A taste of Tokyo with OPI

By Helena Biggs | 11 February 2019

Swanky Japanese venue, Sake No Hana, London, played host to a colourful event to commemorate the launch of OPI’s spring/summer 2019 nail colour collection, Tokyo. Cherry blossom towered above my head, with OPI bottles tied to its branches for a quirky touch. A neon light in the shape of an…

Dancing On Ice: Nail Designs – Week 2

By Guest Writer | 1 February 2019

Maddy Rooke, celebrity nail technician, reveals the backstage antics and nail looks from ITV’s Dancing On Ice… Hello Scratch readers! Week 2 saw the amazing Didi Conn hang up her skates – but she didn’t go without a fight. Her boxing themed routine was teamed with a pink and black costume and matching…

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…

Dancing On Ice: Nail Designs – Week 1

By Guest Writer | 25 January 2019

Maddy Rooke, celebrity nail technician, reveals the backstage antics and nail looks from ITV’s Dancing On Ice… Hello Scratch readers! This year I’m back to share all the glitz and glam that’s created behind the scenes at Dancing On Ice. From full glitter manis to intricate nail art the celebrities…

Combining fashion nails & photography at a workshop in Herts

By Alex Fox | 17 January 2019

I was invited to join a photographic workshop at the Herts Academy of Beauty in Ware, Hertfordshire, hosted by educator & session stylist Jennie Nippard. The workshop was presented by Marian Newman, well known for her fashion nails & photographic work, and the event offered eight places for nail professionals who…

HD Brows and K.B. Pro support Mind’s RED January

By Sophie Nutt | 14 January 2019

Fighting the January blues as well as fundraising for the charity, the HD Brows and K.B. Pro teams are taking part in Mind’s RED (Run Every Day) January. The initiative set up by mental health charity, Mind, encourages everyone to to exercise every day of the month to fight off any…

Nailympia opens registration for all 2019 competitions

By Scratch Staff | 14 January 2019

International nail competition, Nailympia, has opened registration for three locations for 2019: Nailympia USA in Houston, Texas (5-7 April 2019) Nailympia Estonia in Tallinn, Estonia (10-12 May 2019) Nailympia London at Olympia Beauty, London (28-30 September 2019) With a plethora of categories available across multiple divisions, Nailympia offers the opportunity…

Advance your nail skills at the NSI University

By Helena Biggs | 4 January 2019

NSI‘s global education team will be heading to Manchester in June to host NSI UK‘s University. The intense three-day training event will hone and enhance the skills of qualified nail techs with a minimum of six months experience in acrylic or gel. A spokesperson for the brand comments: “Learn the…

Second #NailTecTalk event to focus on nail product compliance

By Helena Biggs | 2 January 2019

Salon Services is to hold its second #NailTechTalk in collaboration with Scratch and nail aficionado, Marian Newman. The event will welcome special guests to chat in open conversation with attendees, and the focuses for this event are product compliance and regulation in the nail industry. There will also be discussions to…

Homelessness charity calling for salon volunteers this Christmas

By Sophie Nutt | 14 December 2018

National homelessness charity, Crisis, is calling on hairdressers, barbers and salon assistants across the country to volunteer at their Christmas centres this month. The centres provide thousands of people with good, warmth, healthcare and specialist services over Christmas in addition to Crisis’ year-round services. Salon services such as washing, cutting…

Mavala supports LCBT at the Ideal Home Christmas Show

By Sophie Nutt | 10 December 2018

Mavala begun its Christmas celebrations early by appearing at the Ideal Home Christmas Show alongside the London College of Beauty Therapy (LCBT). Following a series of training session with Mavala’s nail care expert, Lynn Grey, the LCBT students were set up at the Ideal Home Christmas Show from 20-24 November…

Sweet Squared spreads seasonal joy by gifting presents to pros

By Sophie Nutt | 8 December 2018

Techs – do you fancy winning a prize courtesy of Sweet Squared? You could be in with a chance! The ‘Gift Of Giving’ season has begun with Sweet Squared, as the team is gifting a whopping 250 presents to pros over the festive period. To get involved and be in…

Techs receive intense nail training at Crystal Nails camp

By Helena Biggs | 5 December 2018

Crystal Nails UK hosted a Nail Camp; a five-day intensive training event at which attendees learned to perfect a number of nail techniques. Held within the grounds of Writtle University College, Chelmsford, the four Crystal Nails UK absolute master international educators guided delegates through technical and art-based techniques. Karina Parametko revealed how…

A Kiss-mas party with nail royalty

By Helena Biggs | 3 December 2018

Alex Silver PR invited me to a super-glamorous dinner event on behalf of the KISS Products brand to kick off the Christmas season – and boy, did we kick it off in style… Welcomed with a cocktail at Quaglino’s, a swanky venue in central London, I was among nail royalty…

A pedi pamper session at beauty editor hotspot, DryBy

By Scratch Staff | 2 December 2018

While working in London this week, I stepped into the DryBy London salon on Mortimer Street to experience a pedicure.  I was working in tandem with session stylist, Marian Newman, who suggested that DryBy was a salon experience that I really should explore.  Adored by consumer beauty editors owing to…