SALON & SPAS
Unique salon décor: The Birmingham nail salon featuring a piano as its reception desk
Founder of Birmingham-based nail studio, Icey’s Beauty Lounge, Aysana Druga, shares the story behind the salon’s impressive entrance… In 2015, Aysana and her husband spotted a piano in the window of a charity shop. She recalls: “We had no idea where it was going to go at the time, so…
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From DIY nails to owning a home salon: how one tech turned her passion into a business
Bedfordshire-based nail tech, Jodie Day of @talonsbyjodie, started her nail journey simply wanting to learn how to do her own nails, however she enjoyed the training so much that she decided to turn it into her career. Jodie began her training in 2021 while pregnant, seeking a creative outlet. She…
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Award-winning home salon owner: the 5 essential tips for success
Scratch Stars Home Nail Salon of the Year 2024 winner, Kirsty Brown of @paintbrushnails, shares her top tips for building a successful home salon… Having won the prestigious Scratch Stars accolade for her Stirling-based home salon, we asked Kirsty to share her top tips to inform and inspire nail techs…
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South Devon tech: At 30 I decided to train as a nail technician – and I’ve never looked back
Having undergone a career swap at the age of 30, Devon-based nail tech Bonni Higson, the owner of Bonni File’n’Style in Dawlish, shares her story… After having children, Bonni decided to train as a nail technician. She says: “I enrolled at South Devon College and qualified at NVQ level 2…
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The Suffolk nail tech who transformed her lockdown hobby into a thriving salon business
Jemma Cornell, behind JC Nails, started her nail journey during lockdown in 2020 and four years later, has transformed her hobby into a full-time career. The Suffolk-based tech felt she needed something to ‘keep her busy’ during the challenging Covid-19 period, and decided training in nails was the answer. She…
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How a part-time job at a nail brand inspired an employee to become a nail tech
Ellie Toms’ part-time job at nail brand, Lecenté, inspired her career change to become a nail technician. Here’s her story… The now tech ‘fell in love’ with the brand’s products, so much so that it inspired her to become a nail tech so she was able to use them. The…
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10 Halloween-ready salons to give you inspiration
Halloween offers a perfect opportunity to have some fun in the nail space, so take inspiration from salons that have got clients in the spooky spirit with themed décor… 1. Beauty by Joan, Wisconsin, USA 2. Hope HQ, Manchester, UK 3. Hush Salon, Leeds, UK 4. Revel Salon, New York,…
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I visited TGB Spa in Brighton for a luxury pedicure – & here’s how it went
Nail brand, The GelBottle Inc, has opened its much-anticipated TGB Spa: a sanctuary for beauty treatments in the bustling city of Brighton. I was invited to explore the space and indulge in a Luxury TGB Gel Pedicure – and it didn’t disappoint. I arrived at Brighton train station and I tapped…
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Having had dreams of entering the beauty industry for as long as she can remember, Kasey Beasley remembers watching nail art videos on YouTube and having her mum and sisters model for her practice. “I knew I had to do this as a career,” she shares. “When I left school…
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Curating a fresh and girly look for her salon, Vicky Lea used a pink and white palette for her salon, adding soft touches such as florals and pampas grass to soften the clinical elements. Training with NSI in 2002, Vicky Lea has been doing nails ever since. “It’s been over…
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Inspired by her love for the hue, Laura Ann Francis’ cosy salon has a pink palette running throughout, using her decor to create a ‘home away from home’ for clients to enjoy. “Pink has always been my favourite colour,” Laura explains. “It was a no-brainer that the salon was going…
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Eclectic, inclusive and filled with talented pros, GOOSE’s doors were opened in 2019 by Arabella Wildgoose, a hair & beauty specialist whose training began in 2005. Since her initial training, Arabella has continued to collect an array of qualifications in her time in the industry, seeking training in nails, lashes,…
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Upon finding the perfect space to set up her own salon, Sophie O’sullivan approached former colleague, Katie Woodworth to create The Beauty Hive with Sophie & Katie, a clean yet comfortable salon space in Greater Manchester. “I qualified in VTCT Level 3 in Nail Technology in 2017 and completed my…
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Enrolling in her first of many beauty courses in 2010, Kay Willmott opened her salon, Elle Belle’s Beauty Studio, in 2017, named after her daughter. With ten members of staff in the salon, including herself, as a beauty therapist and laser technician; salon manager, nail tech and masseuse, Rosie Jo;…
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