SALON & SPAS

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Unique salon décor: The Birmingham nail salon featuring a piano as its reception desk

By Lilly Delmage | 6 January 2025

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

By Lilly Delmage | 9 December 2024

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

By Lilly Delmage | 2 December 2024

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

By Lilly Delmage | 29 November 2024

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

By Lilly Delmage | 7 November 2024

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

By Lilly Delmage | 30 October 2024

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

By Scratch Staff | 27 October 2024

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

By Lilly Delmage | 24 October 2024

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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Salon in the Spotlight: Ballerina Beauty, Leeds

By Callie Iley | 12 January 2023

Aggie Saruna qualified as a nail technician in 2013, working on a mobile basis and in various salons during the first two years of her career, before setting up a space in her living room in 2015 to work from. In April 2022, Aggie had her beauty shed built at…

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Salon in the Spotlight: The Beach at Sunny Daze, Aviemore

By Callie Iley | 5 January 2023

Salon owner, Colette, sought to expand her sun bed and teeth whitening business, with plans to create a one-stop shop within her beauty salon. The Beach at Sunny Daze salon opened its doors in April 2021, providing sister duo, Charlie Orriss of Nails by Charlie and Katie Beazley of Glazed…

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Townhouse salon expands into Bristol with Cribbs Causeway location

By Callie Iley | 5 January 2023

Scratch Stars Nail Salon of the Year 2022, Townhouse, has expanded further with its Cribbs Causeway salon in Bristol. The salon is Townhouse’s second location outside of London, in H Beauty Bristol, located in The Mall at Cribbs Causeway. Boasting celebrity clientele including Drake, Kim Cattrall and Emilia Clarke, Townhouse’s Cribbs…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Arabella Beauty and Training, Hitchin

By Callie Iley | 29 December 2022

Clare Hunt qualified in beauty in 2016 as a mature student, following the birth of her daughter. “Before I was a nail tech, I worked full-time as a college lecturer, teaching window dressing. I decided on a career change during my maternity as I wanted to do a job that…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Bare Beauty, East Lothian, Scotland

By Callie Iley | 22 December 2022

Since leaving her former profession in floristry in favour of a career in the beauty industry, Helen Mulloy Reid has sought extensive training to further develop her nail and beauty skills. Helen has attended the Mary Reid International School of Beauty in Edinburgh for her beauty training, the Bath Academy…

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Salon in the Spotlight: The Beauty Hut, Pontyclun, Wales

By Callie Iley | 15 December 2022

The Beauty Hut opened its doors in July 2022, when Kate Morgan made the decision to move from her home based salon into a premises on a busy high street. “My vision is to create a one stop shop, offering a complete package of treatments including nails, lashes, waxing, massage,…

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