Lambeth nail technician shortlisted for national award after teaching herself during pandemic
An 18-year-old who learned how to do nails from Youtube videos in lockdown has been shortlisted for a national beauty award.
Patricia Castro, from New Park Road, Brixton Hill, started teaching herself with the help of online tutorials just before the lockdown in March 2020.
The Lambeth resident said: “I fell in love with this profession because it was an escape from the reality of lockdown.
“I felt as if I had been destined to become a nail technician as I felt an artistic flow.
“It was very natural to me and I also love enhancing beauty and art on people’s hands.”
After the lockdown ended Ms Castro began to use her new skills on her friends and family.
She then took a course to become qualified before taking on paying customers.
Ms Castro, who uses the Instagram handle @beautybyprxncesa, has been interested in beauty since she was a child.
She said: “I remember asking my mum to buy the little makeup palettes that were made for kids. I had a whole collection growing up.
“My initial career choice was to become a makeup artist but this changed when I bought my first acrylic kit.
“I used to do my own nails and people would compliment them which encouraged me to try and seriously learn it.”
Ms Castro applied for the awards on a whim after coming across an advert on Instagram.
She said she was ‘over the moon’ when she found out she was a finalist in the Best Nail Technician of 2022 Category of the U.K. Hair and beauty awards.
She added: “I had applied two nights before but I didn’t think I’d make it as I’m not a popular nail technician.
“I lacked confidence that I would become a finalist as I’ve always thought I wasn’t that special or my work wasn’t as good as some top artists.”
Ms Castro is hoping to open up a salon and one day become a celebrity nail technician.
She added: “My current dream though is to be able to open up a training academy, especially for young people like myself to start somewhere and see how it goes, just like I did.”
The UK Hair and Beauty Awards celebrate the hair and beauty industry in an aim to support both large and small businesses.
Pictured top: Patricia Castro with her award and nails she has done (image: Patricia Castro)