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: Beauty By Mollie Mae, Wetherby, West Yorkshire 

By Callie Iley | 18 August 2022

Initially working from the conservatory at her mums house and enjoying the convenience of working from home, Mollie Mae Hiles had to rethink her set up after only four months in business. “My mum was diagnosed with Dementia and sadly had to move to a care home. This meant I…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Chantelle Louise Nails-Beauty-Holistics-Training, Blackburn

By Callie Iley | 11 August 2022

Chantelle Baldwin decided to take the leap and set up her own salon space, affectionately named The Beauty Room, in an established beauty salon.  “The Beauty Room is located in a salon in Blackburn called Libra. It was one of the first salons in Blackburn and is still open and…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Boo Does Nails, Birmingham

By Callie Iley | 4 August 2022

During lockdown, Beckie Jones reflected on her career, deciding to take a risk when restrictions eased, opening up her own salon. “It was a risk I needed to take, as I felt a deep need to finally carve out a space where I could be free to do what I…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Eden Nails & Beauty, Derby

By Callie Iley | 28 July 2022

Beginning her nail journey in 2013, Laura Lima has a variety of experience in the beauty industry. “I have always dreamed of having my own salon one day, and in 2020, I decided to experience the self-employed side of things and was never happier!”   “I started to slowly climb…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Annissas Beauty, Blackpool

By Callie Iley | 21 July 2022

After leaving college early due to her mental health, Annissa Colton enrolled onto a nail and beauty course, qualifying by January 2019. “I absolutely loved doing nails from the very start, I feel like it is such a therapeutic and creative industry to work in. Following my struggles with mental…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Wow Nails, Isle of Man

By Callie Iley | 14 July 2022

Previously working in other salons since 2015, Wendy Jayne Buttery took the plunge to open her own home salon in July 2021. “I always wanted my own little space to do up, matching it to my nail art style. “My home salon is perfect for me and my clients. I…

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