5 minutes with Oksana Smirnova

By Kat Hill | 12 May 2018

What is your all-time favourite nail product? I love to work with gel products, any kind of gels – be it hard gel, gel polish or 3D gels for artistry. What are your favourite brands to work with? I would have to say my favourite brands are NSI and Perfect Nails.…

Salon in the Spotlight: Essentials Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics Clinic, St Neots

By Kat Hill | 9 May 2018

Established 31 years ago, Essentials Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics Clinic has become a staple of St Neots. “The salon was one of the first in the town,” reveals owner, Nina Munday. “I have owned and managed the salon for the last 11 years. I am originally from London but moved…

How to increase profit potential with LVL by Nouveau Lashes

By Sophie Nutt | 8 May 2018

A treatment that straightens the natural lashes at the root before tinting them, the LVL by Nouveau Lashes service gives the appearance of longer, thicker lashes for six to eight weeks without the use of extensions. As a woman that moans about the length and volume of her eyelashes fairly…

Nail that sale!

By Kat Hill | 8 May 2018

Are you shy when it comes to retail sales in your salon or upsetting a service? Tom O’Brien, director of Baroque Hair, reveal his top tips… Upselling is great for business – it increases profit, and shows your clients that you have a wealth of experience in the hair and beauty…

#TRENDINGTUESDAY Sara Wilfred, Sara’s Nail & Lash Boutique

By Sophie Nutt | 8 May 2018

We want to see the designs trending at your nail desk! Sara Wilfred, of Sara’s Nail & Lash Boutique, revealed that bright and bold summer hues are popular with her clients as the days begin to warm up… “As we draw ever closer to the summer season, my clients are…

WHAT I’M WEARING: Vicky Cotchin, Simply Beautiful – Nails & Beauty

By Sophie Nutt | 6 May 2018

We want to see what you’re wearing on your nails! Vicky Cotchin, of Simply Beautiful – Nails & Beauty, displays decadent artistry in her latest acrylic creation featuring dusky pink tones. “I created these nails using all acrylic products from Trilogy Nail Systems and Glam and Glits. I encapsulated glitter…

5 minutes with Lauren Holmes

By Kat Hill | 5 May 2018

Tell us about your training… When I originally trained I did a course that covered all aspects of nails through Salon Services to get me started. Since then I’ve retrained with Rachel Lunn from Nail Harmony. I also won Gelish Gives Back in 2016 and got the opportunity to take…

Get the Look: Bridal couture

By Kat Hill | 4 May 2018

Seeking inspo for the upcoming wedding season? Nailist, Sarah Richardson, created this chic bridal look with Light Elegance UK products. Combining baby pink, lace effect and peachy pink hues, the design sees Sarah use the shades Sweet Lace and Show Me The Honey to create a pretty pastel look. Adding a chic metallic edge,…

Your gel polish questions: answered!

By Sophie Nutt | 3 May 2018

Hone your gel polish technique with advice from industry experts about the popular system, as they answer your pressing questions. “How can you tell when a polish is cured correctly and what does over curing mean for the service?” Charlotte Lowe, Jessica educator, says, “Over curing can occur more with…

Salon in the Spotlight: Polished Sheffield

By Kat Hill | 2 May 2018

Bright pops of yellow contrast against the clean, contemporary lines of Polished Sheffield. Located in Chapeltown, the salon relocated to new premises last year. “We chose to move to be more accessible to clients and offer better parking facilities, too,” reveals Maria. In its new home, the salon’s team are…

How to decide the right thickness for your nail enhancements

By Katie Barnes | 1 May 2018

Educator and award-winning nail technician, Katie Barnes, serves up tips on deciding on the appropriate thickness for nail enhancements… While nail enhancements are an enhancement of the natural nail and often extensions, the aim is still to create these to be as thin and natural-looking as possible while still ensuring…

Brow treatments for over-plucked clients

By Kat Hill | 1 May 2018

Kirsten Desai, Brow by Mii educator, reveals her top tips for dealing with over-plucked brow clients… A good set of brows speak a thousand words; brows create a lift and add definition. By using the Brow by Mii bespoke methods and techniques and introducing new products, we will always produce…

#TRENDINGTUESDAY Sarah Painter, Glamour Beauty Salon

By Sophie Nutt | 1 May 2018

We want to see the designs trending at your nail desk! Sarah Painter, of Glamour Beauty Salon, revealed that soft pink nails featuring French ombre, rose quartz, netted imprints and jewels have been popular with her clients recently. “This nail look has been so popular recently as it goes with…

Why Instagram is great for your nail business

By Guest Writer | 30 April 2018

Theresa Cientanni, marketing expert and founder of My Social Salon, reveals why Instagram is great for your nail business. Instagram is a big buzzword in the social media realm. The platform is growing fast and currently has over 800 million active users. It’s creative and it’s powerful – and it’s…

WHAT I’M WEARING: Hannah Leahy, Too Glam To Give A Damn

By Sophie Nutt | 29 April 2018

We want to see what you’re wearing on your nails! Hannah Leahy, of Too Glam To Give A Damn, was inspired by a ceramicist on Instagram when creating her current nail look. “To create this design, I used the Magpie Beauty gel colour system. The original design was actually cream…