TECHS & SALONS

BFLY salon in Derby

The Derby beauty salon where clients & staff are ‘one big family’

By Jess Watts | 24 August 2025

Meet Holly Asamoah, owner of BFLY – the beauty salon creating a home from home. BFLY, located two miles south of Derby city centre, was converted from a tattoo parlour to a luxurious relaxation hub in 2024, spearheaded by owner, Holly Asamoah. The salon space is reflective of Holly’s preferred…

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Michelle brookes scratch stars educator of the year 2025

Scratch Stars Educator of the Year 2025 shares secrets to nail industry success

By Jess Watts | 21 August 2025

Michelle Brookes is an award-winning nail technician & educator who won Scratch Stars Educator of the Year for the second time in July. She tells Scratch what makes a good educator, how her processes have evolved and what’s next for her career… “Winning the Scratch Stars Educator of the Year…

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Jade fox nail tech with moebius syndrome

Norwich nail tech: finding success with a rare neurological condition

By Guest Writer | 20 August 2025

I’m Jade Fox and I have Moebius syndrome: a rare neurological condition that is present from birth and affects facial muscles, speech, eye movement and mobility. I face daily challenges that most people never have to consider, and these obstacles have shaped nearly every part of my life. Unexpectedly, they…

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Aug 25 low res scratch cover

Read the latest issue

Dream nails sign

Need to spruce up your nail salon? Here’s some design tips…

By Guest Writer | 4 October 2020

Thanh Vu, managing director of four Dream Nails salons, reveals her top tips for salon styling and how to keep design fluid across more than one premises… Salon design is one of the areas of my job that I enjoy most. It has been incredibly satisfying to see my vision…

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Let's nail breast cancer cover shoot

Scratch October 2020: Behind the cover

By Sophie Nutt | 4 October 2020

This month’s striking Scratch cover comes courtesy of the Let’s Nail Breast Cancer 2020, in aid of Future Dreams. This year’s campaign is encouraging men to paint their nails pink and post on their social media channels using the hashtags #LNBCboys and #LNBC20 for awareness. As well as this, there’s a whole range of…

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Lucy allen feature

TECH TALK: Lucy Allen of SuperNatural Nails

By Callie Iley | 3 October 2020

Scratch chats with Lucy Allen of SuperNatural Nails about her love for the creative spontaneity that nails provides and her future goals… Who do you admire in the industry? Meeting and training with INK London educator, Simone Radley, has played a huge part in my nail journey; she is just…

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Lead for web

Honouring UK Black History Month in Nails

By Scratch Staff | 2 October 2020

Scratch magazine offers an extension to its feature in the October edition in honour & recognition of the UK’s Black History Month. Celebrating the work & styles of black nail professionals across the UK. Alex Fox & Callie Iley report… The Roots of Our Nail Narrative  As L&P acrylic artificial…

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Website

Dark to Light; one tech’s journey to salvation

By Alex Fox | 30 September 2020

ANNA’S STORY as told to Alex Fox by Anna Lou AKA The Real Nail Addict “To fully comprehend the magnitude of what I am and have today, I must go back to the very beginning… “Going back to 13 years of age, I had an amazing mother that did everything…

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Polished by gem lead

Salon in the Spotlight: Polished By Gem, Shrewsbury, Shropshire

By Kat Hill | 30 September 2020

After finishing school, Gemma Siverns trained at a local beauty college to complete her NVQ 2 in Beauty Therapy, but quickly after completing a nail course she knew straight away nails were her passion. “Once I qualified I applied for a job at a local nail salon, and luckily I got…

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