More Than 18 Years in Nails.
Still Learning. Still Refining. Still Teaching.
Hi, I'm Annabel, the Nail Artist and Educator behind PrettyEdgy Nails.
With 18 years of professional industry experience and over a decade in education, I've built my career around two things I genuinely love: creating beautiful nails and helping other Nail Technicians develop their skills.
From working behind the nail desk to educating for established professional brands and leading online education programmes, every stage of my career has shaped the way I teach today.
Now, as an independent educator, my focus is on sharing that experience through specialist training in hard gel, dual forms and e-file techniques, helping qualified Nail Technicians refine their skills with greater knowledge, control and confidence.
Sound familiar?
I Work Behind the Nail Desk Too. I Know How Frustrating It Can Be.
With 18 years in the nail industry and over 10 years as an educator, I've experienced the frustrations of learning new techniques, refining my skills, questioning my results and constantly striving to produce better work.
I've had to improve my efficiency, troubleshoot lifting and breakages, and learn how to adapt techniques when the textbook approach simply didn't work for the nails in front of me.
That's why my education goes beyond showing you a set of steps to follow.
I want you to understand why you're doing them, recognise when something isn't working and develop the knowledge to make confident decisions for yourself.
Because great education isn't about copying someone else's technique perfectly. It's about understanding the 'why' well enough to adapt it to your own work.
Real salon experience. Technical understanding. Education that makes sense behind the nail desk.
18 Years Behind the Nail Desk. Here's How I Got Here.
2008 | Where It All Began
After completing my VTCT qualifications in Nail Anatomy, Health & Safety and Nail Technology, I began my professional career at the sister salon of Urban Retreat at Harrods.
Starting with natural nail care, manicures and pedicures gave me the foundations that would shape the rest of my career.
2011–2016 | From Nail Artist to Educator
My career expanded into hard gel extensions and nail art while working in a salon in Surbiton where I had many regular clients including Jessie Wallace.
In 2015, after having my first child, I decided to take my career in a new direction and became a London Educator for Nail Harmony UK.
I began teaching professional manicure, pedicure, gel polish, hard gel, polygel and acrylic nail courses, attending educator events in the UK and USA, and contributing to industry publications such as Scratch Magazine and PBL Magazine. I also had amazing opportunities such as doing Nicole Scherzinger Nails.
In 2016, I opened my private Nail & Education Studio, bringing together my love for salon work and education under PrettyEdgy Nails.
2019–2021 | Developing My Specialisms
In 2019, I joined IKON.IQ Nails as their London & Surrey Educator, continuing to expand my knowledge of professional gel systems.
In 2021, I joined Willow Academy, where e-file education became a major focus of my work.
Over the following five years, I developed extensive experience teaching hundreds of Nail Technicians and many well known and respected nail influencers how to use e-file techniques safely, effectively and with confidence.
2024 | Bringing Education Online
Alongside my salon and educator roles, I began creating, filming and editing technical educational content for IKON.IQ Nails' online platforms and YouTube channel.
This introduced a new side of teaching that I quickly became passionate about: making detailed technical education accessible beyond the traditional classroom.
2025 | Leading Online Education
I progressed into the role of Head Online Educator and Online Education Programme Manager at Willow Academy.
Alongside teaching, I became involved in developing and managing online education programmes, building on my experience in creating structured, practical learning.
2026 | A New Chapter
After five years with Willow Academy, I made the decision to focus fully on developing PrettyEdgy Nails Education independently.
I launched Mastering Dual Forms: A Complete Guide, bringing together years of experience using, testing and troubleshooting hard gel with dual forms into my most comprehensive training programme to date.
Today, I continue to develop specialist education through PrettyEdgy Nails while supporting the educational side of Refine London.
Specialist Education. Built on Real Experience.
Today, PrettyEdgy Nails brings together everything I've learned from years of working with clients, teaching Nail Technicians and developing professional education.
My training focuses on hard gel nail extensions, dual forms and e-file techniques, with a particular passion for helping Nail Technicians understand nail structure, refine their application and overcome the challenges that can make their work feel unnecessarily difficult.
Whether you're learning through my comprehensive online courses or joining me for personalised 1:1 training at my Sutton studio, my aim remains the same.
To help you understand your technique, recognise where improvements can be made and feel more confident in the work you create.
I believe education should be thorough, approachable and genuinely useful when you return to your own clients.
Because even after 18 years, I know there's always something new to learn, refine or improve.
Ready to Take Your Skills Further?
Whether you're looking to master hard gel extensions using dual forms, refine your e-file technique or simply feel more confident in your existing skills, I'd love to help you take that next step.
Explore my online courses and personalised training options to find the right next step for you.