Why I Switched Sides on Online Education.

If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be raving about online education in the nail industry, I’d have laughed, flipped a brush, and gone back to filing with my trusty 150 grit. Back then, I was all about in-person learning. Touch it, smell it, see it, DO it. Surely you can’t teach someone a perfect apex through a screen… right?

Wrong. (Ugh. I know. I hate admitting I was wrong too.)

Fast forward a few years, a pandemic, and a whole lot of Zoom calls later, and here I am: proudly eating my words with a Glitterbels brush in one hand and a ring light in the other. Turns out, when done right, online nail education isn’t just okay—it’s actually brilliant.

Let’s be clear: not all online education is created equal. But the courses delivered through Glitterbells have completely shifted the game. With proper structure, killer supporting materials, and videos that actually show you what you need to know (none of that “watch this blurry angle while I mumble nonsense” rubbish), online training has become accessible, affordable, and flexible.

No Crowds, No Classrooms, No Pressure

One of the biggest (and most unexpected) wins? Online education is an absolute game-changer for those who hate the idea of sitting in a classroom full of strangers. If you struggle with social anxiety, feel overwhelmed in big groups, or just don’t vibe with traditional teaching styles, online learning lets you grow at your own pace—without the panic sweats.

You can pause, rewind, take notes in your pyjamas, or rewatch a demo 10 times without anyone judging you. It’s your education, your way. And honestly? That kind of comfort and control makes all the difference for so many talented techs who just needed the right environment to shine.

Whether you’re a full-time mum, stuck in a 9-5, live out in the sticks, or just prefer your own company (with a side of acrylic), online learning gives everyone a chance to level up. No train tickets. No overpriced hotel stays. Just great education, straight to your fingertips—pun intended.

As someone who swore I’d never love anything digital (other than my Fitbit), I can honestly say: I love teaching online. My students are thriving, my DMs are full of before-and-afters, and I get to reach nail techs who would never have stepped into a classroom. I am honestly a dinosaur when it comes to anything digital but our industry is forever evolving, therefore so must we!

So yeah. You can say I’m a hard girl to change—but this one’s got me. And if I can change my mind, maybe it’s time you gave online learning a go too.

All the best

Kylea Wherry

Stop Blaming HEMA – He’s Not the Drama!

Allergies. The word alone is enough to send a shiver down a nail tech’s spine and have Karen clutching her cuticle oil like it’s holy water. And while we’re all for safety in the salon, let’s get one thing straight: HEMA is not the bad guy.

Poor HEMA. He’s basically the Ross Geller of the ingredients world—yes, a bit misunderstood, occasionally overused, but NOT responsible for every relationship breakdown (or, in this case, every allergic reaction).

The truth? HEMA provides excellent adhesion when used correctly and in the right concentrations. Anything under 35% is perfectly safe in well-formulated products. The real problem? It’s not him—it’s the company he’s been forced to keep.

Let’s talk about 2020, shall we? Boris told us we couldn’t hug our grans, go to work, or get our roots done—but you could go online and buy a DIY nail kit from a mega-site starting with “A” that also sells paddling pools and hamster swings. And so began the rise of cheap, untested products flooding the market—no lab testing, no quality control, no education.

By 2022, allergy cases hit the press like glitter hits a carpet—everywhere, and impossible to clean up. But here’s the kicker: the allergen risk was always there, quietly building. Why? Because the people using these products often had zero understanding of proper application, ratios, or safety measures.

Yes, allergens can appear the first time you do your nails—or the hundredth. That’s how sensitisation works. And if you’re using products irresponsibly with zero understanding of the science, unaccredited education then no insurer or prayer circle will save you. 

So who’s really to blame?
🧼 Poor application.
📦 Brands.
📚 A lack of proper education.

We’ve got to stop throwing HEMA under the bus and start backing what actually matters: evidence, science, and real education. Because when you combine safe products with trained professionals, the results are stunning—and safe.

I will always back the educators who know their stuff and the brands who’ve done the legwork. If that makes me “pro-HEMA (responsibly),” then slap it on a T-shirt.

All the best

Kylea Wherry

🎶 Bring it back, bring it back, sing it back to me… 🎶 (A Love Letter to Acrylic Nails)

Okay, enough is enough. It’s time to say it loud for the people at the back (and the ones hiding behind their builder gel): BRING. BACK. ACRYLIC.

Remember her? The original queen of nail art. The ride or die. The one who let us sculpt stiletto sets sharp enough to cut a man—or just open Amazon parcels with style.

Let me say this with my whole chest: Acrylics are not the problem.
The problem is the industry forgetting that nails are not one-size-fits-all.

Your best mate Sharon is rocking builder gel? Good for her! But guess what—you’re not Sharon. Your nails are different. Your lifestyle is different. Your entire vibe is different. What we need to bring back, alongside the acrylic, is the prescriptive appointment. Let’s stop copying what’s trending on Instagram and start asking: what does YOUR nail actually need?

“But acrylic is soooo bad for my nails.”
Babes. No.
The acrylic didn’t ruin your nails—the nail tech did.
You booked in with someone who didn’t know how to prep, didn’t understand structure, and couldn’t spell MMA if you spotted them the first two letters. Bad education ruins nails. Not acrylic.

When applied correctly, acrylic is strong, flexible, customisable, and just plain FUN. Want drama? Length? Glitter fades that look like unicorn tears? Acrylics are your girl. She’s THAT girl. She just needs a comeback tour.

So here I am, backstage, mic in hand, shouting:

🎤 Bring it back, bring it back, sing it back to meeeee… 🎤

Let’s bring back science-led nail appointments, let’s bring back real consultations, and let’s bring back the acrylics that made us fall in love with nails in the first place.

Acrylic, I never stopped loving you.

All the best

Kylea Wherry