Umia Nailympia Sponsor Spotlight

This brand uses AI to apply techs’ designs to nails & pays them for their art

By Scratch Staff | 3 October 2024

Would you like to reap financial rewards from your nail concepts, and perform and showcase nail artistry at speed? Meet Umia: the Canadian creator of a fully automated artificial intelligence (AI) manicure studio, which has gained global recognition since its soft launch two months ago and allows intricate patterns to…

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Stiletto Nails

15 stiletto manicures to inspire bold & beautiful nail looks

By Lilly Delmage | 3 October 2024

The sharp stiletto nail shape holds its rightful place as one of the classics, with its tapered ends giving a claw-like finish. Boasting sophistication and oozing class, the long shape offers nail techs a larger area for intricate nail art, allowing them to unleash their creativity and giving clients more…

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Lilly Web Newsfeature Lead 1200x800px 7

How a Northamptonshire nail tech perfected her work-life balance by opening a garden salon

By Lilly Delmage | 2 October 2024

Nail tech, Kim Hearn, behind byKIMI Nails, shares how opening her garden salon helped her create more definitive work-life boundaries. The nail pro previously worked from a console table in her living room, and found that this not only left her three children without a space to play, but hindered…

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Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome for nail techs: What it is & how to overcome it

By Lilly Delmage | 30 September 2024

Nail pros share their experiences with imposter syndrome and offer tips to help overcome it… Have you ever felt undeserving or that success is beyond your means? Perhaps you’ve felt like your career journey has been down to luck, or you’re worried that clients won’t return. These are all common…

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Hd Professional Nail Systems Brand Spotlight

Meet HD Professional Nail Systems: a brand dedicated to raising standards via award-winning education & products

By Rebecca Hitchon | 30 September 2024

What should pros look for in a nail brand? Products that help to elevate artistry, high-quality education and a passionate team behind-the-scenes are key qualities – and HD Professional Nail Systems ticks every box. Founder, Hazel Dixon’s career stems 18 years and she has an awe-inspiring collection of over 100…

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Junk Nails

Junk nails: What is the maximalist manicure trend seen at Fashion Week?

By Lilly Delmage | 29 September 2024

Junk nails have dominated Fashion Week runways, replacing the clean girl aesthetic with nails covered in mix ‘n’ match, 3D embellishments. Junk nails are essentially anything you would find in that ‘junk drawer’ everyone has, stuck onto a manicure. From Hello Kitty charms, jewels and beads down to paper clips,…

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TGB Spa

Introducing TGB Spa: the luxury Brighton beauty space from the founder of The GelBottle Inc

By Rebecca Hitchon | 28 September 2024

Daisy Kalnina, founder of The GelBottle Inc (TGB) nail brand and travel and interiors business, by DKollection, has merged her two passions to create TGB Spa. The ‘minimalist meets modern chic’ spa is based in the centre of Brighton, with the location inspiring Daisy to launch the luxurious space. “I…

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Do You Suffer With Comparisonitis

Nail pros: Do you compare yourself to other techs? Here’s how to combat it

By Jo Tompkins | 27 September 2024

As nail techs and beauty professionals, we often catch ‘comparisonitis’, where we constantly measure our success against others. We see the flawless work and fully booked schedules of other nail techs on social media, and suddenly, we feel like we’re not doing enough.  In the Nail Business Success Club, a…

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Oms

The Manchester tech who created her ‘dream nail salon’ in 4 days

By Lilly Delmage | 25 September 2024

Olivia Riley is the Bolton-based tech behind Olivia May Studio, a space she transformed into the salon of her dreams in just four days. The manicurist got the keys to her salon just two weeks before opening day, she reveals, “We completed the work in a total of  four days…

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Client Complaints

How beauty businesses should deal with client complaints, according to an expert

By Guest Writer | 23 September 2024

Global business & beauty education expert, Kim Ford, shares her expert advice on how to deal with client complaints… I am sure many of you have experienced a customer complaint at some time, and it can be a difficult situation to resolve. Let’s explore how dealing with complaints can be…

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Scratch Snap Sep 24 Winner

WINNER ANNOUNCED: Scratch Snap September 2024

By Rebecca Hitchon | 23 September 2024

The winner of Scratch’s monthly nail art challenge for September has been announced as Alisha Francois. In a showcase of talent, techs created nail designs to fit theme, Swatch & Style (show your fabric inspiration next to the matching nail look), in the bid to win a prize from The Manicure Company.…

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Sparkle Squad

Want to elevate your nail art? Award-winning pro unveils memberships for all skill levels

By Rebecca Hitchon | 22 September 2024

The World’s Star Nail Artist 2023, Katy Pottle, has announced the Sparkle Squad: a membership programme to empower nail artists. “Having worked as a nail tech for over 22 years, I know firsthand the challenges and triumphs that come with mastering nail art, says Katy Pottle. “After winning The World’s…

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The Nail Desk Co Olivia Annice

How 2 graduates went from university friends to thriving in the nail industry

By Lilly Delmage | 19 September 2024

I met Olivia Annice, the tech behind Olivia Annice Nails, at university in 2020. Her nail business has since flourished, and I have also joined the nail realm: working at Scratch as a news & features writer since July 2024. We met up to work at Olivia’s first nail event…

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Nail Art Mood Board Hrbeauty Lincoln

Nail art boards: Lincolnshire salon showcases 150+ designs to help client choices

By Lilly Delmage | 18 September 2024

Nail tech, Holly Rogers, behind salon, Hr Beauty, has created a nail art mood board to help inspire clients on which nail look to choose. The Lincolnshire-based tech loves nail art, she says, “I love to be creative when it comes to nail art, I have a stand in my…

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Scarlett Senter Embellishments

7 top tips for working with nail embellishments

By Scratch Staff | 17 September 2024

Adorning nails with 3D elements and embellishments adds dimension to designs, allowing you to transform plain styles into striking looks. Nail stylists offer adhesion and application advice… 1. “Practice wearing embellished designs on your own nails, as this will help you to learn a lot about working with them and…

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