Our mission.
When surfing the internet in search of expert information, it's easy to get lost & disheartened when faced with a sea of videos featuring sub-par or unlicensed hobbyists each claiming to 'teach' nail techniques. There are safety & sanitation guidelines, tried & true application methods & immeasurable creativity all relating to this artform that mean most laws require at least 600+ hours of in-school training just to qualify to take a test for licensing.
At GlossaryLive.com you can feel confident that the information you're receiving is factual, the techniques tried & true & the instruction, second to none. World famous veteran competitors, judges, educators, authors & industry gurus come together from every corner of the globe & together they share their passion for this art form & the global community it has garnered.
Meet the artists behind the education. Learn everything from basic applications to master level art techniques. Find advice on growing a business, opening a salon or preparing for retirement. It's the first EVER true GLOBAL nail community.
Alisha Rimando
"My dream of GlossaryLive is a place I can share my passion & knowledge of this industry & its history, celebrate my fellow artist, & come together as a global nail community. It's time to learn, grow & inspire together."
Years In
industry
Nailympia
Events judged
Textbooks & supplements
Technicians
Trained
Countries
Trained
Magazine
Covers
30 years in the making.
From a salon chair in 1994 to building the first true global nail community — every milestone in Alisha's journey shaped the platform you're on today.
1994
The beginning
Started in a salon and immediately fell in love with education. Became a competitor and hand model for World Champion Tom Holcomb, traveling the world and studying the craft that would define her career.
2005
World champion
After a decade studying under Tom Holcomb, achieved her World Championship title in the art of pink & white sculptured nails, cementing her place among the most respected nail artists in the world.
2008
Industry standard developer
Moved to NYC and contributed to the 6th edition of Milady Nail Technology, the first of 10+ textbooks & supplements for Cengage Learning including Standard Cosmetology. Her work now forms part of the curriculum that trains nail professionals across the country.
2010-2016
From the runway to the world
Session stylist for NY Fashion Week designers and featured in Jennifer Hudson's Spotlight video. Training Director at Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas — trained 360 nail technicians across 31 US locations. When mentor & best friend Tom Holcomb passed in 2011, she returned to the professional market to carry his legacy and methods forward.
now
Founder, GlossaryLive
Built the first ever true global nail community, a platform where world-famous educators, competitors, judges, and industry gurus share factual, expert knowledge with nail artists everywhere. This is what 30 years of experience looks like.
In memory of industry legend
Tom Holcomb
"Being close to him felt like the sun shining directly on you." — Alisha Rimando
Tom Holcomb, the legend, the icon, the master of the artificial nail, was no doubt gifted by the gods in everything he touched. From hair cutting and color to cooking his famous ‘roast beast’, or softball-sized meatballs, flower arrangements or interior design, Tom was a true artist. His best talent, the one we will never forget, is how he was with people. Tom had a true love for life and the human spirit. He made everyone he met feel comfortable right away. He was an immediate friend and confidant. He had a way that made people bring down their guard. And laugh… he knew just how to make a person laugh. His love for life was contagious. He gave those around him confidence, because he believed in them. Being close to him felt like the sun shining directly on you.
My life was forever altered because of Tom and the time that we spent together. He was my partner in this industry, in this life for 17 years. He was my mentor, my friend, my companion, my brother, my heart. Throughout our relationship I was his model, his business partner, his roommate, his manager, his student. At times we were inseparable and at others fighting like brother and sister. In every moment there was love.
He truly was the best nail artist I’ve ever known and possibly the most talented and gifted person I will meet in this lifetime. My favorite memories of him weren’t from the shows or the classroom, it was the thousands of hours we spent in conversation. Whether it was over dinner or just laying on the floor in our pajamas staying up ‘til the dawn telling stories. He listened, he understood, he always cared and we ALWAYS laughed.I will miss my friend today and forever, but will never forget the most important lessons he taught me by example. The lessons I will pass onto my children:Live life to the fullest. Don’t let fear stand in your way. Take the challenge. Follow your heart. Stand proud. LOVE, LIVE, LAUGH, TRAVEL, EXPERIENCE. Tom never saved the good dishes, he used them EVERY DAY!
There isn’t a day that goes by, or nail that I make, that I don’t think about him and silently thank him for all that he gave me in this life.He passed on his skill to an entire generation of nail technicians who helped raise industry standards, and innovate products. His hand, his technique, his words, his unique teaching style inspired so many to compete, to teach, to take their careers beyond the table, and this is the legacy we continue at GlossaryLive.com.Here we will share, tell the history, teach nails, celebrate technicians, and showcase the greatness of educators around the world who have dedicated their life to this craft. Here we will honor the icons that created the foundation of our industry and discover the young raw talent that is emerging. Here we will never forget, never stop growing, and never stop pushing the envelope. We will always remember, and honor the life and legacy of Tom Holcomb.
XOXO, Alisha
