TECHS & SALONS
Nail tech’s maternal mental health struggles: ‘Talking & finding support saved my life’
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’
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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Inside the ‘quirky but classy’ West Yorkshire salon offering a sanctuary for nail & beauty clients
Experienced beauty pro & educator, Narelle Wharton, shares the story of her Castleford salon, Narelle Beauty… The first Covid lockdown hit soon after Narelle Wharton had discovered an ideal space for her salon business. Having struggled with the heat and lack of space when working from her conservatory previously, it…
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After her nail technician changed careers, Samantha Gripton was left missing her monthly treat of a gel polish manicure and was inspired to create her summerhouse studio, Samantha Laura Nails. “I used all of my savings to renovate the summerhouse in my back garden,” Samantha tells Scratch. “I invested in…
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Transforming a plain grey office space into a moody maximalist nail studio carefully curated with curiosities, oddities and antiques, April Kitson wanted to reflect a dark academia aesthetic through her salon décor. “My personal style is heavily influenced by Stevie Nicks and Morticia Addams, so I’ve used vintage and thrifted…
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Hand-painted nail artist, Bethany Mann of Beth’s Beauty, Cambridge, shares her love for creating detailed designs and reveals where she finds inspiration for her bright and bold artistry… Having had a passion for nails from a young age, Bethany loved art and studied the subject in school, which inspired her…
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Following her success in winning two Scratch Snap competitions, Carla Brannan of Gelled Pretty shares her nail art journey and goals for 2024… Carla recalls a lifelong passion for beauty, having always known that her career would be in the industry. “I loved anything to do with hair, make-up and…
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Explore Eleven Kings salon as Jess Dickerson discusses its pink and green colour scheme and reveals her future plans in the beauty industry… Despite not enjoying doing her own nails, Jess loved the idea of styling others’ nails. In October 2021, she enrolled in training with Next Step Beauty via…
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London-based session tech, Sylvie Macmillan, shares an insight into her career, British Beauty Council role, passions and dreams… Tell us about your journey into the nail industry… I’ve always loved creating intricate work, and undertook a Technical Arts & Special Effects qualification, primarily focusing on model making. I worked in…
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