TECHNIQUE

Studex multi piercing

Multiple ear piercing: the beauty trend for 2025 & how to offer in the salon

By Guest Writer | 2 May 2025

Piercing equipment and training provider, Studex, shares information about three multi piercing techniques… “With multiple ear piercings becoming one of the biggest beauty trends of 2025, Studex is offering guidance on new piercing techniques, exclusive to Studex Piercing Partners,” says a spokesperson for the brand. “Not only are multi piercings…

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French pedicure

How to nail the French tip pedicure

By Katie Barnes | 20 April 2025

Katie Clark, award-winning nail tech & founder of Katie Barnes Tool Range & Education, answers questions about perfecting the French pedi… How big should the French tips be? A French tip should mimic the natural free edge of the nail. Estimate how long the client will wait between appointments, plus…

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Katie barnes chrome guide

Chrome pigments: a nail expert shares a troubleshooting guide

By Katie Barnes | 6 April 2025

Educator & award-winning nail pro, Katie Clark, offers advice for dealing with issues that can arise when using chrome pigments… The chrome nail trend is ever-popular, but are you applying chrome products correctly? Each brand may have slightly different instructions, so always follow these and get in touch with the…

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Feb25 Low Res Cover Scratch For Web

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What happened when I trained in gel polish with The GelBottle Inc

By Sophie Nutt | 2 April 2019

As a nail enthusiast, heading to The Gel Bottle Inc Training Academy in Brighton to take the Gel Polish Beginners course filled me with nerves and a whole lot of excitement – and that’s exactly what I was fortunate enough to experience yesterday. Embarking on the one-day course, I headed…

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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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Swarovski workshop

Techs add sparkle to nails at the Swarovski Crystal Heaven Workshop

By Helena Biggs | 29 January 2019

Angel Crystals, a UK distributor of Swarovski nail crystals, invited a select group of techs to a fun-filled workshop at which they jazzed up their nails with Swarovski embellishments. Scratch‘s editor-in-chief, Alex, joined me for the trip to Swarovski’s London HQ, at which we were met by Antony Arnold of…

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Katie barnes file

How to correctly file the natural nail

By Katie Barnes | 22 January 2019

We hear the myth time and time again – ‘Nail enhancements damage the nail’ – but the damage is usually caused by over-filing the natural nail before any nail products have been applied, or by incorrect removal. Over-filing of the natural nail is one of the most common causes of…

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My experience of the Sienna X Brows treatment

By Sophie Nutt | 6 December 2018

Yesterday, I was invited to Cobella Hair and Beauty Salon in the sumptuous area of Kensington, London, to try the brand new Sienna X Brows range and treatment. Recently, Sienna X revealed its very own brow tint range for techs and therapists to offer to their clients as an add-on to…

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Helena & jamie hd brows

Shaped, styled & made up with HD Brows in Harley Street

By Helena Biggs | 28 November 2018

When an invite from HD Brows creeps into the Scratch inbox, I’m the first to snap it up – as the treatment tames my unruly, unshapely brows into sisters that look oh-so fabulous. I headed to London’s 1 Harley Street for an appointment with the brand’s international brow expert, Jamie…

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