These competitors aren’t playing around. This year’s competition at the NAILPRO Cup was fierce and the nail art fiercer. See the designs, winners, and photos from one of the biggest events of the year.
IBS 2016 NAILPRO Cup Finals Winners
This year, talented nail artists such as Shiori Durham, Allie Baker, Mayumi Hamsaka, and many more came out in droves to compete in our annual NAILPRO Cup Championship. Showcasing their best work alongside veteran and novice competitors, this year’s nail art featured 3D bodybuilder sculptures, entire chess boards and blingin’ nails inspired by Swarovski crystals.
If you missed the grand finale in Las Vegas this year, rest assured that you can still catch the winners and their fantastical looks here. Keep scrolling to see which nail techs took home the gold, silver and bronze in this year’s NAILPRO Cup Championship.
NAILPRO Cup 2016 Champion
Shiori Durham
Shiori Durham is no stranger to winning awards. In 2013, this talented artist was crowned the Asia Nail Festival Champion and reprised her role as champion again this year at the NAILPRO Cup. Shiori took home awards in other categories too, such as first place in the Swarovski nail and soak-off gel art categories.
NAILPRO Team Cup 2016 Champion
Team EzFlow
Congrats to Team EzFlow for taking home the gold this year! Team EzFlow consists of repeat champ Allie Baker, Jarrett Baker, Nikki Payton, Brenda Skermont and Amanda Lenher.
Soak-Off Gel, Non-Divisional
1st Place: Shiori Durham
2nd Place: Iryna Zabiran
3rd Place: Kikuko Asagami
Contestants were asked to create a corresponding gel look in both red and French tip. The results were absolutely fabulous! See images of the contestants final looks here.
Soak-Off Gel Art: Roll the Dice!
1st Place: Kikuko Asagami
2nd Place: Keiko Matsui
3rd Place: Yurika Kujiraoka
These three winners created innovative, unconventional looks. One of our favorites was Keiko’s which featured fun cartoon-like graphics in bold colors such as orange and green.
It’s All About the Bling
1st Place: Shiori Durham
2nd Place: Mayumi Hamsaka
3rd Place: Guin Deadman
P. Diddy would have been jealous of all the bling being thrown around during the NAILPRO Cup Finale. These artists took Swarovski crystals and created intricate, gothic designs on stiletto and oval nails.
Perfect Match: One Model, Two Competitors
1st Place: Allie Baker and Nikki Payton
2nd Place: Victoriia Klopotova and Karolina Wolak-Twordzdo
3rd Place: Amy Becker and Shiori Durham
What happens when two crazy-talented competitors work on one model? Magic! Competitors were asked to create an elongated French tip and while all designs were impeccable, Allie’s and Nikki’s had the oomph to bowl the judges over and win coveted first place.
Tip & Overlay: One Model, Three Competitors
1st Place: Allie Baker, Jarrett Baker and Brenda Skermont
2nd Place: Nikki Payton, Amanda Lehner and Allie Baker
3rd Place: Sakura McLawson, Ree Nakashima and Shiori Durham
Team EzFlow may have been competing against each other, but the group came away with both first and second place in a ferocious competition where three competitors work on one model.
Hand Painted Nail Art: What’s in Your Wallet?
For this theme, competitors were split into veteran and novice categories and asked to create a design that’s all about the Benjamins. Featuring everything from Marie Antoinette to lost treasures in the Titanic, this was one of the most stunning themes to watch come to life.
Veteran
1st Place: Shiori Durham
According to Shiori, her design was inspired by a museum display of artifacts found on the sunken Titanic. The two lovers on the nail design were celebrating their newly-wed status when they boarded the Titanic, never to be seen again.
2nd Place: Kikuko Asagami
Freedom, independence and nail art come together in this beautifully detailed design by Kikuko.
3rd Place: Maria Ciesielczuk (not pictured)
Yeah, that’s the Pope on those nails but Maria didn’t just stop there. She also drew foreign and American currency as well as other popular figures, both in history and culture.
Novice
These artists may be novices by name but their skills are anything but! See their creations below.
1st Place: Kyoungjun Park
2nd Place: Xiaoran Huang
3rd Place: Fukae Shoko
3-D Nail Art: Chess Pieces
For this theme, competitors created 3D pieces such as actual chess boards and pieces. If you can’t get enough 3D nail art, you’ll love the designs below.
Veteran
1st Place: Anastasiia Morozova
Anastasiia nailed it with this detailed vista of a king’s court. Her take on the Chess Piece theme was a breath of fresh air; it’s so original and intricate we just can’t tear our eyes away.
2nd Place: Galina Yamnitskaya (not pictured)
All you’re missing is the board with these designs by Galina.
3rd Place: Brenda Skermont
Brenda went the traditionalist route when it came to creating her 3D chess pieces. Can we hear it for her castles? They’re brilliant!
Novice
1st Place: Yeonhee Kim
Yeonhee’s take on the theme is dark, provocative and alluring, featuring gothic symbols such as skulls, dragons and yeah, a naked woman.
2nd Place: Croitoru Ralca
Where everyone else went ham on the colors (the more, the merrier!), Croitoru’s approach to the theme was minimalist and elegant. The black and white color scheme stands out in a sea of vibrancy.
3rd Place: Kyongjun Park
Fantasy Nail Art: Bodybuilders
If you’re into both bodybuilding and nails this may be the only time we find a connection between the two. The theme for this year’s Fantasy Nail Art challenge was bodybuilders meaning lots of pecs, lots of sweat and a little Frankenstein, courtesy of Sandy Borges.
Veteran
1st Place: Allie Baker
2nd Place: Jessica Vero
3rd Place: Sandy Borges
Extreme Stiletto Design
We’re talking Christian Louboutin extreme for this challenge. Contestants created their pointiest stiletto tips for the judges in looks that wowed, inspired and dazzled. See the competitors’ entries here.
Veteran
1st Place: Viktoriia Klopotova
2nd Place: Karolina Qolak-Tworzdlo
3rd Place: Yurika Kujiraoka
Novice
1st Place: Mayumi Hamsaka
2nd Place: Kyoungjun Park
3rd Place: Yeonhee Kim
5 Style Sculptured
The 5 Style Sculptured competition requires you take everything you know about nail shapes and throw them out the window. For this style, competitors were asked to create a polygon-like shape featuring a 5-pointed tip. Think it’s easy? It’s anything but, but these artists made it look like a piece of cake.
Veteran
1st Place: Mayumi Mizumura
2nd Place: Viktoriia Klopotova
3rd Place: Shiori Durham
Salon Success
Veteran
1st Place: Mayumi Mizumura
2nd Place: Viktoriia Klopotova
3rd Place: Shiori Durham
Novice
1st Place: Mayumi Hamsaka
2nd Place Itza Martin
3rd Place: Stephanie Horner
NAILPRO Cup contestants never cease to amaze us with their creativity and this year was no exception.
If you’re interested in competing, read the entry rules here.