Meet Sophie - Talent Team Founding Member
Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your nail journey?
Hi! I’m Sophie. I’m 32 years old and trained with Izabelle Hammon in 2018. Before training in nails, I would religiously have my nails done every 3 weeks. However, when my nail tech was on holiday I would sometimes have to tide myself over and it was then that I discovered that actually; I had quite a natural flare for doing nails myself! So, with encouragement from my husband, I decided to enrol in a course. Originally, I was just intending to do my own and maybe some family and a few close friends, but after my friends telling me how their nails were lasting better than they ever had before and convincing me to set up an Instagram page, I started to take on some more clients around my office job. From there, it snowballed and SDS Nails was born!
I quickly realised that this is my passion and what I wanted to do as my full time job. Unfortunately, covid delayed this a little for me, but there was a silver lining, as during lockdown I did have my custom garden studio built! It had all come together and felt like it was meant to be! So, once lockdown rules had lifted, in April 2021 I took the plunge and opened my new studio as a full-time, self-employed nail technician, specialising in Izabelle Hammon products and loving every minute of it!
Is there a go-to nail look or design that never gets old for you?
A classic French manicure or a French Ombré just never gets old for me! These are a speciality of mine and I have even had some of my fellow nail techs ask me to do frenchies for them, which is a real compliment! I am a real classic nude girl, so these looks will always have my heart!
What advice would you give someone new to the industry?
Just be yourself and do not compare yourself to others! Ask as many questions as you can and take hints and tips wherever you can! The nail industry is such an empowering and supportive one, I’ve never come across anyone who’s not happy to help! Invest in training and always keep up to date with the latest equipment and techniques, you want to always stay relevant! Remember, it doesn’t happen overnight, but if you are reliable, hard working and passionate about the nails you create, then you will be successful!
What does being a part of The Talent Team mean to you?
I am absolutely thrilled and honoured to have been asked to be part of the IH Talent Team! It’s been an amazing journey so far with the IH team and they have always been so supportive and recognised my work, for which I am so thankful! It’s a real privilege to represent such a fantastic brand!
What are your top Five IH Products?
1. A milky builder gel (personal faves are Zen, Sweetheart & Chantilly).
2. A Filbert #4 Brush (personal preference but I prefer to apply gel with the smaller brush so I can really get into the sidewalls!).
3. The IH Soak Off (love that this doesn’t dry out the nails like pure acetone does!).
4. An Orange Buffer Board (for smoothing out the nails after removal of old gel).
5. The new IH nail display book so that clients can clearly see all the colours in-front of them when trying to make that impossible colour choice!
I would say top colour gels for me are:
For summer - Dirty Dancing as I think this is the perfect combination of a bright red and bright pink!
For winter - Mulled Wine as I think it’s that perfect rich, warm colour for the colder months!
How do you use social media to connect with your audience and showcase your work?
Instagram was literally the catapult for SDS Nails. Once I set that page up and was regularly posting, the messages started flooding in, asking if there were appointments available!
Do you have any tips for other nail techs looking to grow their online presence?
Make sure you post each day (you can schedule posts on Instagram to do it for you if you find this easier). Take clear photos with crisp lighting to make sure you are really complimenting your work! Hand positions are super important and don’t have busy backgrounds behind the hand - keep it simple, sometimes less is more!
Instagram: @sdsnails_x
Based at home studio in Solihull, West Midlands.