TECH TALK

Robot laptop

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

By Rebecca Hitchon | 31 July 2025

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…

Read More
Freya poppy bowden profile

Inside the Leeds nail salon known for its Y2K decor & viral nail art

By Jess Watts | 25 July 2025

Meet Freya-Poppy Bowden, the Y2K-obsessed nail tech whose Leeds-based salon is every millennial’s dream! Growing up in a family of artists, it is no surprise that Freya-Poppy’s creativity flourished early. At the age of 11, she began experimenting with nail art and quickly fell in love with the medium. She…

Read More
Lilly web newsfeature lead 1200x800px 205

What are brush-on builder gel & BIAB™ nails?

By Lilly Delmage | 3 July 2025

Brush-on builder gel is an ever-popular request at the nail desk – but what is it, and when should it be used? Brush-on builder gel is a more convenient variation of traditional builder gels, which are housed in pots. Packaged in a bottle with an integrated brush, the product allows…

Read More
Aug 25 low res scratch cover

Read the latest issue

Marie Louise Coster Mum Juggle

The mum juggle: how I’ve managed motherhood & a successful beauty business

By Marie-Louise Coster | 30 March 2025

Session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, opens up about her experiences juggling parenthood and her beauty salon… I am not sure there is ever a right time to start a family. I was quite late to the table when it came to being a mum. Having tried for…

Read More
Mothers Day Nails Header

Meet the mums navigating nail careers alongside motherhood

By Scratch Staff | 30 March 2025

Learn about mums who manicure, as three mothers share their journeys navigating nail careers alongside various stages of motherhood…  Katie Turner of Radiant Nails, Devon Katie Turner has two children, one of whom has been diagnosed with autism, sensory processing disorder and pathological demand avoidance. “It’s always been a challenge…

Read More
Lilly web newsfeature lead 1200x800px 141

Leeds salon owner: Learning to trust my team & delegate has been a game-changer

By Lilly Delmage | 29 March 2025

You Beauty founder, Rachel Dobson, shares her career story and how learning to delegate tasks has been critical to her success as a manager. Over the past five years, Rachel’s business has rapidly expanded and she reflects on the biggest lesson she has learned: “I tried to do everything myself…

Read More
Dawn wolk nail desk

Sussex nail tech: How I navigate epilepsy to keep offering nail services

By Scratch Staff | 26 March 2025

Dawn Wolk has huge adoration for the nail industry. It gives her independence and a sense of self-worth – but regular seizures mean she can only accommodate two clients per day. The East Sussex nail pro, who attained an L&P acrylic nail qualification in February 2023, suffers with epilepsy and…

Read More
Shara taylor tech talk

Bristol nail tech: how I navigate functional neurological disorder (FND)

By Rebecca Hitchon | 25 March 2025

To mark FND Awareness Day (25 March), Shara Taylor, owner of Bare Beauty Aesthetics, Bristol, opens up about her experiences with the condition… Charity, FND Action, details: “Functional neurological disorder (FND) is a brain network disorder that can encompass a diverse range of neurological symptoms, including limb weakness, paralysis, seizures,…

Read More
Nina nicholson beauty header

Greater Manchester nail tech: Why I closed a bustling salon to open a home-based business

By Rebecca Hitchon | 22 March 2025

Nina of Wigan home salon, Nina Nicholson Beauty & Lecenté lead educator, shares why a huge career switch was the best decision she ever made… Nina Nicholson opened her first salon at the age of 18, and went on to acquire a larger premises a few years later. After building…

Read More