Cardiff nail tech: Offering vegan nail services has attracted 75% of my clients

By Lilly Delmage | 31 January 2025

Coral Kendall (she/they) of vegan nail studio, Oh Lush Nails, shares why she believes it is important to offer vegan services, the products she uses and what techs can do to become more vegan-friendly… “As a vegan of seven years, I was always going to run a vegan studio,” reveals…

20 nail products you’ll love for Valentine’s Day 2025

By Rebecca Hitchon | 31 January 2025

‘Tis the season of love, so we’ve rounded up 20 love-ly nail products – from gel polishes to nail lacquers and glitter – that will set hearts aflutter this Valentine’s Day…

Cambridgeshire nail tech: how I created my dream salon space after 20 years

By Scratch Staff | 29 January 2025

Dominique Sharpe’s Godmanchester nail business rebranded to The Nail Editor in May 2024, and the nail stylist moved into the professional studio she had longed for since qualifying as a nail tech in 2004. In the early stages of her career, the three-time Scratch Stars Awards finalist struggled to find…

Why Glasgow? Founder of nail company, House of NAF! shares heritage & success story

By Helena Biggs | 25 January 2025

Glasgow-based House of NAF! is the umbrella company of the multi award-winning NAF! Salon, NAF! School, and hand & skincare product lines, NAF! Stuff and NAF! Professionals. Founded by manicurist, Tammy Koslowski, in 2015, NAF! has become a renowned destination for clients seek quality beauty services, products and education, and…

I’m a Scottish nail artist working in London. Here’s what I miss most…

By Guest Writer | 24 January 2025

“If anyone from outside Scotland asks me, I say I’m from Glasgow, but as Scottish folk will read this, I’m actually from Livingston,” smiles Becki Menzies. The nail pro lived in Scotland for 28 years before moving to East London in 2023, where she works within tattoo space, Soteria Studios.…

Energy Savers Week: How to make your beauty business more energy-efficient

By Green Salon Collective | 23 January 2025

Stephanie Hodgson, head of research & development at Green Salon Collective (GSC), details how beauty businesses of all sizes can minimise their energy usage and emissions… GSC was founded in 2020 by environmental experts, campaigners and beauty professionals, with an aim to help member salons in the UK and Ireland…

How a Scottish inventor & son created a product nail enthusiasts can’t live without

By Helena Biggs | 23 January 2025

Have you ever damaged a nail opening a can, prying open the clips of photo frames or opening keyrings? It’s these nuisances that led husband and son duo, Brian and Gregor Eadie, to create Keysie: a handy device to save nails from unnecessary damage. It was Gregor who approached his…

Scratch Stars Award-winning nail salon owner: competition benefits & advice

By Lilly Delmage | 22 January 2025

Natasha Barker, owner of Scratch Stars Nail Salon of Year 2024, Niche Nails & Beauty, reveals advice for succeeding in the competition. The 2024 awards were not the salon’s first entry into the competition. Natasha explains: “I had entered the awards previously on behalf of the salon, and we had…

‘Four figure focus’ method seeks to help beauty pros boost earnings

By Helena Biggs | 22 January 2025

Beauty business and mindset coach, Zaara King, shares details of ‘The Four Figure Focus’, a membership programme to help beauty business owners earn four figures a week, while working part-time hours. “Ideal for professionals with visions of freedom, efficiency and creativity, the programme offers its members tailored support, plus community…

Colour psychology: Discover the mood-boosting meanings behind your nail colour choices

By Lilly Delmage | 20 January 2025

Save time and add an element of fun at the nail desk by advising clients on mood-based hues using colour psychology, advised by experts… ‘Have you decided on a nail shade?’ is a question you may ask daily, as you patiently watch clients rifle through colour pops and swatches. But…

How a Scottish nail brand is changing the way products are seen in the sector

By Scratch Staff | 19 January 2025

In just five years, husband and wife duo, Chris and Bekka Costello, have grown their nail business in Paisley, Scotland, from 10 humble products to over 350: focusing on everything nail professionals require to offer slick, profitable services. “We started Nail Order while our salon was closed due to the…

Home gel kit dangers & 6 ways to prevent allergies at the nail desk

By Katie Barnes | 11 January 2025

Many people turned to DIY nail kits during the coronavirus lockdown. They may have been visiting a nail pro for months, years or even decades – before suddenly, the luxury of a nail appointment was gone, and some saw a solution in home application of gel polish. DIY home kits…

Self-employment help for nail techs: registration & tax essentials

By Lilly Delmage | 11 January 2025

Are you keen to take the leap into self-employment? Here’s a guide to the registration and tax essentials you need to know… For nail technicians working in salons who seek greater control over their careers, self-employment often feels like a natural next step. It offers professional and creative freedom, aiding…

AI is changing the beauty salon game: here’s how it can help you stay ahead

By Guest Writer | 10 January 2025

Richard McCabe, aka the Lifestyle Salon Coach, shares how artificial intelligence can benefit your beauty business… Love it or hate it, AI is changing how businesses work – and that includes salons. Just like past tech revolutions, if you jump on board early, you’re more likely to come out on…

Get to know the Scottish nail stylist who led nail looks for Victoria Beckham

By Helena Biggs | 8 January 2025

In Sammy MacDonald’s two decades in the nail industry, she’s won numerous awards, opened a thriving nail salon chain and led multiple teams backstage at Fashion Week events. So what’s left on the career tick list for this Scottish nail pro? “Leading the nail team for the 2024 Victoria Beckham…