Over 700 entries and nominations were submitted to the 12th annual Scratch Stars Awards, which champions exceptional talent across the UK&I nail industry.

The awards recognise not just nail skill, but passion, business acumen and customer care, thus each entrant was required to answer a number of questions for the initial assessment stage, in addition to uploading photographic evidence of their nail skills, education materials or workspace setups.

Note that the titles of most of the awards feature ‘of the Year’ – which means that growth, progress and enthusiasm over 12 months (1 February 2023 – 1 February 2024) has been the focus.

These submissions were evaluated, and the Scratch team scoured social media profiles and websites in addition to each entry, as well as took a close look at photos and read testimonials and responses. This allowed the team to determine five finalists in each of the 18 categories who are most eligible for a Scratch Star title this year. They will each undergo a second and final assessment; techs will be required to attend an in-person judging day to showcase their nail skills, while salons and mobile nailists will undergo a mystery shop, and business, education and social media finalists will submit further information to support their entries.

Judges for this final stage include independent beauty business experts, industry veterans and esteemed educators, who will be announced here in due course.

Following the judging process, the winners of the Scratch Stars Awards will be announced at The Scratch Stars Party – an infamous industry event, which will be held at The Underglobe, London on Sunday 21 July 2024.

Hosted by Scratch‘s managing editor, Helena Biggs, and DJ, producer, presenter & former England Rugby Union player, James Haskell, the event will celebrate the incredible UK&I nail sector with a party, live entertainment and a number of fun activations. What’s more, each ticket includes three hours of complimentary alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks and canapés. Everyone’s invited! Click here to join the Facebook group for updates and find the link to purchase tickets.

THE FINALISTS

NATURAL NAIL SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by Hara Professional

• Ashleigh Clements – Ely, Cambridgeshire @ashleigh_opi
• Hannah Clayton – Lancaster, Lancashire @studiobyhannahbeth
• Jessica Price – Huddersfield, West Yorkshire @jessica.nailsandbeauty
• Lucy Price-Marshall – Huddersfield, West Yorkshire @lucyrosenails
• Tanya Jeskins – Tintagel, Cornwall @tanyajeskinshairandnails

 

L&P TECH OF THE YEAR sponsored by Glitterbels

• Annie Pham – Maidstone, Kent @anniietp
• Jade Barber – Hawkinge, Kent @nailandbeautyexcellence
• Kirsty McDonough – Preston, Lancashire @kmnailsandbeauty
• Mino Vo – Harringay, London @minovolondon
• Tina Hallows – Partingdon, Manchester @tinajane_nails

 

GEL TECH OF THE YEAR sponsored by Light Elegance UK

• Barbara Preil-Kovács – Nottingham, Nottinghamshire @barbara.preilkovacs.nailartist
• Catriona Leith – Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire @thenailstudiocb
• Gemma McCarthy – Dublin, Ireland @geminibeauty_1
• Justyna Pryke – Wakefield, West Yorkshire @justynapryke
• Maria Slade-Coombs – Cowes, Isle Of Wight @rosenailsbymsc6

 

GEL POLISH STYLIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by The GelBottle Inc

• Carrie Williams – Liverpool, Merseyside @truebeautybycarrie
• Emily Langford – Grimsby, Lincolnshire @studio.one.o.nine
• Hannah Smith – Canvey Island, Essex @bold_brush__
• Jiak Hing – Bolton, Greater Manchester @jark.nails
• Marzena Maria Zygmunt – Tottington, Bury @emilia_rose_beauty

 

POLISH & PAINT NAIL ARTIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by Morgan Taylor Nail Lacquer

• Amanda Trivett – Ashburton, Devon @amandatrivett
• Danielle Brindley – Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire @missbrinnynailartist
• Elizabeth Jones – Rugby, Warwickshire @nailartbyelizabeth91
• Gemma Riley – Tavistock, Devon @gemma.riley.nails
• Kamila Borowiec – Droitwich, Worcestershire @glamliciousnails

 

MIXED MEDIA ARTIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by Bexy Glow

• Alice Nali – Cricklewood, London @alynails.salonandacademy
• Danielle Brindley – Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire @missbrinnynailartist
• Dominique Sharpe – Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire @the_nail_editor_official
• Ilona Kricka – Leicester, Leicestershire @ilonas_beauty
• Kayley Cairns – Billericay, Essex @nailykayley

 

ONE STROKE NAIL ARTIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by HD Professional Nail Systems

• Alexa Kisgyori – Leeds, West Yorkshire @alexanailsuk
• Catriona Leith – Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire @thenailstudiocb
• Dorota Palicka – Fort William, Highland @dorotapalicka
• Josette Hambleton – Ashbourne, Derbyshire @josettes_nail_artistry
• Justyna Pryke – Wakefield, West Yorkshire @justynapryke

 

NAIL STYLIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by OPI

• Alice Nali – Cricklewood, London @alynails.salonandacademy
• Barbara Preil-Kovacs – Nottingham, Nottinghamshire @barbara.preilkovacs.nailartist
• Charisse Cassie – Tower Hamlets, London @chariasnails
• Kayley Cairns – Billericay, Essex @nailykayley
• Patricija Milinkovic – Dublin, Ireland @nail_masters_studio

 

MOBILE NAILIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by Vodex

• Clare Woodcock – Sunbury on Thames, Surrey @thenailclublondon
• Emily Jones – Knottingley, Yorkshire @nailed_byemily
• Jade Thornhill – Rochester, Kent @nailsbyjade___
• Leanne Briggs – Brentwood, Essex @empoweringbeauty2023
• Stela Angelova – Swanley, Kent @mobilenailsbystella

 

SOCIAL MEDIA STAR OF THE YEAR sponsored by Halo PoliBuild

• Amanda Byrne – Bolton, Greater Manchester @amanda_byrne_nailartist
• Dorota Palicka – Fort William, Highland @dorotapalicka
• Hannah Clayton – Lancaster, Lancashire @studiobyhannahbeth
• Jessica White – Shipley, West Yorkshire @jessicawhitenailartist
• Kamila Borowiec – Droitwich, Worcestershire @glamliciousnails

 

THE NAIL BUSINESS MENTOR AWARD sponsored by Andreia Professional

• Hazel Dixon @hazeldixon
• Linda Hill @lindahillrecruitment
• Liza Smith @lizasmithnails
• Marian Newman BEM @mariannewmannails
• Ruth Munro @littleblankspaces

 

EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR sponsored by ABT Insurance

• Andrea Rimmer @andrearimmernailpro
• Kirsty Parker @kirsty_parker_nail_artist
• Loretta Walker @lorettawalkernails
• Lucy Price-Marshall @lucyrosenails
• Melanie Lewendon @melanielewendon_nailartist

 

NAIL TEAM OF THE YEAR sponsored by LCBT

• Gelish Education Team @gelishofficialuk
• Glitterbels Education Team @glitterbels.training.academy
• L’Atelier Green Team @lateliergreenparis
• Nail & Beauty Excellence @nailandbeautyexcellence
• OPI Education Team @opiuki_pro

 

HOME NAIL SALON OF THE YEAR sponsored by Gelish

• Beauty Care by Toni-Nicole – Bournemouth, Dorset @beautycaretoni_nicole
• Jenny Harris Nail Artist & Educator – Fairfield, Hertfordshire Jenny Harris Nails
• Paintbrush Nails – Stirlingshire, Scotland @paintbrushnails
• Pretty Neat Salon – St. Albans, Hertfordshire @prettyneatsalon
• Ulu Beauty – Christchurch, Dorset @ulu.beauty

 

NAIL & BEAUTY SALON OF THE YEAR sponsored by ABT Insurance

• Beauty & Aesthetics at the Gate – Holton-le-Clay, Lincolnshire @beautyatthegate
• Iris Avenue – Holborn, London @irisavenue_
• Kate Lifestyle – Maldon, Essex @katelifestylemaldon
• Nailspa – Huddersfield, Yorkshire @nailspahuddersfield
• Tweezers Beauty Spa – Bedworth, Warwickshire @tweezersbeauty

 

NAIL SALON OF THE YEAR sponsored by The Manicure Company

• Dream Nails – Royal Wharf, London @dream.nails_x
• Margaret Dabbs™ London Marylebone – London @margaret_dabbs_london
• Niche Nails & Beauty – Whitney, Oxfordshire @nichenailbeauty
• The Nail Group – Tottenham, London @thenailgroup
• Townhouse – Knightsbridge, London @mytownhouseuk

 

THE SHOOTING STAR AWARD presented by Scratch magazine

• Amy Guy, founder of The Nail Tech Org @amyguynailartist
• Dani Bailey, Nail Knowledge rep & nail chemistry/theory tutor @danibaileynails
• James Reeve-Shillito, luxury manicurist & self-care & mental health advocate @nailinthecoffin_nailsbyjames
• Ruth Munro, nail education & business advocate @littleblankspaces
• Yasmin Hodge, founder of Nailing Disabilities @gelsbyyas

 

SERVICES TO THE NAIL INDUSTRY sponsored by Sweet Squared

• Belinda Price @belinda_opi
• Chantelle Vermont @clawgasmic
• Katie Clark @katiebarnes.toolrange
• Kirsty Meakin @kirstymeakin
• Suzanne Clayton @souz_nailtechawareness

Scratch would like to thank all those who took the time to enter the Scratch Stars Awards 2024. Unfortunately, due to the volume of entries received, the team is unable to provide individual feedback, but across the board there was an impressive showcase of CPD, passion and nail techniques.

We hope to see you at The Scratch Stars Party!

www.scratchmagazine.co.uk/scratchstars