Addicted to Nails

Oooh I’ve been patiently awaiting for this nail mail to be delivered, stay tuned to see what new products we just got in.

When your client tells you that the theme of today’s nails are graffiti, you have an opportunity to get a little wild with style. These were so fun to create!
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I am beyond excited and incredibly honored to be included among this talented group of nail professionals representing the International Nail Judge Association! 🏆✨

This August, I’ll be traveling to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to serve as an INJA judge for the USA International Nail Cup, held during the Heartland Nail Expo. After 30 years in the nail industry, having competed at multiple trade shows myself, it feels incredibly meaningful to now step to the other side of the competition floor and help recognize the skill, creativity, precision, and artistry of other nail professionals.

If you have ever thought about entering a nail competition but felt nervous, unsure, or wondered whether you were “ready,” I highly recommend taking the leap. Competing isn’t only about winning a trophy. It challenges you, sharpens your technical skills, pushes your creativity, introduces you to incredible professionals from around the world, and gives you an opportunity to grow in ways you may not expect.

Every competitor starts somewhere. Enter for the experience. Enter for the education. Enter to challenge yourself. You may walk away with a medal, but you will absolutely walk away a stronger nail professional. 💅🏆

Tulsa, here I come! I am truly honored to represent INJA and cannot wait to see the incredible talent that takes the competition floor this August. ❤️🤍💙

I am currently training and mentoring a new nail technician at Addicted to Nails, and we are looking for patient, reliable individuals interested in receiving nail services while helping a developing nail artist build confidence, refine her technique, and improve her timing.

All services will be performed under my guidance and supervision, with the same focus on sanitation, safety, nail health, and professional standards that Addicted to Nails is known for.

Because these are training appointments, services may take longer than a traditional salon appointment. We are looking for models who are flexible, encouraging, and understand that beautiful work takes practice. 💜
Model services will be complimentary or offered at a reduced rate depending on the service and current training focus.

Interested? Send us a private message with:
💅 A photo of your current nails
✨ The service you are interested in
📅 Your general availability

Please be comfortable having your nails photographed for educational and social media content.

Reliable models only, please. Your time and patience help support the growth of the next generation of nail professionals. 🔮✨

I spent Friday educating a class of 20+ cosmetology students at Aveda Institute in Phoenix, and days like this remind me why I love being an educator. 💜
Their eagerness to learn, enthusiasm, curiosity, and willingness to jump in and try something new made the entire day so rewarding. What stood out to me just as much was the encouragement they gave one another. They celebrated each other’s progress, offered support when something felt challenging, and created the kind of positive learning environment where everyone had the opportunity to grow.

Learning a new skill takes patience, practice, and the willingness to make mistakes along the way. Nail enhancements are not something you master in a single class, but every bead placed, every nail shaped, and every question asked builds the foundation for confidence and success.

After 30 years in the nail industry, I still genuinely love sharing the knowledge, techniques, and lessons I have gained throughout my career. Being able to help future beauty professionals understand not only the “how,” but also the “why,” is incredibly important to me. Technique matters, product knowledge matters, safety matters, and building strong habits from the beginning matters.

Watching those little lightbulb moments happen throughout the classroom is one of my favorite parts of teaching. ✨

Thank you to Aveda Institute Phoenix for continuing to welcome me into the classroom, and thank you to these 20+ future beauty professionals for bringing such wonderful energy, supporting one another, and reminding me that education is about more than teaching a technique. It is about encouraging confidence, inspiring growth, and helping shape the future of our industry.

I left the classroom feeling inspired, proud, and excited to see where their creativity takes them. 💜💅

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Seven weeks of growth… and not a single chip, repair, or bit of lifting. 👏

Caitlyn came in today for her hard gel fill after 7 weeks. While I’m thrilled with how beautifully her enhancement held up, she was definitely overdue for a proper rebalance.
Here’s why that matters:
Your nail enhancement is engineered with an apex, the highest point of the nail that provides strength where it’s needed most. As your natural nail grows, that apex moves farther and farther forward, leaving the stress area unsupported.
When that happens, one awkward bump, a door handle, a steering wheel, or even reaching into a purse can create enough leverage to crack the enhancement. In severe cases, it can tear the natural nail and even cause a painful injury to the nail bed.
Beautiful retention doesn’t always mean it’s safe to keep wearing your nails.
Regular maintenance isn’t just about keeping them looking fresh. It’s about restoring the structure of the enhancement, protecting your natural nails, and preventing painful breaks before they happen.
So yes… I’m incredibly proud these lasted 7 weeks with zero lifting, but let’s not make a habit of testing physics. 😉 Your nails (and your nail beds) will thank you.

Before the food, fireworks, and sparklers, this girl spent part of her Fourth of July at the salon with a few amazing clients.
People often talk about work ethic like it’s just showing up. It’s more than that. It’s honoring your commitments, taking pride in your craft, and understanding that the business you’ve built only grows when you continue to invest in it and in yourself.
Owning a business means there are days when everyone else is celebrating while you’re still chasing your goals. And truthfully? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Here’s to hard work, grateful hearts, and building a life that’s worth celebrating. ❤️🤍💙

I’m not everyone’s nail tech… and honestly, that’s the point.

I’m for the people who would rather have one incredible set than three mediocre ones. The ones who appreciate artistry, obsess over the details, ask for glitter “but make it extra,” and understand that experience, education, and sanitation actually matter.
My ideal client values:
✨ Healthy nails over shortcuts.
✨ Boutique vibes over assembly lines.
✨ Quality over cheap.
✨ A safe, inclusive space where everyone is welcome.
✨ A little ritual with their cuticle oil.

If you’ve been searching for your nail tech instead of just a nail tech…The universe may have just delivered you to my chair. 🌙

Now… who’s ready to become my next masterpiece?
🖤 Book your appointment through the link in my bio.

Let’s talk about those $40 full sets…

If a full set costs less than your lunch, you have to wonder… where are they cutting corners? 🤔

The truth is, quality nail products aren’t cheap. Professional education isn’t cheap. Proper sanitation isn’t cheap. And neither is taking the time to perform a service safely.

One of the biggest red flags? That overpowering, sickeningly sweet chemical smell when you walk into a salon. It may be a sign they’re using MMA (Methyl Methacrylate), a product many professionals refuse to use because of the risks. MMA has been associated with painful lifting, damage to the natural nail, allergic reactions, and difficult, sometimes traumatic, removal. Arizona doesn’t ban the sale of MMA, but it is banned by Arizona State Board to use it for acrylic nail enhancements!

At Addicted to Nails, I don’t believe in cutting corners. I use professional-grade EMA (Ethyl Methacrylate) monomers because your nails deserve products that were made for the professional nail industry.

💜 When you book with me, you’re investing in:
✨ 30 years of experience
✨ Professional-grade products
✨ Strict sanitation and disinfection protocols
✨ Continuing education
✨ A nail tech who values the health of your natural nails as much as the final result

Because beautiful nails should never come at the expense of your health.

Remember… price tells a story. Sometimes it’s a story of quality. Sometimes it’s a story of shortcuts.

Choose wisely. Your nails have to live with the decision long after the bargain is gone.

Picture it: June 22, 2014. The stage was set at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and my nail sisters from INM and I took on the Team Relay competition with a Rock & Roll theme. 🎸💅🏻

What an incredible experience. The creativity, the teamwork, the adrenaline, and the friendships made it one of those moments I’ll never forget. Looking back, I’m so grateful for the opportunity to compete alongside such talented artists.

If you’re a nail technician, I highly encourage you to compete at least once in your career. Whether you bring home a trophy or not, the experience will challenge you, inspire you, and help you grow in ways you never expected.

Tara Coté | Corrective Skin & PMU Specialist Thank you so much for sharing this memory and taking me back to such a fun chapter of my nail journey. 💕💅🏻

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