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Here’s why you shouldn’t let your nail & beauty tools air dry after cleaning

By Katie Barnes | 11 September 2023

Most nail tools and e-file bits are made from steel and iron. Rust occurs on nail tools, E-file bits, and other metal items when water (or moisture including humidity) and oxygen come into contact with iron or steel for a certain amount of time. This is a naturally occurring chemical…

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Opi winners spotlight

Meet the OPI Education Team, Scratch Stars Awards Nail Team of the Year 2023

By Callie Iley | 9 September 2023

Consisting of 20 nail professionals, the OPI Education Team is a close-knit group of passionate educators based across the UK, working on a full-time and freelance basis. “As a team, we all very much admire and inspire each other, whether it be creative talent, business acumen, approach with students, attitude,…

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A dash of beauty in balcombe

Salon in the Spotlight: A Dash Of Beauty, Balcombe

By Callie Iley | 7 September 2023

Gaining her NVQ level 2 and 3 in beauty therapy in 2013 at Nescot College in Epsom, Surrey, Lisa Wathen went on to work in a range of spas, training with Elemis and ESPA Skincare, before continuing her education with HD Brows, The GelBottle Inc, and a local independent trainer close…

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How nail & beauty pros can use Pinterest to boost their business

By Chloe Randall | 5 September 2023

According to social media management site, Combin, 76% of Pinterest users are women, with females aged 25 to 34 dominating the platform. The Scratch Nail Industry Survey 2022 revealed that this age range makes up the majority of nail clients, so embrace your target audience by understanding the social media…

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Kamila borowiec ssas tech talk

Nail Tech Talk: Meet Kamila Borowiec, Scratch Stars Polish & Paint Artist of the Year 2023

By Rebecca Hitchon | 5 September 2023

Scratch Stars Polish & Paint Artist of the Year 2023 & runner-up in the first-ever World’s Star Nail Artist (WSNA) competition, Kamila Borowiec, shares her industry journey, future goals and experience of juggling both competitions… After Kamila’s nail technician moved to another country, she struggled to find the same quality…

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Threads

Threads: Is it here to stay?

By Callie Iley | 3 September 2023

Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, reported over five million sign-ups to Threads in the first four hours of its launch. Scratch explores whether the social media platform is here to stay & its benefits for nail pros…   On 5 July, microblogging platform, Threads, made its presence known in the social…

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Nail Tech Talk: Meet Joanna Tompkins, Scratch Stars’ Nail Business Mentor Award winner 2023

By Carter Rogers | 3 September 2023

Meet Scratch Stars’ winner of the Nail Business Mentor Award 2023, Joanna Tompkins of Nail Tech Tribe, as she shares insight to her career journey and reveals details from her competition process…  “10 years ago, I was an admin assistant wanting more than anything to escape being tied to an…

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Sarah rushworth of the nail shed

Nail Tech Talk: Meet Sarah Rushworth of The Nail Shed, Scratch Stars Home Nail Salon of the Year 2023

By Callie Iley | 2 September 2023

Valuing offering clients a personalised, focused service due to her struggles with anxiety since the birth of her son, Sarah Rushworth of The Nail Shed, Bolton, details her nail journey & how it felt to win Home Nail Salon of the Year in the Scratch Stars Awards 2023… Working two…

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Lucy's glamourvan in deal

Salon in the Spotlight: Lucy’s Glamourvan, Deal

By Carter Rogers | 31 August 2023

Getting into the industry seeking flexible working hours around childcare in 2002, Lucy Fulbrook tackles new terrain with her mobile salon, the Glamourvan… With a budget of £1000 to renovate a poor condition caravan she purchased for £150, Lucy and her builder husband set to work on converting it into…

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Jiak hing ss 23

Nail Tech Talk: Meet Jiak Hing, Scratch Stars Gel Polish Stylist of the Year 2023

By Rebecca Hitchon | 30 August 2023

Scooping a second consecutive win in the category, Jiak Hing became the Scratch Stars Gel Polish Stylist of the Year 2023 in July. Here, she shares her competition story, career beginnings and favourite part of her role… Jiak, based in North West England, has a passion for nail art that…

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Looking to improve your business? Salon owners, listen up!

By Chloe Randall | 29 August 2023

Business expert and founder of the International Business School, Liz McKeon, has launched an international coaching programme, ‘The Successful Salon Formula’. The Successful Salon Formula programme uses the 3G Method™, where Liz will personally help salon owners to implement and enhance their salon by providing training on how to be…

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Website

Nail techs, here’s why you need a business website

By Marie-Louise Coster | 27 August 2023

Session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, begins her monthly column for Scratch by sharing the benefits of having a business website – and why social media is not an alternative… A website can be an expensive resource, and once built it requires work. So why do you…

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Nail Tech Talk: Meet Lucy Price, Scratch Stars Natural Nail Specialist of the Year 2023

By Callie Iley | 26 August 2023

Get to know Scratch Stars Natural Nail Specialist of the Year 2023, Lucy Price of Lucy Rose Nails, as she shares insight into her career journey & reveals details from the night of the Scratch Stars Awards 2023… Initially training in manicure, pedicure and gel colour treatments at 16 after…

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August scratch snap winner header

WINNER ANNOUNCED: Scratch Snap August 2023

By Callie Iley | 25 August 2023

The winner of Scratch’s monthly nail art challenge has been announced as Hayley Badgery. In a showcase of talent, techs stepped up to the Scratch Snap challenge for August & created nail designs inspired by the theme ‘Pearly Perfection’ in the bid to win a prize from Glitterbels. Judged by Scratch’s copywriter, Callie…

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Why you should introduce pamper parties to your nail business

By Chloe Randall | 25 August 2023

Whether you offer mobile nail and beauty services or run a home or high street salon, pamper parties are an offering that can help boost profits and broaden your clientele. From children’s parties to corporate gatherings, hen ‘dos and baby showers, a pamper party brings together a group of people…

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