Salon in the Spotlight: The Hobby Hut, Rhyl, North Wales
Home nail salon owner, Char Price, shares how she overcame a big health challenge to open The Hobby Hut, a nail salon that aims to reduce client stresses via luxurious nail treatments… Char trained with Mode Academy in 2014, before progressing her career and qualifying as an educator in 2017,…
Read MoreFinding the perfect nail course: a guide by Scratch Stars Educator of the Year 2024
Scratch Stars Educator of the Year 2024, Melanie Lewendon, shares her top tips for finding the best nail courses to extend your skills.. Continual professional development is critical in any industry, the expert educator explains: “Techniques and products are constantly evolving, and it’s essential to stay updated. This not only…
Read MoreNail Tech Talk: Kassie Payne of Nailz by Kass
Luxury press-on nail artist, Kassie Payne, shares what sparked her passion for creating portrait nail artistry and her social media journey, and reveals the journey to launching own range of nail products… Kassie joined the world of nails as a means of income. She says: “The first three years I…
Read MoreBrush-on builder gel: how to nail application & infill
Enhance your knowledge of brush-on builder gel with insight from pros… How to apply “Thorough prep is imperative, as with any nail service,” details Theresa Foddering, head of education at Lecenté. “Providing the natural nail is adequately prepared, builder gel will brush on effortlessly. “I recommend applying a thin first…
Read MoreFirst impressions count: Top tips for perfecting your dialogue with new nail salon clients
It’s really important to ensure that, as a nail technician, you maintain a high level of professionalism, even when a situation is challenging. First impressions count and how you behave from the first point of contact with a client will set the tone for the relationship. If they have contacted…
Read MoreMeet the Nottingham beauty salon owner providing a sanctuary for busy mums
Fotini Bihuci is the nail tech behind Nuse Beauty, the ‘cosy home-based’ salon designed for new mums and clients who struggle with anxiety. Having worked in hospitality and tourism management, understanding the needs of clients has always been at the centre of Fotini’s work. In September 2023, when she became…
Read MoreAre you a nail tech who wants to develop new skills? Here’s how to make a successful future learning strategy
Global business & beauty education expert, Kim Ford, shares advice… How to create your future learning strategy It is the end of the academic year and an apt time to consider your strategy for future learning. Whether you’re a nail newbie or wish to develop existing skills, write down your…
Read MoreHesitant about raising your beauty treatment prices? A pricing expert explains why you shouldn’t be
Maddi Cook, the powerhouse behind hair and beauty marketing and mindset coaching company, Boss Your Salon, shares why you shouldn’t be scared to raise your treatment prices… I like maths because it’s an exact science. There’s no room for interpretation, there are no grey areas and it’s not subjective: 2…
Read MoreSalon in the Spotlight: L.E, Radcliffe, Lancashire
Lauren Taylor welcomes Scratch inside her home salon, where she has created a ‘homely and cleanly’ space within her dining room… Having completed her Level 2 NVQ in Beauty Therapy in 2016, and her Level 3 NVQ in Nails in 2017, Lauren has been a qualified nail tech for seven…
Read MoreNail competition tips from the World’s Star Nail Artist
Whether you’re a seasoned artist or starting out, competitions can be an ideal playground to showcase your skills and creativity, as well as build confidence, learn from industry leaders and challenge yourself. The World’s Star Nail Artist 2023, Katy Pottle, shares her competition tips… The spectrum of choice When it…
Read MoreHere’s the reason why glossy nails are so hard to photograph
When we complete a set of nails, we have two different finishes: matte or glossy. You may have noticed that glossy is far more difficult to photograph. When light from an object is reflected by a surface, it changes direction. It bounces off the surface at the same angle as…
Read MoreWINNER ANNOUNCED: Scratch Snap August 2024
The winner of Scratch’s monthly nail art challenge for August has been announced as Benita Bimsaite. In a showcase of talent, techs created nail designs to fit theme, Carnival Claws, in the bid to win a prize from Keysie. Entries were judged by Keysie business development manager, Sarah Thomson, and Scratch senior news &…
Read More6 hand poses for picture-perfect nail photos
Scratch Stars Gel Polish Stylist of the Year 2022, 2023 & 2024, Jiak Hing, explains how to master her six go-to hand poses for nail photos… 1. Relaxed claw Place the back of one hand against a flat surface and position the camera facing the nails, 45 degrees above and…
Read More5 time management tips for beauty pros
Session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, reveals her advice to healthily manage your time and achieve all your tasks… How good are you at managing your time? If you add up all the time you spent scrolling on social media, googling what you have seen an actress in…
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