How to choose smile lines to suit your client’s nails
Different smile lines will suit different shapes and lengths of nails. Smile line execution requires different techniques to create each ‘type’ of smile line; competition, extreme, and salon viable. The general rule is that the longer and more pointed the nail, the deeper and longer the smile line should be.…
5 ways to boost success via your social media platforms
Nail tech, educator & winner of the Scratch Stars Best Use of Social Media award 2016, Katie Barnes, reveals her 5 top tips for making the most of your social media platforms… 1.Consider your content Your content is the way to get someone to STOP in their path and click…
5 ways to futureproof your nail & beauty business
Difficult economic times, unpredictable world events, illness and a fast-changing world can leave small businesses more vulnerable than ever. It’s much harder to predict where new risks will come from, so businesses need to be futureproofed to protect them in times where there is no regular income. What the Covid-19…
How to remove the cuticle safely
The cuticle can be unsightly and if not removed from the nail plate correctly, can lead to service breakdown. To safely work on this area, firstly it is essential to understand the difference between the cuticle and the proximal nail fold or eponychium. There is a lot of controversy and…
How to work out what you need to charge for nail services in 10 steps
Upon the return to work for nail techs, one of the most important considerations along with health & safety is likely to be a pricing for your services. Many technicians are guilty of looking to their competition when pricing their nail services. When considering your prices; whether setting these from…
Where to safely purchase your nail products
In a time of financial crisis both home users and professionals may be turning to third-party online retailers and auction sites to purchase what they assume is a genuine but cheaper cosmetic nail product. When I discuss third-party online retailers, I am not referring to an educator or wholesaler that…
How to keep your salon secure during lockdown
In any business, the most important consideration is safety. Without a safe work environment you, your staff, and customers will be at risk and you will not be insured. The second most significant concern is often overlooked; security. During these current times, your business can become more vulnerable and it…
Business considerations you need to make – despite closure due to coronavirus
For business owners, much of this week may have involved considerable time spent on hold on the phone. On hold to the landlord, local authorities, energy and water companies, business advisors, accountants and insurance companies, to name just a few. I took the decision on the first government recommendation on…
Coronavirus: 7 ideas to help your business survive tough times
As nail technicians and beauty therapists, our customer appointments rely on face-to-face contact for us to perform our services and earn income. We are all aware of the impending detrimental effects that the current global pandemic of coronavirus (COVID-19) may have on our nail and beauty businesses. Now is the…
Coronavirus fears: A review of salon hygiene practices
With Coronavirus spreading at a rapid rate across the globe, Katie Barnes reflects on sanitation, disinfection and sterilisation procedures in the beauty sphere to help prevent the spread of any infection… In the nail salon, we are in constant contact with a a number of people every day. Sometimes, we…
Why you need to know the difference between the nail convex & concave
One of the most important yet surpassed elements of a nail enhancement is the convex and concave. Firstly, lets explain what the convex and concave is: Convex: The exterior curve of the nail enhancement. Concave: The interior curve or “the tunnel” of the nail enhancement. The convex and concave should be…
Face-to-face vs. online nail education
In the last decade, online learning in the nail industry has become increasingly popular. Let’s discuss the pros and cons of both learning methods. It doesn’t have to be online learning vs face to face learning; a case of one or the other. Instead, these can work hand in hand…
How to write a winning competition entry
With the Scratch Stars Awards 2020 open for entry from 1-28 February, multi-winner, Katie Barnes, reveals her tips for a winning entry… Preparation is one of the key elements to success. Are you looking at entering the Scratch Star Awards this year? In this blog, I share my top tips…
How to create a crisp smile line with the gel system
Smile lines can be a nail tech’s nemesis. With the introduction of gel paint and gel polish, the need for sculpted smile lines has faded. While I love the look of a crisp, sculpted smile line, time constraints and trends means that more and more clients are requesting varied finishes;…
How to manage your nail client’s expectations
Many clients bring pictures of nail designs that they have found on social media to the nail desk and want us to recreate the exact nails from the photograph. While to some techs, having an image to work from is a safety blanket, many dread being presented with this. Nail…
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