Salon in the Spotlight: Beauty by Georgia Williams, Swansea

By Callie Iley | 23 June 2022

Working in the beauty industry since 2014, Georgia Williams worked in a local salon for her first six years in the industry, moving to home-based for a year following the pandemic. “The pandemic had made me realise I wanted to venture out and work for myself. I was extremely lucky…

Revealed: Why the angle in which you use your tools is important

By Katie Barnes | 21 June 2022

In a previous blog post for Scratch, we covered the importance of correctly holding your nail brush for success. This covers angles and where on the brush you hold.   This is no different for nail tools or other implements we may use throughout the nail service. If your tools…

Nail Tech Talk: Abby Brown of Painted and Pierced 

By Callie Iley | 18 June 2022

Scratch chats with Abby Brown of Painted and Pierced about her future goals of session tekking and the importance of practising as a nail tech… “I love that I get to create mini art every single day,” Abby enthuses. “I feel so lucky that I get to do it daily.…

How to minimise plastic waste in your nail business

By Green Salon Collective | 17 June 2022

Green Salon Collective was founded in 2020 by environmental experts, campaigners and beauty professionals, with an aim to help member salons in the UK and Ireland to responsibly dispose of their waste. In this blog, the Collective explains how to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated by your business.…

Salon in the Spotlight: Dead Gelous, Norfolk

By Callie Iley | 16 June 2022

Lorna Annison trained in nails initially in 2010, but her career led her onto a different path, working in photographic makeup then becoming a parent. “I began working as a lifeguard, but the hours were no longer suitable to my family life. After some thinking, I decided to go back…

Nail Tech Talk: Vicky Gillaspy of Nails by Vicky G

By Callie Iley | 11 June 2022

Vicky Gillaspy chats with Scratch about balancing life as a nail tech and a mother, and her plans for her future in the industry… “I have a very full-on life, balancing running my own business and having two small children, who to put it politely, run me ragged,” Vicky laughs.…

Salon in the Spotlight: Gelalicious, Medway

By Callie Iley | 9 June 2022

Previously working from her nail room within her home, Michaela Phillips outgrew the space, moving to a bespoke salon in her garden. “We have since converted my previous space into my son’s bedroom. Being a first-time mum has made me adapt my working life in various ways – I now…

How to reduce your nail infill time

By Katie Barnes | 7 June 2022

Infill and maintenance services can be the bane of a tech’s life, taking a considerable amount of time, and often undercharging for the time spent.   However, a lot less time is required than you would think. I am going to share my top tips on infill and maintenance procedures…

Summer salon marketing: How to make packages work for your beauty business

By Guest Writer | 2 June 2022

Beauty business expert & founder of Beauty Boss HQ, Layla Tourh, serves up advice for reaping rewards from treatment packages during quieter summer months. It’s that time of year when the temperature is rising, daylight is lasting longer and clients are talking about where they are going for their summer…

Salon in the Spotlight: Snoozy Studio, Blyth, Northumberland

By Callie Iley | 2 June 2022

Kirrin Tasmin’s journey in the beauty industry began in 2015 when she started doing hair extensions, however in 2018, she decided to train in nails. “I started off working in a couple of local salons, before deciding to start working from home in July 2021. It’s been my best decision…

Nail Tech Talk: Beca Carrillo of Geminails by Beca 

By Callie Iley | 28 May 2022

Beca Carrillo of Gemininails sits down with Scratch to chat about the wealth of opportunities for nail techs and where she sees her future within the industry… “I love to express myself with colours,” Beca smiles. “I have always had a love for painting and drawing. “When I started doing…

Salon in the Spotlight: LEAF Beauty, Stoke on Trent

By Callie Iley | 26 May 2022

Working in a spa up until 2017, Zoe Cook made the decision to go self-employed, spending the first three years as a makeup artist in the wedding industry. “I was inspired by my own nail artist to expand and do more, and that’s exactly what I did!” “In January 2020,…

How to effectively fit a form to a wide nail

By Katie Barnes | 25 May 2022

It can be tricky to fit a form on an uneven free edge or when the fleshy pad of skin where the free edge would usually be, is raised and higher than or level with the nail plate. The nail plate is often flat or may be concave. This can…

How your beauty business can help stop deforestation

By Green Salon Collective | 24 May 2022

Green Salon Collective was founded in 2020 by environmental experts, campaigners and beauty professionals, with an aim to help member salons in the UK and Ireland to responsibly dispose of their waste. In this blog, the Collective explains why it’s important to recycle paper and how your business can help…

Behind the scenes: Scratch’s filming with E4’s Teen Mum Academy

By Chloe Randall | 23 May 2022

Lights…camera…action! Back in August 2021, Scratch was invited to take part in Dragonfly’s Teen Mum Academy for E4, and now is the time that we can finally spill all the details! The programme follows six teens who have already experienced one of the biggest life events there is – becoming…