Cover Contest winner Hilary Dawn Herrera gifted Nailpro a pink holiday nail set with gilded accents. You can see Herrera's design on our November/December 2022 cover.
Log in to view the full article
Cover Contest winner Hilary Dawn Herrera gifted Nailpro a pink holiday nail set with gilded accents. You can see Herrera's design on our November/December 2022 cover.
"I enjoy the softness of some of the [cover elements], with some in focus and others fading," Herrera says. "It feels artistic and soft."
Read Nailpro's November/December 2022 digital magazine to learn how to recreate Herrera's cover nails.
Q&A
Nailpro November/December 2022 with cover nail art by Hilary Dawn Herrara
Hilary Dawn Herrera (HDH): Almost 20 years! I started nail school in January 2003.
Nailpro: Why did you become a nail tech?
HDH: The funny part is, doing nails was meant to be a side job. I figured it was a flexible job that would allow me to make good money while I attended University. Although, when I was younger, I had always done my nails and tried to figure out how to do acrylics and more.
Nailpro: When did you begin creating nail art?
HDH: I’ve always loved nail art, and it’s become more accessible throughout my career. When I started doing nails, techs were inlaying colored acrylic and different designs to achieve nail art or using paints that didn’t work. As products and tools develop, I enjoy doing nail art more and more. I’d like to think that I’ve been creating my entire life, always hacking the system and breaking rules to get the looks I want.
Nailpro: What is your inspiration behind the cover?
HDH: For my cover, I pictured a classy blush pink holiday, which has been a thing for me for the past few years; the color feels different and creative but still allows for glam. I used rich browns and golds to anchor the look. The result is a classy holiday aesthetic with cozy vibes.
Nailpro: How do you conceptualize your nail art?
HDH: I gather nail art ideas from everywhere, and I keep a running list of them. I draw inspiration from prints and paintings; for example, I’ll see a painting that inspires me and translate it into a nail art concept. New nail products also spark my creative side; I love thinking of how I can manipulate a color or chrome to make new looks. I’m also inspired by fellow nail techs and conceptualize new ideas based on their looks, but always with my own, unique spin.
About the Artist: With a passion for education, self-expression and business, Herrera has built an empire doing and teaching nails that she wants to share with you. She works with top brands in the industry as well as her own brand, HDH, to provide you with nail education. She and her handsome husband and two young sons own the nail-exclusive salon Lacquered Loft and run multi-faceted nail education businesses. Herrera finds great joy in teaching nail design and learning from others, and craves to empower them in their careers. You can view Herrera's educational content on her website, HDHhub.com, and follow her on Instagram
@hilarydawnherrera.Follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our free daily newsletter to receive the latest news for nail professionals.
