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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3 nail artists, 1 city, an ethical working code & abundance of creativity – all blend to serve up Supernatural Nails

By Alex Fox | 30 July 2021

A former graphic designer and illustrator, Lucy Allen based in the Kelham Island district of Sheffield, has moved her creative focus onto nails as the owner of Supernatural Nails, having trained as a nail tech three years ago. Opening her nail salon to address concerns she was having on issues…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Pinks Nail & Beauty Salon, Kingsbury

By Callie Iley | 28 July 2021

After working at Pinks Nail & Beauty Salon since 2015, Kate Szabo was given the opportunity to purchase the salon from its previous owner in 2019. “At Pinks, we focus on delivering the highest standard of service, focusing on customising treatments for our customers needs,” Kate explains. “Our whole team…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Maci Blanche Nails, Gravesend

By Callie Iley | 21 July 2021

Maci Parry began her nail journey in April 2020, and the 18-year-old opened her salon in July of the same year. “It has been tough journey to say the least. I felt that every time I was building up a clientele and getting into the groove of things I was…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Olivia’s Hidden Beauty, Stoke-On-Trent

By Callie Iley | 14 July 2021

Olivia Grace Lovatt and her husband initially started their garage conversion with the intention of making it a playroom for their children. After working for her sister since 2005, she realised she wanted to spend more time at home. “My husband said if I wanted to spend more time at…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Creative Nails and Brows, East Yorkshire

By Callie Iley | 7 July 2021

After running her salon in the high street of Driffield town centre between 2011 and 2017, Diane Wilson moved her salon to her summerhouse. “I was an A level teacher, but a horrific car accident put me in a wheelchair, so that was when I changed career to the nail…

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

By Callie Iley | 30 June 2021

Lee-Ann Moss enjoyed life as a mobile nail technician from 2017, but began to look for properties to rent during the lockdowns of 2020 in order to open her own salon. “The idea that life is too short hit home for me during the pandemic,” Lee-Ann remembers. “I was approached…

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