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#NowTrending: Big hug graffiti nails by Laura Cord

By Callie Iley | 12 January 2021

Scratch chats to Essex nail tech, Laura Cord of Laura Cord Nail Artist, about her journey into the nail industry and how she created this uplifting graffiti nail design.   I have always been a creative person with a passion for art and design. At college, I successfully completed an…

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Rachel spry nails

Does the nail industry recognise the needs of the deaf?

By Alex Fox | 12 January 2021

Deaf nail technician, Rachel Spry speaks of a punishing personal nail journey & offers solutions to an industry that’s unaware of its short comings when it comes to the deaf community. Age: 24 years Location: Whitstable, Kent Business name: Rachel’s Beauty Years in nails: 8 years The nail industry is…

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Risk assessments

How to perfect your nail treatment risk assessment

By Guest Writer | 12 January 2021

Hazel Dixon shares her expertise on risk assessments – what to consider, include and how to ensure your assessment is up to scratch. A risk assessment is the method used to identify hazards and risks that have the potential to cause harm, find ways to eliminate these or control them…

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Dream Nails team Blackwall Reach Royal Wharf

How to motivate a nail & beauty team during lockdown

By Guest Writer | 11 January 2021

Thanh Vu, managing director of four Dream Nails salons, shares how she is keeping her staff members motivated & morale high during lockdown… Dream Nails employs 30 staff members across its salon network. It has always been my belief that the staff are the single most important reason behind the success…

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Layla Tourh

Why you need to approach your beauty business differently in 2021

By Guest Writer | 11 January 2021

Layla Tourh, MD of The Creative Beauty Group and founder of Beauty Boss HQ, an online platform dedicated to supporting beauty bosses in the running of their business, shares her top tips & words of wisdom… It’s time to switch up your ‘New Year, New Me’ approach The effects of lockdown may mean…

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Is your beauty course reputable? Here’s 8 ways to tell…

By Guest Writer | 11 January 2021

The team at Beauty Courses Online shares advice on choosing a reputable nail or beauty course… Unlike other industries in which poor practitioners can take some time to surface, a bad nail or beauty treatment is visible on a client straight away – so it’s hard to fake success. There…

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Halo Polibuild reverse French

How-to: Reverse French using Halo’s Polibuild

By Guest Writer | 10 January 2021

The team at Pure Nails share how to create French style nail designs using the reverse technique and Halo’s PoliBuild system… Are you seeking an enhancement system that’s speedy to apply – but that offers super strength? Halo PoliBuild Precision Gel combines the benefits acrylic and hard gel to create a system…

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Maisie Dunbar salon success

Maisie Dunbar’s 12 tips for nail salon success post lockdown

By Guest Writer | 10 January 2021

Award-winning beauty ambassador and consultant, Maisie Dunbar, shares her pointers for maintaining salon success post-lockdown… Do not scrimp on universal sanitation and health & safety practices as outlined by government. Make sure you wipe down the chairs, lamps, after every guest. Keep track of your new inventory so you don’t…

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MINDFUL MATTERS: The Power of Positivity

By Alex Fox | 9 January 2021

  I’m so pleased to have been invited as a regular columnist & blogger for Scratch. The main reason for this being that I’ve seen first-hand how the past year has affected people within the nail industry and I want to do everything I can to try and help. Without…

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TECH TALK: Lucy Booth of Lucy London

By Callie Iley | 9 January 2021

Scratch chats with Lucy Booth of Lucy London about the progression of her love for nails and the advice that changed her career. I’ve always loved nails! Even when I was younger, I’d have walls full of hundreds of nail polishes. As I got older, I completely fell in love…

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Sam haste web feature

Covid career changes: Retraining as a nail tech after losing my job

By Chloe Randall | 8 January 2021

Samantha Haste’s life was turned upside down when the pandemic hit and she lost her job, shortly after moving to a new city. Unable to pay her bills and rent, she decided to head down the path of training as a nail tech with Beauty Tribe.  “I was working as…

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Industry Issue – Life as a Left-Handed Tech

By Alex Fox | 7 January 2021

Scratch talks to left-handed techs to gain a perspective on what challenges they face when working as a nail professional We live in a right-handed world. This is born from 90% of the population being right-handed, while the other 10%, known as southpaws or left-handed, must grin and bear it…

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Dry hands

How to care for dry hands

By Kat Hill | 7 January 2021

With a firm focus on hand hygiene during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, are you hands dry from the repeated washing? Dr Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist & British Skin Foundation spokesperson, shares her advice for easing dryness… Repeated cleansing and use of alcohol gel has resulted in nearly all of my…

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Katie Barnes Nail Shapes

How to file 5 different nail shapes for your clients

By Katie Barnes | 7 January 2021

Educator, former Scratch columnist and award-winning nail stylist, Katie Barnes, reveals how to file various nail shapes for your client… When filing nail shapes on enhancements, it is important to remember that the way your form is fitted and how you build the product is paramount for the correct shape and longevity of the…

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Here’s your 10-point beauty business plan for 2021

By Guest Writer | 7 January 2021

Ria-Jaine Lincoln, an accountant that specialises in helping beauty businesses, shades 10 points to consider to help navigate challenges in 2021 and aim for success… The start of a new year is usually the time when people focus on their business and personal goals. Many speak of starting new diet…

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