Covid-19 SALON TALK: How I have embraced govt business grants

By Guest Writer | 25 January 2021

Thanh Vu, managing director of four Dream Nails salons, shares how she has made the most of financial support from government – and navigated obstacles – during the coronavirus pandemic… Coronavirus brought unprecedented challenges to businesses and while it has presented numerous opportunities, financial prudence, financial planning and financial support has…

#NowTrending: Pretty pastel cloud nails by Rebecca Marie

By Callie Iley | 19 January 2021

Scratch chats to Rebecca Marie of The Nails Coven Studio about her journey into the nail industry and how she created this pretty pastel cloud nail design… My journey as a nail technician started in 2018. I was never one to get my nails done until the holographic trend came…

How to tackle tricky beauty clients | The Beauty Bloggers

By Guest Writer | 19 January 2021

The Beauty Bloggers, aka Natalie Thompson & Rachel Jenkinson, share their tips for tackling tricky & demanding salon clients… Nat and Rach are ‘The Beauty Bloggers‘ and have over 21 years experience in the beauty sector between them. Their aim is to discuss real issues that beauty professionals face. Passionate…

TECH TALK: Yndaly Neimanis of Lee Beauty Studio

By Callie Iley | 16 January 2021

Scratch finds out more about nail tech, Yndaly Neimanis of Lee Beauty Studio as she unveils her plans for the future. I have been doing nails since 2000 and have four to five bookings for manicures in a normal day. I am always looking for inspiration or soothing myself by…

5 ways I’m preparing for my nail salon to reopen post-lockdown

By Scratch Staff | 14 January 2021

Ruth Munro, Magpie Beauty educator for Scotland and owner of Little Blank Spaces, reveals how she has been using her free time during the Covid-19 lockdown to prepare for the eventual reopening of her business… Beauticians are not allowed to return to work in the UK yet because we can’t…

What is an influencer? | The Beauty Bloggers

By Guest Writer | 13 January 2021

The Beauty Bloggers, aka Natalie Thompson & Rachel Jenkinson, evaluates the role of an influencer in the beauty sphere… Nat and Rach are ‘The Beauty Bloggers‘ and have over 21 years experience in the beauty sector between them. Their aim is to discuss real issues that beauty professionals face. Passionate…

Why you shouldn’t use an at-home gel polish kit

By Katie Barnes | 13 January 2021

Salon owner, educator and award-winning nail stylist, Katie Barnes, unveils concerns surrounding DIY gel polish kits… Gel polish seems like an easy to use, harmless product – surely, it’s just like painting on a nail polish, isn’t it? Well, this is the attitude that is causing problems amongst some non-professionals, as they…

How I navigate my 4 London nail salons & staff through lockdown

By Guest Writer | 13 January 2021

Hi Scratch readers, My name is Thanh Vu and I guess I fall into the stereotypical Vietnamese nail technician. I run Dream Nails, a nail and beauty salon business, which consists of four nail salons in the Essex/East London corridor. I have been in the nail industry for 15 years…

How I cope as a nail tech in a national lockdown

By Guest Writer | 12 January 2021

Scratch chats to Millie Donovan, brand ambassador for SNA Professional & owner of MBeauty, about how she’s navigating lockdowns… This year has been a rollercoaster for everyone, with both highs and lows. There have been more highs for some and more lows for others, but the main thing is how we all got…

#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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…