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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Ink Summer Dayz

Buying into a brand with confidence

By Kat Hill | 20 April 2018

Considering switching brands or adding to your product line up? Angie Gunter, head of education at INK London, shares some areas to consider… “Your chosen brand should offer genuine products that offer longevity and are kind to the natural nail. It should keep up to date with current trends, not…

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How to identify the cause of a nail break

By Katie Barnes | 17 April 2018

Educator and award-winning nail technician, Katie Barnes, offers reasons why enhancements can break – and how to identify them The most common reason for the breaking of nail enhancements is due to wear and tear or trauma by the wearer, but a break can also be caused by unsuitable lengths…

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Versum Sell Emotions

Software expert suggests selling emotions to engage clients

By Scratch Staff | 16 April 2018

Slawomir Gawlowski, business development coach at salon software company, Versum, reveals a new tactic; using emotion, to help engage clients… “The astonishing potential of powerful emotions should be employed at the very onset of a business undertaking. Before you start promoting any products or services, give your business a unique personality. Use…

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Hollie Powers

Hollie Powers talks money

By Kat Hill | 13 April 2018

Are you charging enough? Hollie Powers, beauty business expert and spa owner, shares some top tips… Prices are one of the most overlooked elements of creating a menu within a salon – and sadly, far too many people price too low to attract new customers. Low, bargain prices will probably,…

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Faby Tools

Good health, safety & hygiene practices at the nail desk

By Scratch Staff | 12 April 2018

Head educator for Faby, Alessandra Marchesi, encourages you to assess your current working practice for any bad habits – and serves up top tips for maintaining high standards of practice Even as experienced and highly qualified professionals, bad habits can creep up in terms of health, safety and hygiene. You…

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Nailbiting

Nail your consultation for nail biters

By Kat Hill | 10 April 2018

Help kick a client’s nail biting habit by kicking off your service with a consultation perfectly tailored to their nail needs. Rachel Gribble, Salon System expert shares, her tips… As with all nail services, the most important part is the client consultation. You need to establish how badly bitten the client’s nails are and…

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