EXPERT ADVICE

Gel Lamp Nails Manicure

A guide to the gel system: when & how to use & troubleshooting tips

By Lilly Delmage | 26 June 2025

Nail pros share insight on the gel system… When to use the gel system Theresa Foddering, Lecenté business development manager & Scratch Stars Shooting Star Award finalist 2025, adds: “If a client has weak or brittle nails that require extra support and strength, hard gel is a great option for enhancements.…

Read More
Hannah clayton ai nails column

Nail industry expert: here’s the problem with AI-generated nail designs

By Hannah Beth Clayton | 26 June 2025

Scratch Stars Social Media Star of the Year finalist 2024 & 2025, Hannah Clayton, shares her thoughts on artificial intelligence nail imagery…. We’ve all seen them: every nail shaped like it was designed in a factory with no cuts, dry skin or missing bits of sidewalls. We’re seeing a wave of…

Read More
Lilly web newsfeature lead 1200x800px 197

How to achieve a work-life balance as a beauty professional in summer

By Guest Writer | 24 June 2025

Scratch columnist & beauty business and mindset coach, Zaara King, shares advice for achieving a work-life balance this summer… Summer is upon us and I am so excited for the coming months. Seeing seasonal nail designs puts me in the best mood and makes me want to have fun in…

Read More
June 2025 low res cover for web

Read the latest issue

Lilly Web Newsfeature Lead 1200x800px 18

Want to successfully manage & motivate a nail team? Here’s how…

By Guest Writer | 31 October 2024

Explore strategies to successfully manage and motivate a nail team with business expert & CEO of PHAB Service Stars, Nergish Wadia-Austin.  Leading a team of nail technicians can be both rewarding and challenging, with managers often facing awkward situations that test their skillsets. Understanding how to address these issues effectively…

Read More
Menopause Nails

How menopause affects nails & ways to manage symptoms

By Rebecca Hitchon | 30 October 2024

Menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, and involves a decline in hormone levels – which affects various aspects of a woman’s health. But how does it affect natural nails? “Nail changes caused by the menopause are likely to be associated with low oestrogen levels and dry…

Read More
Adhd

ADHD: How to accommodate employees & clients in the nail space

By Scratch Staff | 28 October 2024

According to the NHS, ADHD affects 3 to 4% of adults and is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in the UK. There are multiple variants of the condition, so diagnosing ADHD is difficult and can take years of assessments. For people with ADHD, everyday tasks can often be…

Read More
Nail Tech At Desk Red Hair Gloves

You’re more than a price tag: how to shine in the crowded nail industry

By Jo Tompkins | 22 October 2024

When you’re a solo nail tech, it’s so easy to feel pressure every time you see another nail tech promoting their services online. You find yourself questioning your prices, wondering if you should lower them, or doubting whether you can keep up. With every tech that launches a business, a…

Read More
Chloe web newsfeature template 1200x800px (69)

How to find a better work-life balance as a nail pro

By Guest Writer | 11 October 2024

Hair & beauty business coach, Maddi Cook of Boss Your Salon, shares top tips for nail pros to achieve a better work-life balance… Howdy nail bosses! Work-life balance is like a unicorn in this industry – often talked about, yet never seen. In fact, it’s one of the most common challenges…

Read More
Nail tech and client

5 ways nail techs can prioritise their mental health when clients offload

By Guest Writer | 8 October 2024

Health psychologist, Dr Ravi Gill, explores how nail technicians can create a safe space for clients to offload while prioritising their own mental health. Nail appointments offer an opportunity for a person to sit still for an hour without the distraction of their phones: an act of self-care and perhaps…

Read More