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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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Should nail & beauty salons close on Saturdays?

By Guest Writer | 18 February 2022

Layla Tourh, founder of The Beauty Boss Academy & The Creative Beauty Group, shares her thoughts on salons closing their doors at peak times… Should salons close on Saturdays? This question must seem like the obvious answer is ‘no’, but is it really? In the salon world, it is pretty…

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Salon System educator discusses the vital role of education in the nail space

By Emma Hobday | 10 February 2022

Lisa Stone, Salon System educator, chats to Scratch about her favourite Salon System courses to teach, how much you should spend on a quality course, and what she thinks is the must-have course for 2022… How long have you been an educator for Salon System and Training Solutions? I have…

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How to grow your nail business with apprentices

By Scratch Staff | 10 February 2022

Multi award-winning salon owner, Liza Smith, reveals why you should consider hiring an apprentice… Do you often find yourself working long hours and turning away clients because your appointment book is full? One way to reduce this stress is to increase your treatment prices considerably. This may cause you to…

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Thinking of recruiting an apprentice to your nail salon team?

By Kat Hill | 8 February 2022

Caroline Larissey, director of quality & standards at the NHBF, shares pointers to consider when taking on an apprentice in the salon… For many businesses, taking on an apprentice has understandably taken a back seat during the pandemic. However, taking on an apprentice may provide a much-needed boost for your…

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How to turn your nail tech technique flaws into strengths to earn more

By Katie Barnes | 8 February 2022

Whether it’s trying to paint a symmetrical heart or fitting nail forms, there is always a particular technique that every individual struggles with.  Recognising and accepting your weaknesses is the first step. Breaking down each step into individual stages can help achieve success with these struggles. For example, when trying…

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Struggling to juggle all your roles in the salon? Here’s some advice…

By Guest Writer | 19 January 2022

Maddie Regan of 81 Rose Garden shares advice on how to effectively manage a busy salon… Working in a busy salon can be challenging at times. There are many roles to juggle and many things that need your attention but you must keep on top of customer service. Without clients, there…

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