BUSINESS
AI is changing the beauty salon game: here’s how it can help you stay ahead
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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A beauty business coach’s guide to goal setting for 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
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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New year, new you: How nail businesses can plan for the year ahead
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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4 updates to make to your beauty business in 2025
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
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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I’ve been a beauty pro for 30+ years: here’s how I set boundaries with clients
Session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, shares her experiences with boundary-pushing clients… I imagine most of you went into the nail/beauty industry to make people happy. I also imagine that you expected clients to be grateful and courteous at all times. I don’t suppose you imagined that sometimes…
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2025 nail business planning: expert tips for new year success
Belinda Price, OPI UK&I education and capability manager & owner of Nailspa, Scratch Stars Nail & Beauty Salon of the Year 2024, shares advice… During the busiest season of the year for most nail and beauty professionals, it can be hard to see past 31 December. But as the dust…
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The Cosmetic, Toiletry & Perfumery Association (CTPA) explores what the government’s policy change means for the cosmetics animal testing ban… You may have seen media reports in May that suggested that animal testing of cosmetic ingredients could restart, following the result of a UK High Court ruling. Shortly afterwards, the…
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Do you know what to do when you’re faced with a natural nail concern? Scratch shares expert advice and product recommendations for 15 common nail issues… Addressing the issue The natural nail is the foundation of any great nail enhancement, so knowing how to approach common issues if and when…
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Managing her nail career alongside a full-time IT job of 34 years, Bolton-based nail tech & press-on nail artist, Karen Boyle of Gel A Licious, shares her venture into the removable nail realm… Karen Boyle wouldn’t have described herself as artistic, so was surprised to discover her passion for nail…
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UK Greetings details how small businesses can avoid greenwashing, a deceptive marketing technique where brands make misleading claims about their environmental practices… 1. Keep communication clear 77% of UK customers don’t understand what companies are claiming when they talk about sustainability. This can lead to confusion, such as customers believing…
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Hair and beauty business coach, Maddi Cook of Boss Your Salon, shares top tips to elevate your offerings and enhance your profits… I’ve seen a trend in a particular type of content and want to unpack it with you. I do this from the perspective of a pricing expert who, trust…
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In a previous blog for Scratch, we explored what gloves are needed for nail technicians and covered thickness and how often these need to be changed. In this blog, we delve deeper into chemical permeability and how to know if your gloves protect you against the chemicals which you use…
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