Scratch Stars Hall Of Famer reveals what it’s like to judge for the prestigious awards
By Jess Watts | 30 August 2025 | Expert Advice, Feature, Tech Talk
Kayley Cairns, five-time Scratch Stars Award-winner, nail artist & educator, reveals what it’s like to judge for the esteemed competition, and shares advice for entrants.
Kayley Cairns is no stranger to the Scratch Stars Awards. After taking home two awards for Mixed Media Artist of the Year and Nail Stylist of the Year, Kayley went on to secure more wins, and in 2024, Kayley won her third Scratch Stars Nail Stylist of the Year award.
Having won thrice in the category, Kayley entered into the Scratch Stars Hall Of Fame, collecting her trophy at the 2025 Scratch Stars Party.
When a nail pro achieves Hall Of Fame status, they cannot enter the same category again but are welcome to enter other Scratch Stars Awards categories and are invited to become a judge. Kayley was on the judging panel for the Scratch Stars Awards 2025 and spoke to Scratch about her experience.
“I loved judging so much,” Kayley says. “It was a really fun day, and I got to meet so many more people compared to when competing.”
Being on the other side of the competition was, while enjoyable, still a daunting experience. “It’s so hard!” Kayley confesses. “I know what a big deal it is to have the courage to enter and as a judge, I was willing everyone to succeed.”
Kayley admits she had ‘major FOMO’ when watching the entrants compete. “I could feel the nervous energy in the room,” she says. “The feeling of the nerves at different points is addictive – and the feeling when you’ve finished at the end of the practical competition is an amazing high.”
An experienced competitor, Kayley offers some advice for future entrants: “Practice, practice, practice!” She adds: “The tasks can seem daunting at first, and the timings incredibly difficult, but if you practice enough by the time of the competition you should know your work and be able to do it like a well-oiled machine.”
As a judge, Kayley looks for ‘wow factor’, but not just in terms of visuals. She comments that she checks for uniqueness alongside difficulty level. She asks herself, ‘has [a competitor] created something unique and am I amazed they did it in the time or under that kind of pressure? Did they push themselves and show a higher level of skill in order to create it?’.
The Scratch Stars Awards, and other nail competitions, are learning experiences. Kayley offers words of wisdom: “Just go for it! Life begins outside of your comfort zone and whether you win or not doesn’t matter, because you’ll learn so much and have a fun time in the process. It’s a win-win situation!”
Kayley looks towards the future of the nail industry with excitement. “I love the variety of the sector,” she says with a smile. “I’m forever wanting to learn something new or different, and in the nail industry there is so much scope for this – new techniques, new products, new trends. There’s always something more to learn!”
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