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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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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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Why you should check insurance cover when learning new nail techniques

By Katie Barnes | 30 April 2019

Continued professional development (CPD) ensures that you maintain and enhance the knowledge and skills you need to deliver a professional service to your customers. Constant updating of skills is vital to success in any industry, but it’s especially true in the nail and beauty industry. CPD is about keeping up-to-date…

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How to encourage your clients to try nail art

By Metta Francis | 29 April 2019

A small sprinkle of glitter or minimalistic nail art can increase your profits and leave your clients feeling super chic, so take a look at your nail art menu and encourage clients to indulge in a design. There’s a design or style that can suit anyone, and I’ve been known…

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Creating bridal beauty packages in your salon

By Kat Hill | 27 April 2019

When tendeding to the nail needs of brides-to-be, ensure you’re also promoting your other skills… “If you offer other services, make sure you let all your potential customers know!” says Kate Sawley, CND™ education ambassador. “Bridal packages are always popular, and don’t forget about the rest of the bridal party,…

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Why should the beauty industry care about waste?

By Sophie Nutt | 22 April 2019

Our TV screens, social feeds and browsers are increasingly flooded with images of beaches, oceans, animals and extreme climates affected by litter, particularly plastics. Many companies are ‘doing their bit’ by re-evaluating packaging and processes, however this is only the tip of the iceberg if we want to dramatically reduce…

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3 ways to ‘spring clean’ your beauty business to reap rewards

By Scratch Staff | 18 April 2019

Sharon Sandhu, category manager for nails at Salon Services UK & Ireland, shares ideals to spruce up your nail or beauty business and benefit your bottom line… Spring cleaning doesn’t always mean clearing cobwebs and clutter or updating your interior. Indeed, as the high season draws closer and we enter…

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The CBD oil buzz: Why it’s used in beauty products

By Helena Biggs | 18 April 2019

Cannabis plant oils are growing in popularity in the beauty sector – but are you clear on their strains and benefits? From hemp seed oil to CBD, let’s clear things up. Cannabis is a plant family with two primary classifications; indica and sativa, and cannabis plants contain a variety of…

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