EXPERT ADVICE
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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Metta Francis, winner of Scratch Stars Mobile Nailist of the Year 2015 & 2017, reveals her top tips for fellow techs working on-the-move… Setting up as a mobile nail technician is relatively straightforward; you complete the relevant training, purchase products and equipment, get insurance and register as self-employed or as a company.…
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“Make sure you have a good case to store your products upright and neatly for easy access,” advises Rachel Gribble, Salon System educator. “Packing things the same way makes it easier when packing up after a treatment. Plus, it also helps to keep your kit neat. There are lots of…
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Educator and award-winning nail technician, Katie Barnes, serves u advice on achieving consistent nail lengths… Did you know that each nail is naturally a different length and grows at different rates, meaning it is unlikely that they will be exactly the same length at any time? Have you ever experienced…
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Barely-there hues are always in style and the sophisticated nude nail look continues to flourish across the runways, on celebrity fingertips and in the salon. Favoured by many for its ‘clean’ look and ability to complement any ensemble – without overpowering, nude nails will never go out of style –…
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Anna-Cari Gund, president of CIDESCO, shares her top tips for making the most of your beauty achievements… Achieving a globally renowned beauty qualification can be an amazing feeling. Our CIDESCO graduates know that obtaining a CIDESCO diploma places the world at their fingertips. If you have a qualification you want…
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Nailympia judge and nail expert, Gabriella Kovács, of Hungary, reveals her 5 top tips for techs looking to compete on a national or international level. All your tools and products should be placed in the same position on your table when you practice and during the actual competition. You will be…
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