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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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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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I’ve been a beauty pro for 30+ years: here’s how I set boundaries with clients

By Marie-Louise Coster | 19 December 2024

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 Business Planning

2025 nail business planning: expert tips for new year success

By Guest Writer | 18 December 2024

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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How to make your salon business stand out

By Scratch Staff | 21 November 2018

Tammy Koslowski, owner of Glasgow’s award-winning NAF! Salon, reveals how to make your beauty business stand out from the competition… It goes without saying that the nail industry is huge. In any given town, you can bet that there will be multiple salons or mobile technicians, so how can you…

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Katie Barnes on… preventing burns from flammable nail products

By Katie Barnes | 20 November 2018

With such an increased report in allergies and accidents occurring with nail products from not just home users, but ‘professional’ nail technicians, I believe that there needs to be a call for better education on the situation. Creating beautiful nails is an art but one of the most forgotten and…

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Christmas

Staying ahead in your salon during the festive rush

By Kat Hill | 20 November 2018

The Christmas countdown has started, and hopefully you’re seeing a rise in the number of bookings filling up your appointment book as everyone wants to look their best over the festive season. To make the most of the busy period, here are some tips for going the extra mile and…

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Waxing

Help clients prep for wax appointments with Waxperts tips

By Scratch Staff | 17 November 2018

Does your client know how to prep for their wax appointment? With ten years’ experience in waxing, the team at Waxperts highlight some top tips… Research: Choose a salon that you have read great reviews on or have been recommended by a friend. You can find a Waxperts Salon on their Salon Map…

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How to add hair removal services to your treatment menu

By Sophie Nutt | 8 November 2018

With winter weather comes tights, knee-high boots and fluffy socks. But with Christmas comes festive manicures and pedicures ready for the party season – and what good is a fresh pedi when legs riddled with stubble accompany them? Not only that, but clients seek armpit and facial hair removal all…

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National Stress Awareness Day: A Tech’s Perspective

By Kat Hill | 7 November 2018

November 7 sees National Stress Awareness Day. “We all know what it’s like to feel stressed – being under pressure is a normal part of life. But becoming overwhelmed by stress can lead to mental health problems or make existing problems worse,” states Mind, the registered mental health charity. “National Stress Awareness…

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