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The Suffolk nail tech who transformed her lockdown hobby into a thriving salon business

By Lilly Delmage | 7 November 2024

Jemma Cornell, behind JC Nails, started her nail journey during lockdown in 2020 and four years later, has transformed her hobby into a full-time career. The Suffolk-based tech felt she needed something to ‘keep her busy’ during the challenging Covid-19 period, and decided training in nails was the answer. She…

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How a part-time job at a nail brand inspired an employee to become a nail tech

By Lilly Delmage | 30 October 2024

Ellie Toms’ part-time job at nail brand, Lecenté, inspired her career change to become a nail technician. Here’s her story… The now tech ‘fell in love’ with the brand’s products, so much so that it inspired her to become a nail tech so she was able to use them. The…

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Laptop Nails Booking

How a booking system can benefit a nail tech’s work-life balance

By Hannah Beth Clayton | 9 October 2024

Natural nail specialist & educator, Hannah Beth Clayton, shares how booking software has supported the day-to-day running of her business… Throwback to around four years ago, and I spent most evenings with a pen and paper, messaging clients back and forth to find an appointment for them. My husband would…

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Oms

The Manchester tech who created her ‘dream nail salon’ in 4 days

By Lilly Delmage | 25 September 2024

Olivia Riley is the Bolton-based tech behind Olivia May Studio, a space she transformed into the salon of her dreams in just four days. The manicurist got the keys to her salon just two weeks before opening day, she reveals, “We completed the work in a total of  four days…

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The Nail Desk Co Olivia Annice

How 2 graduates went from university friends to thriving in the nail industry

By Lilly Delmage | 19 September 2024

I met Olivia Annice, the tech behind Olivia Annice Nails, at university in 2020. Her nail business has since flourished, and I have also joined the nail realm: working at Scratch as a news & features writer since July 2024. We met up to work at Olivia’s first nail event…

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Neurodiversity Infinity Symbol

How to accommodate neurodivergent needs in the nail space

By Rebecca Hitchon | 12 September 2024

Do you know what neurodiversity is? Half of beauty pros identify as neurodivergent and 27% work with a neurodivergent team member, so it’s likely you do. The Brain Charity states: ‘some people’s brains simply work in a different way. For at least 20% of the UK’s adult population, these differences…

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Sophia And Cinzia The Girls Bathroom Nails

‘I did Sophia and Cinzia’s nails’: Manchester nail tech shares her experience

By Lilly Delmage | 10 September 2024

Influencers and co-hosts of The Girls Bathroom podcast, Sophia and Cinzia, selected Lindsay Heigh as the nail tech for their tour manicures, sending an influx of followers to her social media accounts. Fashion and lifestyle influencers, Sophia Tuxford and Cinzia Baylis Zullo, well-known for their trendy manicures amongst their 420,000+ YouTube subscribers, sought a…

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Psoriasis

Nail techs with psoriasis reveal what life is like with the skin condition

By Rebecca Hitchon | 3 September 2024

Psoriasis is a ‘condition that causes dry, scaly and sometimes itchy or sore patches on the skin,’ according to the NHS. Here, two nail techs share their experiences with psoriasis… “I suffer from seasonal psoriasis on my fingers and hands (mostly during autumn and winter) and psoriatic arthritis,” shares Fie…

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Melanie Lewedon

Finding the perfect nail course: a guide by Scratch Stars Educator of the Year 2024

By Lilly Delmage | 28 August 2024

Scratch Stars Educator of the Year 2024, Melanie Lewendon, shares her top tips for finding the best nail courses to extend your skills.. Continual professional development is critical in any industry, the expert educator explains: “Techniques and products are constantly evolving, and it’s essential to stay updated. This not only…

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Nail Tech Talk: Kassie Payne of Nailz by Kass

By Lilly Delmage | 28 August 2024

Luxury press-on nail artist, Kassie Payne, shares what sparked her passion for creating portrait nail artistry and her social media journey, and reveals the journey to launching own range of nail products… Kassie joined the world of nails as a means of income. She says: “The first three years I…

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Nuse beauty

Meet the Nottingham beauty salon owner providing a sanctuary for busy mums

By Lilly Delmage | 25 August 2024

Fotini Bihuci is the nail tech behind Nuse Beauty, the ‘cosy home-based’ salon designed for new mums and clients who struggle with anxiety. Having worked in hospitality and tourism management, understanding the needs of clients has always been at the centre of Fotini’s work. In September 2023, when she became…

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Georgie Smedley Greek Cooking Class Clacton Aug 24

Nail industry experts unite for exciting class & retreat in Clacton

By Alex Fox | 14 August 2024

Seven nail industry professionals travelled to The Royal Hotel in Clacton, Essex, for a class led by renowned nail expert, Georgie Smedley. The business owner and former UK distributor of Gelish, fought an aggressive cancer during 2023 and is now back in good health, so invited industry colleagues for a…

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Nail Competition Jess And Rachel

Friendly competition: Nail techs from the same town confuse clients with name swap

By Lilly Delmage | 21 July 2024

Two nail techs from a small town in Sheffield were used to being compared by clients, but bolstered their confusion when they swapped surnames. One of the Birley-based techs, Rachel Harrison, explains the beginnings of her relationship with fellow town tech, Jessica Allen. Jessica started working in her mum’s home…

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New Nail Salon Jessica White

Meet Jessica White: The salon owner who started painting nails in her university room

By Lilly Delmage | 19 July 2024

Scratch Stars Social Media Star of the Year finalist 2024, Jessica White, shares her inspirational career journey: detailing her humble beginnings painting nails at university, to opening her own salon. The Leeds-based nail artist & content creator works full-time creating content for her 200,000+ social media followers, tending to the…

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Ms

How to accommodate nail clients with multiple sclerosis (MS)

By Rebecca Hitchon | 30 May 2024

Nail techs share advice for catering to clients with multiple sclerosis (MS)… What is MS? On its website, the NHS states: “Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that can affect the brain and spinal cord. It’s a lifelong condition that can sometimes cause serious disability, although it can occasionally be…

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