Salon in the Spotlight: Halo Nails, Maidstone
Despite falling in love with nails and qualifying as a nail tech in 2007, Chantelle Wicks had to return to her office job in 2008 after becoming a single mum to her young daughter. It was during the pandemic that she rethought her career and thus, in 2022, nails becoming…
This year’s best advent calendars for nail enthusiasts
We’ve rounded up the best advent calendars for nail pros and enthusiasts, with each including a seasonal surprise behind each door… HONA Advent Calendar HONA’s 12-day advent calendar features 14 new products and surprise goodies for nail techs to unwrap in the run-up to Christmas, with two products in each…
5 ways nail salon owners can support employee wellbeing
Scratch explores ways that salon owners can look after their employees’ physical and mental wellbeing… 1. Promote healthy eating & hydration Here are a few tips: Provide a fruit bowl/healthy snacks in the staff area for employees to help themselves to. Encourage regular food and drink breaks, with water stations…
E-files: Understanding use, RPM, torque & more
Get to grips with E-files as Scratch explores use, key features, care tips and more… The use of an E-file in a nail service can significantly speed up the shaping and filing process, as well as reduce the physically demanding and repetitive use of hand files. “Some nail technicians are…
Should I offer nail service discounts? Marie-Louise Coster explores
In this column, session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, talks discounts, their effects and knowing the worth of your services… Christmas is around the corner and your columns, if not already full, will be filling up fast. The festive season may be slower getting started for you…
Salon in the Spotlight: Kelly’s Beauty Box
Completing her training as a beauty therapist in 2009 and qualifying as a nail technician the following year, Kelly opted to open her own salon after six years of salon experience in 2016. She kept her salon home-based for the first five years after branching out on her own, but…
How to create elegant, elongated lashes that still look natural
Salon System lash expert & educator, Ruth Atkins, shares advice on creating elegant, elongated lashes… You can achieve elegant, elongated and natural-looking lashes using many different types of Salon System lashes. The biggest decision you need to make is how long you want them to last, as different lengths of…
Here’s what happened on the 2023 Nail Camp cruise
Leaving behind Los Angeles, California, for the Mexican Riviera, 2023 Nail Camp invited nail technicians, along with their friends and families, to a four-day educational event out at sea. 45 nail technicians and 30 of their guests attended the 2023 Nail Camp cruise from 21-28 October, spending their time at…
Why I chose a Diploma to enhance my nail career
Seeking a deeper understanding of the nuances of education, Scratch Stars Natural Nail Specialist of the Year 2023, Lucy Price-Marshall, enrolled on a TQUK Level 5 Diploma in Education & Training in 2021, graduating this year. Lucy began her nail journey with private tuition, before enrolling at a college to…
WINNER ANNOUNCED: Scratch Snap November 2023
The winner of Scratch’s monthly nail art challenge has been announced as Becky Marshall. In a showcase of talent, techs stepped up to the Scratch Snap challenge for November and created nail designs inspired by the theme ‘Celestial Creations’, in the bid to win a prize from Nail Order. Judged by Scratch’s copywriter,…
‘Here’s why I actively promote my salon as gender inclusive’
Is it clear that your business is inclusive to all? Some gender norms and discrimination can hold people back from entering salon spaces. Sarah Brown, owner of Angel Avenue salon and training school in Atherton, Lancashire, reveals that she was prompted to promote her salon as a gender and trans…
How to perfect pronouns in your beauty business & beyond
Salon owner, industry advisor & founder of Be Trans Aware inclusivity awareness education, Sam Marshall, serves up advice on pronoun use… “How is they?” was a question my good friend asked about a non-binary partner. Now, I know you’ll be reading that thinking ‘Didn’t Sam check the grammar?’ but those words meant everything…
Nail Tech Talk: Meet Nikki Mikellides, SMHBA National Nail Tech of the Year 2023
Social Media Hair and Beauty Awards (SMHBA) National Nail Technician of the Year 2023, Nikki Mikellides of Nails By Nikki M, shares her career journey and divulges the details of her win… “I’ve always been creative; I enjoyed art at school and was always interested in hair, make-up and nails…
How to support transgender employees in your beauty business
According to a survey conducted by Totaljobs in 2021, 65% of trans people hide their gender status or history in the workplace. 32% of the 400+ trans respondents had experienced discrimination or abuse at work, in the five years prior to the survey. Forms of discrimination or abuse include insults,…
4 ways to be more gender inclusive in your nail & beauty business
Salon owner, industry advisor & founder of Be Trans Aware inclusivity awareness education, Sam Marshall, serves up advice to ensure your business is inviting to all… 1. Get educated Anyone that wants to use our services should be able to, regardless of their gender identity. Unless you know about being…
