BUSINESS

Katie Barnes Canva Allergy

Home gel kit dangers & 6 ways to prevent allergies at the nail desk

By Katie Barnes | 11 January 2025

Many people turned to DIY nail kits during the coronavirus lockdown. They may have been visiting a nail pro for months, years or even decades – before suddenly, the luxury of a nail appointment was gone, and some saw a solution in home application of gel polish. DIY home kits…

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Self-employment help for nail techs: registration & tax essentials

By Lilly Delmage | 11 January 2025

Are you keen to take the leap into self-employment? Here’s a guide to the registration and tax essentials you need to know… For nail technicians working in salons who seek greater control over their careers, self-employment often feels like a natural next step. It offers professional and creative freedom, aiding…

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AI is changing the beauty salon game: here’s how it can help you stay ahead

By Guest Writer | 10 January 2025

Richard McCabe, aka the Lifestyle Salon Coach, shares how artificial intelligence can benefit your beauty business… Love it or hate it, AI is changing how businesses work – and that includes salons. Just like past tech revolutions, if you jump on board early, you’re more likely to come out on…

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Goal List

A beauty business coach’s guide to goal setting for 2025

By Guest Writer | 7 January 2025

Beauty business and mindset coach, Zaara King, offers up advice for the new year… It’s time to consider how you wish to make your mark on the industry over the next 12 months. You get to choose how you show up, what you offer clients and how you make a…

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Why nail technicians should enter the Scratch Stars Awards: tips from a nail competition maestro

By Lilly Delmage | 3 January 2025

Bespoke nail artist, Jiak Hing, who has won the Scratch Stars Gel Polish Stylist of the Year accolade for three consecutive years, shares insight into the competition, what to expect on the day and the benefits of entering.   Why did you decide to enter the Scratch Stars Awards? To…

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2025 Goals

New year, new you: How nail businesses can plan for the year ahead

By Marie-Louise Coster | 1 January 2025

Session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, shares her tips for reviewing the last year and preparing for the next, in order to achieve success… Here we are again, another year gone and a new one in front of us full of opportunity, possibility and hope. It is…

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Woman Laptop Business

4 updates to make to your beauty business in 2025

By Guest Writer | 30 December 2024

Kim Ford, global business & beauty education expert, shares ways to make the most of quiet spells to improve your business long-term… The beginning of a new year is a great time to focus on business administration, such as updating operational and legal documents, and to consider if your marketing…

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Introverted nail techs: how to grow your skills & clientele comfortably

By Lilly Delmage | 22 December 2024

Do you love the creative aspect of being a nail professional: perfecting enhancements and getting arty, but find it challenging to converse with clients and colleagues? You’re not alone. A need to recharge after client interactions or feeling most comfortable in quiet environments are signs of introversion. The word ‘introvert’…

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Tax and Tips: The Lowdown

By Kat Hill | 4 July 2018

Top tip or not to tip? Your clients may be asking that question, but do you know the HM Revenue and Customs’ stance on that little something extra?  A recent survey from www.onbuy.com revealed Britian’s most tipped profession, as well as consumer’s tipping habits. After asking over 2,000 participants, it…

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Relocating your salon? Here’s how to choose a new location…

By Kat Hill | 29 June 2018

Thinking of making the big move to a new salon location? Consider these pointers when selecting a new location… When choosing a location, consider at the level of passing trade; will you be able to entice this footfall through the salon door? Is this going to affect the success of…

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Metta Mobile Manicure

Considerations & advice for nail techs thinking of ‘going mobile’

By Metta Francis | 29 June 2018

Multi-award winner and Scratch Stars finalist, Metta Francis of Nails by Mets, shares her top for techs consider the mobile manicuring route. Pick a business name You can choose to trade under a business name e.g. Nails by Mets or your own name e.g. Metta Francis Nails. Before deciding on…

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Carrie Leigh Allen Nail Design

How to perfect the application technique for Artistic Colour Gloss

By Sophie Nutt | 28 June 2018

Hone your Artistic Colour Gloss technique as Scratch probes Carrie-Leigh Allen, educator for Louella Belle, about the ideal application technique for Artistic Colour Gloss… “For the perfect application of Artistic Colour Gloss, ensure cuticle work is performed thoroughly, leaving no non-living tissue on the nail plate. Remove surface shine and file the…

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Girl With Money

How to approach the upsell process & boost beauty profits

By Scratch Staff | 27 June 2018

Naomi Mogg, educator for ASP, reveals why upselling treatments is one of the easiest ways to increase revenue and grow retail sales… Many therapists miss valuable opportunities to upsell because they feel that they are not ‘a salesperson’. However, you don’t need to be a salesperson to upsell – you just…

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Bride

Boost your bridal client care with these top tips

By Kat Hill | 27 June 2018

Is your appointment diary starting to fill up with bridal clients? Mandy Cook, sales director at Gerrard International, offers some advice for a smooth service and top-notch client care for the big day… “A bridal client is lucrative business for the nail tech as she will need a course of treatments leading up to…

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