Hi all

Well, I'm still here (just!!) and before I go, I just wanted to pose a final question that I thought might stir up a few can of worms. I would love your thoughts on this, so bear with me!

We all know that our lovely friends in the consumer press spend hours in Photoshop retouching their already genetically-blessed models into porcelain pictures of perfection. And to a much lesser degree, the same does happen in the world of nails.

I've always had a wee chuckle to myself when readers have thrown their arms up in the air over a dodgy-looking nail being featured in an ad, when conversely there have been complaints about nails being overly touched-up.

I guess I'm just curious to hear your views on the issue of real nails for real techs v aesthetic modifcation for aspirational techs!

Hope that makes sense... it is a bit late in the day!!!

All thoughts gratefully received (and these thoughts will possibly be published in the mag, so hope that's ok!),

Ta muchly,
Kat
xxx
Editor
Professional Nails
Email: kathrynh@tradesexhibitions.com

As a graphic designer myself i could quite easily touch up my nails (is on my website or on my literature)- and i have before been very tempted, but i have never done it as i think i'm cheating myself. I can see my mistakes and i will learn from them rather then airbrushing them away and pretending they never existed.

I think a little touch up here and there is fine, but some of them are so overly done that they just don't look real, they look like Barbie Does Nails! Everything in moderation as they say.

ps good luck in your travels, sounds fab

I think that although the touched up pics are more pleaseing on the eye the realy mccoy are definately far better.
Yes the real mccoy may have flaws here and flaws there but is'nt that what the trained eye should be able to spot? We may spot them and have a little discussion (you know the ones that women are good at lol) but do you know what it makes us feel so dam good!
We see those flaws and think
1. Oh my gawd even industry greats get it wrong sometimes
2. Oh my gawd i must make sure i never make that mistake
3. And sometimes we think damn i can do so much better that that lol!


Sorry if i have got carried away with my own personal opinion lol x x x

I've seen some nails in the trade mags that looked very touched up. That wouldn't normally surprise me, except for the fact that the particular nails I'm thinking of were advertising a very top of the line brand, and I wouldn't think the nail pros who created the nails would *need* touching up.

OTOH, there are some nails in those mags that could use some airbrushing!!

if they were my nails in a mag or nails i had done for a mag touch them up all you like. i struggle to take a brilliant pic of nails so if it made them look great then i wouldnt mind at all. I don't think that most people take much notice as long as it looks good.

Like models, i don't think nails that are to be a focus in an ad should be touched up. If the nail technician is profound enough in there chosen field to be asked to do any kind of photo work then why should their work need that extra umph!

This to me disillusions nail technicians in the same way that models in glitzy mags disillusion young girls.

I have seen some ridiculously re-touched nails in trade mags and I just thought 'do these companies think we are daft?' Cartoon nails dont sell it to me.

The fabulous nails that I've seen in the flesh by a few geeks would never need to be digitally enhanced. But, I have to admit that I notice the ones that are a bad advertisement and tend to think "If that is the best this product will offer I'm not interested".

Fair point but an exceptional nail technician can make a nail look good whatever product line they use. Wether they last is a different matter...

I suppose it's all down to advertising and wanting to achieve that same look as in the photo. Which in many cases is unrealistic.

Yes that's my point mate. Exceptional nail techs should be doing the ads IMHO. It would be nice to see them get the recognition that they deserve.

Totally agree.
I only want to see fantastic, inspirational nails in magazines etc, amazing nails that I will strive to achieve the standard of.
Overly touched up or un-balanced masseeeeve long white tipped talons have no place in my life!

I think, and I hope, that many geeks will agree that once you have seen, or been lucky enough to have a set of nails to die for you realise exactly what your product and proper training can do. I only hope that one day I can do the same.

Thanks Geeks for all the responses - they're fab! I wondered if you could do me a huge favour and PM or email me (kathrynh@tradesexhibitions.com) with your surname and business name?

That way I can publish your comments in the mag with the appropriate credit.

I thought I'd do a general post rather than PM you all individually!

Look forward to hearing from you!

Ta
Kat
Editor
Professional Nails
xxxx

couldnt agree more with this last comment..it is very misleading to sell products to proffesionals (particularly for artistic designs)with photos that have very obviously been well enhanced..it sets up us average techs for disappointment with the end result and we feel a little duped.