Confessions of a Nail Tech x Dena

by Maria MG on October 28, 2020

A new episode of "Confessions of a Nail Tech" has Dena as a guest- a talented nail tech from Toronto, Canada. An art lover who started painting her nails since elementary school. Now, she is a very talented nail tech that is part of Madam Glam's glamorous family who gets all the inspiration from Social Media.

Let's discover her story!

MG: How did you get your start in your nail career?

I’ve loved art all my life, but I started painting my nails in elementary school for fun. My passion for nail art sparked in high school; it was (and still is) a way to express myself and honestly was/is very therapeutic!

MG: Who was/is your biggest inspiration for your nail technician career?

I don’t have anyone specific in mind, but my inspiration comes from all the extremely talented nail artists/techs that I follow on Instagram!

MG: Why did you start the Instagram channel? Did you ever expect you will make such an impact and create your very own community?

I got into nail art when I was in high school and would take pictures of my designs from time to time. I would post them for fun on my personal Instagram account where only some family and friends followed me. One day, someone from high school told me to stop posting so many nail photos, so I made a separate account in 2011 where I photo-dumped all my nail art pictures. I surprisingly ended up gaining a lot of followers and connected with nail artists from all over the world through the nail community that I didn’t even know existed! Instagram was so new and different back then that I never expected any of this to happen!

MG: What are your goals/dreams for the future?

My career goal is to work in healthcare, specifically in medicine. But nail art is also my passion, so I’m going to do them simultaneously!

MG: What is most challenging about what you do?

I would say the most challenging aspect is artist’s block. Creating new nail designs is difficult, especially during those times when you lose all motivation and can’t find inspiration anywhere.

MG: How many gels do you own? What are your 3 fav gels from Madam Glam?

I own over 40 gels and look forward to growing my collection! It's so hard to choose, but I would say my top 3 Madam Glam gels are Baby Pink, The Only One, and Neon Lime Green.

MG: Describe your ideal manicure

My two ideal manicures are complete opposites: My ideal summer manicure is a multi-colored neon set that glows under black/UV light. And my ideal fall/winter manicure is one with monochromatic neutrals.

MG: Which celebrity would be your dream client? Why?

If I were to get licensed in the future, my dream celebrity client would be Alina Baraz. She’s one of my favorite singers of all time – I feel like she would come up with the absolute coolest designs. I’m not sure if 6lack is into getting his nails done, but if he is, he’d be a dream client as well!

MG: Your biggest tip for the perfect DIY manicure?

My biggest tip is: After applying a thin layer of gel and before curing it, use an angled brush dipped in acetone and wipe away any gel that gets on your cuticles/skin for a more professional-looking manicure.

MG: What advice would you offer someone considering this career?

Follow and subscribe to a bunch of nail artists/techs on Instagram and YouTube. You’d be surprised how much you can learn from just watching their videos. I never had any kind of formal training – I’m completely self-taught, so I learned everything I know about nails and nail art from the internet!

It sounds very cliché but practice and be patient. Like with anything else, you’re not going to succeed overnight. Artistic skills take time to develop – the more you try, the better you’ll get! If you’re looking for a sign to start your nail career, this is it!