Meet Our Member of the Month: @holly_stic

The Nail Tech Org wouldn’t be what it is without its incredible members, and this April–we’re shining the spotlight on Holly from @holly_stic as our Member of the Month!

From her journey in the nail industry to her holy-grail products, goals for the year ahead, and what being part of NTO means to her—scroll to get to know her a little better…

Tell us a little bit about you!

Ay up! I’m Hol,  a self-employed nail artist with about 8 years in the industry now. I specialise in colourful, abstract nail art, and I’m very much a colour-loving mum who’s here to add a bit of vibrancy to every shade of life. I’m an artist before I’m a nail tech. I’ve always worked in creative worlds and now nails are my canvas!

I’m really passionate about colour theory and therapy; the relationship between colour and emotions, and the impact colour has with how we connect with the world.

My family are my absolute everything. My partner Matt is my best friend, Marley is my soft-hearted little comedy genius, and Dotty is my feral free spirit with a heart as big as her gob — so yeah, life is loud, chaotic, and full of personality… just how I like it.

When I’m not painting nails, I love moving my body — CrossFit, reformer, yoga — but I equally love a good slow moment too. I’m obsessed with being outdoors… wild swimming, chasing waterfalls, getting out on the SUP — always on the hunt for the next adventure… balanced with time to properly switch off and recharge.

Last year I did have a bit of a burnout wobble, which forced me to slow down and properly rethink how I was running my business and my life. Since then, I’ve become much more intentional about protecting my energy and building a business that supports my life, not the other way around.

My favourite colour is yellow, I’ll take it in every hue, tint and saturation… it makes my soul sing so you’ll often find me dressing like a great big sunshine!

How did you get into nails?

I got into nails because I was looking for a creative role that would let me work self-employed or freelance. After having my son Marley, I really wanted to be the mum who could drop him off at school, pick him up, and be at every sports day, stay and play, or performance — basically be there for all the little moments that matter. I wanted a career that fit around my life, not the other way around.

About eight and a half years ago, I trained with Young Nails, thinking I’d have to spend ages building a portfolio before leaving my full-time job on the creative team at Debenhams. But then, to my surprise, I was offered a salon job immediately. And I thought, “Sod it — you only live once, let’s give it a whirl.”

From there, I quickly discovered my USP: creating tiny masterpieces on nails. I love transforming something so small into a piece of art, and that’s really become my signature. And honestly, the rest is history.

How did you find The Nail Tech Org?

I found The Nail Tech Org through scrolling insta endlessly, obsessing over nails, trends, and artists in the industry. It’s one of those names that keeps popping up when you’re looking for solid education and genuine support.

Whilst the kids were dead young, my job was just part-time, a little extra cash for the family, so I didn’t really take it too seriously. I was happy just going with the flow, painting nails and enjoying it.

I gradually started to up my hours once Dotty started school and it started to feel more like a full time job. Then one year I did my tax return… and it was soul-destroying seeing how little I’d actually earned. That was my wake-up call. I had to admit that I was completely winging the business side of things. I’m an artist, I’m not a bloody mathematician so I knew that I’d always dodged the numbers because they don’t come naturally to me! 

I realised I needed to invest in some business guidance. My call to NTO was primarily for their pricing calculator, realising that the additional business modules were included was just a little brucey bonus! NTO just felt like a trusted place to do that, somewhere I could actually learn and grow with guidance, rather than guessing my way through it.

What’s your fave thing about The Nail Tech Org?

Honestly, it’s the community. It doesn’t feel intimidating or competitive — it feels welcoming, supportive, and a bit like home. You can learn at your own pace, ask questions, and genuinely feel like you’re growing without being judged and ultimately that you’re not alone. You feel seen, heard, and understood.

But my absolute favourite thing? It gives me a space to connect with other like-minded people and feel like more than just a mum or a wife. Individuality is a paradox, isn’t it? You feel most yourself when you belong to a group — when you’re with people who get your weird, slightly sinister sense of humour, who match your energy, who belly laugh with you, and share the same passions and understanding of the challenges we face in our work.

For me, it’s all about connection. And in a world where so much of life is online, I love that The Nail Tech Org offers both: a welcoming, accessible online space, but also real-life interactions that make you feel genuinely warm and alive inside. That balance is everything.

What’s your favourite course you’ve done with us?

For me, the Pricing section of the Business Module has been my most beneficial course so far. I’ve learned so much from it — and not just about charging my worth. It’s given me things I didn’t expect: time, space, and perspective.

Getting my pricing right and finally stopping absorbing costs has been fundamental in improving my mental health. It’s allowed me to work on my business rather than constantly in it. I’ve had the freedom to implement things like a proper booking system, relaunch my branding, and really define my visual voice — all because I’m now charging appropriately, instead of less than minimum wage. This Easter will be the first time in over 8 years that I will get paid for taking a holiday.

It’s been transformational, honestly — not just financially, but for my confidence and the way I run my business day-to-day.

However, whilst the pricing module has been the most beneficial, I think my favourite course, the one I enjoyed the most, was at the MANI-fest event where we learned how to ‘Build your Brand’. This day was transformational for me. I stepped out of my comfort zone, attended an event where I didn’t know a single person and came away with so many friends and so much knowledge. What I learned that day really formed key foundations for my approach behind my visual rebrand and my tone of voice.

What are your favourite kind of nails to do?

Definitely abstracts — vibrant, dopamine-inducing, colourful, high-energy sets… nails that look like art, created from the heART. I love anything that gives me complete creative freedom: mixing mediums, playing with shapes, layering ideas, melting colours… the more expressive and unexpected, the better. I always say I prefer creating tiny pieces of art rather than something too structured or repetitive.

My favourite way to work is when clients bring me a culmination of images or ideas. I love producing my own designs inspired by other people’s art, and that’s when I feel I work at my best. Every single set I create is unique — I never repeat a design twice. Three different clients could bring me the same reference, and they’d each get a completely different set of nail art.

I love this because it’s me in the creative flow at that exact moment — it depends on my emotions, the lighting, the vibe I get from the client, our connection and how they want to feel. The more artistic, playful, and creatively out-there a set is, the happier I am.

Tell us about a holy grail product in your kit.

My absolute holy grail product is Bloom Gel. I use it daily, with most clients, and I genuinely couldn’t work without it.

At art school, I learned the power of underpainting — that what you lay down first, whether quietly or loudly, shapes everything that follows. It’s the unseen foundation that adds depth, tone, and richness. I often use Bloom Gel to underpaint on my gel or BIAB base, melting colours together to create a really flowy tone underneath. Sometimes it’s quiet and calm, other times it’s loud and saturated — but that first layer is always the key to everything that comes after.

I even used to be a brand rep for Ink London, and their Bloom Gel was the best I’ve ever used. When they discontinued it, I actually cried! That’s how much it matters to me — it’s that essential to my creative process.

Who is your dream client?

Honestly, my dream client is someone who trusts me creatively. Someone who comes in and says, “Do what you want.” That’s when I do my best work, because it becomes a collaboration rather than just a service. The end result feels more special — it’s rooted in connection and evoking emotions.

I always start with fact-finding questions and observations. Together, we unravel what they want from their nails over the next month — how they want to feel while wearing them. That grows into personal expression, and the nails become a reflection of them. The client helps co-create the art, and that makes it so much more meaningful when they leave. It’s a journey from initial concept to a tiny piece of wearable art they carry around for the month.

For me, a manicure is about mood, about understanding how colour evokes emotion and impacts how we connect with the world. Ultimately, mums are my muse! I love that my work gives them a couple of hours of self-care, a little therapy, and a reminder of who they are beyond being a mum. It’s about reconnecting with themselves and remembering they’re awesome — even in a world that often shadows them because our kids are always the priority.

If we’re talking dream clients in the here and now, I’m obsessed with Rebecca Kula (@noavko on Instagram) — we’ve been chatting, just haven’t managed to sync up yet, but I would absolutely love to create a set for her. And if we’re talking ultimate icons, I’d have to say Jimi Hendrix. Imagine me painting Jimi’s nails!… psychedelic, bold, totally out there. I’d love to have a good natter and a brew with him!

Do you have any future plans? Let us know!

Oh yeah, I’ve got big plans! I honestly feel like I was put on this earth to help expand people’s awareness of how colour evokes emotion and impacts how we connect with the world. It’s my little mission to help people bring more colour into their lives — not necessarily bold and oversaturated, it can be calm and subtle — but to get people feeling and vibrating differently through it.

My goal is to create from the heart, build something authentic that aligns with my values, and brings me joy, while spreading joy and encouraging curiosity through nail art. Right now, I’m working on something for nail artists who feel stuck, uninspired, or want to stop copying inspo and start creating from the heart. It’s about understanding how colour impacts emotion and connection, and how that unlocks creativity and self-discovery.

I want to give nail techs the confidence to use colour boldly, to see nails as a mood rather than just a beauty treatment, and to create sets that reflect personality, not just trends. There’s so much focus on technique in the industry — which is important — but I think there’s space to help people develop their own style, confidence, and artistic approach. That’s what I’m really passionate about exploring, alongside continuing to grow my own business.

If you could sum up The Nail Tech Org in just 3 words, what would they be?

If I had to sum up The Nail Tech Org in just three words, I’d say

THE DOGS BOLLOCKS!

But on a real note…

Empowering, energising, and encouraging — it’s a place that makes me feel confident, sparks my creativity, and lets me fully express who I am as an artist.

Interested in joining The Nail Tech Org and to be in with the chance of becoming our next member of the month?

Click here to learn more and make the best decision of your life, you won’t regret it.