper, factoring in fixed costs and variable expenses paints a different picture.

Megan Taylor – Award winning nail artist, salon consultant and nail educator. Megan promotes education for all levels of nail techs as a contributor at NailClasses.ca where she focuses on the business, art and wellness aspects of the nail artist lifestyle.

Most salon staff are paid on commission and earn a percentage of each service varying between 30 and 60 percent. Although a typical sale could range from $45 to $150, it isn’t necessarily what they take home for the service they perform though most get to keep tips and collect commissions from products sold in the salon.

Employees who are paid hourly rate is definitely not the norm in the industry, as technicians expect higher than minimum wage and salons cannot afford to compete on rates during less busy times. Other technicians rent or lease a space in a salon and pay rent while others still are completely independent and have their own spaces at home, or perform mobile services.

Then there are the salon owners. For these entrepreneurs’ profit margins are usually tight.

A well managed salon may only turn a 5 to 10 percent profit at the end of the year. Often managed by owner-operators who themselves fully book with clients. Monthly business expenses include everything from products, cleaning services, utilities, maintenance costs, location rent, marketing, and of course payroll or commissions.

Most respondents were concerned with increased costs due to tighter health and safety regulations as well as increased marketing costs to get clients to come back in Stacey, a nail salon owner from Vancouver said her landlord is ‘working with’ her, but has heard that other landlords are not being so understanding, requiring full rent even during closures while their tenants are unable to earn income. Lauren from Calgary adds “Because my business is too small, I don’t qualify for assistance which is ironic because the assistance programs are designed for ‘small business’.”

Some self-employed nail techs have begun to offer press on nails, or at home kits mani/pedi kits for purchase online. While this may be a great short-term solution for cash flow, there could be long-term consequences. Ultimately the risk is changing the purchasing behaviour of the client by introducing a convenient lower cost home-use product that competes with a premium salon service.

Nearly ninety-five percent of respondents feel COVID will leave a lasting impact on their business going forward but despite the uncertainty, some remain optimistic. Alena from Toronto says, “If we are to continue operating I think it’s super important to make our clients safe and comfortable, but with changing health regulations I’m always looking for the latest guidelines. Running a successful salon was always an ‘everything’ business, with most owners having to spend considerable time studying marketing, business strategy, health codes and design trends. Preeya from Halifax says, “Competition was always tough but now with some salons qualifying for funding while we don’t, means the stakes for us are even higher”.

Some nail technicians are trying their best to prepare themselves for the future. Eighty-six percent of survey respondents plan to take classes to advance their knowledge and further their career with the help of online learning providers like Nailclasses.ca and Coursera.org. “Staying closed was financially difficult but I took the time to improve my technique and learn more about marketing to boost my traffic for reopening.” says Fatima from Quebec.

Throughout the process of listening and learning about how COVID affected the nail salon industry our takeaway is that while the industry may face challenging times, salon owners and nail technicians are up to the challenge.

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The Importance of Ethics in Beauty Industry

by Silva Petraite

Do we live an ethical life? Do we believe that ethics are important? Are they also important for the beauty industry?

Let’s take a brief look at ethics and the importance for our life and business.

By understanding the importance of ethics, we can make better decisions, whether we are doing so in our personal or professional life.

Defining what ethics are is not as easy as we might think. If we ask 10 different people, they would probably give you 10 different definitions. At the most basic level, we can define ethics as being what are “acceptable” and “proper” actions of a person.

However, this is difficult to do because what is acceptable and proper to one person might not be acceptable and proper to someone else. To look at this in a different way, we can say that ethics is the study of what is wrong and what is right. Some people spend their entire lives studying ethics, yet we still have difficulties coming up with a universal definition.

What does being ethical mean to you? Even a universal definition of ethics is difficult to create, though we can generally all agree that ethics are important. In fact, being ethical is to most people, a requirement of being a functioning member of society. Our personal ethics govern our actions and without ethics, each action would be aimless and random. We would be unable to work towards any of our goals, as we would have no gauge to decide what a goal would be. Even when we have some type of ethical standard, we can still have issues with this. For many, answering question about ethics, leads to more questions than answers.

To really understand the importance of ethics for professionals, it is imperative that we understand different elements that go into it. The basic foundation of ethics can be defined as a stand and of values that we can use to determinate our actions, values and goals.

Ethics satisfies our basic human needs - make sure you are honest and fair with your colleagues and clients. We and our customers to treat us well and in return, we should treat them well too. This satisfies our basic human need to be treated with fairness.

Being ethical makes us credible - when we are running our business by high moral values we are more respected by others in society. Clients are more likely to trust people and businesses that they deem as ethical.

Ethics unite us with others. This is very important for business as we are able to build stronger relationships with customers who have similar ethical beliefs.

Ethics improves our ability to make decisions - we are better able to make important decisions when we understand the ethics behind these decisions. Make sure that you are making decisions in line with what is right.

Ethics breeds success - research shows us that ethical people and businesses are overall more successful in the long term, when compared to those seen as unethical.

Ethics make us safer - ethics controls everything from the medical care we get to our public safety laws. Clients expect the same when they open the doors of your beauty salon.

Now we have a pretty good view of what ethics are and why they are important for your business, including how their rules play in our day to day lives.

I hope this helps by giving you something to think about and consider in your beauty business. Thank you for your attention.

Silva Petraite

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Photo: Ivan Buvinić Nails: Zrinka B Vuksan

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Beauty and business by Raman Chohan

Raman Chohan currently has three companies in the beauty industry. She is the co-owner Amour Beauty Lounge and Victress Beauty Academy, Raman Chohan’s approach to semi-permanent makeup is to accentuate the beautiful features her client’s already possess.

The latest is Nefer Beauty & Wellness is a skincare product company. Raman is a global instructor in semi-permanent makeup application, Raman left the corporate world of commercial banking and pursued her passion for business in beauty. Raman’s sense of business comes from 8 years of managing large small to medium corporations in British Columbia.

Loving everything en vogue, Raman started out her makeup career as a side passion. With an eye for detail, and love for business, Raman delved into the world of semi-permanent makeup 5 years ago. After, learning from some of the world’s best instructors she always felt something lacked.

Dedicated to mastering the craft, she embarked on a year-long journey of studying internationally from renowned artists, and mastering the craft. Learning from the best didn’t mean they ever worked on Indian skin.

Indian skin is some of the toughest to work with.

She put in countless hours studying and learning about how to work with Indian skin. She is now the expert working with Indian clientele.

Pouring hundreds of hours into her clients, and creating course material to ensure the success of her students, Raman partnered with a passionate team in India, and created Victress Beauty Academy. Raman currently takes a limited number of clients in Vancouver.

Now teaching internationally, Raman is dedicated to the success of each of her students. Through Victress, Raman has taught her students throughout their evolution from student into a profitable business.

When she’s not teaching, the Vancouver-native enjoys travelling, being outdoors with her dogs, and managing her other businesses.

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Step by step “Powder Puff ” by Zrinka B Vuksan

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1. Apply gel polish and colour of choice . Wipe the sticky layer if there is one .

2. Use a Tip guide or cut paper tape in different V shapes and place it on a nail.

You can use net and add that as well. Choices are endless.

3. Start with a darker non sticky colour ( I used black, hot pink and white) and go to the lightest to achieve depth. Cure 5 sec between the layers until you use last white one.

4. Top gloss it.

5. Use the same gel polish and create swirls on the surface.

6. Sprinkle it before curing with cover pink acrylic powder.

Enjoy the pattern and easy ,quick salon design.

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E

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COMPETITIONS

CHAMPIONSHIPS

Since a few years under the name of Innovation Beauty Academy, on everyday basis Mariola Mikolajczyk and her team are working together to provide beauty treatments trainings on the highest level possible. Because Mariola knew competition marked before, from the judging side, so as the competitors side, this idea was with her since a long time.

Seeing many amazing online competitions from eyebrows or eyelashes we were under impression there is no online nail championships. That was the first impulse, which directed us to host one of them and we did launched the NailOn Global first edition on April 18th 2020.

The current situation at that time made us thinking that in those difficult times it would be amazing to brighten many Nail Technicians days and give them something to look forward to. That though urged us very quickly to change our plans into action. After all, with many live competitions postponed, online championships would give everyone motivation and hope for better days to come.

We were very surprised how positive outcome we did received from all our participants! We had around 300 participants from around 60 countries and we had the best judging panel of 24 world known nail stylist icons! Because of this success we were able to help people which were suffering from domestic abuse, as part of our income we transferred to the “Refuge Charity”. During the lockdown the domestic violence was increasing as many victims were forced to stay home with their abusers. We are really happy that we could unite, create and at the same time do a bit of good!

NailOn Global 2020 worked in a very simple way.

Apart from choosing the right division to compete in, competitors have 5 different interesting categories to show off their skills. They were able to choose 1, 2 or even all categories. The more categories competitors chosen, the bigger chance for winning the Grand Champion trophy. But that is not all. Knowing how rewarding it is to win a place, we decided to reward each 1,2 and 3 place in all 3 division with a trophy.

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We know by ourself how important championships are for professionals. Having that in mind we worked very hard to choose the best judges we possibly could. We have chosen the people who are not only experienced in judging or educating, but also are well respected in the Nail Industry.

It wasn’t an easy task but it is our pleasure to provide that highest quality expertise for our competitors.

As organisers, we hoped to unite our industry in this challenging time. Also, we were looking forward to give people - who are a bit to stressed to join the real life competition floor, a chance to test themselves and get out of their comfort zone for the first time and at their own pace. We believe that NailOn could be the first step into a huge world of competing for many, inspiration for others and with time a symbol of a united Nail Industry community.

In the NailOn Global 2021 the 2nd edition we are looking forward to give participants inspiration, motivation and to help with a mental health issue as unfortunately the pandemic situation is still an ongoing thing! We would like to take all of the negative emotions and transfers it into a beautiful nail creation, we are hoping to take off minds of our participants from the bad situation and concentrate it on positive an on things that we all love the most as a nail stylists.

As someone who is experienced in competition floor we know it is not only about winning. No one is really empty handed after competition, you learn new skills for future and gaining new experience.

What matters to us the most is that when a competitor , thanks to any championships change their whole career. Becoming a better Stylist, starting doing things which they didn’t do before, and reaching for a success, would be nothing more than a joy to us.

To launch the second edition of NailOn Global 2021 we worked really hard t improver participants experience and also to make it more creative and enjoyable. First of all, we made a significant changes to our website to make picture submission even easier for all our participants and a way easier for our experts to enjoy the judging process! We are supper happy that we were able to finish all of the changes before launching thanks to our amazing IT team and programists which did create this platform on our behalf.

This edition is full of new ideas and we are hoping to inspire even more stylist! We have more categories than in previous edition and among seven of them, two of them are specifically art ones. Poster in which theme is a “Tribes” where we are hoping to see a full explosions of colours and we have one more art category which is very close to our heart: Mix Media Box with theme “Save the Planet”! Again with fun we want to spread a bit of awareness about our planet, how to care about our Mother Nature and we can’t wait to see the interpretation of this theme by our participants.

Motto of our NailOn Global Championship is that “ Together we can make a significant changes”.

In this edition we are bringing awareness to the Mother Nature and we are hoping that united we can improve our creativity, motivation and we hope this edition will also bring an amazing positive vibes which will beat all negativity that we are dealing with in those difficult times.

Nail industry is filled with the artist and as an artists we are all more sensitive so “Lets stay strong together”!

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C O M I N G S O O N ...

Villa Lash Stylist of the Year 2020

JOANNA PUDZIANOWSKA

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Claudia Carvajal. 1st

Ana Kasprzak, 2nd

Elite Lash Competition Winners

Elite Lash Competition

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Agnese Ergen, 2nd

Klaudia Bernac. 1st

Beatriz Cruz, 3rd

2D - 3D VOLUME M A S T E R

Daria Myk, 3rd

2D - 3D VOLUME ADVANCED

‘20

Elite Lash Competition

Selene Querol, 2nd Astrid Garcia, 2nd

Albulescu Elissa, 1st

Ewelina Modrzejewska, 3rd

2D - 3D VOLUME J U N I O R

Elite Lash Competition Winners

Zilla Olsson. 1st

Berenice Navarro, 3rd

4D - 6D VOLUME M A S T E R

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‘20

Ewelina Kaminska. 1st

Agnese Ergen, 2nd

Elite Lash Competition Winners

Elite Lash Competition

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Abril Nogues, 2nd

Michelle Melo. 1st

Marlis Singleton, 3rd

4D - 6D VOLUME ADVANCED

Sylwia Sikorska, 3rd

4D - 6D VOLUME J U N I O R

‘20

Elite Lash Competition

Mihaela Timpau, 2nd

Marta Dajczak, 2nd

Agnese Ergen, 1st

Marliis Laurson, 3rd

CLASSIC

M A S T E R

Elite Lash Competition Winners

Anna Kasprzak. 1st

Mariela Banuelos, 3rd

CLASSIC

ADVANCED

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‘20

Karla Marin. 1st

Marlena Legowik, 2nd

Elite Lash Competition Winners

Elite Lash Competition

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Tamara Joelson, 2nd

Andreea Craciun . 1st

Zilla Olsson, 3rd

CLASSIC

J U N I O R

Tiffany Delguste, 3rd

MEGA VOLUME J U N I O R

‘20

Elite Lash Competition

Roxana Baros, 2nd Donna Park, 2nd

Eirini Paliorgioti, 1st

Alice Aparecida de Olivera, 3rd

MEGA VOLUME M A S T E R

Elite Lash Competition Winners

Marliis Laurson. 1st

Shoko Noto, 3rd

MEGA VOLUME ADVANCED

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‘20

Elite Lash Competition Winners

Elite Lash Competition COLOUR VOLUME

Danielle Estevao

Maureen Kumala Dewi

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

Mai Quynh Nhu

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‘20

Elite Lash Competition FA N TA SY

Michal Alfaro De Elias

1st Place

Elite Lash Competition Winners

Agustina Andino

2nd Place

3rd Place

Banu Diana Stephania

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