Salon in the Spotlight: Lilly’s Beauty Cabin, Norfolk
Lilly Rose Spelman has always had close ties with the beauty industry, having spent six years working for top beauty brands including Chanel, Estée Lauder, Urban Decay and GHD, but her end goal was always to own her own business. “I took some time out of the beauty industry to…
Champion tech shares process behind extreme Valentine’s nail style
Anita Chahal of Anita Chahal Creative Designer Nails, North Wales, shares how she created this enchanting, extreme length design and its romantic inspirations. The talented tech, who has been in the nail industry for 23 years, is an educator for Nail & Beauty Excellence (NBE). At Nailympia London 2022, she…
Nail Tech Talk: Joss Neaves of Cloud Nine Nails
With a passion for art and big dreams for the future of her beauty business, Oxfordshire-based tech, Joss Neaves of Cloud Nine Nails, works from her home studio, offering hand-painted nail art to clients. “I was originally attracted to the nail industry because of the nail community. When I got…
Salon in the Spotlight: Nails by Amanda, Market Harborough
When Amanda Wesley-Smith was applying for work as a dental receptionist in early 2020, she could never have imagined that by the end of the year, she would be a fully-qualified nail technician about to enter yet another national lockdown. “At the beginning of 2020, I accepted a job as…
Truro & Penwith College nail students showcase progression through design
Scratch takes a look at the nail techs of the future, as Level 3 Nail Technology students at Truro & Penwith College share their progress… Sarah Brenton-Sara, course coordinator, tutorial quality lead & lecturer at Truro & Penwith College, set nail students the task of creating a progression timeline. “Alongside…
Here’s why nails may look dull after applying cuticle oil
You’ve created a beautiful set of nails; you apply cuticle oil then go to capture a photo and notice that the glossy sheen has suddenly gone dull. So, what causes this? Firstly, ensure that your gel polish is fully cured. If it has not completely cured, then the shine will…
Weak, peeling or damaged nails? Here’s 4 products that can help
Seventy percent of Scratch readers surveyed welcome 10-20 clients a week to their nail desk, and each will arrive with a different request for their finished mani, and a different nail type. You may be presented with nails that break easily, are thin, peeling or damaged, or that simply need…
Nail Tech Talk: Anta Wilkins of Nails2Empress
Mobile and freelance nail artist, Anta Wilkins of Nails2Empress shares her career progression with Scratch, and reveals her hopes for her future in the nail industry. Since gaining her City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in 2018, Anta continued to further her education, training with Glitterbels and Marie Nailz. She…
Salon in the Spotlight: Pinks Beauty Therapy, Crawley
Working as a cabin crew member was Jennifer Brown’s lifelong dream, until she enrolled on a manicure and pedicure course. While working with Excel Airways, Jennifer qualified and set up her beauty business, offering treatments alongside flying. Jennifer named her business Pinks Beauty Therapy in honour of her family, as…
The 10 Valentine’s Day nail designs you need to try in 2023
Valentine’s Day offers endless nail style opportunities, and 2023’s trends are more versatile than ever. Expect to see toned-down, low-key looks in neutral hues trending alongside bright, bubblegum pink tips and eye-catching 3D designs. What’s more, nails are proving to be the ultimate Valentine’s Day accessory, with research by Beauty…
Nail Tech Talk: Hannah Miles of Nails By Han
Sheffield-based tech, Hannah Miles of Nails By Han, sits down with Scratch to share her nail journey and her 2023 career goals. Hannah’s interest in nails was sparked at around 13 or 14 years old, doing her own nails after school. She rekindled her love for nails during lockdown. “Like…
Nail Tech Talk: Danny Manchip of Beau’s Beauty Box
Scratch chats to Danny Manchip of Beau’s Beauty Box about his Scratch Star Award win, career journey & goals for the industry… What sparked your interest in nails? I had been working in retail for 12 years and as I was approaching my 30th birthday, I concluded that I didn’t…
Salon in the Spotlight: Angelic Nails by Emmie, Maesteg, South Wales
Maesteg-based nail tech, Emmie Williams, showcases her Y2k-inspired salon space, Angelic Nails by Emmie. Emmie Williams initially undertook her nail training in Ireland with Crystal Nails, qualifying in 2014, then taking a refresher course in 2021 with Plymouth-based nail educator, Kirsty Parker. She set up her own salon space for…
Introducing In Your Hands: a fully funded nail programme for marginalised industry enthusiasts
A fully funded nail industry initiative has been launched by Bristol-based nail pro, Nathan Taylor, to support marginalised nail enthusiasts. After exploring a number of vocations, admitting that the nail industry ‘was the only industry to keep me interested’, Nathan Taylor moved to Bristol and was offered the opportunity to…
Meet Kaikura: The personal development app for beauty pros
Kaikura helps hair and beauty pros to identify and achieve short and long-term personal goals. Scratch chats to its founder, Steph Stevenson, former National Hair & Beauty Federation board member & owner of the award-winning HNB Salon & Spa in Poole… What inspired you to launch Kaikura? I founded Kaikura…
