What to do when you suspect a nail product allergy
Itching; redness; swelling; nail separation; burning; peeling or blistering are all ways that your body is telling you that something is wrong. While recognising an allergy is important, it is equally essential that you know what to do afterwards. However minor the symptoms may appear, if client or tech begins…
Read More
Thinking of franchising?
There’s more than one way to run a beauty business – and maybe franchising could be the way forward for you, explains NBF chief executive, Hilary Hall… Depending on your situation, you can consider becoming a franchisee or a franchisor. Either way, make sure you do your homework and understand…
Read More
Analysing the natural nail
“It is important to carry out a thorough analysis at the beginning of each treatment to make sure you provide the correct solution to achieve the best results,” says Jessica Nails educator, Georgina Walker. “Assess each nail individually, as nails on the same hand can have different needs. This will…
Read More
Why regular training is so important in the beauty industry
Dave Horton of ABT Insurance outlines why continued professional development is so important in the beauty industry… The start of another academic year represents, to me, the opportunity to start a new training course or improve a skill set. Of course, we can undertake training at any time throughout the…
Read More
Hygiene advice for keeping tools clean
All nail tools and implements must be properly cleaned and disinfected before coming into direct contact with a client, both for their health and the credibility of your business. “There is absolutely no argument that tools must be disinfected in between every client,” says Nigel Rouse of Mundo Professional. “Total…
Read More
How to make the most of an Instagram story
Tammy Koslowski, owner of Glasgow’s award-winning NAF! Salon (and winner of the Scratch Stars Best Use of Social Media award 2017 & 2018) shares her social media tips & tricks… Remember when Instagram stories used to only last 24 hours? Now you can get old story posts from your archive…
Read More
Robbie Tomkins on working with celebrities
When I tell people I am a session manicurist and explain what the job entails, one of the first questions they ask is, ‘which celebrities have you worked with?‘ or my pet hate, ‘who is the best/worst celebrity that you’ve worked with?‘. I always find these questions rather uncomfortable and…
Read More
Financial points to consider when buying a space for your beauty business
Finance expert, Gary Hemming of ABC Finance, serves up some insight on funding options available to nail salon businesses… During the life of a business, there will naturally be times when additional funding is required. This can be for a number of reasons and is a crucial point in the…
Read More
How to keep your nail tools in tip-top condition
Are you experiencing premature tool breakdown? This can be a common issue among nail techs but there is a simple solution to help keep your tools in top class condition. Follow the manufacturer guidelines Following the manufacturer’s guidelines is essential for success and longevity with your tools. These precise instructions…
Read More
Elise Scholes-Pilkington on nailing your consultation process
Polish up your professional image and nail your consultation process with help from Elise Scholes-Pilkington, Scratch Stars Awards Ultimate Natural Nail Specialist… I believe client consultation is paramount in how to maintain and gain a regular client base. It always begins with your phone manner; it helps to smile…
Read More
3 rules for keeping holiday nails in tip-top condition
Sharon Sandhu, category manager for nails at Salon Services UK & Ireland, reveals three ways to ensure nail looks keep in the best shape while on holiday… At this time of year, many clients will be escaping for an annual summer break of sun, sea and carefree days on the…
Read More
How to close a nail form correctly to ensure a great enhancement
The perfect form fit is one of the most important elements when it comes to a well-structured sculpted nail enhancement. The correct placement of the nail form is essential but an often overlooked component of the form fit is the symmetrical closure of the wings. Without this, it will be…
Read More
Your session styling questions: answered!
Session stylist and Scratch columnist, Robbie Tomkins, invited you to ask him any questions about the session world. Here, he answers those questions with the help of session techs Michelle Humphrey and Michelle Class. Kaycie Kyle asks: What career level do you need to be at to start session work? RT: I started…
Read More
How to keep staff happy
Finding an ideal candidate and offering them the job is not the end of the salon recruitment process. Retaining staff is an ongoing responsibility and ensuring their happiness is key to the. There is no ‘one size fits all’ formula formula to retaining staff, so it might take some trial…
Read More
Margaret Dabbs shares 10 ways to look after feet in the heat
Margaret Dabbs, foot expert and CEO of Margaret Dabbs London, shares her advice on how to take care of feet in this heatwave… How can heat negatively affect the heat? The warm weather can cause feet to swell as the veins dilate in an attempt to keep the body cool,…
Read More
Read the latest issue
