Ultimate Nail Art Challenge

5 point total on all categories.
1 point a nail. .
Each nail is judged on its own merit.
The nail must meet all of the criteria for the category being judged to earn its point.

Convex

The exterior of the nail form should be completely symmetric.
The surface of the nail should have no inconsistencies or appear to be uneven on the outer surface.
The judge will examine the nail by looking at nail head on and check zone 3 from the back side perspectives check zone 2.
The convex or surface of the nail should be symmetrical throughout the entire nail until it reaches zone 1.
The nail can earn a 1/2 point for each correct zone.

Concave

The interior contour of the free edge must be completely symmetric.
1 point can be earned for each nail.

Arch and Apex

The high point (apex) of the arch should not appear overly apparent.
It should have a subtle and gradual incline that is located consistently in the second zone (see example) of each nail.
The entire arch including the apex, should be not be overly apparent or appear too flat in the second zone.
The arch should not be located too far forward or back in the second zone when looking at the entire nail from a profile perspective.
The nail can earn a 1/2 point for each of these two criteria that are required.

5 point total for all of these categories.
1 point for each nail.
1/2 points may be given if the nails has two areas that are required to be judged in that category. For example, there are two sidewalls on each finger nail. Therefore, half points may be given when judging sidewalls and lateral side extensions.
Each nail is judged on its own merit.
The nail must meet all of the criteria for the category being judged to earn its point.

Free Edge Thickness

The nail must be consistently thin throughout the nails free edge and measure the same on the sidewalls.
The center of the free edge should not be any thicker than 1.5mm until it reaches the top of the finger tip from the underside of the nail.
The nail can earn a 1/2 point for each of these two criteria that are required.
See example of measuring tools used to measure the thickness.
Sidewalls
The Free edge must extend straight out from the lateral folds and the groove-wall..
The nail should be uniform on each side.
There can not be any ridges on the free edge extension.
The sides of the free edges should feel smooth and appear to be filed clean.
There is a 1/2 point earned for each side of every nail being scored.

Lateral Side Extension

To find the lateral side extension you must look at the extension from the nails profile.
The nail should appear to have symmetry so the side extensions are consistently located.
There should be no exposure of the natural nail’s lateral fold.
There is a 1/2 point earned for each side of every nail being scored.

Surface Smoothness
Any surface that does not have 3-D design or artwork on the top of the nail should be completely smooth.
There should be no scratch marks or ruff spots from the product application.
If gel sealers are used, all of the nail should be sealed with gel sealer or top coat completely.
1 point can be earn for each nail.

Consistency of Uniformity

Each nail must look similar in shape to earn 1/2 point
The shape of the nail should have the same degree of angle if shapes such as Stiletto, almond or edge is presented to earn a ½ point.

Nail Shape

The shape of the nail must look straight as it extends from the nail plate and should appear straight when looked at from the front perspective to earn a ½ point.
The nail must be straight and aligned to the natural nail, not the finger.
To earn a ½ point.

5 point criteria length.
The competitor can earn a total of 5 points for length.
In a 1 hand competition, 1 point is earned for each nail’s accurate measurement.

Length

1 hand competition- Each nail is measured from the cuticle to the top of the free edge extension.
The Index, middle and ringer finger must be the exact same length.
The thumb and pinky must be the same length.

5 point total on all categories.
1 point a nail. ½ points are allowed.
Each nail is judged on its own merit.

Underside
The back side of the nails free edge extension should appear completely clean to earn a ½ point.
There should be no visible dust, debris, excessive oil or product of any kind.
If product such as top coat or gel sealer are used to create transparencies for the free edge, the application must appear smooth behind the nail with no excess product on the skin.
The application of product should appear smooth to earn a ½ point.
No excessive acrylic or gel or electric file marks that ruin the appearance of the nails free edge.
If electric files are used the free edge must appear smooth.

Cuticle Area
The cuticle and surrounding skin on the nail folds must not have any new cuts or irritation around the nail.
There should not be any noticeable and apparent ledge of product that can be felt or seen near the proximal folds.
The application of product must be apparent and cover the entire cuticle area near the proximal folds without leaving a large margin between the cuticle line.
The product must not be overly filed and must be apparent.
Each nail must have all criteria to earn 1 point and 2 of the criteria to earn a 1/2 point.

Product Control
All of the product application should have a clean and well defined application, and if glitter is used, control of application must be considered to earn a ½ point.
There must not be any air bubbles and or pitting in the clear product to earn a ½ point.

High Shine Finish
The nails should have a high gloss shine that has a glass finish appearance throughout the entire surface of the nail.
The shine on the nails should have a reflective appearance.
The sides, edges and cuticle area must be considered.
Lines of demarcation are NOT considered as long as the shine is apparent.
If gel sealer is applied, the sealer must be completely cured.
The sealer should not feel or appear to be tacky or dull on the surface of the nail.
All of the tacky residue (inhibition layer) must be completely removed off of the nail.
1 point can be earned for each nail.

Criteria is scored as a total score
All criteria points awarded are from 1-20. 10 points can be earned for the nails that are applied to the nails that are scored in round 1. And 10 points for the artwork judged on the second judging round.
Scores are determined by the judges educated opinion based on the specifics of each criteria.

Level of Difficulty
The complexity of the design is evaluated on it’s degree of expertise.
Is the art executed without any elaboration (simple) or is there more difficulty and expertise put into the making of the design.

Use of Color
The colors chosen should complement the design and flow throughout or graduate through all 5 nails.
The colors should complement while still showing contrast.

Clarity of Design
The design must be apparent and identifiable
The design must be identifiable on each nail.

Originality
The theme or design should be something you have not seen before.
If seen before, done in a manner that is in a new creative and unusual use of art media.

Nails are scored on the second round of judging.
All criteria points awarded are from 1-20
Scores are determined by the judges educated opinion based on the specifics of each criteria.

3-D Presentation
There should be 3D art is present on each nail
The 3D art should be presented with clean application
The 3D should be created with unique style.

Judges Instructions for Artistic Criteria
Criteria is scored as a total score
All criteria points awarded are from 1-10
Nails are scored on the second round of scoring.
Scores are determined by the judges educated opinion based on the specifics of each criteria.

Composition
How all the parts and pieces of your complete design are put together.
The design should flow from each nail so that the eye is drawn from nail to nail.
The nails individually represent the complete design.

Balance
The design should not be too busy or too sparse.
The art should look evenly balanced on each nail and from nail to nail.
There should not be large portions on the surface of the nail left without design.

Presentation
The design appears completely finished on each nail
No art work was left unfinished. Artwork that wasn’t finished being completely executed Example: face with no lips or eyes, car without the tires, dog without a tail.

Creativity
Creative use of embellishments, stripers, paint, color powders & glitters.
There should be a creative collaboration of art that is used.
There should be a creative manner in which the embellishments are used to reach the design.

Continuity of Theme
The theme should be carried through the design in some manner on each nail.
The design should compliment and have continuance from nail to nail while representing the theme.

Graphic Quality
The graphics should be created with dimension, not flat.
There should be dimension in the artwork.

Media
There must be a minimum of 3 art mediums used on every nail.
They should be incorporated into the design cohesively and used in a creative manner.

Overall Workmanship
Components should be painted entirely and smoothly.
The artwork should not have any visual excess glue. All creations of nail art are cleanly finished.