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The Nailtopia Salon Skills Championship is a professional nail competition designed to showcase real salon work at championship level. This is not about perfect tips on a stand, or exreame shapes, this is about how you perform in the real world.

Competitors will be judged on their ability to deliver a complete, salon ready set of 10 nails, combining technical precision with client suitability. From consultation and prep through to structure, finish, and overall design, every stage of your work matters.

This competition has been built to reflect the realities of working nail techs. You’ll be given a client profile and design brief on the day, and expected to adapt your set accordingly, just like you would in the salon. Judges will assess not only your final result, but your process, product control, and understanding of structure, durability, and suitability.

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The Live Final – What to Expect

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To progress to the live final you will be required to submit photos that will be judged.

Finalists will then compete live at Nailtopia, completing a full set of 10 nails within a set time under competition conditions.

Both categories require extensions only, no overlays are permitted.

Each set must demonstrate a balance of technical skill and salon relevance, including:

• A structured, durable full set of 10 extensions

• Clean, consistent prep (judged before application begins)

• Strong apex, shape, sidewalls, and overall structure

• A cohesive, client-appropriate finished look

• Mandatory elements including:

  • One French nail (gel polish or art gel)

  • One full cover colour nail (red, black, or white using gel polish or art gel)

Competitors will work from a dual brief system:

• One brief outlining the client (lifestyle, needs, preferences)

• One brief outlining the requested nail style

You are expected to interpret and adapt the design to suit the client, with clear reasoning behind your choices.

Judging is split across:

• Floor judging (process-based) – prep, hygiene, organisation, and technique

• Final judging (result-based) – structure, finish, consistency, and overall look

This is salon work judged at championship level – not just how it looks, but how it’s built and how it lasts.

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Categories

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• Builder/Hard Gel (using extensions, tips or sculpted. No duel forms or full cover tips, please check your builder brand can be used for extensions)

• Acrylic/Acrygel (using extensions, tips or sculpted, no duel forms or full cover tips)​

 

Important Information

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By submitting your entry, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to the Nailtopia Salon Skills Championship North Terms & Conditions outlined below.

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Terms & Conditions (Summary)

• All competitors must submit a complete application including required images and answers.

• Finalists will be selected based on application quality and suitability for the competition standard.

• This is a live competition; finalists must be available to attend and compete at the Nailtopia event.

• Competitors must complete a full set of 10 nails within the allocated time.

• All work must be carried out on the day – no pre-prepping or pre-application is permitted.

• Both categories require extensions only; overlays are not permitted.

• Competition rules, briefs, and judging criteria must be followed at all times.

• Judges’ decisions are final.

• Nailtopia reserves the right to amend competition details if necessary.

• By entering, you agree to the use of your images and competition work for promotional purposes.

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*Please provide photos with your entry from the angles requested.

*The photos do not need to have the design criteria from the final, but must be in the product from the category  you intend to enter, ie gel/builder or acrylic/acrygel.