TECHS & SALONS

Narelle beauty

Inside the ‘quirky but classy’ West Yorkshire salon offering a sanctuary for nail & beauty clients

By Rebecca Hitchon | 26 April 2025

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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Hull home nail salon owner: How I prioritise the mental health of clients

By Scratch Staff | 19 April 2025

Lucy Allman, owner of The Nail Shed, shares about the supportive ethos of her East Yorkshire garden salon… In 2021, Lucy Allman was made redundant and welcomed a second child. It was this change in lifestyle and need for flexibility that inspired her to carve a career in the nail…

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Pet-friendly salons: key benefits & important considerations

By Guest Writer | 10 April 2025

Have you ever considered making your salon pet-friendly? A spokesperson for luxury nail salon, Paint Nails London, shares the advantages and what you need to consider. Why did you decide to become a pet-friendly salon? We decided to become a pet-friendly salon because so many of our clients are animal…

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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…

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Hannah beth clayton story

Lancashire manicurist: How I built a business & community by mentoring nail techs

By Hannah Beth Clayton | 20 March 2025

Hannah Beth Clayton, natural nail specialist, CND™ UK ambassador, educator & mentor, kickstarts her monthly online column by sharing her mentoring journey… Years ago, if you’d told me that I’d be mentoring and educating other beauty professionals, I probably would have laughed. Like most people in this industry, I started…

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Jade barber nail competitions

Kent nail artist: How I navigate nail competitions with autism & ADHD

By Guest Writer | 18 March 2025

Jade Barber, founder of Nail & Beauty Excellence & Scratch Stars L&P Tech of the Year 2022, shares her experiences of neurodiversity in the nail arena… I began competing early in my nail career, as my educator entered me into a student category at a Professional Beauty nail competition. Without…

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Staffordshire tech: Working from a home salon has been the best decision I’ve made

By Lilly Delmage | 15 March 2025

Katie Pritchard of Katie Lou Nail Artist and Educator opens her salon’s doors to Scratch and shares the benefits of becoming a home-based tech. Having been in the nail industry for 20 years, Katie has experimented with a variety of ways of working. She says: “I have worked as a…

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Becoming a nail tech at 16: I was the youngest student Bryony Howell had ever trained

By Lilly Delmage | 9 March 2025

17-year-old self-employed nail tech, Ruby Galluzzo, opens up about the journey that led her to pursue a nail career at such a young age. “I first became interested in nails when I was only eight-years-old, but my passion grew massively in 2020 during lockdown. That’s when I really started dreaming…

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Yorkshire salon: The beauty therapists dedicated to making women feel their best

By Lilly Delmage | 8 March 2025

Lisa-Marie Hoggard, owner of Lisa-Marie’s Hair & Beauty Lounge, shares how her all-female team empowers clients to feel their best. “My salon team consists of amazing women who make other women feel amazing,” shares Lisa-Marie. “It comprise five women: Sheree Kim Harrison, Elle Burrow, Kath Scaife, Jill Ralph and Patricia…

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