NAILS HQ Magazine – The Spring Issue

I’m so excited to announce our new, interactive digital magazine available in the iTunes Store.

I’ll explain why I started the magazine in the Editor’s Note below.

The magazine viewing application is free, and we’ve now made the 29 page Preview Issue completely free.

You can go to NAILS HQ Magazine to be taken directly to the download page in iTunes.

The Spring Issue brings you even more nail art inspiration with step-by-step directions, and helpful nail care articles.

1. Learn five different ways to do gradient and ombre nail art with video tutorials right in the magazine
2. Take a peek at several beautiful pastel nail art designs that you can do at home
3. Discover if bacteria can grow in nail polish, by Nail Scientist Doug Schoon
4. Ridges: Why you need to love’em and leave’em, by Editor, Ana Seidel
5. The best way to prevent and remove teal polish stains, by Michelle of LabMuffin.com
6. Meet the cover artist Lucie Hanuskova from Lucy’s Stash

PS: We do plan to make the magazine available to Android users in the next couple of months. The magazine will be published quarterly through 2014 and we intend to publish more frequently after that. Each issue is $3.99 USD with an annual subscription of $9.99 USD.

EDITOR’S NOTE from the Spring Issue

I’ve always wanted to be a hand model—I mean always. But life took me in a different direction. It also didn’t help that I didn’t live where the big modeling agencies were located.

Although I’ve painted my nails since I was 13 years old, I really got bitten by the nail art bug in 2010, when I discovered the vast world of nail art online.

As much as we appreciate the ladies of Hollywood and New York bringing attention to nail art, they ARE NOT the real stars.

Celebrities aren’t the gals painting their own nails every day or two. They aren’t figuring out lighting with the perfect hand pose in a light box, or chasing the sun before it fades away.

They aren’t spending hours choosing the best shot out of 75 pictures that the rest of the world would say “all look the same”.

They aren’t watermarking and uploading photos to a blog, and wrapping a story around the beautiful pictures. They aren’t cross promoting across several social media platforms to increase their following.

The real stars of nail art go unnoticed by the media, but I’ve been watching them for three years … daily. And with the creation of NAILS HQ Magazine, I am now the media.

These talented creatives have been noticed and it’s time to introduce them to you in a format that features them as artists—not just as polished obsessed girls who need to find a new hobby.

My commitment is to introduce the amazing nail artists of the world to you—to showcase their gorgeous, artistic creations captured with their exquisite photography skills.

I’ve also spent the last three years learning and teaching about proper nail care. Art is only as good as the canvas below it. Nail art just doesn’t stick to poorly maintained nails.

I’ve studied Doug Schoon’s book, “Nail Structure and Product Chemistry”, like no other college textbook in my life. The pages are highlighted in several different colors with tags, and dog eared corners. I’m honored to have become friends with Mr. Schoon and he will be a regular contributor to NAILS HQ.

We both have the same mission—to educate the world about nails and nail care. Just like a great hair day—it doesn’t happen on it’s own.

Mr. Schoon’s focus is teaching nail professionals while mine is home enthusiasts. He’s the scientist. I’m the artist who has discovered that organic chemistry can be pretty interesting too.

I’ve chosen to make my own path. On my own terms—I’ve become a hand model, an educator, a photographer, a wife, a mom, a business woman, and a magazine editor. This is my passion and I’m here to stay. ~Ana

What Do You Think?

You can go to NAILS HQ Magazine to be taken directly to the download page in iTunes.