Lucy has been a nail artist for 8 years. What started as a creative outlet during a period of illness grew into a full career, a thriving salon in Sheffield's Kelham Island, and a role as an LE UK Educator. She specialises in hard gel and hand-painted nail art, and brings a genuine passion for safe, ethical, high-performance products to everything she does.
Meet Lucy
Where is your salon/studio based, or are you mobile?
My salon, Offbeat Beauty Collective, is based inside a former pub in the Kelham Island area of Sheffield.
How long have you been in the nail industry? How did you start and why?
I've been a nail artist for 8 years. When I first trained, doing nails was supposed to be a little hobby, just something creative to keep me occupied. I'd been too ill to work for about six years, so it was really just something to focus on. But I quickly discovered I absolutely loved it and couldn't put my brushes down!
What is your speciality?
Hard gel and hand-painted nail art
Who or what inspires you in your work?
Honestly, inspiration is everywhere; nature, visual artists, fashion, music, tattooing... inspiration is never hard to find. There are also so many incredibly talented nail artists working right now that it's genuinely hard to single out just one. The community itself keeps me constantly inspired!
What would be your biggest piece of advice for someone just starting in the nail industry?
Choose your education wisely. Nail courses are not all created equal and it's worth doing your research. Look for educators who go beyond the basics and cover product chemistry & safe working practices, thorough prep, nail structure and how to adapt your technique for different nail types. Providers like Light Elegance UK are a great benchmark for the kind of education that actually sets you up properly.
It's so tempting to jump straight into wild nail art, but focus on getting your prep and application solid on real nails first. Being able to structure nails properly and achieve 3+ weeks longevity will win you loyal clients and establish your stand-out reputation in a saturated market. The nail art won’t matter if your nails don’t last!
And price yourself correctly from the start. Invest in some business coaching or training to help you understand the true cost of running your business. Undercharging isn't sustainable and it does the whole industry a disservice.
What’s your top tip for nail applications?
"Don't rush. Take your time with your nail and cuticle prep and be precise with your product application. You'll save yourself a whole lot of time by cutting down on finish filing and avoiding having to repair lifting and pop-offs. Slow down and the results will speak for themselves."
How long have you been using Light Elegance products? What led you to use the brand and why do you continue to use them?
About two years. I'd been researching safer, more ethical gel brands and LE ticked all my boxes.
The transparency and free education around ingredients and chemistry was a huge factor, especially in the context of the surge in allergies to nail products we've seen in recent years. I felt confident I was working with a brand that genuinely takes that seriously.
I've stuck with LE because the products deliver beautiful results and allow for a really prescriptive approach, meaning they work well across a wide range of nail types. The longevity is great and consistency is another big one; I never have to worry about colours or formulas differing between batches, which matters more than people might think when you're running a busy salon. And did I mention the almost total lack of heat spikes?!
What are you Top 3 Light Elegance products and why?
Working in hard gel is my favourite so my top 3 products are:
1. Tack. Great for adhesion under Jimmy Gel or Lexy Line, but it's also my secret weapon when working with chrome. Apply a thin layer over your finished chrome before your encapsulation layer and say goodbye to chipping and peeling.
2. Lexy Line Extreme in Baby Pink. My most-used hard gel and my favourite shade. The formula suits the majority of my clients and consistently gives 4+ weeks wear. A staple for good reason.
3. ButterCream Gel Colours. Whether I'm doing a simple one-colour set, a crisp French or complex nail art, the colour pay-off and consistency of these gels are incredibly versatile and I love using them.
Tack
Tack
Baby Pink Extreme Hard Gel
Baby Pink Extreme Hard Gel
ButterCream Colour Gels
ButterCream Colour Gels
You can follow Lucy on Instagram or Facebook @supernaturalnails
LE UK Blog
LE Nail Pro Feature - Lucy Byatt
Lucy has been a nail artist for 8 years. What started as a creative outlet during a period of illness grew into a full career, a thriving salon in Sheffield's...
