HEALTH & WELLBEING

Onycholysis image

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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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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Self care meditaing lady pic

10 ways to practice self-care as a nail tech

By Scratch Staff | 24 July 2025

Scratch explores the importance of self-care and looks at 10 ways to ensure you prioritise your wellbeing as a nail pro… 1. Take regular breaks Schedule breaks during your working day to recharge: whether five minutes between clients or a full lunch break to refuel and take a walk, so…

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Treatwell life saving wax

Life Saving Wax: A new campaign calling on waxers

By Kat Hill | 25 April 2019

I was invited to Treatwell’s London head office for the unveiling of a very special new campaign: Life Saving Wax. The initiative was created by the online beauty booking platform with Public Health England’s Cervical Screening Saves Lives campaign. Treatwell is inviting its partnered salons and beauty professionals to ‘open up…

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The gel bottle work life balance blog

TGB Insider: How to strike a balance between work & parenthood

By Scratch Staff | 10 April 2019

The Gel Bottle Inc team offer advice for nail techs in the first in their blog series for Scratch… A work/life/family balance is something most of us pursue in our lives, but never seem to quiet nail down completely. In today’s world, we’re constantly bombarded by social media telling us…

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Titanic spa

Titanic Spa launches wellness focused staff room

By Kat Hill | 19 February 2019

Yorkshire eco-spa, Titanic Spa, has unveiled a new wellness-inspired staff room. The staff room is an airy, daylit space, complete with areas and a breakfast bar. The staff room has also been fitted with easily accessible phone charging ports, snack and coffee machines, as well as Bluetooth speakers to help…

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Crystal healing kim alexis

Why I use healing crystals in hand & foot therapies

By Scratch Staff | 4 February 2019

Kim Alexis, crystal healer, psychic spiritual medium, hypnotherapist & past life regressionist, reveals why she uses crystals in her hand & foot treatments… When a therapist massages the feet or hands, it feels so good because the physical sensation stimulated by touch sends messages from the skin’s nerve cells to the…

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Woman burn hand

Katie Barnes on… preventing burns from flammable nail products

By Katie Barnes | 20 November 2018

With such an increased report in allergies and accidents occurring with nail products from not just home users, but ‘professional’ nail technicians, I believe that there needs to be a call for better education on the situation. Creating beautiful nails is an art but one of the most forgotten and…

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Katie barnes allergy

Katie Barnes on…how to prevent allergies

By Katie Barnes | 4 September 2018

Concerns have been mounting over the number of tech allergies being reported from using nail products. It’s so important to address your working practice and products to prevent this from disrupting your career and causing further pain. An allergy builds up over time from overexposure of repetitive skin contact with…

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