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French pedicure

How to nail the French tip pedicure

By Katie Barnes | 20 April 2025

Katie Clark, award-winning nail tech & founder of Katie Barnes Tool Range & Education, answers questions about perfecting the French pedi… How big should the French tips be? A French tip should mimic the natural free edge of the nail. Estimate how long the client will wait between appointments, plus…

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Why it’s important to take care of feet & advice for pedicurists

By Rebecca Hitchon | 18 April 2025

The importance of footcare can be overlooked, particularly during colder weather when feet and toenails tend to be tucked into thick socks and closed-toe footwear. But footcare services are not just beneficial for pedicure season. Foot and toenail issues can arise at any time, and treating them early can prevent…

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Runner feet

9 common nail & skin problems for runners & how to treat

By Scratch Staff | 13 April 2025

Discover the common nail and skin woes of runners, and how to tackle them for the ultimate foot finish… “Runners can be prone to a lot of foot problems,” explains nail educator & brand adviser, Rachel Gribble. “Hard skin, ingrown toenails and bruised nails are some of the most prevalent.…

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Confused by Chuck? Puzzled by RPM? Here’s e-file lingo explained…

By Katie Barnes | 24 November 2022

Confused by Chuck? Puzzled by RPM? Here’s e-file lingo explained… There are a lot of words associated with e-filing, and they can be confusing. Learning the lingo and terminology can give you more confidence in your e-file practice and, in turn, give your clients more confidence and reassurance that you…

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Revealed: How to deal with competition from other beauty businesses

By Guest Writer | 20 November 2022

How to deal with competition from other beauty businesses Founder of Beauty Boss HQ, Layla Tourh, shares how to deal with competition from other nail & beauty businesses… Who is your competition? Is it the salon across the road? Is it that new place that opened up next door? Or…

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How to manage quiet spells in the salon

By Katie Barnes | 8 November 2022

Every beauty business will come across quiet periods of footfall and a common time for this can be right before the busy festive season. As savvy business owners, you must think of ideas that boost profits and productivity in such times, whenever your business may experience this. Boosting profits During…

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Cut nail forms katie barnes

How to know where to cut your nail forms

By Katie Barnes | 25 October 2022

No two clients’ nails are alike, and no two nails on the same client are alike. They will grow at different angles and have different free edge shapes. Therefore, when fitting a nail form, it is essential to tailor it to fit each nail seamlessly. If a nail form isn’t…

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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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Free edge katie barnes

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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