Revealed: The beauty & self-care capital of the UK

By Lilly Delmage | 12 August 2024

Research by Fresha has revealed the UK’s beauty and self-care capital. Blackpool has the highest concentration of beauty salons in the UK, boasting an impressive 428 beauty salons per 100,000 residents. This number includes 403 hair salons and 109 nail salons; with its 51 tanning studios awarding the area its…

Why I love using NailKind nail polish & care products in my mobile business

By Rebecca Hitchon | 11 August 2024

Nail pro, Metta Francis, shares how the NailKind brand has enhanced her award-winning mobile business… With two Scratch Stars Natural Nail Specialist of the Year accolades under her belt, and a place in the awards’ Hall of Fame for winning Mobile Nailist of the Year in 2015, 2017 and 2019,…

Males & their nails: the rise in colour choices & nail art

By Guest Writer | 11 August 2024

Following backlash team USA sprinter, Noah Lyles, received for sporting nail art in the Paris Olympics men’s 100m final, male manicures are a hot topic. Elaine Watson, global education director at Light Elegance, shares insight into how to tailor your treatments and support their nail needs… I was at the auto…

Revealed: 4 benefits of co-working as a nail or beauty pro

By Lilly Delmage | 9 August 2024

Are you a freelance or mobile beauty professional considering renting a salon space? Yasin Alimam, founder & chief officer of HotPatch, a platform that connects beauty businesses and individuals with top-quality spaces to hire, shares insight on the benefits of co-working… “There are so many benefits for nail and beauty…

5 celebrities using nail art to express themselves

By Lilly Delmage | 8 August 2024

Nails offer the perfect canvas for self-expression. Here’s a round-up of celebrities who have used their nails to communicate something about themselves recently: 1. Ilona Maher The US rugby star joins many other Olympic athletes in flaunting a themed manicure, sharing her nails to her 2.2 million TikTok followers with…

Can you help Happy Paul? Wellness brand seeks support in return for rewards

By Helena Biggs | 8 August 2024

Skincare and bodycare brand, Happy Paul, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the launch of two mood-lifting fragrance blends, aimed at making people smile. The brand was founded by beauty comms director, Paul Gerrard, in September 2021, to support mental health through self-care and a smile. Gerrard, a lifelong…

Salon in The Spotlight: BeauT, Stopsley, Luton

By Lilly Delmage | 7 August 2024

BeauT owner, Tina Vescio, welcomes Scratch into her garden getaway salon, which offers the idyllic spot for clients wanting some relaxation and tranquility… Qualifying as a beauty therapist in 2005, Tina Vescio started her beauty training over 20 years ago. Starting out as a mobile artist, the pro spent the…

4 ways to speed up nail services – without compromising on results

By Guest Writer | 7 August 2024

Scratch Stars Social Media Star of the Year 2024, Kamila Borowiec, shares her advice… Are you ready to take your work to the next level? Let me help you out. By implementing my time-saving tips, you can be more efficient, enhance the overall customer experience and fit in more clients.…

The 3 things you need to do to attract nail clients

By Jo Tompkins | 6 August 2024

There is so much advice out there about attracting clients, but the process doesn’t need to be complicated or drawn-out. You simply need to be able to do three things successfully: 1. Build an audience of potential clients. There is no point spending hours creating trending TikTok videos or Instagram…

Looking for a job as a nail technician? Here are 5 tips for nailing the application process

By Michelle Brookes | 5 August 2024

Have you finished your nail course, and are looking for your first job in the professional sector? While many colleges and academies help with employability pointers, here are my top tips to nail your first application: 1. Create your CV. Your CV needs to be up-to-date, and feature information that…

Here’s why nail tools discolour & corrode – & how to prevent this

By Katie Barnes | 3 August 2024

Maintaining high-quality nail tools is essential for delivering safe and professional nail services to clients. However, have you ever wondered why some of your nail tools – particularly metal ones – develop discolouration, tarnish and corrosion? Understanding the factors that contribute to these issues can help you prolong the lifespan…

TikTok reveals the best marketing practices to grow small and medium businesses

By Lilly Delmage | 2 August 2024

TikTok has released a marketing guide for small to medium businesses (SMBs), to aid growth and help reach brand objectives. If you view TikTok as a marketing minefield, you aren’t alone – but TikTok has revealed some ways to use the platform as a marketing opportunity for businesses. The statistics…

Salon in the Spotlight: Nails by Megan, Antrim, Belfast

By Lilly Delmage | 31 July 2024

Megan Thompson of Nails by Megan opens up the doors of her ‘dream salon’ – flaunting a minimalistic, chic interior. The 23-year-old, Belfast-based nail tech initially set her sights on becoming a make-up artist, taking a beauty therapy course at Belfast Metropolitan College. However, once introduced to the world of…

Nail product polymerisation: what it is & why you need to understand the process

By Dani Bailey | 31 July 2024

Dani Bailey, nail educator & recipient of The Shooting Star Award at the Scratch Stars Awards 2024, explains the polymerisation process… The invention of curable products was a big revolution for the nail industry. Client smudging their nails? Never again! Customers not being able to put their shoes on after a…

How to make the most of a nail competition

By Guest Writer | 29 July 2024

Belinda Price, OPI UK&I education & capability manager, reveals why you should enter nail competitions – and how to make the most of the experience… Entering nail competitions is a great way to grow your skillset and develop your business. It’s a way of assessing where you’re at, setting goals,…