Posts by Alex Fox
The cost of beauty – make-up wipes: made of plastic, don’t biodegrade, block sewers, unkind to skin – time for a rethink
We’re flushing away or binning an astonishing 11 billion wet wipes every year, which can take up to 100 years to biodegrade. BusinessWaste.co.uk, waste management specialist, is concerned about the volume of waste being created by used make-up wipes and says as a nation, we need to change our ways. “Make-up wipes are the quickest…
Read MoreInspirational nail tech, Maya Velkova tells of her will to succeed while living with a lifelong disability that could have held her back
‘Be a flamingo in a flock of pigeons’. That sounds great doesn’t it! Yet how does, ‘be a pigeon in a flock of flamingos‘, sound? From my perspective, when being a pigeon one can create great inner strength. In each and every one of us there is some weakness, which might lead us to stop…
Read MoreSilver-ion technology for self-cleaning shared surfaces for salon door handles & hand rails
UK firm, SDA Cleanzone, sees boom in demand for innovative self-cleaning antimicrobial surfaces since businesses seek to open safely. SDA Cleanzone, based in Manchester, has seen demand soar as companies install their antimicrobial surfaces to shared touch points in the workplace. MDs Adam Beaumont and Marc Carey are aiming to double the size of the…
Read MoreMay the fox be with you: 20-minute Chroma Ink masterclass with Sam Biddle exclusively created for Scratch
Nail artist Sam Biddle of Be Inspired has created a new, fresh & exclusive to Scratch 20-minute video masterclass on how to use the latest alcohol inks from Chroma Ink. (Scroll to the bottom of page for the video tutorial.) Watch here and see how quite simply by working step by step, a gorgeous animal…
Read MoreFirst Leoko Cre8tive Cup launches to bring nail techs, artists & brands closer together #collaboratedonthate
The Leoko Cre8tive Cup has been created by nail tech, Leona Ko-Nkengmo with the support from her Cre8tive Collective team. “This competition is the starting point in to movement that my team and I want to start to tackle the horrendous issue of bullying within the beauty and hair industry,” cites Leona. “We realise that…
Read MoreGet a taste for technique: new masterclass membership for nail techs
For over a decade Be Inspired Online has been delivering high quality education to thousands of nail pros with its huge catalogue of courses and range of educators. But for those who aren’t ready to invest in a full course yet still want to learn something new each month, then the latest offering might be…
Read More8 ways to tackle nail industry bullying
The truth behind a bully – an insight by UK nail tech Leo Ko-Nkengmo by nail artist & educator, Leo Ko-Nkengmo of The Nail on Sunday blog The hair and beauty industry has taken a beating this past year alongside other industries. The monotony of the pandemic is a factor, however it’s not just…
Read More12 self care tips in tune with your star sign
A star sign can reveal a lot about you, from who your perfect match might be or what your personality traits are. But how do star signs come into play when we are taking a much needed self-care day? Teaming up with celeb astrologist Sally Kirkman, Curvissa reveals the best self-care practices for each star sign when…
Read MoreWant to know the most & least popular nail designs on Instagram? Top 5 designs & colours revealed…
With nail salons now open in England & Wales, Scratch takes a look at the latest poll undertaken by OnBuy Body Care to find out the most popular nail colours, designs and trends on Instagram for the spring of 2021. The most popular nail design trends of 2021 revealed… Nail trend number of # Marble…
Read MoreGreen is the new black – sustainability overview & directives for the beauty industry
Sustainability Matters The global climate strike, stark and scary documentaries, electric cars, reusable coffee cups… over the past few years, sustainability has become more and more ingrained into our daily lives and the choices that we make. So, if we’re trying our best as consumers, are the brands and businesses that provide our products also…
Read MoreTreatwell celebrates Earth Day by spotlighting 3 top green salons
Salon booking service, Treatwell, reveals the importance of sustainability, organic/eco products and ‘being green’ when choosing a hair, beauty or wellness salon and treatments. For Treatwell, ‘Earth Day’ – 22nd of April – is about connecting customers with sustainable and eco-friendly salons and treatments, undertaking research* conducted in April 2021, it discovered these key points:…
Read More3 new Showbiz polishes celebrate 60s starlets with 20% of profit given to charity
The 28-strong philanthropic polish line by Lady Showbiz has added three timeless classic new shades to its palette – inspired by three exceptional Hollywood actresses. Inspired by 60’s starlets, Sofia Loren, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, these beautiful new editions to the range are the ultimate chic manicure hues. These gel-effect polishes also offer more…
Read MoreThe One soak-off gel in a bottle – no more need for base & top – it’s one-coat colour for techs
The HD Professional nail line by champion nail artist and educator, Hazel Dixon, has launched an exciting new UV/LED soak-off all-in-one pure gel-in-a-bottle called The One. Presenting the latest in gel technology, The One by HD Pro offers quality and durability in one bottle. Promising a highly pigmented coloured gel with built in adhesion promoters,…
Read MoreOne voice – a Staffordshire tech seeks solutions to her industry issues
I’m a nail tech in Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire and I’m here to turn up my voice and do some straight talking… Apparently, £8400 is the size of the income gap people with common mental health conditions face. I bring you this fact after reading an email I received from The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute. Why am I telling…
Read MoreCalling all nail professionals: Doug Schoon answers the Q: Does a universal monomer exist?
Does a universal monomer exist? Can I use any brand of ‘acrylic’ liquid & powder? Doug Schoon, in his capacity as expert on The NailKnowledge education team, offers a short, concise video that highlights the issues with mixing systems. In his section called – Too embarrassed to ask? – Doug makes it clear using scientific…
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