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JUDGING CRITERIA
Every effort is made to ensure that qualified judges are provided. Judges meet prior to the competitions starting so all are clear on what they are judging and their responsibilities. Judging sheets are made available to competitors after the awards ceremony and judges will make every effort to be available for any questions/critique afterwards, although this is not guaranteed.
The judging is blind, meaning only the models’ hands will be seen by each judge, with the exception of the Fantasy Nail Art competition.The judge will have no knowledge of which technician created which set of nails ~ models will be identified by numbers randomly assigned on the competition floor.
Judges do not judge every aspect of the set. Each judge is given 3-4 points out of 10 to judge.This way they can concentrate on a few aspects of the nails, rather than all.This helps to keep the judging consistent and keep any one judge from drastically raising or lowering a competitor’s score, since they do not judge all 10 points.The last benefit to this method of judging is that the process tends to move a bit quicker, which is good in larger competitions, such as this.
In the event of a tie, the head judge’s score (Lysa Comfort) will determine the place. For any ties falling below 10th place, each entry with the same score will simply be listed in alphabetical order, as a place below 10th will not effect competitors’ standing in ranks.
In keeping with the Nailympics international status, every effort is made to ensure judges are a mix from around the world.
Please read all of the rules and get clarification on any you are not 100% certain of, as this is your responsibility. If you compete and are judged with a deduction due to a rule that you did not interpret the way it was meant, it’s too late to change this at the competition. Judge’s decisions are final and all entries are judged on the exact same criteria. Don’t learn a lesson at the competition, get all your questions clarified beforehand to ensure a more satisfying experience.
GENERAL NAILYMPICS COMPETITION RULES
• Competitions are open to students and professional nail technicians.
All skill levels.
• The Nailympics reserves the right to refuse entry to any competitor.
• Competitors and models must be at least 18 years old.
• Competitors must use a live model and arrange for their own model.
• Each competition will have a briefing, scheduled 20 minutes prior to
the start of each event.
• Competitors and models must be present for the briefing.
• Once the briefing starts; the competitor may not touch the model’s nails until
the competition begins. If any competitor touches their model’s nails once
the briefing has begun, they will have 5 points deducted from their final score.
• Competitors not understanding English fluently must supply their own
translator. The translator must be present during the competition briefing and
stay just outside the competition floor in a designated area during the competition
in the event they are needed for communication with the competitor.
• The Nailympics is not responsible for any competitor not adhering to or
understanding the rules.
• A full set (2 hands) must be completed and all work must be finished in
the time allotted for the competition.
• Model’s nails will be checked by the floor judge during the briefing to be
certain no work has been done previously.
• If it’s decided by the judges that prep work has been done on the model
prior to the briefing; the competitor will receive a 5-point deduction from
their final score.
• Competitors will be allowed to set up their tools and products during the
competition briefing.
• Competitors must specify the competition division they are entering when
the registration form is filled out.
• Once a competitor has registered they cannot change divisions.
• Competitors must enter the highest division they qualify for.
• Due to the large attendance and international participation, the Nailympics
is not responsible for verifying that each competitor enters the correct
division, this is done on the honour system. The admin team will correct
those it knows to be incorrect, but cannot verify all.
• If it’s found a competitor has registered in the wrong division, they will
receive a 10-point deduction in their final score for each competition.
• Strictly no nail molds may be used.
• Competitors must bring all necessary electrical supplies including UV/LED
lamp, extension cord and adaptors.
• The Nailympics London will supply Daylight lamps.
• Each competitor will be provided one electrical outlet – gel/soak off
manicure competitors will get two outlets.
• No refunds of competition fees are given. Competition entrance fees are
non-transferable.
• No eating allowed - only non-alcoholic drinks.
• Once the allotted time is up, competitors must immediately stop working
and stand with their model. Competitors caught touching their model after
time is called will receive a 10-point deduction.
• Any competitor found to still be working on their model after the close of
the competition will be disqualified.
• Incomplete nails will be judged with an automatic 10-point deduction from
the competitor’s final score.
• When instructed, competitors are responsible for getting their model to
the judging arena and making sure they know to visit each judge before
leaving.
• Models must not leave the judging arena until they’ve been judged.
• Any model leaving the judging arena prior to being judged will be
disqualified.
• All products must be clearly labeled – hand-written labels are acceptable.
• Each division will have one overall division winner – named the Winner of
Winners.
• There is no restriction on Winner of Winners – everyone is eligible, even if
they won it the previous year.
• The Winner of Winners total score is based on combining the top 3 scores
from the competitor’s artificial systems categories. (Mixed Media, Fantasy
and Soak Off Gel Manciure do not qualify).
• A 1-10 point judging system will be used; – 1 being the lowest – 10
being flawless.
• Any competitor not abiding by these rules will take whatever point
deduction is allowed in the rules. For those rules not specifying a
point deduction, there will be one warning, after that there will be a
5-point deduction for the next warning and disqualification for the third
infringement.
• Judges’ decisions are final. Score sheets will be available for all
competitors and those not picked up on the day will be sent by the
organiser to attendees after the event.
• Any draws in scores are investigated and a winner awarded by the
head judge.
• All photos/video taken by Nailympics personnel or contractors are the
sole property of the organiser, to be used in whatever fashion deemed
appropriate by the organiser without compensation to the competitors.
• Competitor numbers will be allocated at registration.
• Competitors may not go into their kit bag after the competition
has begun.
Sculpture, Acrylic and Gel Tip & Overlay rules
1 - Competitors must polish one hand of the model with a red cream polish
only – no base coat, ridgefiller or top coat may be used. The polish may
be of the competitors’ choice.
2 - These are traditional competitions, with French style pink & white nails
to be created. Cover pink products are allowed. These are NOT salon nail
competitions.
3 – No lanolin, cream, lotion, polish dry products or may be used. No gel
sealers on any of the acrylic categories.
4 PLEASE NOTE - OIL IS ALLOWED.
5 - Water and non-lanolin based soap may be used in finishing.
6 - Competitors may not blend, shape or cut out tips prior to the start of
the competition.
7 - Glue is allowed for tip application only in tip & overlay competitions.
8 - No glue is allowed in the sculpture competitions.
9 - Drills are allowed; the competitor must supply own drill and have ample
electrical cords and adaptors.
10 - Gel competitors must bring a UV or LED gel lamp.
11 - No French tips allowed.
12 - You are only permitted to use Natural or Clear tips in both gel and
acrylic tip & overlay categories.
13 - Choose your application technique for the Gel category – you may
free-form sculpt or use tip & overlay procedures.
14 - Length of competitions –2 hours Acrylic tip & overlay; 2 hours Gel
sculpt/tip & overlay; 2 ½ hours Acrylic Sculpture; 1 hour Fantasy, 1 ½
hour Nail Embellishment; 1 hour Soak Off Gel Manicure; 2 ½ hours
Stiletto Nails.
MIXED MEDIA BOXED NAIL ART rules
1 - All entries must be new to the Nailympics and can only be entered one
time at this competition. Pictures will be taken and available to the
judges for past reference. No repeat entries from prior years are allowed.
2 - This competition is a ‘show & tell’ format. Nails are to be designed on
nail tips and placed in a covered display case to be placed in the
competition arena. Covered displays may be bought or made.
3 - Covered displays cannot be larger than 10 inches in either direction and
no more than 4 inches in height. Having a display any larger may result in
it not being displayed and if it’s too large, it may not be accepted. This is
left to the discretion of the Nailympics’ staff.
4 - All entries are to be 100% complete before bringing to the competition.
5 - A full set of 10 tips must be created and reflect the different nail sizes,
as real nails do. Anyone using all one-size tips will have an automatic
10-point deduction to their final score.
6 - Maximum of 2 entries per competitor, each entry will incur a fee.
7 - No entries left after the close of the competition will be returned to
the competitor.
8 - All entries must be submitted by second registration at 10am on Sunday
18 September 2011.
9 - All entries must be left at the competition until the close of the
competition on the second day.
10 - All entries must be accompanied by a typed description of the work
involved, including what types of nail art media were used.
11 - Competitors must use 3 of these 5 nail art media: airbrushing,
embellishments (rhinestones, striping tape etc), L&P acrylic, gel, hand
painting. Failure to use three will result in a 10-point deduction for each
media less than 3.
12 - No decals allowed. All three media used must be used in an artistic way
or they will not count towards the required 3 nail art media set by the
rules. It is the competitor’s responsibility to clarify anything questionable
prior to the event and judges’ decisions are accepted as final.
13 - No embellishment or L&P acrylic product may extend further than
1⁄4” from the original nail surface in any direction, if it does, there will
be a 10-point deduction.
14 - Any embellishment to the actual tips, whether attached to the tip or
not, will count and must not extend further than 1⁄4” from the nail
surface or 10 points will be deducted.
15 - Competitors may only submit their own work. Entries under question
may lead to the competitor being asked to recreate a portion of the
work submitted as proof of ownership and creation.
FANTASY NAIL ART rules
1 - All entries must be new to The Nailympics and can only be entered one
time at this competition. Pictures will be taken and available to the
judges for past reference. No repeat entries from prior years are allowed.
2 - No polishes or base coats are allowed on models’ nails prior to the
competition.
3 - Only the model and competitor are allowed on the competition floor.
The entire costuming and assembly must be completed by the model
and competitor, no additional people may help.
4 - Models must be pre-manicured and ready for polish/paint application.
5 - All pieces or embellishments that will go on the nails may be completely
created prior to the competition.
6 - Three dimensional, pre-cast embellishments, feathers, decals, gems,
accessories, ornaments or any form of fantasy are allowed.
7 - No nail pre-application allowed, all application of the design components
must be done during the hour provided – only one hour is allocated for
this competition.
8 - It’s recommended that models wear their costume prior to the start of
the competition, with just final touches completed during the competition.
9 - Keep in mind the costume is a large part of this competition (1-10 points
out of a possible 100), as this competition stresses creativity, difficulty
and how well the theme of the entire design and costume work
together.
NEW for 2011 - Soak off Gel Manicure rules
1 - This competition is done on natural nails only.
2 - The model is to come with nails ready to be manicured.
3 - Competitors will be scored on table presentation, so it’s recommended
to be creative in your presentation. The table will be scored prior to the
start of the competition WITHOUT the gel system of choice and UV/LED
light on the table. Table should not have any products with company
labels on it DURING the judging. Judges will give their score based
on a manicure style set up. Once the table has been scored the
competitor can then put out their gel system and any branded
products on the table.
4 - Nails are to be manicured during the competition including soaking.
5 - Nails must be enhanced and covered with any type of soak off gel
product. Not traditional nail polish.
6 - One hand is to be created in a solid red colour.
7 - One hand is to be finished in a traditional French manicure style. Using
white on the free edge and French shades on the plate. No glitter,
shimmer or frost permitted. All colours must be free of pearl and
opalescence.
Nail Embellishment rules
1 - A hands-on nail art competition where the model comes with nails on
and ready to work.
2 - All forms of nail art are allowed to create the design.
3 - Pre-assembly of art is not allowed.
4 - All work must be created at the time of the competition.
5 - The theme of the artwork must represent the animals native to the
country of the competitor and must be identifiable by the judges.
6 - There is no score for the shape and style of the nail, but there is a score
for the overall appearance of the nail being worked on.
7 - The set of nails can be made with any type of artificial enhancement
system with the exception of cover tips.
8 - Acrylic, gel and tip/overlay of any type are acceptable.
9 - The products used can have colour or glitter if desired.
10 - No embellishments of any kind are allowed into the application.
11 - No nail art of any kind into the application of the nail.
12 - The top surface of the nails must be free of any and all products prior to
the competition and will be checked by the judges.
13 - The scores are based on the degree of creativity, difficulty, originality,
quality of work and ability to represent the native animals of the
competitors’s nation.
14 - Gel sealers and top coat are allowed
NEW for 2011 - Stiletto Nail Comp rules
1 - Nails are to be sculpted on forms. No tips permitted.
2 - Nails can be made using acrylic or gel systems.
3 - The application can be designed to the competitor’s desire and ability.
4 - Artwork can be applied into the nail and on the top if desired. If artwork
is applied to the surface it must be no more than ¼ inch in height.
5 - Gel sealers and top coat are allowed.
6 - Paint, stripers, rhinestones and bullion are allowed.
7 - No decals allowed.
8 - No lanolin, cream, lotion, polish dry products may be used.
9 - PLEASE NOTE - OIL IS ALLOWED.
10 - Water and non-lanolin based soap may be used in finishing.
11 - Drills are allowed; the competitor must supply own drill and have ample
electrical cords and adaptors.
12 - Gel competitors must bring a UV or LED gel lamp.
13 - All work must be created at the time of the competition.
14 - The products used to create the nails can have colour or glitter if desired.
15 - Scores are based on the degree of creativity, difficulty, originality and
quality of the work.
16 - Nails will be scored on the following criteria: shape of nail, cuticle area,
underside, length, product control, surface finish, level of difficulty,
overall workmanship, creativity, finished work, form fit, stress/arch
location, free edge/thickness.