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How to effectively teach nail salon clients about aftercare

By Katie Barnes | 10 August 2021

Customer education is critical to maintaining a successful nail and beauty business. Sharing aftercare and other maintenance tips can be difficult, especially if you’re back-to-back with clients or want to avoid sounding pushy. However, the service doesn’t end at the nail desk. Following the correct aftercare can be as important…

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NAIL TECH TALK: Jessica Smith of The Nail Club

By Callie Iley | 7 August 2021

Scratch chats to Jessica Smith of The Nail Club about growing up in a family of nail technicians and leaving an office job to pursue nails full time… Coming from a family of nail technicians, I have grown up watching my mum and auntie create such beautiful sets of nails.…

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Are you considering becoming a cashless salon? Read this…

By Guest Writer | 6 August 2021

Kishon Mather, finance director at the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF), shares points to note if you’re considering becoming a cashless nail or beauty business… Have you ever thought about going cashless in your business? It’s been a hot topic for a while as cashless payments may help to…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Dolled Up, Suffolk

By Callie Iley | 4 August 2021

Dolled Up was established in 2013 by salon owner, Emma Hayes, who took the plunge into the beauty world after being encouraged by her friends. She’d been painting their nails in her spare time, around looking after her two young children, and they recognised her natural skill. “My assistant, Kate…

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Sausage trees? Placenta? Snail slime? Just a few of the wonderfully weird ingredients in your skincare products

By Emma Hobday | 1 August 2021

There are some wild nail and beauty products on the market that host a wonder of unusual ingredients. So sit back, embrace the weirdness, and ask yourself: how far would you go for beauty? The Nimue Anti-Aging Hand Cream contains 20% Kigelia Africana. Never heard of it? Us neither – until…

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NAIL TECH TALK: Kimberley Sargent of Nail’d By Kimberley

By Callie Iley | 31 July 2021

Scratch chats to Kimberley Sargent of Nail’d By Kimberley about her journey into the nail industry and the importance of always improving your skills… During the first lockdown, I became obsessed with watching nail art tutorials on YouTube and TikTok, whilst always keeping up with the latest trends. I set…

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3 nail artists, 1 city, an ethical working code & abundance of creativity – all blend to serve up Supernatural Nails

By Alex Fox | 30 July 2021

A former graphic designer and illustrator, Lucy Allen based in the Kelham Island district of Sheffield, has moved her creative focus onto nails as the owner of Supernatural Nails, having trained as a nail tech three years ago. Opening her nail salon to address concerns she was having on issues…

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My experience of Salon System’s dual lash & brow lift system

By Chloe Randall | 29 July 2021

To celebrate the launch of Salon System‘s new dual treatment lash & brow lift system, I headed to 58 South Molton Street in London to experience a brow lamination myself. With the brow lamination and lash lift becoming increasingly popular with customers, Salon System has created a two in one…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Pinks Nail & Beauty Salon, Kingsbury

By Callie Iley | 28 July 2021

After working at Pinks Nail & Beauty Salon since 2015, Kate Szabo was given the opportunity to purchase the salon from its previous owner in 2019. “At Pinks, we focus on delivering the highest standard of service, focusing on customising treatments for our customers needs,” Kate explains. “Our whole team…

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Is it ever OK to mix nail brands?

By Katie Barnes | 27 July 2021

You’ve probably heard that you aren’t supposed to mix nail brands – as in, a powder from one brand and the liquid from another or one gel polish base from one brand and the colour from another. But does it really make a difference or is it just an overcautious…

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Meet the creative director of Skullen Collective, a nail brand with an edge

By Emma Hobday | 27 July 2021

Scratch talks to Nicole Gutierrez-Lock of Skullen Collective about her exciting nail product line… Nicole launched her nail business Skullen Collective in 2013 to enable her to have an effective work life balance. She holds the role of lead artist and creative director at Skullen Collective, based in Newcastle upon…

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Nail painting workshop helps teach Aussie schoolboys about toxic masculinity

By Emma Hobday | 25 July 2021

Tomorrow Man, which facilitates workshops to break male stereotypes and support Australian men, has encouraged boys to see that painted nails are just that – painted nails – rather than a display of femininity. Within one workshop to ‘disrupt stereotypes and build emotional muscle’, Tomorrow Man’s Josh Ward urged schoolboys…

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NAIL TECH TALK: Jenny Boylan of Jenny Boylan Nail Artist

By Callie Iley | 24 July 2021

Scratch chats to Jenny Boylan of Jenny Boylan Nail Artist about working abroad and opening her own salon… I trained in a beauty academy in Drogheda County Louth. I trained in acrylic and gel enhancements, gel polish and fibreglass. After college, I continued to do add on courses. I did…

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The top 10 nail trends you need this summer

By Lilly Delmage | 22 July 2021

Dig your nails into this summer’s hottest trends! We’ve rounded up the top 10 trends you need to jump on to ASAP! 1. Swirl nails Everyone has seen this trend on Instagram! Its versatility in pattern, colour and style mean it is a timeless classic making the perfect fun addition…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Maci Blanche Nails, Gravesend

By Callie Iley | 21 July 2021

Maci Parry began her nail journey in April 2020, and the 18-year-old opened her salon in July of the same year. “It has been tough journey to say the least. I felt that every time I was building up a clientele and getting into the groove of things I was…

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