Posts by Rebecca Hitchon
Brush-on builder gel: how to nail application & infill
Enhance your knowledge of brush-on builder gel with insight from pros… How to apply “Thorough prep is imperative, as with any nail service,” details Theresa Foddering, head of education at Lecenté. “Providing the natural nail is adequately prepared, builder gel will brush on effortlessly. “I recommend applying a thin first layer and curing this, to…
Read MoreThe top 4 nail trends set to dominate autumn 2024
Social media platform, Pinterest, has published its Autumn 2024 Trend Report, revealing popular nail looks for the season. Pinterest notes that beauty trends for autumn ‘feature a blend of bold contemporary designs’, with its users experimenting with a variety of eye-catching styles – including the below nail looks: Bow nail designs Pinterest searches for the…
Read MoreThe British beauty industry grew by 11% in 2023, research shows
The British Beauty Council has published its latest The Value of Beauty report, compiled by Oxford Economics, revealing that the British beauty sector grew by 11% to a value of £27.2 billion during 2023. This is almost the pre-Covid average of £28 billion, demonstrating signs of recovery following the pandemic, Brexit and cost of living…
Read MoreBABTAC launches 34-strong Beauty Collective to elevate industry standards
The British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC) has established the Beauty Collective: a group of industry experts who will share their knowledge with the sector and consumers. Designed to help better educate the beauty industry and elevate sector standards, the Collective is led by BABTAC CEO, Lesley Blair MBE. Its focus is on…
Read MoreWINNER ANNOUNCED: Scratch Snap August 2024
The winner of Scratch’s monthly nail art challenge for August has been announced as Benita Bimsaite. In a showcase of talent, techs created nail designs to fit theme, Carnival Claws, in the bid to win a prize from Keysie. Entries were judged by Keysie business development manager, Sarah Thomson, and Scratch senior news & features writer, Rebecca Hitchon. The…
Read MoreRevealed: hair & beauty pros’ average income isn’t enough to cover cost of living
Many UK hair and beauty pros are not earning enough to cover personal and business costs. These are the results of the first annual pricing survey by Boss Your Salon, which offers pricing, marketing and mindset support to industry professionals. With insight gathered from over 1,200 respondents using Boss Your Salon’s pricing calculators, it was…
Read MoreWhy I love using NailKind nail polish & care products in my mobile business
Nail pro, Metta Francis, shares how the NailKind brand has enhanced her award-winning mobile business… With two Scratch Stars Natural Nail Specialist of the Year accolades under her belt, and a place in the awards’ Hall of Fame for winning Mobile Nailist of the Year in 2015, 2017 and 2019, Metta Francis has an eye…
Read MoreOur experience creating nail art for the Hong Kong Olympic women’s swim team
Located in the heart of Hong Kong, Tinted. is a nail and lash bar founded on the belief that ‘beauty is not just a routine, but a form of self-expression and an extension of personal style’. So it’s no surprise that athletes from Hong Kong’s Olympic swim team visited the salon for their nail needs,…
Read MoreSha’Carri Richardson’s nail art looks are stealing the show at the Paris Olympics
Team USA athlete, Sha’Carri Richardson, is not only making headlines for her speedy sprint times, as her nail looks have captured global attention during the 2024 Olympic Games. Known for sporting long, embellished nail designs on the track – often featuring intricate nail art, the Paris Games has been no exception. Styles have ranged from…
Read More100m Olympic gold medallist, Noah Lyles, brushes off criticism of his nail art
Yesterday (4 August), team USA sprinter, Noah Lyles, sported nail art while scooping a gold medal in the Paris Olympics men’s 100m final. The Olympian is known for wearing nail designs during his sporting and personal appearances, but has received backlash for this while on the international stage at the Paris Games. During the Olympics…
Read More75% of UK hair & beauty businesses struggling to recruit more than 12 months ago
The National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) has released the findings of its latest quarterly State of the Industry survey. UK hair and beauty businesses are continuing to battle the challenging economic climate, with this the biggest challenge for them, followed by recruiting experienced staff and finding apprentices. 16% of businesses reported making a loss,…
Read MoreGovernment launches Skills England to tackle ‘fragmented and broken’ skills system
The UK government has launched body, Skills England, to ‘kickstart economic growth, by opening up new opportunities for young people and enabling British businesses to recruit more home-grown talent,’ according to Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. Department for Education non-executive director & former Co-operative Group chief, Richard Pennycook, has been appointed as interim chair of Skills…
Read MoreScratch Stars Award-winning techs create Paris Olympics nail art for Team GB equestrian star
After a winning weekend at the Scratch Stars Party, sisters, Lucy Price-Marshall and Jessica Price, headed back to the nail desk to tend to the nails of Olympics dressage competitor, Becky Moody. The pair, who are based at Huddersfield salon, Nailspa: winner of Nail & Beauty Salon of the Year in the Scratch Stars Awards…
Read MoreNail, beauty & aesthetics salon, Pre-, welcomes all into second London location
Multi-service salon brand, Pre-, has expanded into a second premises in Parsons Green, South West London. Scratch paid a visit to the brand’s flagship salon in Islington last year, to meet founder, Mimi Gaston-Kennedy, a beauty PR specialist who created Pre- around the ‘idea that beauty treatments help [clients] to prepare for something, such as…
Read MoreWINNER ANNOUNCED: Scratch Snap July 2024
The winner of Scratch’s monthly nail art challenge for July has been announced as Isabelle Pattissier. In a showcase of talent, techs created nail designs to fit theme, Magical Nails, in the bid to win a prize from Nailchemy. Entries were judged by Scratch senior news & features writer, Rebecca Hitchon, and Nailchemy brand ambassador, Dannika Majewski. The…
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