20 trendy & timeless jewel tone nail ideas for gemstone lovers
As we look towards the coming months, autumn/winter trends are waking from hibernation, ready to take the nail industry by storm. This year, jewel-themed nails are set to be a big hit. From dazzling jewel tones to daring gemstone embellishments, autumn/winter is all about celebrating sparkly stones! Here are 20…
Step inside the nail salon & academy by the sea on the Isle of Wight
The Gel Art Academy is the passion project of Rebecca Evans, a tech with a love for nail art and education. The cosy salon is located in Rebecca’s home on the Isle of Wight and provides the ultimate relaxation spot for clients. “The space used to be the utility room…
The perfect minimalist mani: what are glass nails?
We’ve heard of glazed donut nails, soap nails and princess nails – now it’s time for the newest addition to minimalist nail looks: glass nails. Worn by celebrities such as Selena Gomez, Hailey Bieber and Anne Hathaway, glass nails are levelling up the ‘barely there’ look with sheer, nude hues…
Embrace your wild side with 20 animal print nail designs
Animal print has long been a classic nail design, but today, we see all sorts of colourful and textured iterations that are making nail techs and clients go wild! Here are 20 animal print designs to go feral for…
Step right up! 35 carnival-themed nail designs that will steal the show
Check out entries to the 30 July 2025 nail art challenge from Scratch, in which techs were tasked with creating a design to fit the theme: Carnival. 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.
Raise a glass to these 22 cocktail nail design ideas
Fancy a French 75? Manifesting a Manhattan? Partial to a Pimm’s? These nail designs have it all. Whether you are a cocktail, mocktail or straight-up shot person, here’s some nail inspo to make happy hour even more jolly…
Crack. Snack. Create: A takeaway inspires fortune cookie nail art experience
Do you – or your clients – struggle to make decisions about nail designs at appointments? Say hello to Nail Fortunes™: an edible fortune cookie experience that delivers inspiration to the nail desk. “This started as a totally random idea I threw out to my husband over dinner,” says founder,…
Inside the Leeds nail salon known for its Y2K decor & viral nail art
Meet Freya-Poppy Bowden, the Y2K-obsessed nail tech whose Leeds-based salon is every millennial’s dream! Growing up in a family of artists, it is no surprise that Freya-Poppy’s creativity flourished early. At the age of 11, she began experimenting with nail art and quickly fell in love with the medium. She…
Seaside styles stun in nail art contest: check out 55 entries & winner
The winner of the Scratch Snap nail art contest for July has been announced as Bethany Allen of @goodwithabrush. In a showcase of talent, UK&I techs created salon-style nail designs inspired by theme, Seaside Styling, in the bid to win a Halo prize courtesy of Pure Nails. Entries were judged by…
London nail artist creates 3D food-inspired designs for Aldi campaign
Nail artist and social media star, Sophie Parkinson, was called on by Aldi to create 3D nail art replicating the supermarket’s fan favourite products. Sophie spent over 300 hours perfecting the festival nail art designs, which include miniature versions of caterpillar cake, Cuthbert; Bramwell’s Baked Beans; Nordpak Slightly Salted Butter…
Scratch Snap winner announced: tropical nail art contest with 60 entries
The winner of Scratch’s monthly salon-style nail art contest for June has been announced as Mia Murray of Painted by Mia, Kinross. In a showcase of talent, UK&I techs created nail designs inspired by theme, Tropical Talons, in the bid to win a prize from Gelish. Entries were judged by Georgie…
Pinterest reveals the top 7 nail trends for summer 2025
Social media platform, Pinterest, has released another of its trend-identifying reports highlighting the top nail trends for summer 2025. Here are the ones to know: Cat eye nails A versatile style that can be adapted to the demands of any season, cat eye designs remain popular for summer 2025. In…
Nailympia Orlando 2025: THE RESULTS
The fifth Nailympia Orlando welcomed the most competitors to date, with 99 nail techs from eight countries choosing to compete in turn-in and arena categories. The event was hosted at Premiere Orlando 1 & 2 June 2025, and featured an esteemed international judging panel – with Alisha Rimando as head…
The history of nail colour & design: everything you need to know
Nail colour and design have become one of the most popular outlets for creativity and self-expression within the beauty industry. But where did it all begin, and how has it evolved over time? Here’s Scratch‘s deep dive into the history of the industry… 1920s & 1930s According to research revealed…
Techs paint fairytale nail art for Scratch Snap comp: winner announced
The winner of Scratch’s monthly salon-style nail art contest for May has been announced as Brigitta Fajt. In a showcase of talent, techs created nail designs inspired by theme, Fairytale Figures, in the bid to win a prize from MSK Nails. Entries were judged by Megan Heppinstall, owner of MSK Nails & Scratch Stars Social…
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