Award-winning London beauty student shares her education journey & career dreams
London College of Beauty Therapy (LCBT) student, Damla Osman, scooped the Level 2 Technical Beauty Therapy Student of the Year title at the college’s Star Awards 2023. Awarded in October, she shares that winning the accolade, which was sponsored by Scratch, still feels incredible. “It’s a huge accomplishment for me,…
My experiences as a disabled nail technician
Abi Hassan, owner of Canterbury-based salon, Hot Wheels Nails, shares her experiences as a disabled nail technician and explores the importance of advocating for accessibility in the industry… As a disabled nail technician, I found navigating my way through the start-up of my business to be a minefield. I needed…
Nail Tech Talk: Maria Nevirchak of Nevirchak Studio
Maria Nevirchak entered the nail industry after she finished school, initially hoping to pursue a different career after her 18th birthday. However, she quickly found herself becoming immersed in the world of nails. “The more I delved into the profession, the less I felt the need to switch paths,” she…
Why music matters in the nail salon experience
With 70% of Scratch readers playing music in the nail space, according to a 2023 Instagram poll, it’s important to learn how to cater sound to clients to ensure a comfortable experience. Freddie Moross is CEO of Myndstream, wellbeing-focused salon and spa music provider & an advisory board member for…
Scratch Stars Award-winning nail pro launches planner for salon owners
Scratch Stars Session Nail Stylist of the Year winner 2018 & 2019, Nickie Rhodes-Hill, has launched a planner and appointment book for salon owners. The beauty professional has launched the 2024 editions of her Salon Owner’s Annual Planner and Appointment Book, following the success of the 2023 editions. Featuring a…
Dream Nails CEO on the salon brand’s AI customer service chatbot
Scratch chats to Thanh Vu, CEO of Essex and East London salon franchise, Dream Nails, about its artificial intelligence (AI) nail expert… Tell us about the role of the AI assistant. Dream Nails‘ AI assistant is available 24/7 via a web and WhatsApp interface, and can answer questions about treatments, pricing…
How to effectively market beauty treatments in the run-up to Valentine’s Day
Love it or loathe it, Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to upsell beauty services with nail art and encourage clients to try something new. What’s more, you can gain profit from enticing couples into the salon and promoting retail items as gifts. “The lead up to Valentine’s Day usually sees…
Here’s how to name your beauty salon business & treatments
Award-winning website & brand designer, Liz Rochester Shaddock of Bit2Flash, shares her top tips for naming your business and treatments to boost your brand… First steps Before naming your business, work on your brand strategy. This includes fully understanding your business’ values, vision, and the demographic and preferences of your…
WINNER ANNOUNCED: Scratch Snap January 2024
The winner of Scratch’s monthly nail art challenge has been announced as Carlie Fidgett. In a showcase of talent, techs stepped up to the Scratch Snap challenge for January and created nail designs inspired by the theme ‘Icy Elegance’, in the bid to win a prize from Beauty Boss HQ. Entries were judged by Scratch’s…
5 ways to attract clients to your nail salon business
Esteemed beauty business consultant & trainer, Nergish Wadia-Austin, shares five top tips to entice nail clients to your salon… 1. New season, new nail promotion Offer a special seasonal package that includes unique nail designs or exclusive colours. Highlight this promotion through targeted social media campaigns, and work with your…
Decoded: Conscious beauty terms you need to note
Navigating the world of conscious and sustainable beauty can be tricky, with a wealth of terms used to describe products. For beauty pros sourcing products for their business, it can be a confusing process to decipher what these terms mean and whether they are used in a genuine way, or…
55% of professionals think employers should do more to support workforce wellbeing
Employers should be doing more to help with employee wellbeing, according to 55% of UK&I professionals polled by international recruitment firm, Robert Walters. The research also found that over two-fifths of senior leaders feel that their increased spending on wellness benefits is largely unnoticed. “We are seeing that the onus…
I’m a multi award-winning nail tech – and here’s my strategy for business success
After building a successful, award-winning mobile nail business, Joanna Tompkins was awarded the Scratch Stars Nail Business Mentor Of The Year Award in 2023 for her work within the free Nail Tech Tribe community and the Nail Business Success Club (NBSC). She supports sole trader nail techs and beauticians, who…
How to beat the January business blues
Tina Beaumont-Goddard, membership director at the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF), shares areas to assess in your business and how to beat the January business blues… More green, more clients, more profits The new year is traditionally quieter for salons, so sees a good time to make an action…
4 ways beauty professionals can set boundaries with clients
Following a study by Yell – which revealed that 87% of beauty businesses could be losing out on almost £80 per appointment, as a result of not charging for additional time spent with ‘friendly’ clients – the business marketplace’s head of PR, Sarah O’Rafferty, details four ways business owners can set…
