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Beau's lines

Beau’s lines on nails: what they are & how to treat them

By Lilly Delmage | 22 June 2025

Have you heard of Beau’s lines on nails – but aren’t quite sure what they are? Here’s everything you need to know about the natural nail condition. What are they? Beau’s lines are horizontal ridges or dents on the nail plate, caused by a slowdown in the production of new…

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How to elevate & promote pedicure services

By Guest Writer | 17 June 2025

Enhance your pedicure confidence and elevate your promotion of the service with top tips from footcare specialist, Denise Spragg, owner of The Sangha House. Feet, right? ‘Ugh, I hate my feet, and I couldn’t bear anyone touching them’ is something I hear so often as a pedicurist. In this article, I…

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Pedicure

Pedicure tips: how nail techs can safely support clients with diabetes

By Scratch Staff | 12 June 2025

According to charity, Diabetes UK, approximately 6% of the UK population suffers from diabetes. Learning about the condition and how to accommodate it is key to making diabetic clients feel safe and able to enjoy their nail experiences. Here, we explore how the condition can affect clients and what you…

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Dry hands

How to care for dry hands

By Kat Hill | 7 January 2021

With a firm focus on hand hygiene during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, are you hands dry from the repeated washing? Dr Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist & British Skin Foundation spokesperson, shares her advice for easing dryness… Repeated cleansing and use of alcohol gel has resulted in nearly all of my…

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Katie barnes nail shapes

How to file 5 different nail shapes for your clients

By Katie Barnes | 7 January 2021

Educator, former Scratch columnist and award-winning nail stylist, Katie Barnes, reveals how to file various nail shapes for your client… When filing nail shapes on enhancements, it is important to remember that the way your form is fitted and how you build the product is paramount for the correct shape and longevity of the…

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Business strategy accounts

Here’s your 10-point beauty business plan for 2021

By Guest Writer | 7 January 2021

Ria-Jaine Lincoln, an accountant that specialises in helping beauty businesses, shades 10 points to consider to help navigate challenges in 2021 and aim for success… The start of a new year is usually the time when people focus on their business and personal goals. Many speak of starting new diet…

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Are UV & LED nail lamps safe?

By Guest Writer | 7 January 2021

Globally renowned scientist and nail expert, Doug Schoon, explores the safety concerns surrounding UV nail lamps… The facts that I will outline below demonstrate that UV curing nail lamps are safe, despite attacks by the misinformed media, fear-mongers and TV celebrity doctors. This controversy started in 2009 when two dermatologists…

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5 ways to improve your online nail & beauty tutorials

By Katie Barnes | 5 January 2021

You don’t have to be a teacher to create tutorials for your customers. There are two kinds of tutorials: short ‘how to at home’ demonstrations for consumers and more in depth, factual lessons for professionally trained techs, taught by qualified teachers. They serve different purposes and offer different results. Owing…

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Dream nails press on nails

Press-on nails: How & why you should create them during lockdown

By Guest Writer | 4 January 2021

The first UK lockdown saw nail professionals turn to a variety of means to generate cash flow, including creating press-on nails for clients & sending by post. Thanh Vu, managing director of four Dream Nails salons, reveals points to consider if you’re thinking of turning to press-ons during lockdown… Press…

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