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: Bangs London

By Kat Hill | 28 April 2021

Keen to make its mark on Walthamstow, London, the team at Bangs London has implemented a number of sustainable practises. Offering hair and beauty appointments, the salon opened in September 2019. “We searched for he perfect space for almost half a year,” co-founders Danielle, Hannah & Shimol, explains. “We knew we wanted…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Honestly Ombré, Swindon

By Kat Hill | 21 April 2021

With 22 April marking Earth Day – an annual event to demonstrate support for environmental protection – Scratch chatted to Jess Wallbridge, owner of vegan beauty and wellness salon, Honestly Ombré, in Swindon, Wiltshire… “We want every visit to our salon to feel like Earth Day!” smile Jess. “We strive to shed light…

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Earth Day 2021

Treatwell celebrates Earth Day by spotlighting 3 top green salons

By Alex Fox | 20 April 2021

Salon booking service, Treatwell, reveals the importance of sustainability, organic/eco products and ‘being green’ when choosing a hair, beauty or wellness salon and treatments. For Treatwell, ‘Earth Day’ – 22nd of April –  is about connecting customers with sustainable and eco-friendly salons and treatments, undertaking research* conducted in April 2021,…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Bellini Nails & Beauty, Glasgow

By Kat Hill | 14 April 2021

Having grown her business from a small studio established in 2014, Katia Crowe has gone from strength to strength, with Bellini Nails & Beauty a beauty hotspot in Glasgow’s West End. “I first trained as a nail technician in 2014, trading as Bellini Nails and renting a small studio,” Katia…

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Salon Style – part 1 – salon wall treatment choices by Haz Dean, interior designer

By Alex Fox | 8 April 2021

Treating the Salon’s BIG CANVAS aka WALLS Deciding on the polish or the art your client wants to put on her nails can be a tough decision at times. Similarly, having different options available, can get one confused when deciding on how to cover the bigger salon canvas AKA its…

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Salon in the Spotlight: The Beauty Bar, Garswood, Ashton in Makerfield

By Kat Hill | 7 April 2021

Starting out part-time, offering evening appointments alongside her office job, Rachel Enriles dreamt of owning her own salon space. “My career started around six years ago when I set out with a few gel polish shades and a lamp,” she smiles. “I decided I wanted a more permanent base so…

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