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Nail & beauty apprenticeships: salons share benefits, their experiences & advice

By Rebecca Hitchon | 11 February 2025

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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Self-employment help for nail techs: legal, financial & operational considerations

By Lilly Delmage | 5 February 2025

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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Top reasons to enter nail competitions & expert tips for success

By Guest Writer | 3 February 2025

Esteemed beauty business expert & CEO of PHAB Service Stars, Nergish Wadia-Austin, shares advice for budding nail competitors… The nail industry is vibrant, with competitions like the Scratch Stars Awards and Nailympia showcasing the best in creativity and artistry. Prestigious events like these are essential for any nail technician wishing…

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How to get in front of your nail audience without paying for ads

By Guest Writer | 28 August 2017

Tom Ferris, owner of Blackwell Ferris Marketing, reveals how to reach your social media audience at a limited cost. I’ve been asked by a few of my friends why I seem to have so much beauty and nail content on my personal Facebook and Instagram pages. Being around friends who typically are…

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Gel polish fading? Here’s how to prevent it

By Katie Barnes | 22 August 2017

Salon owner, educator, former Scratch columnist and award-winning nail stylist, Katie Barnes, reveals why gel polish can fade in the summer – and how to help prevent it Many techs are familiar with the issue of under-curing gel, but not so aware of the issues of over-curing gel. How many techs have been…

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Liverpool named fake tan capital of the UK

By Kat Hill | 17 August 2017

A new report has dubbed Liverpool as the fake tan capital of the UK. Online hair and beauty retailer Hairtrade.com  looked at which cities stocked up on tanning products. Check out the table of results below. Women from Yorkshire were found to be big fake tan fans with Huddersfield coming second…

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Marketing your beauty business: The Love Island Way

By Guest Writer | 21 July 2017

Tom Ferris, owner of Blackwell Ferris Marketing, reveals how to maximise your marketing success with five tips inspired by TV’s Love Island: Grafting Marketing is all about selling yourself – just like the contestants ‘sell’ their own traits to whoever they’re trying to ‘crack on’ with. We can take a lot from…

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Is it nail mould? Katie Barnes explores greenies

By Katie Barnes | 19 July 2017

Award-winning nail stylist & educator, Katie Barnes, gets to grips with greenies… A problem that I have come across far too often in the industry is ‘mould’ on client’s nails – more commonly known as ‘greenies’. But is this really mould? Is it mould? ‘Pseudomonas’ are a common, run-of-the-mill bacteria…

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Brits spend £4,454 per person on their looks

By Kat Hill | 13 July 2017

New research from TotallyMoney.com has provided an insight into beauty spending habits in the UK – revealing that over 70% are beauty conscious, with 45% of people unwilling to post a picture on social media if they haven’t had a chance to put an effort into their appearance first. The report found Leeds…

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