Posts by Rebecca Hitchon
Award-winning London beauty student shares her education journey & career dreams
London College of Beauty Therapy (LCBT) student, Damla Osman, scooped the Level 2 Technical Beauty Therapy Student of the Year title at the college’s Star Awards 2023. Awarded in October, she shares that winning the accolade, which was sponsored by Scratch, still feels incredible. “It’s a huge accomplishment for me, so I feel very proud…
Read More2 in 3 women are turning to nail appointments for mental wellbeing
Research from salon booking platform, Fresha, has revealed that two in three women are supporting their mental wellbeing via beauty experiences in 2024. This aligns with TikTok trend, ‘girl therapy’, with #girltherapy used on over 50K posts. The phrase is used to show when girls and women prioritise self-care, via activities from dancing to their…
Read MoreWhy music matters in the nail salon experience
With 70% of Scratch readers playing music in the nail space, according to a 2023 Instagram poll, it’s important to learn how to cater sound to clients to ensure a comfortable experience. Freddie Moross is CEO of Myndstream, wellbeing-focused salon and spa music provider & an advisory board member for the Global Wellness Institute. He…
Read MoreDream Nails CEO on the salon brand’s AI customer service chatbot
Scratch chats to Thanh Vu, CEO of Essex and East London salon franchise, Dream Nails, about its artificial intelligence (AI) nail expert… Tell us about the role of the AI assistant. Dream Nails‘ AI assistant is available 24/7 via a web and WhatsApp interface, and can answer questions about treatments, pricing and more. Staff of all…
Read MoreThe GelBottle Inc adds 10 BIABᵀᴹ builder gel shades to portfolio
Say hello to some of your favourite The GelBottle Inc gel polish colours in the brand’s BIABᵀᴹ builder gel formula. The Brighton-based nailcare company, fondly known as TGB, has launched ten BIABᵀᴹ shades, from sheers to shimmers and full coverage colours, to easily build strong natural nail overlays. They are inspired by popular TGB gel…
Read MoreNHBF paper addresses VAT threshold issue for beauty industry
The National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) has released an independent paper to prompt discussion about the UK’s VAT threshold issue and offer solutions. Commissioned by the NHBF and created by Pragmatix Advisory Ltd, Avoiding the cliff edge: considering possible options for a VAT threshold smoothing mechanism aims to generate debate within the hair and…
Read MoreDecoded: Conscious beauty terms you need to note
Navigating the world of conscious and sustainable beauty can be tricky, with a wealth of terms used to describe products. For beauty pros sourcing products for their business, it can be a confusing process to decipher what these terms mean and whether they are used in a genuine way, or for the purpose of greenwashing…
Read MoreEffortlessly build & update your beauty business website with Vagaro’s MySite
Global salon, spa and fitness booking and management software, Vagaro, has launched MySite, helping businesses to easily create sophisticated websites to increase brand visibility. MySite is a website builder with booking system, using which business owners, regardless of their web development skill, can completely customise their online customer experiences with easy-to-use drag and drop templates.…
Read MoreHappy Paul takes to streets of London for mood-lifting ‘dry January’ giveaway
If you’re in London this month, keep your eyes peeled for Happy Paul founder, Paul Gerrard, and his dog, Reggie. They’re giving away the skincare and bodycare brand’s Moisturiser to spread positivity and hydrate this ‘dry January’. Lucky recipients of the moisturiser are invited to donate what they feel it is worth to mental health…
Read More4 beauty industry trends to note for 2024
Scratch explores trends set to dominate this year and how to incorporate them into your business… 1. Wellness as a priority The definition of beauty is changing, from a focus on products and services designed to help consumers conform to physical standards, to an emphasis on looking healthy. This is thanks to younger generations, details…
Read MoreNail & beauty names recognised in King’s New Year Honours List 2024
His Majesty’s New Year Honours List 2024 has been published, marking the achievements and service of extraordinary people from all walks of life across the UK. Two beauty names have been awarded… Jane Boardman Founding chair of the British Beauty Council (BBCo) & CEO of communications agency, M&C Saatchi Talk, Jane Boardman, has been appointed…
Read MoreDarts star Fallon Sherrock on beauty in sport, her go-to nail look & oche style rules
There’s one word that is repeatedly used to describe English professional darts player, Fallon Sherrock MBE, and that is ‘trailblazer’. The ‘Queen of the Palace’ has had many firsts as a woman in the darts sphere, from becoming the first woman to beat a man at the PDC World Championship in 2019, to hitting the first…
Read MoreCosmetics ingredients information is at your fingertips with this mobile app
On average, European consumers use over seven different cosmetics daily, but do you know about their ingredients? European personal care association, Cosmetics Europe, is on a mission to drive transparency and improve cosmetics ingredients knowledge, with the launch of the COSMILE Europe app. Allowing users to scan an ingredients list on a product or do…
Read MoreAdd eye-catching effects to nails with The GelBottle Inc’s Flashing Pigments
As featured on Scratch’s December 2023 issue cover, Brighton-born professional nail brand, The GelBottle Inc, has unveiled its 10-piece collection of Flashing Pigments. Part of the Studio Effects nail art range, designed to help techs create speedy statement nails, get cameras at the ready as the pigments reflect light and dazzle in flash photography. With…
Read MoreBio Sculpture collaborates with Rochelle Humes & Bryony Deery for nail colour
Vegan nail colour and care brand, Bio Sculpture, has announced a collaboration with matcha and lifestyle brand, Cloudcha. Cloudcha was co-founded this month by singer & TV presenter, Rochelle Humes, and pilates instructor, Bryony Deery of Pilates by Bryony. The pair’s regular workout sessions, followed by catch-ups over matcha tea, inspired the launch. The Bio…
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