BUSINESS

Michelle brookes scratch stars educator of the year 2025

Scratch Stars Educator of the Year 2025 shares secrets to nail industry success

By Jess Watts | 21 August 2025

Michelle Brookes is an award-winning nail technician & educator who won Scratch Stars Educator of the Year for the second time in July. She tells Scratch what makes a good educator, how her processes have evolved and what’s next for her career… “Winning the Scratch Stars Educator of the Year…

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Overwhelmed woman

How to beat feelings of overwhelm as a beauty business owner

By Guest Writer | 21 August 2025

Scratch columnist & beauty business and mindset coach, Zaara King, shares wellbeing advice… Hey beauty pros! At this point of the year, I wonder: have you had a ‘wobble’? I’m guilty of letting things get on top of me during the summer months because my children are home from school, the business…

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Alison McCall French manicure photo

Master ‘nailfies’ as a nail tech with these expert photography tips

By Scratch Staff | 19 August 2025

Check out this guide for nail pros who want to capture high-quality nail photos. First impressions matter. Blurry, dark or low-resolution photos can make it difficult for people to properly appreciate your nail creations, which could impact whether they decide to book an appointment. So, it’s crucial that your marketing…

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Aug 25 low res scratch cover

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Britney tokyo

Britney Tokyo reveals summer’s hottest nail art trend

By Sophie Nutt | 19 June 2020

LA-based celebrity manicurist & Scratch columnist for 2020, Britney Tokyo, reveals this summer’s most in-demand nail art trend… I’m going to let you in on a juicy nail art trend that’s a real mood-booster and is set to be huge this summer: fruity nails! Although this isn’t a new trend, it affords…

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Burnout woman

5 ways to prevent burnout in the nail salon

By Guest Writer | 8 June 2020

Janan Saher, director of Aviva Day Spa in Luton, shares advice on how to avoid burnout… As the old saying goes, ‘prevention is better than cure’, and this is something we all need to prioritise while we prepare for the new year.  It’s important to recognise beauty pro burnout in both yourself…

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Katie barnes form fit

Wonky enhancements? Here’s how to ensure your nail form fit is straight

By Katie Barnes | 7 June 2020

A straight line measures the distance between two locations. It measures one point to another without deviating. We use straight lines and angles regularly when creating nails including form fitting, smile lines, filing techniques and nail art. It doesn’t have to be complicated and this post will break it down…

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Hand cream

Helen Burton-Ward on maintaining nails & your business

By Sophie Nutt | 5 June 2020

Scratch Stars Natural Nail Specialist of the Year 2019 and CND education ambassador, Helen Burton-Ward, shares her advice to maintaining clients’ nails and your business while salons remain closed due to Covid-19… Many of us will have lost a huge chunk, if not all, of our income and will have been inundated…

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Silicon practice hand lead

How to care for silicone practice hands

By Guest Writer | 4 June 2020

Theresa Foddering shares her maintenance advice for silicone practice hands… With salons closed and nail professionals in isolation, there has been one hot commodity in lockdown: the silicone practice hand. We all rushed out to buy one, but soon realised they require much more TLC than expected. So how do you keep…

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Stock retail salon buzz

How to boost retail sales during & post lockdown

By Guest Writer | 4 June 2020

Beauty brand consultants and founders of Buzz Beauté, Denise Dente & Jessica Quick, discuss how to up the ante on your retail during and post lockdown… Denise Dente Jessica Quick Service revenue has been deeply impacted by the reduced number of consumers, the need for social distancing and concerns over public…

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