Business
Why confidence is key to your beauty business’ success & how to build it
Nail educator & business mentor, Hannah Clayton, shares the importance of confidence as a beauty pro… When beauty professionals come to me struggling with content, visibility or lack of bookings, it nearly always boils down to one thing: confidence. Confidence is the foundation for organic growth. It’s what allows you to show up when no…
Read MoreHow to grow clients’ average spend & boost your beauty business
Session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, offers tips for encouraging clients to spend more money… I am at a time in my life where I simply don’t want to work myself into the ground. My years of being everything, for everyone, are long gone. It is costing more and more money to open…
Read MoreHow to achieve a work-life balance as a beauty professional in summer
Scratch columnist & beauty business and mindset coach, Zaara King, shares advice for achieving a work-life balance this summer… Summer is upon us and I am so excited for the coming months. Seeing seasonal nail designs puts me in the best mood and makes me want to have fun in the sun. I used to…
Read MoreDoncaster nail & beauty salon owner: Offering waxing has elevated my business & filled my diary
Scratch Stars Educator of the Year 2022 & 2025 finalist, Michelle Brookes, shares how introducing waxing services has benefitted her salon… What do waxing treatments bring to a beauty business, and how do they complement nail offerings? Adding waxing treatments to a beauty business helps fill diary gaps. Most waxing services are 10 to 40…
Read MorePowys nail salon: where rustic charm meets luxury beauty treatments
Jodie Evans, owner of Wales salon, Nail Envy, speaks to Scratch about the journey of building her thriving nail business. “Nail Envy is designed to feel like a luxurious home-from-home, combining rustic charm with modern elegance,” says Jodie. “The interior features brickwork, warm wood tones and plush velvet chairs – creating a welcoming and stylish…
Read MoreI invited my salon team to create nails for Cannes Film Festival
The Nail & Beauty Lounge owner, Julie McCabe, takes us behind the scenes of her Cannes Film Festival experience, where she and her salon team delivered manicures and pedicures. The team at Poulton-le-Fylde-based salon, The Nail & Beauty Lounge, were called upon by owner, Julie McCabe, to provide the manicures and pedicures for the models of…
Read MoreSocial media nail expert: batch creating content is the best decision I’ve made
Scratch Stars Social Media Star of the Year finalist 2024 and 2025, Hannah Clayton, shares how batch creating content has changed her life… Social media is a job in itself. As a nail artist, mentor and content creator, I’ve often found myself scrambling in the morning to think of something to post, edit a caption…
Read MoreNail techs, here’s how to diversify your skills to reap rewards
Scratch columnist & beauty business and mindset coach, Zaara King, shares advice for taking your next career step… Do you want to change your role or take a leap in a new direction? Many beauty professionals have been asking me how they can diversify their careers. I teach people to leverage their skills and time, because face-to-face…
Read MoreHaving a niche as a nail tech: is it important?
Whether your skills focus is natural nailcare, premium pedis or portrait painting, Scratch investigates the importance of identifying and capitalising on your expertise… What is a niche? ‘Niche’ is a business term used to describe a focused approach to offering goods and services, and tailoring them to a specific consumer group, rather than a broad…
Read MoreThe nail techs who went from online friends to podcast hosts
Nail techs, Rachel Coast and Evie Glows, started out as online friends within a nail tech community, and have since launched their podcast, The Nail Files. Describing the podcast as ‘relatable, uplifting and a way to facilitate connection’, the duo is passionate about entertaining nail techs with relatable and humorous content. The pair spoke to…
Read MoreBurnt out to booked up: how funding changed my life & can benefit your nail business
Sarah Abel, funded growth strategist & founder of TNB Skills Training, shares how funding helped her find success – and can do the same for you… Fifteen years ago, I was drowning in £50,000 of debt. I had maxed out credit cards, just left a job with a company car and salary, and bought a…
Read MorePet-friendly salons: key benefits & important considerations
Have you ever considered making your salon pet-friendly? A spokesperson for luxury nail salon, Paint Nails London, shares the advantages and what you need to consider. Why did you decide to become a pet-friendly salon? We decided to become a pet-friendly salon because so many of our clients are animal lovers and their pets are…
Read MoreThe mum juggle: how I’ve managed motherhood & a successful beauty business
Session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, opens up about her experiences juggling parenthood and her beauty salon… I am not sure there is ever a right time to start a family. I was quite late to the table when it came to being a mum. Having tried for many years to no avail,…
Read MoreLeeds salon owner: Learning to trust my team & delegate has been a game-changer
You Beauty founder, Rachel Dobson, shares her career story and how learning to delegate tasks has been critical to her success as a manager. Over the past five years, Rachel’s business has rapidly expanded and she reflects on the biggest lesson she has learned: “I tried to do everything myself in the beginning, and I’ve…
Read MoreHome nail & beauty salons: how to maintain positive neighbour relations & resolve conflict
Scratch Stars Home Nail Salon of the Year finalists for 2024 offer advice for how home business owners can keep the peace with neighbours and resolve potential conflicts… Kirsty Brown, owner of Paintbrush Nails, Stirling – Scratch Stars Home Nail Salon of the Year 2024 “When opening a home salon, it’s good practice to inform…
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