Health & wellbeing
My life as a nail technician with endometriosis
The NHS states that endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. It is a long-term condition, which can have a variety of symptoms and affects each woman differently, ranging from severe period pains that prevent daily…
Read More5 areas to consider to make your nail & beauty business more inclusive
Fiona Fox, owner of Dorset salon, Ulu Beauty, provides training to beauty pros on areas including mental health awareness, safeguarding, equality and diversity. It’s important to champion inclusivity, because everybody should feel able to enjoy nail and beauty services. Inclusion is about making sure anyone who wants a treatment can access it, without fear of…
Read MoreNailing Disabilities: Meet Yasmin Hodge, the nail tech on a mission to create an inclusive beauty industry
Sharing the profound impact of her health conditions on her work, Yasmin Hodge of Wolverhampton business, Gels By Yas, reveals how her experiences inspired the creation of Nailing Disabilities, a Facebook group for beauty professionals with disabilities and health conditions… Dealing with pain in her hands, wrists, shoulders, chest, back and legs, Yasmin’s health conditions…
Read MoreWhy music matters in the nail salon experience
With 70% of Scratch readers playing music in the nail space, according to a 2023 Instagram poll, it’s important to learn how to cater sound to clients to ensure a comfortable experience. Freddie Moross is CEO of Myndstream, wellbeing-focused salon and spa music provider & an advisory board member for the Global Wellness Institute. He…
Read More55% of professionals think employers should do more to support workforce wellbeing
Employers should be doing more to help with employee wellbeing, according to 55% of UK&I professionals polled by international recruitment firm, Robert Walters. The research also found that over two-fifths of senior leaders feel that their increased spending on wellness benefits is largely unnoticed. “We are seeing that the onus has shifted in recent years,…
Read MoreFind out about the wellness-focused nail salon offering meditative manicures
Founder of Sundays Studio, Amy Ling Lin, was inspired by former clients and salon experiences to create a nail space that promotes safety, self-care and inclusivity for both clients and nail specialists. With a focus on wellness for its nail services and product offerings, Sundays Studio offers clients and staff ‘a quiet oasis of relaxation’…
Read MoreNail techs: Here’s how you can overcome creative burnout
Are your nail art ideas waning and are you feeling run-down? Scratch explores the causes and impacts of creative burnout and how to overcome them… What does creative burnout look like? Creative burnout can manifest in a number of ways and will vary from person to person, but there are often tell-tale signs. “It’s important…
Read MoreCommunity spirit: How Yorkshire nail techs are promoting positive mental wellbeing for fellow pros
Following her transition from a role in the NHS to the nail industry, Natasha Katoro of By Natasha Katoro shares how she and her local support group are tackling high feelings of isolation amongst industry pros… Hoping to foster a sense of community to promote positive mental wellbeing for nail technicians, Natasha is actively involved…
Read More5 ways nail salon owners can support employee wellbeing
Scratch explores ways that salon owners can look after their employees’ physical and mental wellbeing… 1. Promote healthy eating & hydration Here are a few tips: Provide a fruit bowl/healthy snacks in the staff area for employees to help themselves to. Encourage regular food and drink breaks, with water stations available in the salon. Have…
Read MoreNail techs on menopause in the workplace & supporting menopausal clients
Two techs share how to accommodate the needs of those impacted by the menopause on both sides of the nail desk… Supporting yourself & staff: Emma Brock, OPI Nail Boss “I was diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) at 25. The worst symptom for me over the years has been brain fog, as I’ve felt…
Read MoreHow to support beauty clients & staff through the menopause
October marks World Menopause Month, designed to encourage awareness of the signs and symptoms of the menopause. Awareness has been shown to be particularly crucial, after a study published in journal, BMC Women’s Health, revealed that menopausal women are the fastest growing demographic in the workforce – and you will likely have menopausal women making…
Read More5 tips for creating a successful nail community
Being part of this industry can be lonely – around two-thirds of beauty professionals are self-employed, and while clients provide chit-chat throughout the working day, the focus of these conversations is likely on them. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people in the sector – whether virtually or physically – is paramount to tackling loneliness and can…
Read More3 ways to support beauty clients with breast cancer
The Jennifer Young Training School, which specialises in oncology therapies, skincare and well-being for cancer patients, shares how you can support nail and beauty clients with breast cancer… October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month – a time traditionally swathed in pink and dedicated to awareness of breast cancer symptoms. With around 55,900 new breast cancer…
Read More3 steps to choose a sustainable supplier for your beauty business
Charlotte Scallon, head of sustainability & regulation at waste management company, Biffa, offers a three-step strategy to help businesses understand how to choose a sustainable supplier… Choosing a sustainable supplier that helps you meet your goals can be challenging, but the process should be energising, not daunting. Our three-step strategy can help you break down…
Read MoreAre your gloves protecting you against nail ingredients?
In a previous blog for Scratch, we explored what gloves are needed for nail technicians and covered thickness and how often these need to be changed. In this blog, we delve deeper into chemical permeability and how to know if your gloves protect you against the chemicals which you use daily. You’ve calculated the time…
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