Fereida Lydiate on fibreglass nails and the importance of CPD
We chatted Scratch Stars Awards 2019 L&P Tech of the Year, Fereida Lydiate… How did you career in nails come about? I originally trained as a beauty therapist as there weren’t courses available just for nails and completed my beauty training in 1996. From there I worked in a salon as a…
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An afternoon with celebrity nail tech Stephanie Staunton
She’s tended to the talons of numerous celebrities, is a regular manicurist on photo shoots and has scooped a Scratch Star – and now Stephanie Staunton has a shiny new venture; her own nail setup. Stephanie and I are from the same area just outside London; a busy suburb with…
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Your session styling questions: answered!
Session stylist and Scratch columnist, Robbie Tomkins, invited you to ask him any questions about the session world. Here, he answers those questions with the help of session techs Michelle Humphrey and Michelle Class. Kaycie Kyle asks: What career level do you need to be at to start session work? RT: I started…
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Salon in the Spotlight: Nailco Nail Bar, Glasgow
Currently with three locations in Scotland, the Nailco team have their eyes firmly set on success. “We launched Nailco Nail Bar in September 2017 in Glasgow city centre,” explains owner, Jayd Alexandra Linney. “I bought the salon and fully refurbished and re-branded. The salon already had a great foundation and client…
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Here’s what I saw at the Nails By Annabel salon
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting the new Nails by Annabel salon in Newcastle Under Lyme. Opened at the end of May this year, the salon is owned by talented tech, Annabel Maginnis, and her husband Elliott. With an utterly Instagram-able interior and huge social media following (with Annabel’s Instagram page seeing just…
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#TRENDINGTUESDAY Arlene Fraser, Nails By Arlene
We want to see the designs trending at your nail desk! Arlene Fraser, of Nails By Arlene, reveals rainbow marble has been popular with her clients recently. “Marble is so versatile, there are a number of different marble techniques using gel polish, acrylic marble ink and other materials but the…
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The journey to opening my first nail academy – Part 6
This is so sad! This is my final blog as the Erica Turley Academy is now open! All in all, I ran out of savings so I had to buy stock and add finishing touches on a week by week basis and started upcycling. As funds were pretty much gone,…
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MANI MONDAY: Milk bath
Begin the week the right way with some nail inspirations this mani Monday! Not all summer nail looks have to be bold or vibrant, as Sarah R (aka @therealmrsgrey) proves with this delicate and on-trend milk bath design. Owner of Nail Stamping Queen UK, Sarah created these soft nails with…
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WHAT I’M WEARING: Kayley Cairns
We want to see what you’re wearing on your nails! Talented tech, Kayley Cairns, wears arctic ice stiletto nails accompanied by glistening embellishments. “These nails were created using Pro Impressions stiletto tips and liquid and powder. As I’ve been super busy I chose to use tips instead of sculpting as…
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5 minutes with Helen Burton-Ward
We chatted to Helen Burton-Ward, Scratch Stars Awards 2019 Natural Nail Care Specialist of the Year, about her love for competing, CND Vinylux™, and her ‘Dream Nail Pro Dinner Party’… Tell us about your training… My journey in the nail world started at just 15 years of age when I…
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How to keep staff happy
Finding an ideal candidate and offering them the job is not the end of the salon recruitment process. Retaining staff is an ongoing responsibility and ensuring their happiness is key to the. There is no ‘one size fits all’ formula formula to retaining staff, so it might take some trial…
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Margaret Dabbs shares 10 ways to look after feet in the heat
Margaret Dabbs, foot expert and CEO of Margaret Dabbs London, shares her advice on how to take care of feet in this heatwave… How can heat negatively affect the heat? The warm weather can cause feet to swell as the veins dilate in an attempt to keep the body cool,…
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Better brows thanks to HD Brows
Yesterday I hotfooted to London’s 1 Harley Street for a treatment try-out with HD Brows to celebrate the launch of the new Better Brows trio. The new product additions include: Brow Maximiser – a serum with an enriched formula to aid growth for fuller looking brows. Re-Growth Minimiser – a…
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What it takes to become & remain a successful nail technician
Becoming a nail technician is often a career choice that is snubbed and looked down upon. It is often perceived as ‘just painting nails’. Anyone that has ever tried to paint nails well, will appreciate that this is a skill in itself. This element is just the tip of the…
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NHF/NBF on the importance of patch testing
Caroline Larissey is the NHF/NBF’s director of quality & standards, reveals the importance of patch testing within any beauty business… “Allergy alert and sensitivity testing are vital to protect your clients, your reputation and your salon business. “Having an approved and reliable patch testing system in place when providing lash…
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