Posts by Helena Biggs
Nailympia San Antonio 2023: THE RESULTS
The results are in for the first Nailympia San Antonio 2023 San Antonio hosted the third Nailympia on US soil in 2023, and saw top class nail artists battle for medals and points towards the Nailympia Premiere Cup. Under the shrewd eyes of head judge, Alisha Rimando, contestants from across the USA, Germany, Ireland and…
Read MoreWorld’s Star Nail Artist launches online masterclasses to elevate the skills of fellow pros
Katy Pottle, winner of the first World’s Star Nail Artist (WSNA) competition, has launched online workshops and one-to-one masterclasses to help pros enhance their nail art skills. Channelling the nail techniques acquired over two decades in the industry and learned throughout her WSNA experience, each pre-recorded online workshop serves up a different method or nail…
Read MoreHelp needed: Support the launch of a mask to aid client wellbeing
Clare Anderson, founder of Shared Beauty Secrets, the UK distributor of Lava Shells, has designed a Sensory Sleep Eye Mask to support the wellbeing of clients and provide a retail option for beauty pros. Anderson has launched a £10,000 Kickstarter campaign to advance development of the Sensory Sleep brand to aid sleep and wellbeing, and…
Read MoreWant to expand your clientele & streamline bookings? Enter the Beautyverse…
Are you a beauty pro, struggling to fill gaps in your diary and get noticed by new clients? Or are you a client who seeks to book an appointment with ease? Download Beautyverse – an app designed to simplify the communication and booking process between beauty artists and clients. The app, which launched on 4 September…
Read MoreKeen to boost your profits? Salon expert shares pricing calculator & course for beauty pros
Are you struggling to calculate your outgoings and wondering why your sums are leaving you short each month? Try the handy pricing calculator and course from Maddi Cook, a salon business expert & owner of Boss Your Salon. Maddi, a finalist in the 2023 Scratch Stars Awards for Services to the Nail Industry, has worked…
Read MoreRoyston nail salon celebrates 10 years in business with fancy party
Fancy Fingers, a nail salon in Royston, Hertfordshire, celebrated 10 years in business with a party for clients, featuring freebies and flowing prosecco. Founder, Katie Moulton, completed nail training with Gelish in July 2013, after seeking a career that would fit around her two young children. Her husband then converted the family’s garage into a…
Read MorePHOTO GALLERY: The Scratch Stars Party 2023
For a decade, Scratch magazine has been recognising talented individuals and businesses in the UK nail sector via the Scratch Stars Awards. For 2023, the awards were open to techs and businesses in the Republic of Ireland, as well as across the globe, via the launch of The World’s Star Nail Artist competition. Following an…
Read MoreFinalists announced in first World’s Star Nail Artist competition
Wow, what a journey it’s been for competitors (and judges!) in the first World’s Star Nail Artist competition. Across several months, contestants have competed in ‘core’ challenges, with 2-3 eliminated after each into a Wild Card deck. These Wild Card competitors have been competing in shorter challenges, with a final task helping to determine who…
Read MoreThe battle for 2023’s Scratch Stars titles plays out in London at action-packed judging day
Finalists in eight of the 18 Scratch Stars Awards categories for 2023 travelled to London to show off their nail knowledge and handiwork to 20 judges on Wednesday 28 June, in the bid to top the scoreboard and be crowned a Scratch Star. The one-day event at the London College of Beauty Therapy (LCBT) was…
Read MoreGlasgow’s award-winning NAF! Salon rebrands to House of NAF!
NAF! Salon, a Scratch Stars award-winning premises, has rebranded to House of NAF!, as the company seeks to ‘redefine beauty, wellness and lifestyle experiences in Glasgow’. Led by nail artist and entrepreneur, Tammy Koslowski, the rebrand sees the salon encompass event spaces and an experiential offering, alongside its much-loved nail services. Found in a four-storey…
Read MoreLancashire nail pro enlisted to create Eurovision nails for BBC TV advert
Eurovision fever is rife, as event lovers get set for the 2023 final on 13 May in Liverpool, UK, hosted on behalf of last year’s winning country, Ukraine. To promote the event and boost excitement, the BBC has been playing an advert across its channels, featuring colourful nail art cameos courtesy of Rachel Shuttleworth of…
Read More4 ways to reassure clients about the safety of your nail services
You’ve spent hundreds of pounds on products, hours of time on training courses, and provide nail services that make your clients feel happy. So it hurts to constantly have to defend your profession from mainstream media cries of ‘UV nail lamps could cause cancer’ or ‘gel polish services cause allergies’. These stories don’t seem to…
Read MoreFinalists announced in nail industry’s 11th Scratch Stars Awards
An overwhelming number of entries from were submitted into the 11th Scratch Stars Awards, which recognises passion, skill & customer care within the UK&I nail sector. Nail techs, salon owners, mentors and educators submitted testimonials and imagery 1-28 February, and Monday 10 April revealed five finalists in each of the 18 categories. These finalists will…
Read MoreTop 21 revealed in first World’s Star Nail Artist competition
In an overwhelming display of talent and enthusiasm for their craft, nail pros worldwide embraced a creative challenge and entered The World’s Star Nail Artist, a new competition for 2023 brought to the industry by Scratch. The mission is clear: to recognise and reward global nail artists, push the boundaries of design, and offer a…
Read MoreSPRING BUDGET: Beauty industry body, NHBF, reacts to Chancellor’s measures
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, today (15 March) presented his Spring Budget 2023 to Parliament. He commented: “In the Autumn Statement 2022, the government took the difficult decisions needed on tax and spending to restore economic stability, support public services, and lay the foundation for long-term growth. “At Spring Budget 2023 the government is…
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