22 customisable Valentine’s nail art ideas for a personal touch

By Jess Watts | 2 February 2026

Everyone loves a thoughtful handwritten note or personalised message. Translate this onto nails with swoon-worthy styles and tailored talons, because what could be cuter than personalised Valentine’s Day nail art? Halo VIP & content creator, Michaela Phillips, predicts that popular Valentine’s nail art in 2026 will include ‘personalised initial details…

60 trending nail art ideas for February

By Jess Watts | 1 February 2026

February may be the shortest month of the year, but it delivers no shortage of nail inspiration. From romantic reds and soft pinks to winter neutrals and playful accents, browse our roundup of designs to nail February in style…

What are barcode nails? Trend guide, styles & inspiration

By Jess Watts | 31 January 2026

Nail trends come and go in the blink of an eye. From glazed donut finishes to polka dots, tartan prints and cat eye designs, there’s always a new look taking over our feeds. Now, a fresh twist on the magnetic effect behind cat eye nails is making waves on social…

10 times Megan Fox’s nail looks stole the spotlight

By Jess Watts | 30 January 2026

Alongside her acting career, Megan Fox is also known for her styling, in particular an array of stunning nail looks courtesy of her go-to tech, Brittney Boyce (@nails_of_la). Let’s take a look at some of her standout nail designs… Brittney Boyce has treated Fox to an array of jewel-encrusted talons,…

18 silly goose nail designs guaranteed to make you smile

By Jess Watts | 27 January 2026

Silly goose – arguably one of the best terms in the English language – is lovingly reserved for someone behaving in a comedically foolish and delightfully unserious way. In honour of all the silly geese among us, we’ve rounded up 20 goose-tastic nail styles that perfectly capture that unapologetically absurd…

78 winter nail designs: nail art contest entries & winner

By Rebecca Hitchon | 26 January 2026

The winner of the Scratch Snap nail art contest for January is Bristol nail pro, Kellie Sanfiz-Gould. In a showcase of talent, UK&I techs created salon-style nail designs inspired by theme, Frosted Fingertips, in the bid to win an Artistic Nail Design prize. Entries were judged by Victoria Trafford, Artistic educator & brand manager at Sweet Squared, and Scratch editor, Rebecca…

Step inside a nail studio sanctuary in the heart of Somerset

By Jess Watts | 26 January 2026

After training in 2019, nail artist, Vienna Marchant, began her career in a small high street salon. “The building was literally falling apart, so I decided it was time to create my own space,” she shares. The Gel Studio – Vienna’s garden salon in Minehead – took four months to…

The 2016 nail trends making a 2026 comeback

By Jess Watts | 24 January 2026

Social media has fallen head over heels into a time warp. Users are embracing 2016-core, from shoelace chokers to Snapchat filters… but what are the 2016 nail trends that are making a comeback a decade later? The March 2016 edition of Scratch shone a spotlight on trending nail styles, and…

Important February dates for your nail & beauty business

By Jess Watts | 24 January 2026

Prepare your business for the month of February with our roundup of dates to note… All month: LGBTQ+ History Month On its website, LGBT+ History Month designates February as a time ‘to celebrate [the] rich and diverse history, herstory and theirstory’ of the LGBTQ+ community. Each year, the campaign adopts…

18 designs to make your Chinese New Year nails the ‘mane’ event

By Jess Watts | 23 January 2026

Chinese New Year begins on 16 February 2026, marking one of the most significant celebrations in the lunar calendar. The festivities are characterised by firework displays, cultural traditions and communal gatherings, culminating in the annual Lantern Festival. Each year is associated with one of the 12 zodiac animals, with 2026…

Latina beauty influencer launches capsule nail polish collection

By Jess Watts | 23 January 2026

Lights Lacquer – the nail colour and care brand founded by beauty influencer & YouTuber, Kathleen Lights – has unveiled the Core Collection. As trend cycles shift towards capsule classics and long-term staples, the collection echoes this with a line-up that offers ‘intentional colour, versatility and longevity’. Lights Lacquer was…

What are power clash nails & why are chaotic manicures trending?

By Jess Watts | 23 January 2026

The latest iteration of the mix ‘n’ match manicure, power clash nails are an anti-minimalist’s dream. But what are they, and how are they styled? What are power clash nails? Characterised by mismatched patterns and colour palettes, power clash nails thrive on intentional chaos. Each nail becomes a kaleidoscope of…

21 Argyle nail art ideas for fans of the diamond design

By Helena Biggs | 22 January 2026

Argyle (or ‘argyll’) nails are trending: yes, the colourful criss-cross pattern is being requested by fashion-forward nail art fans across the globe, owing to its dazzling diamond details and high-impact finish. Derived from the tartan of Clan Campbell of Argyll Scotland, argyle is made up of diamond shapes with diagonal lines.…

58 swoon-worthy vintage Valentine’s nail designs

By Jess Watts | 22 January 2026

Check out entries to the 21 January 2026 nail art challenge from Scratch, in which techs were tasked with creating a design to fit the theme: Vintage Valentine’s. Each nail style was submitted via Instagram or Facebook using #ShowScratch #CreativeChallenge. Follow Scratch on Instagram and Facebook for future Creative Challenges – launching every other Wednesday.

MY MEMORABLE MELODY: North America’s Star Nail Artist S2 Challenge 3 Entries

By Helena Biggs | 21 January 2026

The 25-strong shortlist of North America’s Star Nail Artist (NASNA) competitors was whittled down to 16 at the end of 2025, and the first challenge of 2026 saw them get further in tune with their tools to craft nail art worthy of a mic drop. Following eliminations after challenges one…