5 tips to make gel nails last longer
Check out our advice to make gel manicures and pedicures go the distance… 1. Listen to a nail professional This is arguably the most important tip of all. Think of nail techs as personal trainers for long-lasting manis, pedis and nail health, as they know what they are talking about!…
How to handle client illness & cancellations in your nail business
Nail business mentor, Hannah Clayton, talks colds, coughs and cancellations… It’s that time of the year when clients get the sniffles and cancel their appointments, leaving your diary looking quiet and you panicking. It’s been happening left, right and centre for me this month! Coughs, colds, kids off school and that…
How to create a supportive nail space for employees & clients with ADHD
ADHD is estimated to affect 3 to 4% of adults and is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in the UK. For people with ADHD, everyday tasks can be challenging and overwhelming. Scratch talks to a tech and client about how it affects them in the nail space, and…
A social media brand collaboration guide for nail professionals
Nail content creator & Scratch columnist, Zoya Mac, shares social media advice… Social media is rife with individuals working with brands to promote products and services. From PR packages to reposts, it all looks very exciting – and for the right person, it can be. If your goal is to…
5 ways nail techs can prioritise their mental health when clients offload
Health psychologist, Dr Ravi Gill, explores how nail technicians can create a safe space for clients to offload, while prioritising their own mental health. Nail appointments offer an opportunity for a person to sit still for an hour without the distraction of their phones: an act of self-care and perhaps…
Christmas marketing: a guide for nail salons to boost business
Session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, offers up top tips for the festive season… Now is the time to look ahead to Christmas and consider how you will maximise your marketing to make profit. The first thing you need to do is review last Christmas: what worked and…
How to spot an AI nail design image
Photo created using ChatGPT AI-generated nail images are becoming increasingly prevalent across digital platforms, and while you might think ‘I’m savvy, I can detect a fake nail image’, know that AI is savvy too. When the world first cottoned on to the potential of artificial intelligence image generators, it’s likely…
Listen up nail community: here’s why you’re not ‘just nail techs’
Business mentor, Hannah Clayton, shares why there needs to be a shift in the way nail professionals are seen… Recently, I shared an Instagram post that went viral. It was so simple – about how pros aren’t ‘just nail techs’, yet the response was overwhelming. It received hundreds of comments, shares, reposts…
How to remove hard gel from nails without an E-file
Justyna Pryke, Scratch Stars Gel Tech of the Year 2015 & 2025, serves up a step-by-step guide to removing hard gel enhancements safely and effectively. Removing hard gel manually (without an E-file) can be done safely, but it requires patience and care to avoid damaging the natural nails. Here’s a…
Sustainable beauty: Here’s how to recycle your nail salon waste
With a number of day-to-day considerations to navigate, how you manage your salon waste can often be pushed to the back of your mind. But it’s easier than you think to respect the environment through your work, as we highlight via our roundup of recycling schemes and tips. Green Salon…
How to remove gel polish safely without damaging nails
Gel polish overlays should not cause any damage to nails. As award-winning nail artist, Katie Clark (née Barnes), has previously written for Scratch, natural nail damage can occur as a result of ‘improper application or removal, overly aggressive filing or client abuse such as picking or biting’. If done without…
Weak, brittle or ridged natural nails? An expert shares treatment tips
Nail industry veteran, Marian Newman BEM, shares top tips for caring for weak, brittle and ridged natural nails… Weak nails A client may have thin and weak nails as a natural characteristic or result of a systemic condition. Weak nails can also be due to external impacts, such as damage…
Nail ridges: an expert shares causes & how to treat
Scratch Stars Natural Nail Specialist of the Year 2019 & CND™ education ambassador, Helen Burton-Ward, explores ridges on natural nails… There are many types of nail ridges, which can occur naturally or be inflicted by mechanical or environmental factors. Understanding how to correctly manage and treat them will help to maintain…
How heatwaves are impacting nail techs & tips to adapt services
As global temperatures rise, we’re not just feeling the heat at home – it’s making a serious impact in the nail space. From runny products to skin reactions, recent UK heatwaves have put nail techs under pressure to rethink how they work, the products they use and how to manage…
5 steps to become a zero waste to landfill nail salon
Green Salon Collective (GSC) was founded in 2020 to help salons in the UK and Ireland to responsibly dispose of their waste. Here, GSC shares how to tackle your salon waste and become zero to landfill, to reduce your overall waste, carbon emissions and environmental impact. 1. Waste audit The…
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