Jo bennett maternal mental health

Hampshire nail pro on maternal mental health struggles & pressure to be a perfect mum

By Guest Writer | 25 May 2025

Andover-based nail artist & educator, Jo Bennett, opens up about feeling her lowest after having twins… When I was a new mum, I struggled to focus, my mood dropped significantly and I had no motivation, whether to take my twins out, work or even wash my face. I also had…

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Devon nail tech & mental health first aider on how to prioritise wellness in the salon

By Rebecca Hitchon | 18 May 2025

“While holding clients’ hands – quite literally for hours at a time, they can open up, allowing you to celebrate the ups in their lives, but also the downs,” says Emily Harris, owner of North Devon business, Vanity Nails & Tanning. The passionate pro is a qualified mental health first…

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Laura gilbert anderson maternal mental health

Portsmouth nail pro: What I learned from mental health struggles during pregnancy

By Guest Writer | 15 May 2025

Laura Gilbert-Anderson of Basic Witch Nails shares her maternal mental health experiences and what they have taught her… I was diagnosed with a liver condition during my first pregnancy, so my baby and I had to be closely monitored. If test results weren’t good, it meant days spent at the…

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The dos & don’ts of speaking to a salon employee with mental health considerations

By Rebecca Hitchon | 12 May 2025

As a business owner, do you know how to speak to an employee who is struggling with their mental health, giving them the support they need? We’ve sourced expert advice to ensure you use mindful language when talking to staff.   “When speaking with a colleague with mental health issues,…

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Amberley robinson maternal mental health

Nail tech’s maternal mental health struggles: ‘Talking & finding support saved my life’

By Guest Writer | 7 May 2025

New Mexico tech, Amberley Robinson, aka The Nail Tattooist, opens up about her maternal mental health experiences… When my first child was six months old, I juggled roles as a full-time beauty student and breastfeeding mum. Leaving my son with a caregiver each day made me feel heartbroken and guilty,…

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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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nail desk client tech

How to avoid stress when clients offload at the nail desk

By Guest Writer | 2 April 2025

Suzy Reading, psychologist & wellness expert for the British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology (BABTAC), shares top tips for managing mental stress from being a soundboard for clients… “The energetic and emotional toll of listening to clients’ problems needs to be recognised and addressed as part of basic training,”…

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Christmas nails pic

How & why nail techs should practice self-care this festive season

By Guest Writer | 10 November 2024

Fiona Fox, owner of Dorset salon, Ulu Beauty, provides training to beauty pros on areas including mental health awareness, safeguarding, equality and diversity. Here, she explores the importance of self-care for nail techs during the festive season and simple self-care fixes. For many, Christmas is a time to look and…

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Nail tech and client

5 ways nail techs can prioritise their mental health when clients offload

By Guest Writer | 8 October 2024

Health psychologist, Dr Ravi Gill, explores how nail technicians can create a safe space for clients to offload while prioritising their own mental health. Nail appointments offer an opportunity for a person to sit still for an hour without the distraction of their phones: an act of self-care and perhaps…

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Loneliness

How to tackle loneliness & self-doubt in the nail industry

By Scratch Staff | 14 June 2024

Your role sees you care for the nail needs of others, but are you looking after your own wellbeing? In an industry with a large portion of solo workers, there’s never been a better excuse to stay connected. “Feeling lonely isn’t in itself a mental health problem, but the two…

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Positive Mindset

Beauty pros, here’s 6 tips to support a more positive mindset

By Guest Writer | 12 May 2024

Sarah Hartley, social media coach at Blossom Tree Social & creator of Time To Blossom wellbeing products, shares her advice… Running a business and making time for yourself can feel like a juggle. It can also feel lonely, but you’re not alone – we all have bad days. Staying positive…

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Inclusivity

5 areas to consider to make your nail & beauty business more inclusive

By Guest Writer | 13 March 2024

Fiona Fox, owner of Dorset salon, Ulu Beauty, provides training to beauty pros on areas including mental health awareness, safeguarding, equality and diversity. It’s important to champion inclusivity, because everybody should feel able to enjoy nail and beauty services. Inclusion is about making sure anyone who wants a treatment can…

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Nail Appointment

2 in 3 women are turning to nail appointments for mental wellbeing

By Rebecca Hitchon | 29 January 2024

Research from salon booking platform, Fresha, has revealed that two in three women are supporting their mental wellbeing via beauty experiences in 2024. This aligns with TikTok trend, ‘girl therapy’, with #girltherapy used on over 50K posts. The phrase is used to show when girls and women prioritise self-care, via…

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Happy paul january giveaway

Happy Paul takes to streets of London for mood-lifting ‘dry January’ giveaway

By Rebecca Hitchon | 7 January 2024

If you’re in London this month, keep your eyes peeled for Happy Paul founder, Paul Gerrard, and his dog, Reggie. They’re giving away the skincare and bodycare brand’s Moisturiser to spread positivity and hydrate this ‘dry January’. Lucky recipients of the moisturiser are invited to donate what they feel it…

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Nail techs: Here’s how you can overcome creative burnout

By Callie Iley | 26 December 2023

Are your nail art ideas waning and are you feeling run-down? Scratch explores the causes and impacts of creative burnout and how to overcome them… What does creative burnout look like? Creative burnout can manifest in a number of ways and will vary from person to person, but there are…

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