THE LATEST NEWS & FEATURES

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Squid Game fans, you need to check out these 21 nail art designs

By Rebecca Hitchon | 13 January 2025

Following the hype of its first season, Netflix’s South Korean dystopian show, Squid Game, is back with a second series – and it’s inspiring nail art. Check out our roundup of incredible Squid Game nail styles below…

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Tgb Jan 25 Scratch Snap Prize

Time is running out to WIN over £400 worth of The GelBottle Inc products

By Rebecca Hitchon | 13 January 2025

The January Scratch Snap competition is closing! Scratch Snap is a monthly, online nail art challenge that invites nail pros to create a salon-style nail design in line with a theme. Simply snap a pic of the design on yourself, nail tips or a client – and you could be…

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Greek Goddess Nails

Greek goddess nails & 9 other nail trends set to dominate 2025

By Rebecca Hitchon | 12 January 2025

Beauty brand, Beauty Pie, has analysed TikTok, Instagram, Google search and YouGov data to uncover beauty trends to expect in 2025. It predicts the top 10 nail trends of the year to be: Duck shape nails (+463% rise in interest) Hibiscus nails (+303%) – Click for a hibiscus step-by-step by…

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Katie Barnes Canva Allergy

Home gel kit dangers & 6 ways to prevent allergies at the nail desk

By Katie Barnes | 11 January 2025

Many people turned to DIY nail kits during the coronavirus lockdown. They may have been visiting a nail pro for months, years or even decades – before suddenly, the luxury of a nail appointment was gone, and some saw a solution in home application of gel polish. DIY home kits…

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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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Revealed: the 10 UK cities offering the best ‘value for money’ manicures

By Lilly Delmage | 9 January 2025

Research by Capital on Tap has revealed the UK’s hotspots for ‘high-quality yet low cost’ nail services. Credit card and spend management platform for small businesses, Capital on Tap, has compiled The UK Beauty Report, analysing the cities that offer the best value for money in terms of self-care services.…

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vegan cosmetics

Veganuary: How to tell if your nail & beauty products are vegan-friendly

By Scratch Staff | 9 January 2025

Are your clients calling for vegan and cruelty-free products? Scratch explores how to tell if your nail and beauty products fit the bill… The global vegan cosmetics market is anticipated to reach $24.79 billion in 2028, according to research by Fortune Business Insights, and a whopping 82% of all new vegan items…

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TikTok’s tips to get your beauty business noticed on the social media app

By Rebecca Hitchon | 28 May 2024

TikTok has unveiled the TikTok Beauty Playbook 2024, containing marketing advice and industry insights for SMEs (small to medium-sized enterprises). It reveals that relative to other platforms, TikTok users spend 25% more time viewing ads on the app, are 1.4x more likely to buy a product they saw on TikTok, and…

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Shola Ama Dj Luck Mc Neat

Shola Ama, DJ Luck & MC Neat to perform at The Scratch Stars Party 2024

By Helena Biggs | 27 May 2024

The infamous annual Scratch Stars Party returns to The Underglobe, London on Sunday 21 July, promising a night of celebration, networking and fun for the nail industry. Hosted by DJ, presenter & former Rugby Union star, James Haskell and Scratch’s editorial director, Helena Biggs, the winners of the Scratch Stars…

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Considering employing a nail/beauty apprentice? Here’s what you need to know

By Rebecca Hitchon | 27 May 2024

The UK government’s Spring Budget at the start of March prompted dismay from industry bodies for its silence on support for apprentices. However, positive news came later in the month when the government announced plans to fully fund the cost of apprenticeships for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). So, why…

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Nailchemy Rebrand

Nailchemy unveils packaging, pricing & product formulation rebrand

By Rebecca Hitchon | 26 May 2024

One evening in 2017, Hayley Partridge had a vision, in which she and her husband, Dave, were presenting a nail product at a trade show. Fast forward seven years and the pair has proven that a vision can become a reality, with professional nail brand, Nailchemy, thriving under their operation.…

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Beauty pros: Here’s how to communicate well with your clients & retain them

By Michelle Brookes | 25 May 2024

Mastering the art of effective communication with your clients is essential for retaining their loyalty. You can build strong relationships with clients by actively listening to their needs, feedback, addressing any concerns promptly and providing an exceptional customer service. This ensures that they feel valued and understood.  Within my salon,…

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Mlc Skin Cancer Blog

How I spotted a sign of skin cancer on my salon client’s nail

By Marie-Louise Coster | 24 May 2024

Session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, reveals how undertaking skin cancer awareness training benefitted a client… As nail techs, we provide a very personal service. The level of touch brings responsibility, because clients often share deeply personal things. We need to listen, and if asked, support clients…

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