Posts by Helena Biggs
Royston nail salon celebrates 10 years in business with fancy party
Fancy Fingers, a nail salon in Royston, Hertfordshire, celebrated 10 years in business with a party for clients, featuring freebies and flowing prosecco. Founder, Katie Moulton, completed nail training with Gelish in July 2013, after seeking a career that would fit around her two young children. Her husband then converted the family’s garage into a…
Read MorePHOTO GALLERY: The Scratch Stars Party 2023
For a decade, Scratch magazine has been recognising talented individuals and businesses in the UK nail sector via the Scratch Stars Awards. For 2023, the awards were open to techs and businesses in the Republic of Ireland, as well as across the globe, via the launch of The World’s Star Nail Artist competition. Following an…
Read MoreFinalists announced in first World’s Star Nail Artist competition
Wow, what a journey it’s been for competitors (and judges!) in the first World’s Star Nail Artist competition. Across several months, contestants have competed in ‘core’ challenges, with 2-3 eliminated after each into a Wild Card deck. These Wild Card competitors have been competing in shorter challenges, with a final task helping to determine who…
Read MoreThe battle for 2023’s Scratch Stars titles plays out in London at action-packed judging day
Finalists in eight of the 18 Scratch Stars Awards categories for 2023 travelled to London to show off their nail knowledge and handiwork to 20 judges on Wednesday 28 June, in the bid to top the scoreboard and be crowned a Scratch Star. The one-day event at the London College of Beauty Therapy (LCBT) was…
Read MoreGlasgow’s award-winning NAF! Salon rebrands to House of NAF!
NAF! Salon, a Scratch Stars award-winning premises, has rebranded to House of NAF!, as the company seeks to ‘redefine beauty, wellness and lifestyle experiences in Glasgow’. Led by nail artist and entrepreneur, Tammy Koslowski, the rebrand sees the salon encompass event spaces and an experiential offering, alongside its much-loved nail services. Found in a four-storey…
Read MoreLancashire nail pro enlisted to create Eurovision nails for BBC TV advert
Eurovision fever is rife, as event lovers get set for the 2023 final on 13 May in Liverpool, UK, hosted on behalf of last year’s winning country, Ukraine. To promote the event and boost excitement, the BBC has been playing an advert across its channels, featuring colourful nail art cameos courtesy of Rachel Shuttleworth of…
Read More4 ways to reassure clients about the safety of your nail services
You’ve spent hundreds of pounds on products, hours of time on training courses, and provide nail services that make your clients feel happy. So it hurts to constantly have to defend your profession from mainstream media cries of ‘UV nail lamps could cause cancer’ or ‘gel polish services cause allergies’. These stories don’t seem to…
Read MoreFinalists announced in nail industry’s 11th Scratch Stars Awards
An overwhelming number of entries from were submitted into the 11th Scratch Stars Awards, which recognises passion, skill & customer care within the UK&I nail sector. Nail techs, salon owners, mentors and educators submitted testimonials and imagery 1-28 February, and Monday 10 April revealed five finalists in each of the 18 categories. These finalists will…
Read MoreTop 21 revealed in first World’s Star Nail Artist competition
In an overwhelming display of talent and enthusiasm for their craft, nail pros worldwide embraced a creative challenge and entered The World’s Star Nail Artist, a new competition for 2023 brought to the industry by Scratch. The mission is clear: to recognise and reward global nail artists, push the boundaries of design, and offer a…
Read MoreSPRING BUDGET: Beauty industry body, NHBF, reacts to Chancellor’s measures
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, today (15 March) presented his Spring Budget 2023 to Parliament. He commented: “In the Autumn Statement 2022, the government took the difficult decisions needed on tax and spending to restore economic stability, support public services, and lay the foundation for long-term growth. “At Spring Budget 2023 the government is…
Read MoreTHE RESULTS: PB/The FNP Nail Competitions – March 2023
The Federation of Nail Professionals (The FNP) hosted the nail competitions at industry event, Professional Beauty, 5-6 March, with 170 competition seats taken across eight core categories. Competition directors, Jacqui and Sean O’Sullivan, administered and judged the events, and were joined by fellow judges, Marian Newman, Kirsty Meakin, Amie Heary, Alex Fox, Hazel Dixon, Liza…
Read MoreScratch Stars: Entry opens for UK&I nail industry awards 2023
Nail pros, salons, industry supporters & social media starlets – it’s time to step into the prestigious nail competition arena and see if you can be recognised with a Scratch Star Award… For 10 years, Scratch magazine has championed nail professionals and businesses in the UK nail industry by awarding Scratch Stars; coveted titles that…
Read MoreBABTAC launches T.I.M.E initiative to help consumers identify safe beauty services
The British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology (BABTAC) hosted an event at the Houses of Parliament on 26 January to mark the launch of T.I.M.E, an initiative to help consumers signpost their way to salon safety. A regulatory checklist, T.I.M.E will provide the framework necessary to ensure that consumers are aware of what to…
Read MoreHong Kong nail pros scoop top titles in CIDESCO Global Awards
CIDESCO, the esteemed awarding organisation for beauty and spa therapy, has announced the winners of its Global Awards 2022. The awards recognised the exceptional talents of students worldwide across beauty therapy, nails, make-up, western massage and spa. The nails and massage categories were new for 2022. Judges for the Nail Professional category were Scratch magazine’s…
Read MoreStar-studded line-up of nail pros to speak at Nail Camp 2023
Hillfield House Academy, Gloucester, will host a star-studded line-up of nail pros for the first edition of NAIL CAMP on 18 & 19 March 2023. World nail champions including Lena Kurach will be demonstrating nail techniques and serving up expertise across the two-day event, which takes place in a stunning grade II listed mansion. Just…
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