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…

Nail tool brand, MUSE, empowers techs through quality, consistency & community

By Jess Watts | 7 October 2025

Nail technician & educator, Becci Hollis, shares her journey launching nail tool brand, MUSE. Becci Hollis has been part of the nail industry for 11 years. Originally training as a nail technician, before opening her own salon and training academy, Becci has had her fair share of successful enterprises. Now,…

Award-winning nail pros unite to create handy tools brand

By Jess Watts | 4 October 2025

Jojo Wickens and Leila Monroy, Scratch Stars Awards winners & co-owners of Light Elegance UK, have collaborated to produce LePhine Pro: a nail tool brand that ‘combines thoughtful design, professional quality and everyday usability’. Pronounced ‘Leh-feen’, the brand name combines the first parts of the duo’s names, with ‘Pro’ added to reflect…

Left-handed nail tech? Here’s how to adapt your tool kit

By Katie Barnes | 13 August 2025

It is assumed that when working left-handed, you just work the opposite way. But if you are leftie, you will know this is a myth. The majority of the population is right-handed, and so the majority of nail products and techniques are tailored to right-handed techs. Having to adapt to…

OPI collaborates with award-winning nail pro on mani/pedi essentials range

By Helena Biggs | 14 April 2025

Following the launch of the Katie Barnes X OPI branded E-file in 2024, the two companies have announced a second collaboration: a range of nail and cuticle tools and E-file bits. Katie Clark (née Barnes), a multi award-winning nail pro & educator, founded Katie Barnes Tool Range in 2017 to…

Nailchemy & KB Tool Range announce collaboration – with 3 big benefits for nail pros

By Helena Biggs | 21 August 2024

Katie Barnes Tool Range, a provider of nail tools, and nail product house, Nailchemy, have unveiled a product-focused partnership. Keen to elevate the experience of the nail technician, the brands are offering the KB Portable E-File and Nailchemy Dust Collector at promotional prices, to support the efficiency, precision and health…

A guide to taking care of your nail tools & brushes

By Scratch Staff | 15 August 2024

They’re the most essential items in your kit bag, so refresh your knowledge on storing, cleaning and maintaining nail tools and brushes… “With all tools, the general rule should be that if you can feel a loss of efficacy or you’re having to change your technique, it’s time to replace…

4 ways to speed up nail services – without compromising on results

By Guest Writer | 7 August 2024

Scratch Stars Social Media Star of the Year 2024, Kamila Borowiec, shares her advice… Are you ready to take your work to the next level? Let me help you out. By implementing my time-saving tips, you can be more efficient, enhance the overall customer experience and fit in more clients.…

Here’s why nail tools discolour & corrode – & how to prevent this

By Katie Barnes | 3 August 2024

Maintaining high-quality nail tools is essential for delivering safe and professional nail services to clients. However, have you ever wondered why some of your nail tools – particularly metal ones – develop discolouration, tarnish and corrosion? Understanding the factors that contribute to these issues can help you prolong the lifespan…

Perfect your nail prep with The GelBottle Inc’s 4-piece tool range

By Chloe Randall | 17 October 2023

The GelBottle Inc has introduced a four-piece range of tools, designed for ultimate comfort and hygiene. Each tool has been designed to be comfortable to use and is coated with hygienic and surgical grade titanium nitride, in a champagne finish. “When I launched TGB, I wanted to create a one-stop…

Here’s why you shouldn’t let your nail & beauty tools air dry after cleaning

By Katie Barnes | 11 September 2023

Most nail tools and e-file bits are made from steel and iron. Rust occurs on nail tools, E-file bits, and other metal items when water (or moisture including humidity) and oxygen come into contact with iron or steel for a certain amount of time. This is a naturally occurring chemical…

OPI collaborates with Katie Barnes to launch an E-file

By Chloe Randall | 19 April 2023

OPI has collaborated with Katie Clark, Scratch Stars Services to the Nail Industry finalist & founder of Katie Barnes Tool Range, to launch an E-file. The OPI X Katie Barnes E-file collaboration follows the launch of OPI’s Diamond Gel, a hard gel system that can be used to build, overlay…

Revealed: Why the angle in which you use your tools is important

By Katie Barnes | 21 June 2022

In a previous blog post for Scratch, we covered the importance of correctly holding your nail brush for success. This covers angles and where on the brush you hold.   This is no different for nail tools or other implements we may use throughout the nail service. If your tools…

Looking for new nail tools? Try TNL UK

By Helena Biggs | 3 September 2021

She’s scooped a whopping five Scratch Stars Awards, is a salon and academy owner and has honed enviable experience as an educator. Now, nail tech Paulina Zdrada has turned her hand – and experience – to tool production to support the needs of fellow techs. Enter TNL – aka The…

Need new nail tools? LP Nails has added to its popular range for techs

By Helena Biggs | 30 July 2021

LP Nails has added The Clippers, The Scissors and The Curette to its popular range of professional nail tools. The brand, created by nail technician, Lucy Pastorelli, has reaped success with The Cuticle Knife, The Cuticle Pusher and The Cuticle Nipper and the three latest additions are following suit; designed for longevity and optimum…