ABOUT

"Success isn't overnight. It's when every day you get a little better than before. It adds up."

"Life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself."

"If you get tired learn to rest not to quit."

Hi, I'm Annabel

The proud owner of PrettyEdgy Nails – Nail & Education Studio, established in 2016. My journey in the nail industry began much earlier, in 2008, fueled by a lifelong passion for creativity alongside my naturally caring personality. As a child, I would set up a mini nail desk in the corner of my parents’ living room, offering manicures to visitors for a small fee. Little did I know, those playful beginnings would spark a career I truly love.

Here’s a brief timeline of my career...

MY STORY

2008: Began my professional journey in the nail industry by completing a VTCT qualification in Nail Anatomy, Health & Safety, and Nail Technology at college.

I then started my first job as a Nail Technician at the sister salon of Urban Retreat (Harrods), U.R Beautiful. Here, I specialised in manicures and pedicures.

2011: I was headhunted to work at another salon, where I expanded my expertise to include manicures, pedicures, hard gel extensions, and nail art. One of my regular clients during this time was Jessie Wallace.

2014: I took a career break for maternity leave, during which I decided to further my skills and expertise within the industry. In 2015, I completed my teacher training course and became the London Educator for Nail Harmony UK, the leading distributor of the first pure gel polish brand, Gelish. I taught students to become fully qualified Nail Technicians while gaining incredible experiences—doing Nicole Scherzinger’s nails, traveling to the USA for educator events, and contributing to articles in Scratch, PBL, and Pro Beauty magazines.

During this time, I also worked alongside a fellow Nail Harmony educator in her North London Nail & Makeup Studio, specialising in acrylic sculpted extensions, hand-painted nail art, and HD Brows.

2016: Although I had always maintained a private clientele alongside my salon roles, working in North London became challenging with a new baby. I decided it was the right time to establish a home-based Nail & Education Studio, officially introducing PrettyEdgy Nails. While continuing to teach for Nail Harmony, I began building a strong local clientele.

2019: In late 2019, I was approached by IKON.iQ Nails, a developer and manufacturer of award-winning hypoallergenic professional nail products, and became their London & Surrey Educator. However, after the challenges posed by Covid-19 and Brexit in 2020, I took a brief break from teaching.

2021: After enduring three lockdowns and navigating business closures due to Covid-19, I resumed offering treatments to clients, specialising in all nail services.

In April 2021, with six years of experience in teaching E-File, I focused solely on E-File training and became the London Educator for Willow Academy. I dedicated myself to breaking the stigma and improving education around "nail drills." Eventually, I began offering all nail courses again for both beginners and experienced Nail Technicians. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, I remained committed to delivering excellence to both my clients and students.

2023: This year I took another short career break whilst on maternity number 2.

2024: At the beginning of 2024, I was promoted within Willow Academy to Online Education Manager and Head Online Educator, while continuing to teach in-person courses at my education studio as their Surrey/South London.

Today, I specialise in E-File and Gel courses, helping nail artists refine their skills, build confidence, and work smarter to achieve exceptional results. My mission is to empower professionals to grow their careers while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Thank you for visiting! Whether you’re here for nails or education, I’m excited to be part of your journey.