How Italian Women Wear Their Nails – Highlights from Beauty & Fitness Show Catania 2026

2026-10-21

At MollyNails, we love staying connected with the nail industry — meeting nail techs, talking about their work and sharing experiences. So, of course, our team had to be among the exhibitors at the Beauty & Fitness Show in Catania. At our stand, we demonstrated the products and techniques we use every day, while I took a keen interest in the styles our visitors were choosing.

The show gave me a chance to get a closer look at the styles worn by the Italian women visiting our stand, chat about their favourite nail looks and demonstrate how we work with MollyNails products. I quickly noticed that, for many of them, nails were a key way to express their personality and style.

Contents

Italian women love to sparkle — especially through their nails
Dual forms and square nails — what caught visitors’ attention in Catania?
Our strength? Precision and attention to every detail
Cat eye, viral effects and a fascination with colour
Which MollyNails products made the biggest impression?
Statement nails at a salon-friendly pace

Italian women love to sparkle — especially through their nails

I had expected the colourful, bold outfits we so often associate with Italian style. Instead, most visitors wore simple cuts in white, black and denim, occasionally accented with sequins. Beautiful curls also caught my eye — so many of the women had them.

Their nails, however, told a different story. Simple outfits often provided the backdrop for elaborate nail designs. Length, glitter, rhinestones and bold French tips, including sculpted French designs — many of the women clearly loved a statement look.

I was surprised by how rarely I spotted subtle, classic nails. Among the sets I had a chance to look at, understated nudes in the “classy nails” or “clean girl” style were the exception. No wonder our Shine On You gels won so many hearts at the stand.

Dual forms and square nails — what caught visitors’ attention in Catania?

Dual forms attracted by far the most interest. This extension technique came up constantly in conversations at our stand. It was also the technique behind most of the sets I saw. It was clearly a popular choice.

There was much less interest in traditional sculpting forms or nail tips. Dual forms had a loyal following here. Square and coffin shapes dominated — these were the shapes the women wore most often and asked about most eagerly. They suited the long, elaborately decorated nails I kept seeing throughout the show. Almond and oval shapes were a rare sight; the Italian women I met clearly preferred more angular shapes.

Our sandwich dual forms also drew plenty of interest. Visitors wanted to see how to use them correctly and follow the entire process step by step.

Our strength? Precision and attention to every detail

It was lovely to see how visitors responded to the care we put into our work. They noticed our thorough cuticle and nail plate preparation, precise application and carefully sculpted nail structure. They told us just how impressed they were by this approach.

That meant a lot to me, because these are the foundations of every set I create. In our everyday work, we pay close attention to each stage, from preparing the natural nail plate to shaping the sidewalls correctly and perfecting the finish. Together, these details contribute to both the durability and the appearance of the finished nails.

Naturally, this led to plenty of questions about our techniques. One detail that sparked particular curiosity was our use of IZOTON® to prepare the nail plate, without primer or dehydrator. Visitors took notes on each step and asked how well the finished nails would last. I love these conversations — they show how much we can learn by watching one another work and sharing our experiences.

Cat eye, viral effects and a fascination with colour

During our demonstrations, visitors often asked about effects they had seen in our videos. They wanted to know how we created them and how to recreate them themselves.

Our cat eye polishes made a big impression. Many visitors to our stand were only just discovering what these products could do. They watched with interest as we used different magnets and showed how each one changed the effect.

It struck me that some techniques we already take for granted were a new discovery for many people at the show. It reminded me how quickly new ideas become part of our everyday routine.

Which MollyNails products made the biggest impression?

The glitter gels from the Shine On You collection were a definite highlight of our demonstrations. With so much love for sparkle, it was hardly surprising that they caught everyone’s attention straight away.

Layering a sheer, coloured top coat over a glitter base was another hit. Silvery Diamond Shine topped with one of the Crystal Glass top coats created a look that truly delighted visitors at the stand. Our milky top coats and their different uses also attracted plenty of interest.

For 3D nail art, TOP & GEL NO WIPE 3D stood out, while our sandwich dual forms drew attention during extension demonstrations. Visitors were keen to see both the finished look and every stage of the process.

Statement nails at a salon-friendly pace

As an educator who also works with clients every day, I pay close attention to how practical products are to use. A beautiful result catches my eye, but it is only when I work with a product that I find out whether it will earn a lasting place in my kit.

If it helps me work more efficiently, quickly and with greater freedom, I am happy to make it part of my everyday services. Of course, an exceptional result can sometimes be worth the extra time. I tend to save those techniques for more demanding, special projects.

That is exactly what we wanted to show in Sicily: spectacular nails can be created with products that are a pleasure to work with.

MollyNails Editorial Team

Aleksandra Bryniarska

Nail stylist, nail competition winner and educator. She combines her competition experience with hands-on salon work and provides training in brand building and social media communication for beauty professionals.

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