The 3 Most Common Mistakes in Competition Preparation

As an INJA juror, I have judged hundreds of competition entries – and I always notice the same pattern: It's rarely a lack of talent or technical skill that costs participants points. It's almost always the same three avoidable mistakes in preparation. In this second part of our competition preparation series, we will go through these three points.

Mistake 1: Not studying the regulations in detail

This is by far the most common and at the same time most avoidable mistake. Every competition has its own, often very extensive, set of rules – permitted nail shapes, maximum lengths, permissible materials, time limits, presentation requirements. Many participants just skim the regulations once and then rely on their gut feeling.

The detailed nature of such a rulebook is evident, for example, in the official INJA rules of the Global Nail Masters: The technical evaluation of a single category such as French Sculptured Gel alone is divided into over a dozen individual criteria – from the exact C-curve curvature to the maximum free-edge thickness in millimeters, each with its own score. Those who do not know these details can unconsciously lose points on a technically strong work precisely at these points.

The problem: A jury does not judge by feeling, but by precisely these specifications. A technically brilliant work that misses a single detailed requirement (e.g., a slightly too long nail length or an unapproved material) can still lose points – regardless of how good the actual execution was.

What helps instead: Go through the regulations not once, but several times, explicitly note down important figures (lengths, times, permitted materials), and if in doubt, ask the organizers directly instead of interpreting.

Even more effective: attend a seminar with someone who not only knows the rules but has helped shape them or applies them daily as a Head Judge – for example, with Anela as an active INJA juror, or with INJA founder Lysa Comfort, who helped develop the Global Nail Masters regulations. The difference: Reading a rulebook alone conveys knowledge, but training with someone who applies the rules daily from a juror's perspective conveys an understanding of how these rules are actually evaluated in practice.

Mistake 2: Not adapting the products used to the competition

Not every product that works excellently in daily studio life is automatically the right choice for a specific competition. Some categories explicitly require certain material classes (e.g., pure acrylic instead of acrygel), others evaluate surface quality so strictly that differences between product lines are directly reflected in the score.

What helps instead: Select products specifically based on the competition category – not on what is currently available in the studio. If in doubt, it is better to discuss in advance with an experienced trainer which material is actually best suited for the chosen discipline.

Mistake 3: Not practicing specifically for this competition

General practice improves basic skills – but it does not replace targeted training for the specific discipline you are competing in. For example, if you are preparing for a French sculpting category, you should train exactly this technique under competition-like conditions: with a time limit, with the same materials, in the required shape.

What helps instead: Simulate the actual competition situation as precisely as possible – same time limit, same materials, same evaluation criteria. This is also the core of our championship preparation and private training: not just any training, but one that reflects the real conditions of the respective competition as precisely as possible.

Anela's Pro Tip

"As a juror, I immediately see if someone has practiced generally instead of specifically for exactly this category. The technique may be correct, but the work doesn't look like it was made for this competition. My advice: Read the regulations as if you had to explain them to someone else afterwards – and only practice after you have truly understood them, not in parallel. And if you can: Learn directly from someone who sat on the other side of the judging table – that saves months of trial and error." – Anela Mucic, World Champion Nail Design 2023 & INJA Juror

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common mistake in competition preparation?
Not studying the regulations of the respective competition in detail – many participants only skim them once and then rely on their gut feeling instead of the specific guidelines.

Why is general practice not enough?
Because each competition category has its own requirements for technique, time limit, and material. Targeted practice under competition-like conditions prepares much better than general training.

Why is product selection more important in competition than in everyday studio life?
Because some categories explicitly require certain material classes or evaluate surface quality so strictly that differences between product lines are directly reflected in the score.

Why does a seminar with an active juror help more than pure self-study of the rules?
Because someone who applies the rules daily as a Head Judge or co-creator not only knows the wording but understands how these rules are actually interpreted in practice – knowledge that pure reading of the rulebook cannot convey.

Where can I train specifically for a particular competition?
In championship preparation as group training or in individual private training with Anela Mucic, both simulate real competition conditions.

You can read more about the fundamental importance of competitions and how to prepare in general in our article Competition Preparation in Nail Design: Why Competitions are Important.