8 ways to tackle nail industry bullying

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The truth behind a bully – an insight by UK nail tech Leo Ko-Nkengmo   by nail artist & educator, Leo Ko-Nkengmo of The Nail on Sunday blog  The hair and beauty industry has taken a beating this past year alongside other industries. The monotony of the pandemic is a factor, however it’s not just…

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12 self care tips in tune with your star sign

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A star sign can reveal a lot about you, from who your perfect match might be or what your personality traits are. But how do star signs come into play when we are taking a much needed self-care day? Teaming up with celeb astrologist Sally Kirkman, Curvissa reveals the best self-care practices for each star sign when…

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Mindful matters: power of positivity #2

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Goodness me, is it February already? Where does the time go? The word February is taken from the Latin word ‘Februa’, meaning ‘to cleanse’. The Roman calendar month of Februarias was named for Februalia, a festival of purification and atonement. With this in mind, it’s my intention this month to help you cleanse your mind…

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Alkaline water: the secret to glowing skin

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Cold air and central heating play havoc with the skin; fortunately we know that hydration from drinking water, cares for skin from the inside out and is key to good health. But did you know that you can take hydration to a new level with alkaline water? According to new research, alkaline water is the…

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How to align your beauty regime to the lunar cycle

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Lunar expert, Jutta Russell, offers advice on aligning your beauty regime to the cycles of the moon… For thousands of years, experts have studied the mystery and magic of the moon, from how each phase can effect our behaviour, mood and even our menstrual cycles. But did you know, the moon can also be used…

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How to find a good work/life balance as a nail tech

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Nicole Dowling, educator at Pure Nails, shares her advice for finding the balance between work life and personal life… Many of us constantly strive to work hard and prove our worth, and many have a willing to work more to earn more. The hardest part of the job is often simply saying the word ‘no’…

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Why you shouldn’t use an at-home gel polish kit

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Salon owner, educator and award-winning nail stylist, Katie Barnes, unveils concerns surrounding DIY gel polish kits… Gel polish seems like an easy to use, harmless product – surely, it’s just like painting on a nail polish, isn’t it? Well, this is the attitude that is causing problems amongst some non-professionals, as they attempt to replicate professional services…

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MINDFUL MATTERS: The Power of Positivity

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  I’m so pleased to have been invited as a regular columnist & blogger for Scratch. The main reason for this being that I’ve seen first-hand how the past year has affected people within the nail industry and I want to do everything I can to try and help. Without dwelling on it too much,…

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Why you should stop comparing your nail skills to others

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Scratch magazine 2020 columnist, Sophie Dale of Nancy Loves Nails & Nancy Girl Apparel, shares why it’s time to stop comparing yourself to others… ‘Comparison is the thief of joy’. I constantly compare myself to others and it has really affected me. It’s poisonous, and no matter how experienced or whatever level you are at, we…

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Marian Newman BEM on… changes to nail product regulations for 2021

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Marian Newman BEM, nail industry veteran and chair of The FNP, reveals the changes to cosmetic products that will be evident in 2021… Originally posted at www.the-fnp.com “We will be seeing a lot of changes in 2021 with regards to cosmetic products including nail products. This has some connection to the UK leaving the European…

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8 ways nail techs can keep motivated during lockdown 2.0

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Tina Bell, head of education at Pure Nails, serves up key ways to keep your creativity flowing and spirits high during lockdown 2.0… Here we are, back in lockdown. Once again, I have packed up my salon, moved my nail desk onto my dining room table and taken over whole room – there are gel…

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Salon Chat: How to overcome the pressures of social media

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Salon Chat hosts, Kelly Colley of Lavish Nails and Isabel Porter of The Beauty Garage, share their thoughts on the nail sector… I’m typing this out on a bank holiday Monday morning having already posted by ‘mandatory’ Instagram post. Mandatory I say because, without it, my posts won’t be seen, no one will interact with me and all…

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How one therapist created hand care products for key workers

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Beauty therapist, Beverley Braisdell, shares the story of fellow beauty pro, Emma Harvey – who has created a hand cream and serum for NHS frontline staff & key workers… When I saw what my amazing friend and former colleague Emma Harvey, of Spa Butterfly, Wigan, had created during her time in lockdown, I knew it…

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