WINNER ANNOUNCED: Scratch Snap November 2024
The winner of Scratch’s monthly nail art challenge for November has been announced as Mia Murray. In a showcase of talent, techs created nail designs to fit theme, Enchanted Forest, in the bid to win a prize from INK London. Entries were judged by INK London educator, Jessica Hinds, and Scratch deputy editor, Rebecca Hitchon. The…
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Trans nail tech: A client prepaid for appointments to help fund my top surgery
“Not only have I received allyship from other nail techs and my clients, but I’ve been given tangible support through my transition,” says Asher Maynard, a transmasculine and non-binary nail tech based in Seattle, USA. The pro has received so much support, that one client prepaid for her appointments to…
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How a transgender nail tech changed his narrative by going self-employed
Utah-based tech, Finn Reilly, shares his experience changing his narrative as a trans nail pro by fostering a supportive network that allows his business to thrive. Alike many other transgender nail techs, Finn has experienced first-hand the discrimination within the industry. He shares: “I worked at a salon for a…
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How I’ve dealt with trolls & found community as a transgender nail tech
From a young age, Logan Cullen found joy in creating nail looks. But joining the nail industry professionally has seen the transgender tech have to navigate challenges… “When I was younger, I saw the first Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movie and wanted to be Peter Parker – I couldn’t understand why no…
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Seattle nail tech: ‘I came out as transgender to a colleague – I was fired the next day’
At his first salon job, Seattle-based tech, Sidney Simpson, came out as transgender and was fired the following day. Having worked just a week at his first salon job, the nail tech shared that he was transgender with a colleague – and just one day later, was fired. He says:…
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The importance of creating accessible salon spaces for clients & staff
Abi Hassan, owner of Canterbury-based salon, Hot Wheels Nails, explores key considerations for nail techs and employers when creating accessible salon settings to suit clients and staff… As a salon owner or an independent nail technician, it is important to consider ways in which your environment could be more accessible. Transparency…
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How & why nail techs should practice self-care this festive season
Fiona Fox, owner of Dorset salon, Ulu Beauty, provides training to beauty pros on areas including mental health awareness, safeguarding, equality and diversity. Here, she explores the importance of self-care for nail techs during the festive season and simple self-care fixes. For many, Christmas is a time to look and…
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Squoval nails: 7 on-trend manicures to use as inspiration
The squoval nail shape is a crowd-pleaser, merging the neatness of a square shape with the softness of an oval. Given away by the name, the shape is a square-oval hybrid. It replicates the shape of a ‘natural’ nail – creating a soft and subtle finish, which can be achieved…
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Heat spikes in gel nail services: why they happen & how to avoid them
What is a heat spike? Why can a burning sensation be felt by clients when a gel product is curing? Dani Bailey, nail educator & recipient of The Shooting Star Award at the Scratch Stars Awards 2024, explains… In August, Scratch posted an opportunity on Instagram for people to send in their…
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5 ways your nail & beauty business can save money
We are all feeling the pinch, so check out money-saving solutions for your nail and beauty business… 1. Be economical with your products Let’s use a nail file as an example. When you consider how much of a nail file you use in each service, it is rare that you…
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The Suffolk nail tech who transformed her lockdown hobby into a thriving salon business
Jemma Cornell, behind JC Nails, started her nail journey during lockdown in 2020 and four years later, has transformed her hobby into a full-time career. The Suffolk-based tech felt she needed something to ‘keep her busy’ during the challenging Covid-19 period, and decided training in nails was the answer. She…
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A financial guide & checklist for nail & beauty pros
Vorke Kalusi, founder of beauty business resource, Beauty Hunt UK, serves up financial insight… Understanding finance terms Revenue: The money you make from your services. Expenses: The costs of running your business, such as supplies, rent and utilities. Profit: The money left after paying your expenses. Profit = revenue –…
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HEMA: What is it, why is it used in nail products & is it to blame for allergies?
What is HEMA? HEMA, also known as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate or hydroxyethyl methacrylate, belongs to the monomer family and is used as an adhesive in nail products. Having an adhesive property in the product is important to prevent service breakdown. When alternative ingredients are used, using a coarser grit file can…
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What it means to have half moons on your nails
Fingernail half moons are the rounded, white shadows at the base of the nails. The industry term for this is lunula, which is Latin for ‘little moon’. The place where each nail begins growing is known as the matrix. This is where new cells are made that will make up…
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Want to successfully manage & motivate a nail team? Here’s how…
Explore strategies to successfully manage and motivate a nail team with business expert & CEO of PHAB Service Stars, Nergish Wadia-Austin. Leading a team of nail technicians can be both rewarding and challenging, with managers often facing awkward situations that test their skillsets. Understanding how to address these issues effectively…
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