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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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Nail techs, here’s how you can prevent hand & wrist pain

By Scratch Staff | 21 September 2021

Scratch sources advice for those that suffer with hand and wrist pain, so you can stop feeling the strain… Samantha Sweet, co-founder of Sweet Squared, shares that repetitive strain injury and carpal tunnel syndrome will always be a likelihood for pros, due to the nature of the job. “Filing is the…

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Here’s how to make manis last if your client has excessively sweaty hands

By Emma Hobday | 13 September 2021

Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis being the technical term) is surprisingly common and can affect the whole body or just certain areas, like the hands (palmar hyperhidrosis). It’s normal to sweat if you get hot or do exercise, but you may be sweating excessively if you’re sweating when your body does not…

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4 ways to empower your nail business’ employees

By Guest Writer | 7 September 2021

Lucy Pastorelli, founder of Lucy Pastorelli Tools, shares how she empowers her team… 1. Create inclusion. Everyone has an opinion, and we always make sure that we listen to each member of staff – whether they’ve been employed at LP for five weeks or five years. Each point of view…

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How to create an ombré nail style

By Katie Barnes | 7 September 2021

The ombré look is a popular nail style choice, particularly when created using with pink and white shades to replace a traditional French finish. Perfecting it can be a bit challenging however, especially when you’re under the watchful eyes of your clients and time restraints of the appointment. There are…

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2020 Shoot Out winner: Ivana Prokic

By Kat Hill | 26 August 2021

Scooping first place in The Great Scratch Shoot Out 2020 for the second time, Ivana Prokic’s winning entry combines a flawlessly executed shot with a stunning personal story in line with the competition’s theme: ‘You’. “It was very exciting to hear we had won – I had felt a lot…

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Put down the file! Here’s why you need to focus on L&P brush techniques

By Katie Barnes | 24 August 2021

As a liquid & powder user, it is important to learn to sculpt mainly with the brush and not rely on filing to shape the enhancement. This is exactly what ‘sculpting’ is. By definition sculpting is ‘to create or represent (something) by carving, casting, or other shaping techniques.’ Whether we…

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