TECH TALK

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Nail tech’s maternal mental health struggles: ‘Talking & finding support saved my life’

By Guest Writer | 7 May 2025

New Mexico tech, Amberley Robinson, aka The Nail Tattooist, opens up about her maternal mental health experiences… When my first child was six months old, I juggled roles as a full-time beauty student and breastfeeding mum. Leaving my son with a caregiver each day made me feel heartbroken and guilty,…

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Midwife & nail tech: ‘Whether in a delivery room or my nail studio, I love supporting women’

By Lilly Delmage | 5 May 2025

Meet Leila Zahedi: a midwife, nail tech & co-founder of Better Births London – best known as The Midwives in Your Pocket® (MIYP®), a WhatsApp support service offering real-time, compassionate guidance seven days per week. Born in Iran, Leila moved to London and was raised by her single mother and…

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Hull home nail salon owner: How I prioritise the mental health of clients

By Scratch Staff | 19 April 2025

Lucy Allman, owner of The Nail Shed, shares about the supportive ethos of her East Yorkshire garden salon… In 2021, Lucy Allman was made redundant and welcomed a second child. It was this change in lifestyle and need for flexibility that inspired her to carve a career in the nail…

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Nail Tech Talk: Tammy Fontaine of Nails By Tammy 

By Callie Iley | 29 July 2023

Without an artistic background, East London-based tech, Tammy Fontaine, shares that when completing her training in 2006, she never believed she’d have the patience for nail art. “Nail art didn’t come naturally to me,” she remembers. “I trained in basic manicures and pedicures at college, gaining my NVW Level 2…

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The Great Scratch Shoot Out: Winning advice

By Scratch Staff | 22 July 2023

2019 winner of The Great Scratch Shoot Out, Nina Lewis, shares her thoughts on the importance of entering competitions and why you should enter this year’s The Great Scratch Shoot Out… What are your thoughts on industry competitions? Why are they so important? I believe you need tenacity when entering…

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Nail Tech Talk: Abi Hassan of Hot Wheels Nails

By Callie Iley | 15 July 2023

With a colourful nail art library & an equally bright personality to match, Abi Hassan, owner of Canterbury-based salon, Hot Wheels Nails, sits down with Scratch to discuss the importance of creating an inclusive & accessible salon space… “When I was a little girl, I looked up to my older…

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Do AI chatbots like ChatGPT have a place in the nail industry?

By Rebecca Hitchon | 12 July 2023

Disclaimer: this article is not written by a robot. But it does explore how language processing tools driven by artificial intelligence (AI) technology, or ‘chatbots’, are influencing the nail and beauty sector. As this technology integrates into our lives, many are wary of its place in society – and its…

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Nail Tech Talk: Susan Steel of Susan Steel Nails

By Callie Iley | 8 July 2023

With big career dreams and a lifelong passion for nails, Susan Steel shares her nail journey & reveals her hopes for the future of Susan Steel Nails… “I’ve always loved nails and beauty from a young age, but I never realised that it would be my dream career until I…

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Nail Tech Talk: Lilli Pullman of Lilli Paintz 

By Callie Iley | 1 July 2023

A lover of all things bright, bold & outrageous, Sevenoaks-based nail artist, Lilli Pullman, reveals the details of her creative endeavours & shares her plans for the future of Lilli Paintz… Heading straight to college to complete her NVQ’s in Levels 2 and 3 upon leaving school, Lilli jumped headfirst…

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