Portsmouth nail pro: What I learned from mental health struggles during pregnancy
Laura Gilbert-Anderson of Basic Witch Nails shares her maternal mental health experiences and what they have taught her… I was diagnosed with a liver condition during my first pregnancy, so my baby and I had to be closely monitored. If test results weren’t good, it meant days spent at the…
Beyond The Brush: The nail tech community built on relationships, support & honesty
Gel nail educator & artist, Gemma Siverns, speaks to Scratch about her online community, Beyond The Brush (BTB) – a supportive, educational space she created for nail professionals. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Gemma is a natural mentor. She began her journey in 2000, earning her…
Suffolk nail artist: ‘My salon isn’t just about treatments – it’s a whole experience’
Allie Eve, owner of The Nail Matrix, opens the doors of her bohemian sanctuary salon, unveiling a space to ‘spark creativity and escapism’. “The Nail Matrix is all about stepping out of the chaos and into a space where time slows down and the world melts away,” explains Allie. “From…
Nail tech’s maternal mental health struggles: ‘Talking & finding support saved my life’
New Mexico tech, Amberley Robinson, aka The Nail Tattooist, opens up about her maternal mental health experiences… When my first child was six months old, I juggled roles as a full-time beauty student and breastfeeding mum. Leaving my son with a caregiver each day made me feel heartbroken and guilty,…
Midwife & nail tech: ‘Whether in a delivery room or my nail studio, I love supporting women’
Meet Leila Zahedi: a midwife, nail tech & co-founder of Better Births London – best known as The Midwives in Your Pocket® (MIYP®), a WhatsApp support service offering real-time, compassionate guidance seven days per week. Born in Iran, Leila moved to London and was raised by her single mother and…
Hull home nail salon owner: How I prioritise the mental health of clients
Lucy Allman, owner of The Nail Shed, shares about the supportive ethos of her East Yorkshire garden salon… In 2021, Lucy Allman was made redundant and welcomed a second child. It was this change in lifestyle and need for flexibility that inspired her to carve a career in the nail…
Pet-friendly salons: key benefits & important considerations
Have you ever considered making your salon pet-friendly? A spokesperson for luxury nail salon, Paint Nails London, shares the advantages and what you need to consider. Why did you decide to become a pet-friendly salon? We decided to become a pet-friendly salon because so many of our clients are animal…
Family affair: Meet 3 sets of siblings finding success in the nail industry
Scratch puts the spotlight on brothers and sisters working together in the nail industry… Glitterbels While Annabel Maginnis will likely come to mind when you hear the word ‘Glitterbels’, there is a trio of siblings involved in the brand: Annabel’s husband, Elliott, and his brothers, Mac and Alex. It was…
Living as a nail tech with endometriosis: ‘I was heartbroken & scared of losing my nail business’
Scratch chats to Andover nail tech, Jo Bennett, about her experiences suffering with chronic condition, endometriosis. Endometriosis is a condition which targets the uterus, causing tissue, similar to the lining of the uterus, to grow outside of it. Common symptoms include, but aren’t limited to, severe pelvic pain and extreme…
The mum juggle: how I’ve managed motherhood & a successful beauty business
Session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, opens up about her experiences juggling parenthood and her beauty salon… I am not sure there is ever a right time to start a family. I was quite late to the table when it came to being a mum. Having tried for…
Meet the mums navigating nail careers alongside motherhood
Learn about mums who manicure, as three mothers share their journeys navigating nail careers alongside various stages of motherhood… Katie Turner of Radiant Nails, Devon Katie Turner has two children, one of whom has been diagnosed with autism, sensory processing disorder and pathological demand avoidance. “It’s always been a challenge…
Leeds salon owner: Learning to trust my team & delegate has been a game-changer
You Beauty founder, Rachel Dobson, shares her career story and how learning to delegate tasks has been critical to her success as a manager. Over the past five years, Rachel’s business has rapidly expanded and she reflects on the biggest lesson she has learned: “I tried to do everything myself…
Sussex nail tech: How I navigate epilepsy to keep offering nail services
Dawn Wolk has huge adoration for the nail industry. It gives her independence and a sense of self-worth – but regular seizures mean she can only accommodate two clients per day. The East Sussex nail pro, who attained an L&P acrylic nail qualification in February 2023, suffers with epilepsy and…
Bristol nail tech: how I navigate functional neurological disorder (FND)
To mark FND Awareness Day (25 March), Shara Taylor, owner of Bare Beauty Aesthetics, Bristol, opens up about her experiences with the condition… Charity, FND Action, details: “Functional neurological disorder (FND) is a brain network disorder that can encompass a diverse range of neurological symptoms, including limb weakness, paralysis, seizures,…
Greater Manchester nail tech: Why I closed a bustling salon to open a home-based business
Nina of Wigan home salon, Nina Nicholson Beauty & Lecenté lead educator, shares why a huge career switch was the best decision she ever made… Nina Nicholson opened her first salon at the age of 18, and went on to acquire a larger premises a few years later. After building…
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