Scottish training centre launches spa traineeship programme to help combat employment crisis
BABTAC & CIBTAC Training Centre of the Year 2022, 2023 and 2024, The Academy, Glasgow, has launched Scotland’s first spa traineeship programme, in partnership with the Crerar Hotel Group. The traineeship delivers CIBTAC Level 2 Facial Skincare and Level 3 Body Massage qualifications. “The traineeship combines immersive on-site training at…
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Buying an E-file & bits? Nail techs: here’s what to consider
Nail experts share what to know before buying an E-file and bits… Choose the company carefully “Purchase from a reputable professional brand that also provides high-quality training for its E-file range, as undertaking this training is the best way to ensure the tools are being used correctly,” says Giorgia Cappella,…
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No-shows & cancellations: how to prevent & handle them in your beauty business
Session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, shares advice for client no-shows and cancellations… Every beauty business, at some point, has a client that doesn’t turn up for their appointment. You will have blocked out time and potentially turned other clients away, but are left with an empty appointment…
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How to stop nail biting & picking: experts share treatment plans to break the habit
Finalists in the Scratch Stars Natural Nail Specialist of the Year category 2024 share tips for nail biting and picking clients… Why do people bite and pick at their nails and skin? “Nail biting, also known as onychophagia, and skin picking and biting, named perionychophagia, are habits associated with stress,…
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Selena Gomez, Cynthia Erivo & 3 other celebrity nail looks spotted at the BAFTAs
The 2025 British Academy Film Awards saw celebrities flaunt stylish and trendsetting manicures. The star-studded event showcased an impressive roster of nail looks on the red carpet, and these looks are set to influence nail colour and art requests. We’ve rounded up the nail styles of some of your favourite…
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Nail & beauty apprenticeships: salons share benefits, their experiences & advice
In a recent poll on Scratch’s Instagram, almost 80% of respondents shared that they’re considering taking on apprentices. Here, two UK salons share how they’ve reaped the rewards of the apprenticeship process… Nailspa, West Yorkshire “As a business owner, I believe that when it comes to employees, you cannot beat…
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Nail techs: This is why thorough client consultations are so important
Scratch Stars Natural Nail Specialist of the Year finalist 2024, Tanya Jeskins, shares why thorough client consultations are the key to effective and safe nail services that keep clients returning. So, what exactly is a client consultation? Tanya explains: “It’s a professional conversation that takes place before every appointment, to…
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3 must-have digital tools for beauty pros, according to a business & marketing expert
Beauty business and marketing mentor, Stephanie Barnard, aka Beauty Business Bestie, shares her digital tool recommendations… Whether you’re a solo worker or managing a team, staying organised can feel like a full-time job. Running a beauty business can get messy, and without systems in place, you might find yourself forgetting…
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Ashford beauty salon: how exceptional customer service creates relaxing client experiences
Sarah Webb, owner of Bella’s Little Nail Boutique, takes pride in her standout beauty services, which place an emphasis on the client experience. Working in customer service for over 20 years, Sarah knows how to offer clients an exceptional appointment. She explains: “My clients receive a coffee and biscuits, and…
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Shifting your mindset for success: 4 tips from a beauty business coach
Scratch columnist & beauty business and mindset coach, Zaara King, shares advice for transforming your mental outlook… When I ask beauty business owners what changed for them when they found new levels of success, they say their mindset – and the same is true for me. You may be working…
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What is a nail habit-tic & can it be treated?
When a client sits at your nail desk and presents you with a nail like the below, you may wonder whether it is a contraindication that you should not treat. This is habit-tic deformity. Most commonly seen on the thumbnails, this nail condition is usually a result of onychotillomania: a…
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Get inspired: Nail pro, Lucy Price-Marshall, shares her journey to dominating the nail industry
Natural nail specialist, OPI educator, salon manager & multi-award winner, Lucy Price-Marshall, shares her career story and how she balances various industry roles… Tell us about your journey into the nail industry… While I was at school, I worked at my mum’s nail salon, Nailspa in Huddersfield, on Saturdays, assisting…
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Scotland home salon: the pro offering a one-stop shop for nails, hair & beauty services
Emma Saunderson, the owner of Angus-based salon, GlamEm, has made a name for herself as a versatile beauty professional, offering an impressive range of beauty treatments from her home salon. Having trained as a nail technician in 2019 with Young Nails, Emma initially worked on a mobile basis. Though as…
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Homeless to home salon success: a Staffordshire nail tech’s inspiring journey
“I became homeless when I was 21; I had just split up from my partner of five years and my friends and family were unable to help me,” explains Isabelle Pattissier of Chesterton business, Drop Dead Beauty. “I stored some things at my mum’s, told her I was living with…
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Self-employment help for nail techs: legal, financial & operational considerations
All the legal, financial and operational factors to consider before making those all-important choices… Deciding to become a self-employed nail tech is just the beginning, and we’re here to help you navigate it all. From choosing whether to work from home or as a mobile tech, to deciding which insurance…
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