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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Salon in the Spotlight: The Granary Spa, Ashford Established in 2012, The Granary Spa is based in a converted Victorian granary barn in a rural location just outside of Ashford. “We thrive on delivering a 5-star service to our guests, and offer a range of therapies including massage, tailored facials,…
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Salon in the Spotlight: Nail Envy Stanley, Perthshire When Sarah Smith reached the age of 52, she decided to take the plunge and retrain as a nail technician, having always had a passion for nails. She qualified in February 2022, taking on her first clients in March in the spare…
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Salon in the Spotlight: BW Beauty, Lincoln Laura Boucher-Walker trained in gel polish manicure in 2018, soon setting up her home salon. “After being open for a little while, I began having to turn clients away who wanted nail enhancements, so I decided to train in acrylic and acrygel to…
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Salon in the Spotlight: Afterglow Beauty Salon, Strood Chloe Radzik began her journey into the beauty industry in 2008, and Ami Ball in 2012. The duo have had a close friendship since 2016, deciding when lockdown lifted to team up and open a salon together. The doors to Afterglow Beauty…
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Founded by entrepreneur George Hammer, Urban Retreat Collective is another vine to the Urban Retreat business. It offers hair, beauty and wellness professionals the opportunity to run their own business independently, while also being part of a community. With various sized beauty suites and therapy rooms, nail, makeup and hair…
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Salon in the Spotlight: Alisa Jade, Stoke-On-Trent Alisa Jade Matthews trained in nails in 2019, passing her qualification just before the first lockdown began, putting a pause on the beginning of her career. Alisa used the time lockdown afforded her to develop her skillset and create connections with potential clients.…
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