I've been doing nails on and off over the years, but recently I've started getting back into it and taking it more seriously. Looking at these two sets side by side really shows me how much I've grown.

My 2021 set was created using full-cover nail tips with a simple coat of nail polish. At the time, I was just enjoying the creative process and learning the basics. Fast forward to 2026, and I've been challenging myself to learn new techniques and new products, such as acrylics, builder gel. For this set, I used builder gel to build the nail structure, created the dot design using a paper clip, and hand-crafted acrylic flowers for the embellishments.

The biggest improvement I've noticed is my increase in confidence when approaching new nail designs or techniques. I've become more patient with the process and more willing to experiment with different products and techniques rather than sticking to what I already know.

One lesson I've learned along the way is that progress doesn't happen overnight. Every set, whether good or bad, teaches us something new. While I'm incredibly proud of how far I've come, I know I still have a long way to go. That's what makes the journey so exciting. I'm looking forward to continuing to practise, build my skills, invest in better products and tools, and see how much more I can improve in the years ahead.

#ThenVsNowChallenge #NailGrowth #NailJourney