HEALTH & WELLBEING

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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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Drew Sallows Tech Talk

Insights from a trans nail tech: what I want you to know

By Rebecca Hitchon | 19 November 2024

Drew Sallows of @t4tnails feels fortunate to have been surrounded by love throughout their nail career: working in accepting salon spaces, while being able to do the job that they adore. “I always knew I wanted an artistic career, and spent a lot of time watching content by Cristine of Simply…

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Texas nail tech: Clients have walked away from my services because I’m transgender

By Lilly Delmage | 18 November 2024

Texas-based nail technician, Dylan Michaud, shares how she refuses to let gender discrimination stand in the way of her career success… Having faced multiple clients refusing her services due to her gender, Dylan reveals her outlook on those experiences. She says: “Fortunately, I am very understanding that not everyone agrees…

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Asher Maynard Trans Tech Talk

Trans nail tech: A client prepaid for appointments to help fund my top surgery

By Rebecca Hitchon | 16 November 2024

“Not only have I received allyship from other nail techs and my clients, but I’ve been given tangible support through my transition,” says Asher Maynard, a transmasculine and non-binary nail tech based in Seattle, USA. The pro has received so much support, that one client prepaid for her appointments to…

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How a transgender nail tech changed his narrative by going self-employed

By Lilly Delmage | 15 November 2024

Utah-based tech, Finn Reilly, shares his experience changing his narrative as a trans nail pro by fostering a supportive network that allows his business to thrive. Alike many other transgender nail techs, Finn has experienced first-hand the discrimination within the industry. He shares: “I worked at a salon for a…

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Logan Cullen's Tech Talk

How I’ve dealt with trolls & found community as a transgender nail tech

By Rebecca Hitchon | 14 November 2024

From a young age, Logan Cullen found joy in creating nail looks. But joining the nail industry professionally has seen the transgender tech have to navigate challenges… “When I was younger, I saw the first Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movie and wanted to be Peter Parker – I couldn’t understand why no…

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Pedicure

Pedicure tips: how nail techs can safely support clients with diabetes

By Scratch Staff | 14 November 2024

According to charity, Diabetes UK, approximately 6% of the UK population suffer from diabetes. Learning about the condition and how to take extra care with clients who have it is key to making diabetic clients feel safe and able to enjoy their nail experience. Here, we explore how the condition…

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Katie Barnes Allergy

Katie Barnes on…how to prevent allergies

By Katie Barnes | 4 September 2018

Concerns have been mounting over the number of tech allergies being reported from using nail products. It’s so important to address your working practice and products to prevent this from disrupting your career and causing further pain. An allergy builds up over time from overexposure of repetitive skin contact with…

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Is it nail mould? Katie Barnes explores greenies

By Katie Barnes | 19 July 2017

Award-winning nail stylist & educator, Katie Barnes, gets to grips with greenies… A problem that I have come across far too often in the industry is ‘mould’ on client’s nails – more commonly known as ‘greenies’. But is this really mould? Is it mould? ‘Pseudomonas’ are a common, run-of-the-mill bacteria…

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Erica Horton

How I juggle nail tekking around my family life

By Scratch Staff | 4 April 2017

“You just do nails” No, just “doing nails” doesn’t come close. Erica Turley (nee Horton), founder of The Nail Barn, Staffordshire, reveals her journey into the nail industry… I spent years working as a nurse and health visitor. I had worked in healthcare from the age of 16 and knew…

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