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: The Beauty Spot, Alverstoke, Hampshire

By Callie Iley | 7 July 2022

While pregnant with her third son and living abroad with her military husband, Kayliegh Winspear sought independence in her life. In summer 2019, she began doing nails professionally. “My parents didn’t approve of me doing beauty at college, but it had always been a dream of mine.” “We moved back…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Coco’s Nail Artistry & Beauty, Kibworth, Leicestershire

By Callie Iley | 30 June 2022

Lee-Ann Moss had dreams of opening her own salon, and took the plunge during lockdown. “I opened up my first salon in Rothwell, as there was no property in my home village of Kibworth. During difficult times, I wasn’t sure how my buisness would take off, but we went from…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Beauty by Georgia Williams, Swansea

By Callie Iley | 23 June 2022

Working in the beauty industry since 2014, Georgia Williams worked in a local salon for her first six years in the industry, moving to home-based for a year following the pandemic. “The pandemic had made me realise I wanted to venture out and work for myself. I was extremely lucky…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Dead Gelous, Norfolk

By Callie Iley | 16 June 2022

Lorna Annison trained in nails initially in 2010, but her career led her onto a different path, working in photographic makeup then becoming a parent. “I began working as a lifeguard, but the hours were no longer suitable to my family life. After some thinking, I decided to go back…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Gelalicious, Medway

By Callie Iley | 9 June 2022

Previously working from her nail room within her home, Michaela Phillips outgrew the space, moving to a bespoke salon in her garden. “We have since converted my previous space into my son’s bedroom. Being a first-time mum has made me adapt my working life in various ways – I now…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Snoozy Studio, Blyth, Northumberland

By Callie Iley | 2 June 2022

Kirrin Tasmin’s journey in the beauty industry began in 2015 when she started doing hair extensions, however in 2018, she decided to train in nails. “I started off working in a couple of local salons, before deciding to start working from home in July 2021. It’s been my best decision…

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