How to stop nail biting & picking: experts share treatment plans to break the habit
Natural nail specialists share tips for nail biting and picking clients… Why do people bite and pick at their nails and skin? “Nail biting, also known as onychophagia, and skin picking and biting, named perionychophagia, are habits associated with stress, anxiety and compulsive disorders,” explains Lucy Price-Marshall, Scratch Stars Natural…
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…
Read More7 tips to enhance wellbeing in the nail space
Your role involves supporting the self-care needs of others, but how often do you consider your own wellbeing? While it may be the last thing on your mind during a busy day at the nail desk, it’s crucial – as Elissa Newton, Lecenté educator for Northern Ireland, notes: “If even…
Read MoreA guide to the gel system: when & how to use & troubleshooting tips
Nail pros share insight on the gel system… When to use the gel system Theresa Foddering, Lecenté business development manager & Scratch Stars Shooting Star Award finalist 2025, adds: “If a client has weak or brittle nails that require extra support and strength, hard gel is a great option for enhancements.…
Read MoreNail industry expert: here’s the problem with AI-generated nail designs
Scratch Stars Social Media Star of the Year finalist 2024 & 2025, Hannah Clayton, shares her thoughts on artificial intelligence nail imagery…. We’ve all seen them: every nail shaped like it was designed in a factory with no cuts, dry skin or missing bits of sidewalls. We’re seeing a wave of…
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…
Read MoreBeau’s lines on nails: what they are & how to treat them
Have you heard of Beau’s lines on nails – but aren’t quite sure what they are? Here’s everything you need to know about the natural nail condition. What are they? Beau’s lines are horizontal ridges or dents on the nail plate, caused by a slowdown in the production of new…
Read MoreHow to elevate & promote pedicure services
Enhance your pedicure confidence and elevate your promotion of the service with top tips from footcare specialist, Denise Spragg, owner of The Sangha House. Feet, right? ‘Ugh, I hate my feet, and I couldn’t bear anyone touching them’ is something I hear so often as a pedicurist. In this article, I…
Read MorePedicure tips: how nail techs can safely support clients with diabetes
According to charity, Diabetes UK, approximately 6% of the UK population suffers from diabetes. Learning about the condition and how to accommodate it is key to making diabetic clients feel safe and able to enjoy their nail experiences. Here, we explore how the condition can affect clients and what you…
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…
Read MoreCommunity chat: 3 networking groups for nail pros
Are you seeking support from fellow nail techs? Do you want access to hundreds of tutorials to inspire your creativity? Do you have questions but don’t know who to ask? The answer might lie in joining a nail networking group. Here’s three to have a look at… The Nail Tech…
Read MoreAward-winning nail tech: How I’ve found success despite suffering with fibromyalgia
Kirsty Brown is the owner of Paintbrush Nails, Stirling, Scotland, which is the Scratch Stars Home Nail Salon of the Year 2024 & a finalist for 2025. Here, she shares about her experiences with fibromyalgia… Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that causes widespread pain, fatigue and cognitive difficulties. It can be…
Read MoreHow your beauty business can reduce its environmental impact
Victoria Brownlie MBE, chief policy & sustainability officer at the British Beauty Council, shares guidance to support eco efforts in the beauty sector… While most people are committed to working more sustainably, I have noticed a real disconnect between where world leaders, governments, NGOs and big business see challenges, compared…
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…
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