EXPERT ADVICE

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Onycholysis: what is it & how can it be treated?

By Jess Watts | 31 July 2025

Let’s talk the causes of onycholysis, aka nail separation, how to prevent and what to do when it’s presented at the nail desk… Picture this: you scrape your knee and pop a plaster over the top to help it heal. Three days later, that plaster has started to lift. At…

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Nail salon client

How to elevate your beauty business by seeing it through clients’ eyes

By Marie-Louise Coster | 30 July 2025

Session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, discusses the importance of understanding clients’ perspective… When was the last time you walked through your business as if you were an existing or new client? We all need to walk through our businesses, whether physically or virtually, on a regular basis…

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Nails and file

The nail hyponychium: what is it & why does it need protecting?

By Jess Watts | 25 July 2025

Not all heroes wear capes… but sometimes they deserve a little appreciation. Here are some key facts about the hyponychium – your underappreciated nail protector. Akin to how we fill the cracks in between shower tiles, the crevices of our nails also need sealing to protect the nail bed and…

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Q61 harrogate 15

Why you should be offering add-on services

By Sophie Nutt | 6 June 2019

As clients become increasingly time-poor, they may seek to find a professional that can cater to all of their beauty needs in one stint, squeezing treatments around other commitments. As a nail tech, you’ve already earned the trust of your clients, so consider expanding your treatment menu to cater to…

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Margaret dabbs

Margaret Dabbs on the challenges business women face

By Kat Hill | 28 May 2019

What challenges do you think face women in business today? Margaret Dabbs, foot expert turned founder of a global health and beauty brand, shares her thoughts… What in your view are the biggest challenges facing women seeking to build their own businesses? It is sometimes hard to be taken seriously…

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Katie barnes nail designs

Why & how you should tailor each nail service to the individual

By Katie Barnes | 28 May 2019

Just as a hairdresser wouldn’t give every customer that sits in their chair the same hairstyle because it wouldn’t suit them or their lifestyle, nail techs should tailor their services for different clients. This leads into the all-important client consultation; the conversation whereby you sit down and chat to your…

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Waxing pregnancy

Points to consider when waxing pregnant clients

By Scratch Staff | 23 May 2019

Immerse yourself in hair removal tips as ABT director, Dave Horton, discusses pregnancy waxing with ABT accredited trainer, Kim Lawless… Is it medically safe for pregnant women to undergo waxing treatments, and does this differ during the different trimesters? Kim: It’s absolutely safe! I always check with doctors and midwives…

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Festival beauty

How to capitalise on festival beauty needs

By Scratch Staff | 17 May 2019

Sharon Sandhu, category manager for nails at Salon Services UK & Ireland, serves up advice and ideas for capitalising on beauty needs for festivals this summer… Summer is just around the corner, which means festival season is about to begin – and whether people are planning on going to a…

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Katie barnes filing blog

Why & how you need to perfect your filing technique

By Katie Barnes | 14 May 2019

Having a well-structured filing routine that is repeated on every single nail is paramount for success and consistency when finishing and filing your nail enhancements. Many nail technicians rely on filing to fix any issues from poor application. However, filing should only be used to refine and perfect application techniques,…

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