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What is a nail habit-tic & can it be treated?

By Katie Barnes | 12 February 2025

When a client sits at your nail desk and presents you with a nail like the below, you may wonder whether it is a contraindication that you should not treat. This is habit-tic deformity. Most commonly seen on the thumbnails, this nail condition is usually a result of onychotillomania: a…

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Nail & beauty apprenticeships: salons share benefits, their experiences & advice

By Rebecca Hitchon | 11 February 2025

In a recent poll on Scratch’s Instagram, almost 80% of respondents shared that they’re considering taking on apprentices. Here, two UK salons share how they’ve reaped the rewards of the apprenticeship process.. Nailspa, West Yorkshire “As a business owner, I believe that when it comes to employees, you cannot beat…

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Self-employment help for nail techs: legal, financial & operational considerations

By Lilly Delmage | 5 February 2025

All the legal, financial and operational factors to consider before making those all-important choices… Deciding to become a self-employed nail tech is just the beginning, and we’re here to help you navigate it all. From choosing whether to work from home or as a mobile tech, to deciding which insurance…

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4 tips for a more sustainable beauty travel routine

By Green Salon Collective | 7 October 2022

Green Salon Collective (GSC) was founded in 2020 by environmental experts, campaigners and beauty professionals, with an aim to help member salons in the UK and Ireland to responsibly dispose of their waste. For this blog, guest writer, Jackie Edwards – who formally worked in environmental health, details how to…

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What is the function of the free edge of the nail?

By Katie Barnes | 21 September 2022

To understand the function of the free edge or nail tip, we must firstly understand how and why the nail grows. The function of the nail is to protect the outermost bone of the finger or toe, the fingertip, and the surrounding soft tissues from injuries. The fingertips contain a…

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Explained: Circular economy for salons

By Green Salon Collective | 9 September 2022

Green Salon Collective (GSC) was founded in 2020 by environmental experts, campaigners and beauty professionals, with an aim to help member salons in the UK and Ireland to responsibly dispose of their waste. In this blog, GSC details what a circular economy is and how beauty businesses can help to…

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What’s the difference between acrylic & gel?

By Katie Barnes | 1 September 2022

The word ‘gel’ lends itself to confusion because it describes the product’s physical state, but over time it has turned into a generic name of the product category. Whereas ‘acrylic’ is a two-part system of liquid and powder, often known as L&P. Where the powder in this two-part system has…

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‘Free exposure’ doesn’t pay the bills… or does it?

By Katie Barnes | 23 August 2022

If you’re a creative of some kind, whether a nail tech, educator or content creator, then you’ve probably come across the offer of exposure for free work. More often than not, this request comes from a successful, well established individual or business. The paradox is, if they are so successful,…

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5 ways to keep nail salon appointment books busy this summer

By Guest Writer | 27 July 2022

Beauty business expert and founder of Beauty Boss HQ, Layla Tourh, serves up advice for keeping the appointment books busy during the summer months… As we enter the summer holidays, we know to expect an increase in the obvious summer trending services, such as waxing, spray tans, and pedicures, but we…

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