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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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Salon owners delaying retirement for as long as possible

By Kat Hill | 8 June 2019

 A new survey by NHF/NBF  has found that hair and beauty salon owners without private pensions say they will delay their retirement for as long as possible. Of 400 salon owners surveyed, almost one in six (16%) said their State Pension would be their only pension income during retirement. Half…

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Helena Linsky reveals festival beauty trend predictions

By Sophie Nutt | 7 June 2019

Q61 nail and beauty studio co-director, Helena Linsky, reveals her hottest festival beauty trends of 2019… “With festival season about to kick off across Europe and the UK, we’re seeing an influx of clients at our Q61 nail and beauty studios looking for fast, effective ways to switch up their…

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Why you should be offering add-on services

By Sophie Nutt | 6 June 2019

As clients become increasingly time-poor, they may seek to find a professional that can cater to all of their beauty needs in one stint, squeezing treatments around other commitments. As a nail tech, you’ve already earned the trust of your clients, so consider expanding your treatment menu to cater to…

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Margaret Dabbs

Margaret Dabbs on the challenges business women face

By Kat Hill | 28 May 2019

What challenges do you think face women in business today? Margaret Dabbs, foot expert turned founder of a global health and beauty brand, shares her thoughts… What in your view are the biggest challenges facing women seeking to build their own businesses? It is sometimes hard to be taken seriously…

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Why & how you should tailor each nail service to the individual

By Katie Barnes | 28 May 2019

Just as a hairdresser wouldn’t give every customer that sits in their chair the same hairstyle because it wouldn’t suit them or their lifestyle, nail techs should tailor their services for different clients. This leads into the all-important client consultation; the conversation whereby you sit down and chat to your…

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Waxing Pregnancy

Points to consider when waxing pregnant clients

By Scratch Staff | 23 May 2019

Immerse yourself in hair removal tips as ABT director, Dave Horton, discusses pregnancy waxing with ABT accredited trainer, Kim Lawless… Is it medically safe for pregnant women to undergo waxing treatments, and does this differ during the different trimesters? Kim: It’s absolutely safe! I always check with doctors and midwives…

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