Bio Sculpture Claire Aggarwal

What it takes to be a Bio Sculpture Gel brand mentor

By Scratch Staff | 9 June 2020

Nail colour and care brand, Bio Sculpture, has appointed 21 mentors to represent the brand in the UK and serve up inspiration, advice and techniques for fellow pros and those interested in using the products. Originating from South Africa, Bio Sculpture has been creating quality gel nail products for over…

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Scarlett Senter

#NOWTRENDING: Disney crystals with Scarlett Senter

By Sophie Nutt | 9 June 2020

Talented tech, Scarlett Senter, shares how she created this sparkling Disney-inspired design and the inspiration behind it…  “During the UK lockdown, my daughter has been watching a lot of Disney movies and this sparked an idea for these nails. Plus, who doesn’t love a bit of Disney? “To create the…

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Kara Kotsonis nail desk

Why I’ve installed nail desk screens in my salon

By Guest Writer | 9 June 2020

Kara Kotsonis, founder of the award-winning NailSquad Nail Bar in Deal, Kent, reveals why she has added perspex screens to the salon’s nail desks… The official government guidelines for the re-opening of nail salons are due to be released shortly. Most of the proposed guidelines seem straightforward but there has been…

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Burnout woman

5 ways to prevent burnout in the nail salon

By Guest Writer | 8 June 2020

Janan Saher, director of Aviva Day Spa in Luton, shares advice on how to avoid burnout… As the old saying goes, ‘prevention is better than cure’, and this is something we all need to prioritise while we prepare for the new year.  It’s important to recognise beauty pro burnout in both yourself…

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Katie Barnes form fit

Wonky enhancements? Here’s how to ensure your nail form fit is straight

By Katie Barnes | 7 June 2020

A straight line measures the distance between two locations. It measures one point to another without deviating. We use straight lines and angles regularly when creating nails including form fitting, smile lines, filing techniques and nail art. It doesn’t have to be complicated and this post will break it down…

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Karolina Nowak

WHAT I’M WEARING: Karolina Nowak, Magnifique Nails Lab

By Sophie Nutt | 7 June 2020

We want to see what you’re wearing on your nails! Karolina Nowak, of Magnifique Nails Lab, wears a chic 3D French nail look. “I have seen a couple of posts across social media of 3D French nails and I really wanted to take a training course in technique, but unfortunately this…

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Telle Moi

Behind the Brand: Meet Natel Allen, founder of Télle Moi

By Helena Biggs | 7 June 2020

Natel Allen is a woman with a mission: to launch lacquer shades that cater to and flatter every individual. She launched indie nail polish brand, Télle Moi, in April 2019 with four nude nail polishes – and has since expanded the range to 24 glossy, quick-drying hues. “The name Télle…

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Victoria Adams

Victoria Adams on her love for neutral nails & being a glitter make-up artist

By Sophie Nutt | 6 June 2020

Scratch chats to Victoria Adams, owner of Lemonade Beauty, about her love for the nail industry, being a glitter make-up artist and relocating her salon just before the UK lockdown… “I trained in nails in 2018 at a salon school in Kent,” explains Victoria. “I then went on to further my…

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Hand cream

Helen Burton-Ward on maintaining nails & your business

By Sophie Nutt | 5 June 2020

Scratch Stars Natural Nail Specialist of the Year 2019 and CND education ambassador, Helen Burton-Ward, shares her advice to maintaining clients’ nails and your business while salons remain closed due to Covid-19… Many of us will have lost a huge chunk, if not all, of our income and will have been inundated…

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Spa Butterfly hand cream

How one therapist created hand care products for key workers

By Guest Writer | 5 June 2020

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…

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Silicon practice hand lead

How to care for silicone practice hands

By Guest Writer | 4 June 2020

Theresa Foddering shares her maintenance advice for silicone practice hands… With salons closed and nail professionals in isolation, there has been one hot commodity in lockdown: the silicone practice hand. We all rushed out to buy one, but soon realised they require much more TLC than expected. So how do you keep…

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Stock retail salon Buzz

How to boost retail sales during & post lockdown

By Guest Writer | 4 June 2020

Beauty brand consultants and founders of Buzz Beauté, Denise Dente & Jessica Quick, discuss how to up the ante on your retail during and post lockdown… Denise Dente Jessica Quick Service revenue has been deeply impacted by the reduced number of consumers, the need for social distancing and concerns over public…

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Scott Featherstone nail art

#NOWTRENDING: Rainbow camo & intergalactic nail by Scott Featherstone

By Helena Biggs | 2 June 2020

Get to know Scott Featherstone of Dapper & Dolly, as he shares some eye-catching nail creations and inspirations… “I began my nail journey back in 2015. It was an accident really and was never in my plans,” Scott reveals. “I’d been working for my local council for 14 years and…

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Diana nails

WHAT I’M WEARING: Diana Pajeva, Diana’s Nail Art

By Sophie Nutt | 31 May 2020

We want to see what you’re wearing on your nails! Diana Pajeva, of Diana’s Nail Art, wears a brown and gold geode-inspired nail look. “In order to create this design I used Gelish shades, Areopuffing Matte Top Coat, Apres art inks, transfer gel with gold foil and gold leaf for…

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Social media

5 tips for nailing social media etiquette

By Sophie Nutt | 29 May 2020

Sweet Squared‘s marketing manager, Rachel Horrocks, shares her top tips for appropriate social media etiquette… “Do thank and encourage your clients to upload post-treatment selfies/nailfies or any pictures of them interacting with you via socials (following tutorials, etc) – you want the exposure and the more people that show off…

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