TECHNIQUE

Nail manicure filing

Nail expert: the importance of parallel sidewalls for a beautiful nail finish

By Katie Barnes | 21 July 2025

Award-winning nail technician & Katie Barnes Tool Range & Education founder, Katie Clark, offers insight… Parallel sidewalls start at the cuticle zone and end at the free edge. They mirror each other and help to give a nail enhancement a slim and slender appearance. The term, ‘parallel sidewalls’, is frequently…

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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…

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Nail Biting Picking

How to stop nail biting & picking: experts share treatment plans to break the habit

By Rebecca Hitchon | 2 July 2025

Natural nail specialists share tips for nail biting and picking clients… Why do people bite and pick at their nails and skin? “Nail biting, also known as onychophagia, and skin picking and biting, named perionychophagia, are habits associated with stress, anxiety and compulsive disorders,” explains Lucy Price-Marshall, Scratch Stars Natural…

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How to take nail art designs to the next level

By Scratch Staff | 9 March 2020

Scratch puts the spotlight on the esteemed educators at Beauty2trs, the online platform for nail classes… This month:  Nancy Janssen reveals how to elevate nail artistry About Nancy Nancy’s nail career started in around 2011, and she claims to have been ‘living and breathing nails’ ever since. She has scooped various podium…

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An online journey around the natural nail unit

By Scratch Staff | 24 February 2020

Scratch puts the spotlight on the esteemed educators at Beauty2trs, the online platform for nail classes… This month:  Tracy Shelverton offers an insight into the natural nail unit About Tracy Tracy’s nail industry passion focuses on the nail itself and on maintaining and improving its integrity – regardless of what…

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Glass gel nails: Why I love the look & how to create it

By Scratch Staff | 20 February 2020

Nail tech & salon owner, Karen M Brown, shares her creativity and wisdom in a series for Scratch… Based in Scotland, Karen co-owns (with her sister) Sanctuary in the City; two multi-award-winning salon destinations. The duo also owns training academy, NABTA UK, and provides nail and beauty education across the…

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Sienna x skincare launch

Natural skincare with Sienna X

By Zoe Wickens | 31 January 2020

To celebrate the launch of Sienna X‘s skincare range, Sophie and I headed to Mortimer House Loft & Gallery, an upmarket venue in London. The brand new capsule skincare collection consists of 11 products, including cleansers, facial oils and a glycolic and fruit acid chemical peel ideal for signature in-salon…

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Brighter eyes with Lash Perfect

By Sophie Nutt | 6 August 2019

This morning, I headed to the Lash Perfect Beauty Bar in London, just a stone’s throw from Piccadilly Circus underground station. The brand was hosting a drop-in event to celebrate and preview the launch of its new iRevive brightening eye treatment. The iRevive treatment can be performed as an add-on…

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Lip plumping with Lip NV

By Sophie Nutt | 5 August 2019

This morning, the Scratch HQ was visited by Essex-based Lip NV educator, Laura White, to perform the No Needle Filler treatment on Scratch assistant ed, Kat. Before arriving at the Scratch office, Laura had sent Kat a thorough consultation form to fill out to ensure there were no contraindications that could prevent…

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