Black Friday 2025 strategies for beauty salons: tips to engage clients
Sam Kendall, CEO at salon software company, SalonIQ, shares how beauty businesses can reap rewards this Black Friday… Black Friday has become a fixture in the calendars of shoppers across the globe, and it’s not just big business for retailers – the hair and beauty world is getting involved too.…
Glitterbels Gel Polish course: My experience with the Scratch Stars Ultimate Nail Team
Join me as I relay my visit to Stoke-on-Trent and Glitterbels’ stunning HQ, where I took my first official steps into professional nail styling… My first encounter with the Glitterbels team was at The Scratch Stars Party 2025, at which the brand’s education team was recognised with a third win…
Beauty organisations partner with UK Government to tackle employee illness
More than 60 UK employers are joining forces with the Government to reshape how health issues and disabilities are managed in the workplace. This follows Sir Charlie Mayfield’s Keep Britain Working Review, which revealed that one in five working-age adults are out of the labour force (800,000 more than 2019).…
Revealed: how to choose a flattering nail shape
Though it is true that anyone can wear whatever nail style they desire, there are certain elements of nail shapes that tend to complement specific features. Let’s take a look at how to choose the perfect nail shape to suit your hands… The first step in figuring out your ideal…
Feature your five a day on fingertips with 14 vegetable-inspired nail designs
Check out entries to the 5 November 2025 nail art challenge from Scratch, in which techs were tasked with creating a design to fit the theme: Vegetables. Each nail style was submitted via Instagram or Facebook using #ShowScratch #CreativeChallenge. Follow Scratch on Instagram and Facebook for future Creative Challenges – launching every other Wednesday. Take a look at this gallery of…
Beauty business guide: reflecting on 2025 & setting goals for 2026
Scratch columnist & beauty business and mindset coach, Zaara King, offers tips for success as we reach the end of the year… Don’t burn yourself out just because you’ve seen social media posts asking ‘what do you have to show for 2025?’. Although the intention to recognise your highlights from the past…
76 pink & black nail art designs: contest entries & winner reveal
The winner of the Scratch Snap nail art contest for October is Carla Brannan of @gelled_pretty. In a showcase of talent, UK&I techs created salon-style nail designs inspired by theme, Pink & Black, in the bid to win a Nail Order prize. Entries were judged by Bekka Costello, co-founder & CEO of Nail Order, and Scratch deputy editor, Rebecca Hitchon.…
The Nail Lab expands education offering with The Nail Hub
Professional nail brand, The Nail Lab (TNL), has expanded its education offering with the launch of The Nail Hub – a dedicated arm of the business designed to ‘raise education standards throughout the UK and beyond’. The Nail Hub serves to empower nail professionals through structured, high-quality training. With a…
From passion to profession: the Wiltshire home salon known for nail art
Tina Annal began her nail career in 2014, starting with an online nail course then completing an NVQ in Nail Services at a local beauty academy. As an independent home-based tech in Hilperton, Tina has carved out many spaces of her house over the years to cater to clients: starting…
What nail look should you wear based on your November full moon horoscope?
November heralds a new month and with it, new moon movements. November’s luna is extra special; on Wednesday 5 November 2025, a Beaver Moon (aka Frost Moon or Mourning Moon) will appear in the night skies. This is 2025’s closest supermoon to the earth, meaning it will appear as the…
From struggle to success: how a Brighton nail pro thrives with cystic fibrosis
Giorgia Cappella, head of education & spa at The GelBottle Inc (TGB), shares her experiences living and thriving with cystic fibrosis. What is cystic fibrosis? According to the NHS website, cystic fibrosis is ‘a rare, inherited genetic condition that causes breathing and digestive problems. There is currently no cure, but…
30 autumnal designs for short nails
Though a smaller canvas, short nails do not restrict the opportunity for seasonal nail art, and the length boasts a chic aesthetic. Here are 30 petite polish ideas to fall for this autumn…
Celebrity-approved Halloween nail ideas for spooky season
Featured image courtesy of Instagram.com/nailsbyzola Watching famous faces lean into spooky season is one of our favourite hobbies, and many celebs take a ‘no holes barred’ approach to Halloween nails. From horrifyingly realistic blood splatters to cute ghost French tips, we have rounded up the best A-lister nail looks: spooky…
Halloween decoration ideas for bootifully bewitching beauty salons
We’ve sourced salon setups that have been spiced up for Halloween, turning them into witchy workshops where cobwebs meet cuticles. Whether aiming for ghoulish glam or a more sinister style, check out our roundup of spookified salons for inspiration… Why decorate? Khristie Lawton, owner of Kiki Yorkshire in Doncaster, says…
Nail tech communities: 4 online groups for networking & growth
Are you seeking support from fellow nail techs? Do you want easy access to creative and business inspiration? Do you have questions but don’t know who to ask? The answer might lie in joining a nail networking group. Here’s four to explore… The Nail Tech Org The Nail Tech Org…
