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.…

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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…

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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…

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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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Brush On Builder Gel Application

Brush-on builder gel: how to nail application & infill

By Rebecca Hitchon | 27 August 2024

Enhance your knowledge of brush-on builder gel with insight from pros… How to apply “Thorough prep is imperative, as with any nail service,” details Theresa Foddering, head of education at Lecenté. “Providing the natural nail is adequately prepared, builder gel will brush on effortlessly. “I recommend applying a thin first…

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6 top tips for creating the perfect nail service treatment menu

By Scratch Staff | 27 August 2024

Creating a treatment menu for nail services is not an easy task. With so much to offer, nail appointments have become more bespoke and personal than ever, making it hard to put all services on one menu. However, making your booking process as easy as possible to navigate is the…

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Nail Tech Trio Salon

First impressions count: Top tips for perfecting your dialogue with new nail salon clients

By Michelle Brookes | 26 August 2024

It’s really important to ensure that, as a nail technician, you maintain a high level of professionalism, even when a situation is challenging. First impressions count and how you behave from the first point of contact with a client will set the tone for the relationship. If they have contacted…

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Nail Learning Strategy Plan Kim Ford

Are you a nail tech who wants to develop new skills? Here’s how to make a successful future learning strategy

By Guest Writer | 23 August 2024

Global business & beauty education expert, Kim Ford, shares advice… How to create your future learning strategy It is the end of the academic year and an apt time to consider your strategy for future learning. Whether you’re a nail newbie or wish to develop existing skills, write down your…

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Money Mindset Salon Price List

Hesitant about raising your beauty treatment prices? A pricing expert explains why you shouldn’t be

By Guest Writer | 22 August 2024

Maddi Cook, the powerhouse behind hair and beauty marketing and mindset coaching company, Boss Your Salon, shares why you shouldn’t be scared to raise your treatment prices… I like maths because it’s an exact science. There’s no room for interpretation, there are no grey areas and it’s not subjective: 2…

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