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Canva Picking Nails

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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Samantha Sweet Money

Points to consider before purchasing nail products

By Scratch Staff | 3 April 2019

Samantha Sweet, co-founder of nail & beauty distribution & education company, Sweet Squared, offers advice for those looking to enhance their professional nail kit… When buying professional products, you should be looking for a company that asks questions such as what certificates you have. If you don’t have certificates, does…

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Katie Barnes Nails Encapsulation

How to ace encapsulation in L&P & gel nails

By Katie Barnes | 2 April 2019

Encapsulation, also referred to in the nail industry as ’embedding’ is the action of enclosing something in or as if in a capsule, for example in-between two layers of nail products like L&P or gel. The possibilities of what you can encapsulate are endless; from conventional nail items such as…

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Natasha Lee Photo Blogger

Top tips for taking a perfect nail photo

By Scratch Staff | 26 March 2019

Scratch Stars award-winning blogger, Natasha Lee, reveals her top tips to perfecting an attention-grabbing nail design… The two biggest things that can make or break a business, in my opinion, are word of mouth and social media presence. You need to make sure that both are positive, and it’s crucial…

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Beautylab Skincare

Why you should add skincare treatments to your salon menu

By Kat Hill | 26 March 2019

BeautyLab skincare expert, Samantha Kendrew, reveals some top tips for introducing skincare to your in-salon offering – just in time for Mother’s Day… Created to meet skincare demands, the BeautyLab range consists of sophisticated salon treatments and a complementary retail line. “The BeautyLab Body treatments are ideal for a relaxing…

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Hi Brow Compact Model

Beautiful brows for mature clients

By Kat Hill | 26 March 2019

With Mother’s Day this Sunday, have you consider showcasing your brow styling skill to meet any client needs? Create a bespoke brow look for clients of all ages with these tips from Lash Perfect expert, Emma Apps… “Naturally, eyebrows tend to become sparser as we age,” explains Emma Apps, Hi Brow…

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Annual leave rights for staff

Annual leave rights for staff

By Kat Hill | 23 March 2019

Do you know what rights you and your staff member have when it comes to annual leave? The NHF/NBF serves up advice for beauty business owners… Everyone who is employed in the UK is entitled to paid leave, whatever their role or the number of hours worked. It’s vital to know what the law…

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