HEALTH & WELLBEING

E-file rings of fire prevention

What are rings of fire on nails & how can they be avoided?

By Jess Watts | 7 December 2025

Red rings or semicircles that appear on the nail – often referred to as ‘rings of fire’ – can strike fear into the hearts of nail techs and clients alike, but what causes them and how can they be avoided? “Rings of fire appear as red rings on the nail…

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Power of pause

Christmas rush tips for nail techs: why pause matters

By Hannah Beth Clayton | 30 November 2025

Nail business mentor, Hannah Clayton, shares why pause is a powerful tool during the festive season… It’s that time of year: I start to panic, like my life will come to a close in December and I have to get everything done! My inboxes are full, I have work to do, but…

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Do nails need to breathe?

Do nails need to breathe?

By Jess Watts | 22 November 2025

One of the most common misconceptions in the nail world is the idea that nails need to ‘breathe’. To support understanding, let’s take a look at the science behind the topic… Whether you’re a regular at a salon or someone who enjoys using nail polish to do your own manis,…

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Lisa Graves mental health shoot

Behind-the-scenes of a mental health awareness photo shoot

By Scratch Staff | 10 May 2021

Nail tech and educator, Lisa Graves, shares the story behind a mental health awareness photo shoot… “The last year was a difficult one for everyone across the globe and, subsequently, awareness of mental health issues was heightened. Whenever I saw advertising or social media posts based around mental health, images…

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Inspirational nail tech, Maya Velkova tells of her will to succeed while living with a lifelong disability that could have held her back

By Alex Fox | 4 May 2021

‘Be a flamingo in a flock of pigeons’. That sounds great doesn’t it! Yet how does, ‘be a pigeon in a flock of flamingos‘, sound? From my perspective, when being a pigeon one can create great inner strength. In each and every one of us there is some weakness, which…

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Nail on sunday

8 ways to tackle nail industry bullying

By Alex Fox | 27 April 2021

The truth behind a bully – an insight by UK nail tech Leo Ko-Nkengmo   by nail artist & educator, Leo Ko-Nkengmo of The Nail on Sunday blog  The hair and beauty industry has taken a beating this past year alongside other industries. The monotony of the pandemic is a…

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12 self care tips in tune with your star sign

By Alex Fox | 23 April 2021

A star sign can reveal a lot about you, from who your perfect match might be or what your personality traits are. But how do star signs come into play when we are taking a much needed self-care day? Teaming up with celeb astrologist Sally Kirkman, Curvissa reveals the best self-care practices…

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Mindful matters: power of positivity #2

By Alex Fox | 11 February 2021

Goodness me, is it February already? Where does the time go? The word February is taken from the Latin word ‘Februa’, meaning ‘to cleanse’. The Roman calendar month of Februarias was named for Februalia, a festival of purification and atonement. With this in mind, it’s my intention this month to…

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Alkaline water: the secret to glowing skin

By Alex Fox | 10 February 2021

Cold air and central heating play havoc with the skin; fortunately we know that hydration from drinking water, cares for skin from the inside out and is key to good health. But did you know that you can take hydration to a new level with alkaline water? According to new…

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