TECHS & SALONS
Salon in the Spotlight: Nails With Kails, Andover, Hampshire
Kayleigh Watkins shares the story behind her home salon business, Nails With Kails: a space infused with personality and creativity… While facing redundancy from her full-time job in 2019, Kayleigh undertook some nail courses with Magpie Beauty. “I wanted to find a creative and therapeutic outlet, as well as future-proof…
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Salon in the Spotlight: Nail Angel Studley, Warwickshire
Bringing a creative flair to her West Midlands home salon, Anni Watson shares how she’s incorporated her artistic background and love for upcycling into Nail Angel Studley… “While starting a family over 20 years ago, I decided to qualify in nails. I always wanted to use my artistic talents, as…
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How I spotted a sign of skin cancer on my salon client’s nail
Session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, reveals how undertaking skin cancer awareness training benefitted a client… As nail techs, we provide a very personal service. The level of touch brings responsibility, because clients often share deeply personal things. We need to listen, and if asked, support clients…
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How to accommodate nail clients with multiple sclerosis (MS)
Nail techs share advice for catering to clients with multiple sclerosis (MS)… What is MS? On its website, the NHS states: “Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that can affect the brain and spinal cord. It’s a lifelong condition that can sometimes cause serious disability, although it can occasionally be…
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Salon in the Spotlight: Samantha Laura Nails, Newport, Shropshire
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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Salon in the Spotlight: The Apothecary Room, Halifax, West Yorkshire
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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Nail Tech Talk: Bethany Mann of Beth’s Beauty
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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Nail Tech Talk: Carla Brannan of Gelled Pretty
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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The NHS states that endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. It is a long-term condition, which can have a variety of symptoms and affects each woman differently, ranging from severe…
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Following a diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in her eye in March 2021, Sharon Goodway reflected on her 16-year job in the finance sector and decided that she wanted to pursue a creative career. She enrolled on a course with Bio Sculpture in June 2022 and on qualifying, decided to hand…
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Learn about mums who manicure, as three mothers share their journeys navigating nail careers alongside various stages of motherhood… Katie Turner of Radiant Nails, Devon Katie Turner has two children, one of whom has been diagnosed with autism, sensory processing disorder and pathological demand avoidance. “It’s always been a challenge…
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Seeking a career that offers flexibility around her family, Kimberley Hearn of byKIMI Nails shares her journey of establishing her nail business around her three children. Kim spent eight years working in the car industry, but was furloughed for 10 months during the pandemic, followed by maternity leave with her…
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On a visit to her wife’s native town of Portrush, Northern Ireland, in Easter 2022, an empty premises beside the sea caught Naoise McGeer-Letson’s eye. Formerly a hairdressers, the original shop had closed due to the pandemic and remained empty since, until it was transformed into Nini’s salon. Moving from…
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A passionate educator determined to use her experiences to benefit other nail pros, Katie Dutra shares her career story and reveals her hopes for the future of the nail industry… With intentions of becoming a hair stylist, Katie Dutra enrolled in a full cosmetology course in 2011. However, her plans…
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