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Nailing Disabilities: Meet Yasmin Hodge, the nail tech on a mission to create an inclusive beauty industry

By Callie Iley | 1 February 2024

Sharing the profound impact of her health conditions on her work, Yasmin Hodge of Wolverhampton business, Gels By Yas, reveals how her experiences inspired the creation of Nailing Disabilities, a Facebook group for beauty professionals with disabilities and health conditions… Dealing with pain in her hands, wrists, shoulders, chest, back…

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UK & Ireland nail industry awards opens for entry

By Helena Biggs | 1 February 2024

Embrace the opportunity to join an elite group of salons and industry professionals and enter the Scratch Stars Awards, which recognises excellence in the UK&I nail sector. Dubbed ‘the Oscars of the nail industry’, the Scratch Stars Awards has returned for a 12th year, recognising excellence, passion and skill in…

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Streamline & manage business operations with nail booking platform, Polishpad

By Rebecca Hitchon | 31 January 2024

Scratch chats to Abi Bright, founder of nail-focused booking web app, Polishpad, to discover how its range of features can benefit nail pros and clients – and learn about its competition for techs… Abi Bright’s passion for nails was realised when she was 16, and it’s something that stayed with…

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Revealed: the top 7 trending Valentine’s Day nail designs

By Helena Biggs | 30 January 2024

Searches for Valentine’s Day themed nail designs are up 9,500% on Google, as many look to express passion and romance through their fingertips. Nick Drewe, trend expert at Wethrift, comments: “Year on year we are seeing a growing demand for manicure trends, as many look for creative ways to add…

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My experiences as a disabled nail technician

By Abi Hassan | 29 January 2024

Abi Hassan, owner of Canterbury-based salon, Hot Wheels Nails, shares her experiences as a disabled nail technician and explores the importance of advocating for accessibility in the industry… As a disabled nail technician, I found navigating my way through the start-up of my business to be a minefield. I needed…

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Nail Tech Talk: Maria Nevirchak of Nevirchak Studio 

By Callie Iley | 27 January 2024

Maria Nevirchak entered the nail industry after she finished school, initially hoping to pursue a different career after her 18th birthday. However, she quickly found herself becoming immersed in the world of nails. “The more I delved into the profession, the less I felt the need to switch paths,” she…

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55% of professionals think employers should do more to support workforce wellbeing

By Helena Biggs | 15 January 2024

Employers should be doing more to help with employee wellbeing, according to 55% of UK&I professionals polled by international recruitment firm, Robert Walters. The research also found that over two-fifths of senior leaders feel that their increased spending on wellness benefits is largely unnoticed. “We are seeing that the onus…

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Phorest Salon Software marks 20th anniversary with Dublin summit

By Helena Biggs | 15 January 2024

Irish-founded and global salon software provider, Phorest, marked its 20th business anniversary at its 8th annual flagship event, the Salon Owners Summit, in the Royal Dublin Convention Centre. Over 600 salon owners from salon business communities across Europe, Australia, Canada and the USA gathered over two days to hear talks…

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Nail Tech Talk: Rachel Foreman of Effy Nails

By Callie Iley | 29 December 2023

With a wealth of experience both on set and in-salon, nail artist, Rachel Foreman of Effy Nails, shares how her colourful career in the nail industry began and offers an insight into her day-to-day life… Returning to education in 2008 to train for two years in make-up artistry, the year…

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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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Community spirit: How Yorkshire nail techs are promoting positive mental wellbeing for fellow pros

By Callie Iley | 17 December 2023

Following her transition from a role in the NHS to the nail industry, Natasha Katoro of By Natasha Katoro shares how she and her local support group are tackling high feelings of isolation amongst industry pros… Hoping to foster a sense of community to promote positive mental wellbeing for nail…

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5 ways nail salon owners can support employee wellbeing

By Scratch Staff | 26 November 2023

Scratch explores ways that salon owners can look after their employees’ physical and mental wellbeing… 1. Promote healthy eating & hydration Here are a few tips: Provide a fruit bowl/healthy snacks in the staff area for employees to help themselves to. Encourage regular food and drink breaks, with water stations…

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How to make the move from nail tech to educator

By Chloe Randall | 6 November 2023

Are you keen to share your knowledge and become a nail industry educator? Scratch gathers top tips and hears from pros that have made the move from salon tech to teacher… Exceptional education is key to shaping the future of our industry and ensuring high standards and safe practice. If…

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Nail tech launches AI guides for the nail & beauty industry

By Rebecca Hitchon | 2 November 2023

Glitterbels ambassador, Millee Barton of Millee Barton Nails & Beauty & The Academy Barnsley, has launched artificial intelligence guides. “I was inspired to create these because I believe that the integration of AI technology can revolutionise the nail and beauty industry,” she tells Scratch. “AI has not only helped me…

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Nail Tech Talk: Millie Copsey of NailSpace

By Callie Iley | 8 October 2023

A lover of abstract styles, mix-and-match designs, and monochrome aesthetics, Millie Copsey discovered her passion for nail art during the lockdown, using her creative skills from her background in graphic design to carve out a career in nails. Having been a creative individual for as long as she can remember,…

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