ÜLKA nail brand spotlight

The Ukrainian nail brand on a mission to make nail techs’ work safer

By Alex Fox | 5 December 2025

Standing tall for 2025, Ukrainian manufacturing brand, ÜLKA, sponsored Nailympia London to demonstrate how it’s serious about redefining what a nail technician’s workspace should be. Since 2017, the brand has championed a simple yet powerful belief: a nail station must feel like a sanctuary, not a place that harms the…

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Nail tech communities: 4 online groups for networking & growth

By Scratch Staff | 30 October 2025

Are you seeking support from fellow nail techs? Do you want easy access to creative and business inspiration? Do you have questions but don’t know who to ask? The answer might lie in joining a nail networking group. Here’s four to explore… The Nail Tech Org The Nail Tech Org…

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Psoriasis

Nail techs with psoriasis reveal what life is like with the skin condition

By Rebecca Hitchon | 29 October 2025

Psoriasis is a ‘condition that causes dry, scaly and sometimes itchy or sore patches on the skin,’ according to the NHS. Here, two nail techs share their experiences with psoriasis… Fie Pederson, Denmark “I suffer from seasonal psoriasis on my fingers and hands (mostly during autumn and winter) and psoriatic…

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Podcasts

Nail & beauty pros: here’s 12 podcasts to listen to in 2025

By Rebecca Hitchon | 23 October 2025

We’ve scoured podcasting platforms for nail and beauty-related programmes to keep you company in the salon and beyond… Clawgasmic Nail Tech Talks Created as a source of inspiration and support for techs, each episode of Clawgasmic Nail Tech Talks features an industry guest, who shares expert insight and discusses their…

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Happy nail technician & salon client

Listen up nail community: here’s why you’re not ‘just nail techs’

By Hannah Beth Clayton | 25 September 2025

Business mentor, Hannah Clayton, shares why there needs to be a shift in the way nail professionals are seen… Recently, I shared an Instagram post that went viral. It was so simple – about how pros aren’t ‘just nail techs’, yet the response was overwhelming. It received hundreds of comments, shares, reposts…

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Gel polish safe removal

How to remove gel polish safely without damaging nails

By Jess Watts | 18 September 2025

Gel polish overlays should not cause any damage to nails. As award-winning nail artist, Katie Clark (née Barnes), has previously written for Scratch, natural nail damage can occur as a result of ‘improper application or removal, overly aggressive filing or client abuse such as picking or biting’. If done without…

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Woman on tablet happy

Manchester nail tech launches self-employment guide for UK beauty pros

By Rebecca Hitchon | 12 September 2025

Nail pro, educator & beauty business mentor, Tina Jane, has published e-book, Ready To Go Solo: A practical guide to starting and succeeding as a self-employed beauty professional – UK Edition. The Scratch Stars L&P Tech of the Year finalist 2024 has been in the nail industry for over 15…

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Instagram.com:nailsavvyy greenies nails is it mould

Is it nail mould? Nail expert explores greenies

By Katie Barnes | 25 August 2025

Award-winning nail stylist & educator, Katie Barnes, gets to grips with greenies… Lead image courtesy of Instagram.com/nailsavvyy, showing a new client’s nails presenting greenies. A problem that I have come across far too often in the industry is ‘mould’ on client’s nails – more commonly known as ‘greenies’. But what…

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Jade fox nail tech with moebius syndrome

Norwich nail tech: finding success with a rare neurological condition

By Guest Writer | 20 August 2025

I’m Jade Fox and I have Moebius syndrome: a rare neurological condition that is present from birth and affects facial muscles, speech, eye movement and mobility. I face daily challenges that most people never have to consider, and these obstacles have shaped nearly every part of my life. Unexpectedly, they…

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Alison McCall French manicure photo

Master ‘nailfies’ as a nail tech with these expert photography tips

By Scratch Staff | 19 August 2025

Check out this guide for nail pros who want to capture high-quality nail photos. First impressions matter. Blurry, dark or low-resolution photos can make it difficult for people to properly appreciate your nail creations, which could impact whether they decide to book an appointment. So, it’s crucial that your marketing…

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December christmas calendar

Nail pros, here’s why opening your Christmas diary too early can cost you

By Hannah Beth Clayton | 15 August 2025

Nail business mentor, Hannah Clayton, shares lessons learned from Christmas diary chaos… Every year, as the summer sun is still shining, clients start asking the same thing: ‘When are you opening your Christmas diary?‘ For years, I used to cave at the pressure of releasing appointments, thinking I was clever.…

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McLaren Formula 1-themed nail art offered in The GelBottle Inc collaboration

By Lilly Delmage | 5 July 2025

Female-founded nail brand, The GelBottle Inc (TGB), has teamed up with Mastercard to offer McLaren Formula 1 fans a unique way to support the racing team – via McLaren Racing nail art. A five-day TGB pop-up nail bar has been set up at London’s Style Of Our Own (SOOO) store,…

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TGB Academy launches online learning platform for nail techs

By Lilly Delmage | 3 July 2025

TGB Academy from The GelBottle Inc has launched an online learning platform for nail professionals seeking education that is ‘flexible, accessible and comprehensive’. The education hub enables nail professionals at all stages of their careers to learn and refine their skills on their own schedules and terms. It offers a…

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What are brush-on builder gel & BIAB™ nails?

By Lilly Delmage | 3 July 2025

Brush-on builder gel is an ever-popular request at the nail desk – but what is it, and when should it be used? Brush-on builder gel is a more convenient variation of traditional builder gels, which are housed in pots. Packaged in a bottle with an integrated brush, the product allows…

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Social Media Tips

How to nail your social media game: 10+ tips from internet nail stars

By Rebecca Hitchon | 30 June 2025

Want to boost your engagement and connect with more people on social media? Check out expert tips from online nail stars… “We all have unique life experiences, tastes and aesthetics, and we process beauty differently, so it’s important to post content that is unique and shows your style.” – San…

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