Posts by Katie Barnes
How to attract men into the salon for manicures
The nail industry is dominated by female clients, but do you do enough to attract and welcome the growing male market? From mechanics, hairdressers and grooms to fathers of the bride and office workers, the male nail salon clientele is expanding. This seems to have been made more publicly accepted by celebrities such as Harry…
Read MoreHow to maintain your nail enhancements
There are so many terms regarding nail enhancement maintenance appointments, such as back-fills, fill, fill-in, touch-up and maintenance – and it can often seem quite complex to both nail techs to understand what the difference is. Most clients seem to be familiar with the term ‘infills’ but this isn’t always the enhancement maintenance service that…
Read MoreHere’s why nails may look dull after applying cuticle oil
You’ve created a beautiful set of nails; you apply cuticle oil then go to capture a photo and notice that the glossy sheen has suddenly gone dull. So, what causes this? Firstly, ensure that your gel polish is fully cured. If it has not completely cured, then the shine will be removed from the enhancement…
Read MoreWhat is meant by a ‘medium’ in the nail industry?
What is meant by a ‘medium’ in the nail industry? A ‘medium’ refers to the materials or decorative techniques used to create the nail service, such as liquid & powder acrylic, acrygel, gel, gel polish, nail polish or even nail art products that you are using, such as gel paint or watercolour paints. It can…
Read MoreConfused by Chuck? Puzzled by RPM? Here’s e-file lingo explained…
Confused by Chuck? Puzzled by RPM? Here’s e-file lingo explained… There are a lot of words associated with e-filing, and they can be confusing. Learning the lingo and terminology can give you more confidence in your e-file practice and, in turn, give your clients more confidence and reassurance that you know your stuff. E-File An…
Read MoreHow to manage quiet spells in the salon
Every beauty business will come across quiet periods of footfall and a common time for this can be right before the busy festive season. As savvy business owners, you must think of ideas that boost profits and productivity in such times, whenever your business may experience this. Boosting profits During the months that you know…
Read MoreHow to know where to cut your nail forms
No two clients’ nails are alike, and no two nails on the same client are alike. They will grow at different angles and have different free edge shapes. Therefore, when fitting a nail form, it is essential to tailor it to fit each nail seamlessly. If a nail form isn’t fitted properly, then issues will…
Read MoreWhat is the function of the free edge of the nail?
To understand the function of the free edge or nail tip, we must firstly understand how and why the nail grows. The function of the nail is to protect the outermost bone of the finger or toe, the fingertip, and the surrounding soft tissues from injuries. The fingertips contain a lot of sensory endings that…
Read MoreWhat’s the difference between acrylic & gel?
The word ‘gel’ lends itself to confusion because it describes the product’s physical state, but over time it has turned into a generic name of the product category. Whereas ‘acrylic’ is a two-part system of liquid and powder, often known as L&P. Where the powder in this two-part system has already been polymerised to its…
Read More‘Free exposure’ doesn’t pay the bills… or does it?
If you’re a creative of some kind, whether a nail tech, educator or content creator, then you’ve probably come across the offer of exposure for free work. More often than not, this request comes from a successful, well established individual or business. The paradox is, if they are so successful, then why can’t and won’t…
Read MoreNail enhancements: How, why & when to maintain them
There are so many terms in the industry surrounding nail enhancement maintenance, such as back-fills, fill, fill-in, touch-up and maintenance, which can be confusing to nail techs and clients. Most clients seem to be familiar with the term ‘infill’s’ but this isn’t always the enhancement maintenance service that is best for their nail needs There…
Read MoreRevealed: Why the angle in which you use your tools is important
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 aren’t being held at the…
Read MoreHow to reduce your nail infill time
Infill and maintenance services can be the bane of a tech’s life, taking a considerable amount of time, and often undercharging for the time spent. However, a lot less time is required than you would think. I am going to share my top tips on infill and maintenance procedures to save you time and…
Read MoreHow to effectively fit a form to a wide nail
It can be tricky to fit a form on an uneven free edge or when the fleshy pad of skin where the free edge would usually be, is raised and higher than or level with the nail plate. The nail plate is often flat or may be concave. This can also present at the sidewalls…
Read MoreNail talk: The importance of parallel side walls
Parallel side walls run from the side wall to the upper arch of the nail, starting at the cuticle zone and ending at the free edge. These sides help to give the nail enhancement a slim and slender appearance and they must mirror each other. It is a term heard on the competition circuit frequently,…
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