Dylan Pritchard has travelled around North America over the past 14 years as a nail technician and educator, picking up inspiration and skill from major cities to bring us eye-catching, precise designs with the humor only he could provide.
Courtesy of Dylan Pritchard
There are so many skilled nail technicians out there in the industry, but it's rare to find a magical combination of techs who ooze creativity and humor and are engaging and relatable. Imagine our surprise when we met Dylan Pritchard (@thenailwhisperer). Pritchard has travelled around North America over the past 14 years as a nail technician and educator, picking up inspiration and skill from major cities to bring us eye-catching, precise designs with the humor only he could provide. His specialties lie in structural gel overlays and custom design, and we had to know what inspires his daily work, so we could get more of it in our life.
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There are so many skilled nail technicians out there in the industry, but it's rare to find a magical combination of techs who ooze creativity and humor and are engaging and relatable. Imagine our surprise when we met Dylan Pritchard (@thenailwhisperer). Pritchard has travelled around North America over the past 14 years as a nail technician and educator, picking up inspiration and skill from major cities to bring us eye-catching, precise designs with the humor only he could provide. His specialties lie in structural gel overlays and custom design, and we had to know what inspires his daily work, so we could get more of it in our life.
1. City Life
I’ve lived in five major cities in my life: Toronto, New York, Miami, Las Vegas and Chicago. Each has their own special vibration. I love tapping into that energy and infusing it into my design. I dubbed my signature look “street style” to pay homage to its inspirational origins of graffiti and street art.
2. Color Theory
Being a colorblind artist has had its play of hardships, but it’s made me study and work harder to understand color theory. I feel like this gives me a unique perspective when it comes to color selection, which can yield some really unexpected results. It’s a combination of looking at colors from a logical standpoint, as well as how they appeal to my personal eye. I think it’s part of the reason I’m so attracted to high contrast.
3. Nail Technology
Advancements in professional grade nail products have come such a long way. In learning about new formulations and application techniques, I’ve found so many amazing ways to express my creativity. The science behind these products is what got me excited in the first place, all those years ago. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come.
4. My Clients
When it comes right down to it, the end user always has to be part of the inspiration. While It does definitely pay to be flexible in this industry, it’s always ideal when you find people that vibe with your style. That’s where the magic happens. Sometimes you never really know what a client is going to throw at you!
5. My Peers
The things I see other nail artists create seriously blows my mind sometimes. It pushes me to try new things and encourages me to look at my tools in new and exciting ways. Right now, I’m pushing myself to get into textures and 3D art. After spending years perfecting smooth surfaces, it almost feels counter-intuitive to me.