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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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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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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5 ways to boost your nail business during lockdown 2.0

By Katie Barnes | 6 November 2020

As business owners and busy professionals, time is something we often have very little of and many tasks get put on the back burner. It can be hard to be motivated in times like this but it is important to remember that just as there are real challenges, there are…

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Ria jaine budget

Overspending? Here’s how to budget for success

By Guest Writer | 30 October 2020

Beauty industry accounts expert & qualified nail tech, Ria-Jaine Lincoln, shares a lesson on budgeting and control to ensure you don’t overspend… The key to budgeting and control is good cash flow and I’m revealing a guide to help you get started. I am going to focus on the Excel template although…

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Local lockdowns: How to prepare your business

By Kat Hill | 29 October 2020

Having come through so much in the past year, salons are still having to face the possibility of local lockdowns as winter approaches and the coronavirus pandemic continues. Here NHBF director, Tina Beaumont-Goddard, shares her advice… What to expect Local lockdowns can be confusing because they vary across the country.…

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Katie barnes file lower arch

Nail technique: How to successfully file the lower arch in 5 steps

By Katie Barnes | 27 October 2020

One of the most common mistakes a tech can make is over filing the lower arch of the nail, especially if the form or tip fit was incorrect in the first place. Careful and controlled filing can help to prevent this. The way you hold your file is important when…

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Thanh vu seasonal nails

How to make the most of seasonal events in the salon

By Guest Writer | 23 October 2020

Thanh Vu, managing director of four Dream Nails salons, reveals how and why you should make the most of seasonal events in the calendar… I thoroughly enjoy writing for Scratch as it gives me time to sit and reflect on Dream Nails as a business and helps carve out a clear…

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How to become a first class educator in nails

By Alex Fox | 23 October 2020

Teaching is a skill in its own right and therefore being well educated, informed and skilled does not mean you’re a natural born teacher, but it does mean you could have the makings of one. Being a phenomenal nail tech doesn’t automatically mean you’re able to educate. In fact, in…

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