NAANA Awards, Let's Get This Party Started!

      So I did it to myself again last night. I stayed up till 2 watching the livestream of the Naha awards. The North American Hairstyling awards. It was this time last year, watching them that I got inspired, then angry. Nails used to be a category, but got kicked out a few years ago. I can't even tell you when because they even took the past winners off their site. But the winners for best permanent wave are still up there... really? Nails magazine and the industry source, nailco at the time used to sponsor the AVA awards. You may have heard us talk about them in previous shows. The artist and visionary awards honored top Nail artists, our own Oscars. They were fabulous and so many nail artists were recognized for their talent and contribution. But now, no shows, no honors, no Oscars for nails. So I got charged up and created the NAANA's the Nail Artist Awards North America. I started a Facebook page and quickly grew to almost 400 members. I asked everyone to share the link, encourage friends, manufacturers and other media outlets to get on board. I called magazines, companies and everyone I could think of that might want to support this vision of honoring the amazingly talented nail artists out here. Right about this time we traveled to the Olympia beauty show in London for a special cocktail party for Scratch magazine and a very special announcement. Scratch launched their Scratch Stars competition.

      What do they say about great minds? Alex Fox and her team created a very similar competition to honor nail stars in the UK. Through Scratch, Alex has the good fortune to have an advertising base to get sponsors to fund the event. I have unfortunately gotten no traction. I have to admit, we are all busy and I am no exception to this. But watching that broadcast last night made me really mad, then motivated. We can have our own awards show. The one thing I've learned over time but never mastered it to ask for help. So tonight I am asking for your help. We need to get this award program going so if you would like to help in any capacity, I'm opening up the opportunity for people that might share this vision to come onboard. We need sponsors to fund an Oscar like event. It wouldn't be huge, a small investment of a $250 as an artist sponsor and $500 as a visionary sponsor with enough signed on should get the ball rolling. Any of you that work for manufacturers I encourage you to bring this award show to your companies and lets spread the word. I don't want to watch one more year go by without our special event. Please go to the Facebook page NAANA Nail Artist Awards North America and ask to join.

      Add your friends, coworkers, bosses and employees. Let's restart this revolution. Taking a cue from the NAHA categories I thought I would give the categories a stab. Master Nail Artist, an invitation only category for the truly well rounded high profile nail artist that is proficient in all categories of nail enhancements and photo styling. Nail Stylist of the Year open to anyone, again for the truly well rounded nail artist proficient in all categories of nail enhancements and photo styling. Master Gel Artist, entrants must submit a collection of gel nails representing his/her best work. Master Acrylic Artist, entrants submit a collection of their best acrylic work. Nail Art Flat, entrant submits a collection of their best work using any flat art medium. 3D/Mixed Media Nail Art. Entrant submits a collection of their best work using any art medium. Nail Make-over, entrants submit a collection of before and after nail styles. Editorial Nail Stylist. Entrants submit a collection of their best editorial work. Fashion Forward, entrants submit a collection of future trends in nail styles, colors and textures. Student Nail Artist, entrant must be a current student at the time of the collection of work, submitting their best work in any area. Fantasy Nail Artist, entrant submits an entry of their own creation, their own theme. Nail Salon Team Award, entrants submit a collection of work by multiple nail stylists in their nail salon team. Any medium, any theme. Nail Salon Design, entrants submit photos of their salon. So if you haven’t already, check out the NAHA photos and get inspired, get angry, whatever it takes just get busy. Inbox me if you would like to help. naanaawards@gmail.com