Well Polished

Roxanne Valinoti, International CND Educator and nail stylist to the stars, spills her secrets on staying sharp in the nail-care industry.

Q. How did you get started in this business?

A. I have always had a passion for beauty and art. When I was 13, I started getting my nails done professionally and was instantly intrigued. My mother took a nail course, so I began playing with her products and practicing on friends. I attended college with a major in accounting but could not satisfy my desire to be a part of the beauty industry. I decided to follow my heart. I left college and got my license in Nail Specialty.

Q. What’s the best part of your job?

A. Traveling the world, meeting great people and sharing my knowledge of and love for the nail trade. It’s truly a dream come true!

Q. What’s an average day like for you?

A. No two days are ever the same. I could be doing any of the following on a given day: styling nails at a photo shoot or for a client or private VIP, participating in a conference call, or training fellow Ambassadors or other nail professionals either locally or across the globe.

Q. When you’re educating nail technicians, what is the most important thing you try
to emphasize?

A. All nail professionals should continue to attend classes to stay current with new and innovative products and techniques. Our industry is constantly changing and it’s important to change with it. Customize your services, raise your prices and charge what you’re worth!

Q. What do you predict will be the big nail trends for Fall 2008?

A. Variations of gray in charcoal and dove, deep reds and blackened-jewel tones in emerald, sapphire and amethyst were the most requested looks by designers from the Fall ’08 fashion runways. Shorter nails in healthy nudes and darks are still popular but we’re seeing a lot more of the longer, almond shaped nail with the darker shades. The almond shape is very forgiving and elongates and slenderizes the finger.

Q. How does the process work when you’re creating a nail look for a designer fashion collection?

A. First, our PR team contacts the designers about four to five months before Fashion Week to showcase CND’s capabilities. We go into each season with recommended colors or a new color collection, which is formulated based on our predictions of fashion trends in color, fabric, style and story for the upcoming season. Inevitably changes are made last minute and oftentimes we don’t know which direction the designer will go until we are backstage at the show. We’ve prepared for it all. Some designers want custom-blended colors. If we don’t have the exact shade the designer has in mind, we will mix colors from the enamel collection to fit the designer’s vision. It’s always an exciting experience!

by Molly Noonan