Brush-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…
6 top tips for creating the perfect nail service treatment menu
Creating a treatment menu for nail services is not an easy task. With so much to offer, nail appointments have become more bespoke and personal than ever, making it hard to put all services on one menu. However, making your booking process as easy as possible to navigate is the…
First 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…
Meet 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…
Are 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…
Hesitant 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…
Salon 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…
Nail 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…
Here’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…
WINNER 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 &…
6 hand poses for picture-perfect nail photos
Scratch Stars Ultimate Gel Polish Stylist of the Year, 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 about 10cm away.…
5 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…
A guide to taking care of your nail tools & brushes
They’re the most essential items in your kit bag, so refresh your knowledge on storing, cleaning and maintaining nail tools and brushes… “With all tools, the general rule should be that if you can feel a loss of efficacy or you’re having to change your technique, it’s time to replace…
Salon in the Spotlight: Beauty Room @51, Crieff, Perthshire
Kelly Sweeney, behind Beauty Room @51, shares a behind-the-scenes look at her Glitterbels-inspired salon… The tech trained and qualified in 2022 in builder gel and L&P acrylic with Glitterbels, and has since taken inspiration from the brand’s renowned pretty-in-pink aesthetic. She says: ” I wanted my salon to run alongside…
Nail industry experts unite for exciting class & retreat in Clacton
Seven nail industry professionals travelled to The Royal Hotel in Clacton, Essex, for a class led by renowned nail expert, Georgie Smedley. The business owner and former UK distributor of Gelish, fought an aggressive cancer during 2023 and is now back in good health, so invited industry colleagues for a…
