EXPERT ADVICE

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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xmas recycling

Spread Christmas cheer sustainably: 3 ways to recycle festive items

By Guest Writer | 15 December 2024

Decorating the Christmas tree, wrapping gifts, and sending out greeting cards are some of the most cherished Christmas traditions, but after the festivities, how do you dispose of the excess? Gabriella Peace, marketing communications manager of UK Greetings, offers her take on how you can give your Christmas items a…

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The UK heatwave: Is it affecting your nail products?

By Katie Barnes | 19 July 2024

Educator & award-winning nail technician, Katie Clark, reveals why hot weather may impact your nail products and services… Most techs will have noticed a difference in their L&P and gel systems at varied times, especially different temperatures and seasons, with changes being particularly noticeable during periods of very warm weather.…

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Emoji Etiquette In Saloons

Emoji etiquette: 4 ways to use emojis effectively in your beauty business

By Lilly Delmage | 17 July 2024

Emojis are small, visual icons used in online communications to convey or enhance a particular message, for example using a thumbs up (👍) to communicate you agree with something, or a sad face (😞) to show you are upset. But when should you be using emojis in your beauty business,…

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Explained: the power of truly listening to your clients as a beauty pro

By Marie-Louise Coster | 16 July 2024

Session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, shares the value of listening and retaining information shared by clients… Listening and hearing are the same thing aren’t they? Incorrect. I’m sure I’m not the only person whose partner hears what they say but doesn’t listen to it, therefore not absorbing…

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wellbeing

7 top tips to promote wellbeing in the beauty workplace

By Rebecca Hitchon | 29 June 2024

How often do you feel stressed? Research shows that the average UK adult feels stressed for around eight days per month. Being a beauty professional may be what earns you money, but it is also your passion and should have a positive impact on your wellbeing. So how can wellness…

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Want to start a home or mobile nail business? Here’s what you need to know

By Marie-Louise Coster | 21 June 2024

Session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, shares her experiences working from home and on a mobile basis… We are in a cost of living crisis: everything is more expensive than it was and people aren’t spending as much money. So is now a good time to start…

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Greenwashing

A guide to greenwashing & what to do if you spot it in the beauty industry

By Rebecca Hitchon | 19 June 2024

While public interest in and understanding of eco purchasing choices has increased dramatically in recent years, buying a product that is sustainable isn’t as straightforward as it may seem. “Consumers expect sustainability and corporate responsibility to be a given, not a differentiating factor. However, I think this is a key…

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