The Quick Version

I am Radina Ignatova – a Professional Nail Expert and International Nail Educator based in Dundee, Scotland. I have been working in the nail industry since 2014, building hands-on salon experience alongside developing my knowledge of advanced techniques. I have been featured in Scratch Magazine multiple times and specialise in solving the problems that drive nail professionals to frustration — lifting, retention issues, and inconsistent results.

I specialise in dual forms, gel systems, polygel application, advanced nail structure, E-File work and Russian Manicure, with a strong focus on professional salon safety — alongside retention solutions and product application. Alongside teaching, I continue to work actively in salon practice, ensuring that all education reflects real client scenarios and current industry standards.

My teaching philosophy is simple: I show real salon challenges, real mistakes and real performance testing, not just perfect demonstrations. This is how you develop genuine technical competence and become a confident, capable nail professional.

What makes my training different is how I combine psychology, artistry, and precision. With a background in counselling and human behaviour, I teach beauty professionals not only how to perfect their technical skills, but also how to manage client relationships, set boundaries, and build genuine confidence in their work.

Beyond my academy, I also founded TheNailWiki — a free educational resource providing safety-led, professionally informed nail education, industry best practices, and a professional directory for nail technicians worldwide.

Experience: Professional nail practice since 2014, with experience teaching nail technicians both in person and through structured online training programmes internationally

Recognition: Featured in Scratch Magazine multiple times

Specialities: Dual forms, gel systems, polygel, BIAB, Russian Manicure, E-File techniques, retention solutions, advanced nail structure, and professional salon safety

Teaching Philosophy: Real salon challenges, real mistakes, real performance testing — not polished demonstrations. Honest education for professional nail technicians.

Qualifications: Beauty Therapy & Nail Technology, Psychology Diploma, COSCA Counselling Skills

My Story (The Real One)

My nail journey began as a child, sneaking my mum’s polishes and painting everything except my nails. That playful obsession eventually became a profession — and in 2014, I began my professional career in the nail industry. Since then, I have worked as a nail professional, International Nail Educator, and salon owner, building a practice that is grounded in real client work and genuine technical knowledge.

When I moved to the UK, I had to retrain, and that experience opened my eyes. So many of the courses I attended lacked real knowledge and practical salon skills — the techniques were outdated, the information inconsistent, and the focus was on quick certificates rather than truly understanding the work. None of it prepared you for real clients or real salon challenges.

I am extremely detail-focused, because small details create big differences in retention, structure, and client comfort. I always go deep — because I believe understanding the why behind a result is what separates a technician who guesses from one who knows. I spend time refining techniques and testing them against real salon conditions, not just demonstrating them once in ideal circumstances.

After years of working in the industry, I began seeing the same patterns everywhere — lifting after a few days, weak prep, inconsistent results, and talented nail professionals quietly losing confidence. I realised the problem was not creativity; it was the lack of education that truly connects technique, safety, and real-world salon practice.

That was when I found my true calling — not just doing nails, but teaching professionals how to master them properly, and how to build careers that feel sustainable, not stressful.

So I created Artistic Touch – Nail Training Academy — a place where you learn the why behind every technique, where your questions are answered, and where you are supported as a professional, not just a student number. I also founded TheNailWiki, a free knowledge hub providing safety-led, professionally informed nail education to practitioners and enthusiasts worldwide.

My mission is simple: to raise the standard of nail education, help you master your work, protect your wellbeing, and build a beauty career that is confident, balanced, and built on genuine technical competence.

Why My Training Is Different

When I retrained in the UK, I expected professional, in-depth nail education — but what I found instead were outdated techniques, inconsistent information, and courses that handed out certificates without actually solving real problems.

That experience became the foundation for everything I do today. I promised myself that if I ever created my own training academy, it would be the exact opposite — comprehensive, practical, modern, and built around real results.

My teaching philosophy is straightforward: I show real salon challenges, real mistakes and real performance testing — not just polished demonstrations. This is how you develop genuine technical competence and become a confident, capable nail professional.

I do not believe in shortcuts or surface-level learning. My students know that I dig deep into the why behind every method, every product, and every application — because understanding creates mastery, not memorisation.

Here Is What Makes It Different:

What You Will Learn:

Who I Work With

My masterclasses are designed for qualified nail professionals who already hold a foundation qualification and wish to develop their skills further. Whether you are working towards more consistent results, tackling specific technical challenges, or advancing into specialist techniques, these courses are built around real professional development — not beginner introductions.

What connects all of my students is the desire to learn deeply, work with confidence, and build a career that feels sustainable rather than stressful.

What I Specialise In

These are the areas in which I have spent years refining my skills — and where I can genuinely help you achieve precise, professional, and long-lasting results:

✦ Dual Forms and Form Systems: Full application demonstrations using sandwich dual forms and bottom forms, including form selection, nail preparation, troubleshooting, and technique comparison.

✦ Gel Systems, BIAB and Polygel Application: In-depth understanding of system behaviour, product chemistry, and how to achieve consistent, durable results across different nail types and conditions.

✦ E-File Work and Russian Manicure: Safe, precise E-File techniques with a strong focus on professional safety — correct bit selection, speed, angle, and skin-safe cuticle work for better product performance and client comfort.

✦ Advanced Nail Structure: Understanding nail anatomy, natural nail conditions, structural application principles, and how to build strength and shape correctly.

✦ Retention Solutions and Product Application: Exceptional retention — nails that remain flawless for three to four weeks or more. Master lifting, adhesion, and prep protocols that actually work.

✦ Professional Salon Safety: High standards of salon hygiene, safe working practices, contraindication awareness, and responsible client care.

✦ Nail Art and Hand-Painted Designs: From everyday salon nail art to advanced 3D and hand-painted designs — covering composition, balance, technique, and artistic presentation for all levels of complexity.

✦ Client Communication and Consultation: Psychology-based consultation skills, clear expectation-setting, and professional boundary management.

The Professional Mindset Behind Great Nail Work

Technical mastery is only half of what makes a great nail professional. The other half is how you think, communicate, and manage yourself in practice.

Many talented professionals lose motivation not because they lack skill, but because they face burnout, self-doubt, or constant pressure to keep up. That is why I combine technical education with professional mindset development.

Through my courses, you will develop the ability to:

• Build client trust and long-term professional relationships that support a sustainable business.
• Communicate with confidence using clear, professional consultation skills.
• Manage the pressures of busy salon work without compromising safety or quality.
• Maintain professional boundaries and deliver a consistent, high-standard client experience.
• Troubleshoot problems with logic and knowledge rather than guesswork.

Because true success in this industry is not only about creating beautiful nails — it is about building a confident, safe, and fulfilling professional practice that lasts.

What My Students Say

The standard I hold in my Dundee salon — precision, retention, and client comfort — is exactly what I teach. These reviews reflect what becomes possible when you apply the techniques correctly.

My Qualifications (And Why They Matter)

Qualifications only matter if they make me a better educator. Here is what I hold, and why it is relevant to you:

Nail Technology Qualifications

In addition to formal qualifications, I regularly undertake continuing professional development and upskilling training to stay current with evolving techniques, systems, and industry standards. I believe that a good educator never stops learning.

Why I Trained in Beauty and Aesthetics

Understanding skin, anatomy, and product chemistry at a deeper level makes me a more informed nail educator. When you understand how skin reacts to products, how different ingredients interact, and how to recognise sensitivity responses early, you become a safer and more knowledgeable practitioner.

Professional Development and Safety

The psychology and counselling background is what shapes my teaching style. I understand how people learn, how to build genuine confidence, and how to help professionals work through the mental blocks that affect their progress.

Industry Recognition

As the founder of Artistic Touch – Nail Training Academy, a Professional Nail Expert and International Nail Educator working in the industry since 2014, my work has been featured in Scratch Magazine, one of the most widely read publications in the UK nail industry, and in Who What Wear UK. I am also a verified nail artist on NailKnowledge.org and remain actively involved in the UK nail community — attending industry events, connecting with fellow educators, and staying current with evolving techniques and standards.

Featured In Press:

Featured in Scratch Magazine:

TheNailWiki: Free Education for the Nail Community

Beyond my academy, I founded TheNailWiki — a comprehensive, free educational resource for nail technicians and enthusiasts worldwide.

TheNailWiki provides:

• Safety-led, professionally informed nail education covering techniques, safety, and product knowledge
• Professional directory showcasing nail artists and their portfolios
• Industry best practices for salon hygiene, client care, and professional standards
• Reference guides on nail anatomy, product chemistry, and troubleshooting common issues

Whilst Artistic Touch – Nail Training Academy focuses on structured masterclasses and certification courses, TheNailWiki serves as an open knowledge hub — helping professionals at every level access reliable, professionally informed information.

Both brands share the same mission: raising standards in nail education through transparency, integrity, and safety-led professional practice.

What My Clients Say

What You Get When You Train With Me

When you train with me, you are not just learning another set of techniques — you are gaining structure, clarity, and confidence across every part of your professional practice. My courses are designed to fit your pace, your goals, and your learning style.

Support and Feedback Throughout Your Learning

Training does not stop at the end of a video. Every student enrolled in a paid course at Artistic Touch receives ongoing support and access to a community of nail professionals learning alongside them.

Stay Connected

Follow me across platforms for regular tutorials, education updates, and free learning resources from Artistic Touch – Nail Training Academy.

See Radina’s Teaching Before You Enrol

Radina believes that students should be able to see how she teaches before committing to a course. For this reason, she shares a range of free educational resources that allow you to explore her teaching style and professional approach before enrolling.

These resources provide genuine insight into Radina’s teaching methods and professional standards before you progress to a full training programme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Advance Your Skills?

If you are serious about improving your technical skills, resolving the problems that affect your results, and building the confidence that comes from genuinely understanding your craft — now is the right time to begin.