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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After working in call centres for years, Jackie Logan wanted a change of career. “After three years of practise and training, I work up the courage to quit my job and start Nova Nails,” Jackie remembers. “I worked in a few places renting a table, but during the first lockdown…
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The winner of Scratch’s monthly nail art challenge has been announced as Julia Armstrong. In a showcase of talent, techs stepped up to the Scratch Snap challenge for January & created nail designs inspired by ‘Purple Positivity’ in the bid to win a prize from Purple Professional. Judged by Scratch‘s…
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When Francesca Alice Nield was furloughed last year from her job in the hospitality sector, she took the chance to pursue her dream career and set up her own studio. “I had previously trained with Nails By Annabel, so I used the first lockdown to create my work space,” Francesca…
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Ruth Munro, Magpie Beauty educator for Scotland and owner of Little Blank Spaces, reveals how she has been using her free time during the Covid-19 lockdown to prepare for the eventual reopening of her business… Beauticians are not allowed to return to work in the UK yet because we can’t…
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Decorated in on-trend shades of blush pink and deep green, Sadie Branson’s setup sees a chic workspace to greet clients. “My studio is located in my old childhood bedroom in my parent’s house,” Sadie states. “The salon certainly did not start out looking how it does now: I started off…
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Having worked both on a mobile basis and at her kitchen table for the last 10 years, Rosie Doran sought a more permanent basis for her nail business. “When the first lockdown happened, my husband suggested that we use the time wisely and build a summerhouse: a place for my…
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