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Self-employment help for nail techs: registration & tax essentials

By Lilly Delmage | 11 January 2025

Are you keen to take the leap into self-employment? Here’s a guide to the registration and tax essentials you need to know… For nail technicians working in salons who seek greater control over their careers, self-employment often feels like a natural next step. It offers professional and creative freedom, aiding…

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AI is changing the beauty salon game: here’s how it can help you stay ahead

By Guest Writer | 10 January 2025

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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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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Gel Polish Removal

Here’s what to do if your client wants to remove gel polish at home

By Katie Barnes | 5 April 2022

Any damage to the natural nail is usually the result of improper application or removal, overly aggressive filing, or client abuse such as picking or biting. When both L&P and gel enhancements and coverings are applied, maintained, and removed correctly, no damage should occur. Since the beginning of the pandemic,…

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How to tackle stressful work situations as a nail tech

By Guest Writer | 5 April 2022

Session nailist, Stephanie Staunton, reveals how to overcome and tackle challenges that face a number of nail pros… We all know that life gets tough sometimes and problems can seem rife, so I want to share some of the most stressful situations I encounter as a session tech – and…

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Scratch Stars Awards: Am I good enough?

By Katie Barnes | 22 March 2022

So many techs think they aren’t good enough or ready to compete in industry competitions, such as the Scratch Stars Awards. I have news for you – no one is ever 100% ready. If you wait until you are ready, you’ll never achieve your goals. Having low confidence isn’t necessary…

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5 ways to turn bridal clients into nail & beauty regulars

By Guest Writer | 17 March 2022

Beauty business expert and founder of Beauty Boss HQ, Layla Tourh, serves up advice for how you can turn bridal clients into regular clients…  If there’s one industry we can count on to be very busy this year, it would be the wedding industry! Many brides have been waiting a…

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How to support neurodivergent clients in the nail space

By Chloe Randall | 17 March 2022

One in seven people in the UK (more than 15% of the UK population) are neurodivergent, meaning that the brain functions, learns and processes information differently. Neurodiversity includes conditions such as ADHD, autism, epilepsy and mental health illnesses. Scratch explores how to accommodate neurodivergent clients to ensure they enjoy their…

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8 reasons why you get dry skin on your feet

By Guest Writer | 10 March 2022

To best avoid rough, dry, tight or cracked heels, Bryony Cocksedge, head of education at Louella Belle, explains the major causes and solutions… Lifestyle and genetics Lifestyle and genetics are both factors that have a major say in your skin’s characteristics and conditions. For many, when they think of summer…

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