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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Nail enhancements: How to check angles to ensure perfect results

By Katie Barnes | 16 May 2018

Educator and award-winning nail technician, Katie Barnes, offers tips on looking at angles to ensure a great nail enhancement result Do you ever spend a long time creating a beautiful set of nails, only to realise that they don’t look quite right once you’ve finished, but you can’t work out…

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Buttercups Uniforms

Importance of appearance at work evaluated by uniform expert

By Scratch Staff | 15 May 2018

Lana Gormley of Buttercups Uniforms, workwear supplied for the beauty and health industries, explains the importance of a professional appearance at work – and top tips on choosing a uniform… “When you work in a professional beauty and aesthetic industry, your appearance, and that of your staff, is of vital…

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Foot Blister Feet Summer Sandals

Foot issues heighten in summer due to poor-fitting shoes

By Helena Biggs | 14 May 2018

Foot experts have revealed why there may be a an increase in women suffering with blisters in the summer months; they wear the wrong size shoes. Summer shoes should be at least half a size bigger than winter shoes to allow for swelling, yet 94% of British women surveyed on…

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How to market gel polish services to clients

By Sophie Nutt | 10 May 2018

Are you struggling to successfully market your gel polish services to potential clients? Shouting about your skills and offerings can make a big difference to your appointment books and knowing how to retail aftercare products to clients can help increase some extra revenue, as well as encourage returning and loyal…

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Money

Nail that sale!

By Kat Hill | 8 May 2018

Are you shy when it comes to retail sales in your salon or upsetting a service? Tom O’Brien, director of Baroque Hair, reveal his top tips… Upselling is great for business – it increases profit, and shows your clients that you have a wealth of experience in the hair and beauty…

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Your gel polish questions: answered!

By Sophie Nutt | 3 May 2018

Hone your gel polish technique with advice from industry experts about the popular system, as they answer your pressing questions. “How can you tell when a polish is cured correctly and what does over curing mean for the service?” Charlotte Lowe, Jessica educator, says, “Over curing can occur more with…

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