5 areas to consider to make your nail & beauty business more inclusive

By Guest Writer | 13 March 2024

Fiona Fox, owner of Dorset salon, Ulu Beauty, provides training to beauty pros on areas including mental health awareness, safeguarding, equality and diversity. It’s important to champion inclusivity, because everybody should feel able to enjoy nail and beauty services. Inclusion is about making sure anyone who wants a treatment can…

Nail Tech Talk: Kimberley Hearn of byKIMI Nails

By Callie Iley | 9 March 2024

Seeking a career that offers flexibility around her family, Kimberley Hearn of byKIMI Nails shares her journey of establishing her nail business around her three children. Kim spent eight years working in the car industry, but was furloughed for 10 months during the pandemic, followed by maternity leave with her…

Salon in the Spotlight: Nini’s, Portrush NI

By Callie Iley | 7 March 2024

On a visit to her wife’s native town of Portrush, Northern Ireland, in Easter 2022, an empty premises beside the sea caught Naoise McGeer-Letson’s eye. Formerly a hairdressers, the original shop had closed due to the pandemic and remained empty since, until it was transformed into Nini’s salon. Moving from…

Daniel Thwaites Spa Group collaborates with Amethyst Trust to enhance cancer care training

By Callie Iley | 6 March 2024

Leading spa and wellness destination, Daniel Thwaites Spa Group, is elevating its cancer care training with the SATCC-approved Amethyst Trust, which specialises in the Amethyst Specialist Cancer Massage. Approved by the Standards Authority for Touch in Cancer Care (SATCC), the training with the Amethyst Trust offers a range of treatments…

Understanding the 3/32-inch shank size with E-file bits

By Katie Barnes | 5 March 2024

If you’re a nail technician, you may have come across the term, ‘3/32-inch shank size’, when shopping for E-file bits. But what does this measurement mean, and why is it crucial to understand it for a seamless nail filing experience? The shank size of an E-file bit refers to the…

Nail techs: Here’s how you can raise your business profile

By Guest Writer | 4 March 2024

Scratch Stars award-winner 2022 & 2023, Clare Woodcock, founder of Surrey-based mobile beauty business, The Nail Club, shares key ways to raise your profile as a nail pro… You’ve got your business up and running, you have a handful of loyal clients and you feel confident in your work. Now,…

6 ways to attract & retain a diverse nail salon clientele

By Guest Writer | 3 March 2024

Nail artists, Carys Munro and Elsie Tate from South Wales, share top tips for attracting and retaining a diverse range of nail clients… No one should feel out of place or like an inconvenience when they walk through the salon door. It is important to create a welcoming space for…

Nail Tech Talk: Meet Katie Dutra, gel nail artist, educator & content creator

By Callie Iley | 2 March 2024

A passionate educator determined to use her experiences to benefit other nail pros, Katie Dutra shares her career story and reveals her hopes for the future of the nail industry… With intentions of becoming a hair stylist, Katie Dutra enrolled in a full cosmetology course in 2011. However, her plans…

4 ways to spring clean your beauty salon business & set it up for success

By Guest Writer | 2 March 2024

Mike Waldon, general manager at salon management software company, Salon Manager, shares how to ensure your business is prepared for the busy spring and summer months… 1. Clean up your stock. Before spring, you should take some time to get ‘out with the old and in with the new’ and…

WINNER ANNOUNCED: Scratch Snap February 2024

By Callie Iley | 1 March 2024

The winner of Scratch’s monthly nail art challenge has been announced as Carrie Williams. In a showcase of talent, techs stepped up to the Scratch Snap challenge for February and created nail designs inspired by the theme ‘February Florals’, in the bid to win a prize from Hara Professional. Entries were judged…

Salon in the Spotlight: Nails Edinburgh, Edinburgh

By Scratch Staff | 29 February 2024

Former street artist, Miska, channelled her creativity into a home-based nail studio, from which she offers manicures and gel enhancements. “Street art made me who I am,” she shares. “Cutting stencils requires a lot of precision, and this skill led me to be good at nails.” Miska immersed in the…

How to accommodate mature nail clients

By Rebecca Hitchon | 28 February 2024

Does your business cater to all ages of client? While you may know that your business is welcome to all, is this clear to others – and are you missing out on the benefits of treating mature clients? “It is incredibly rewarding to treat older clients, because having their nails…

Nail Tech Talk: Lolli Hamilton of Nail Artistry by Lolli

By Callie Iley | 28 February 2024

Lolli Hamilton discusses her commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming salon space at Nail Artistry by Lolli, and explores the importance of individuality in the nail community. Formerly a freelance make-up artist, Lolli decided it was time for a career change during lockdown. Enrolling in a range of online…

Nail & beauty pros: here’s what to consider when taking out an insurance policy

By Michelle Brookes | 27 February 2024

Every nail professional needs insurance; whether working from home seeing just a few clients each week, on a full-time or self-employed basis. I’ve heard some nail techs say that they don’t have insurance as they only see a few regular clients, family members and friends for appointments. These techs still…

Top tips for perfecting nail prep

By Guest Writer | 27 February 2024

Elevate your business and embrace new techniques with advice from the Scratch Stars award-winning OPI team, as OPI field educator, Ashleigh Clements, shares her top tips for perfecting nail prep. Nail preparation is the foundation of a great nail service. Great nail prep offers a smooth canvas for product application…