EXPERT ADVICE

French pedicure

How to nail the French tip pedicure

By Katie Barnes | 20 April 2025

Katie Clark, award-winning nail tech & founder of Katie Barnes Tool Range & Education, answers questions about perfecting the French pedi… How big should the French tips be? A French tip should mimic the natural free edge of the nail. Estimate how long the client will wait between appointments, plus…

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Why it’s important to take care of feet & advice for pedicurists

By Rebecca Hitchon | 18 April 2025

The importance of footcare can be overlooked, particularly during colder weather when feet and toenails tend to be tucked into thick socks and closed-toe footwear. But footcare services are not just beneficial for pedicure season. Foot and toenail issues can arise at any time, and treating them early can prevent…

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Runner feet

9 common nail & skin problems for runners & how to treat

By Scratch Staff | 13 April 2025

Discover the common nail and skin woes of runners, and how to tackle them for the ultimate foot finish… “Runners can be prone to a lot of foot problems,” explains nail educator & brand adviser, Rachel Gribble. “Hard skin, ingrown toenails and bruised nails are some of the most prevalent.…

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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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Katie barnes nail designs

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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Festival beauty

How to capitalise on festival beauty needs

By Scratch Staff | 17 May 2019

Sharon Sandhu, category manager for nails at Salon Services UK & Ireland, serves up advice and ideas for capitalising on beauty needs for festivals this summer… Summer is just around the corner, which means festival season is about to begin – and whether people are planning on going to a…

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Katie barnes filing blog

Why & how you need to perfect your filing technique

By Katie Barnes | 14 May 2019

Having a well-structured filing routine that is repeated on every single nail is paramount for success and consistency when finishing and filing your nail enhancements. Many nail technicians rely on filing to fix any issues from poor application. However, filing should only be used to refine and perfect application techniques,…

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