SALON & SPAS

Lilly Web Newsfeature Lead 1200x800px 65

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…

Read More
Lilly Web Newsfeature Lead 1200x800px 53

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…

Read More
Lilly Web Newsfeature Lead 1200x800px 48

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…

Read More
Lilly Web Newsfeature Lead 1200x800px 46

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…

Read More
Lilly Web Newsfeature Lead 1200x800px 28

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…

Read More
Lilly Web Newsfeature Lead 1200x800px 21

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…

Read More
Lilly Web Newsfeature Lead 1200x800px 16

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,…

Read More
Lilly Web Newsfeature Lead 1200x800px 14

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…

Read More
Sketched By J A Nails Lead

Salon in the Spotlight: SKETCHED by J-A Nails, Larkfield, Kent

By Kat Hill | 14 October 2020

“I originally opened SKETCHED four years ago after having worked as a resident nail tech in a hair salon for four years,” Julie-Anne Lariviere explains. “I was expecting my son at the time and found it was the right time to convert my garage into a nail salon so I…

Read More
Dream Nails Sign

Need to spruce up your nail salon? Here’s some design tips…

By Guest Writer | 4 October 2020

Thanh Vu, managing director of four Dream Nails salons, reveals her top tips for salon styling and how to keep design fluid across more than one premises… Salon design is one of the areas of my job that I enjoy most. It has been incredibly satisfying to see my vision…

Read More
Polished By Gem Lead

Salon in the Spotlight: Polished By Gem, Shrewsbury, Shropshire

By Kat Hill | 30 September 2020

After finishing school, Gemma Siverns trained at a local beauty college to complete her NVQ 2 in Beauty Therapy, but quickly after completing a nail course she knew straight away nails were her passion. “Once I qualified I applied for a job at a local nail salon, and luckily I got…

Read More
Neverland Nails Lead

SALON IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Neverland Nails, Glasgow

By Kat Hill | 23 September 2020

Seeing quirky detail in every corner, Neverland Nails in Glasgow offers clients an escape from everyday life. “I had a small studio space in the trendy Finnieston district for a year, before taking on a street shop space a couple of minutes away,” explains Frenchie “Fabulous” Watson. “I loved it…

Read More
Am Sanctuary, Rothwell Lead

Salon in the Spotlight: AM Sanctuary, Rothwell, Northamptonshire

By Kat Hill | 5 September 2020

Tucked away in a historic corner of town, Amy Measey’s salon, AM Sanctuary, sees a tranquil spot for appointments. Featuring original stone brick walls, fireplaces and exposed beams, Amy wanted to draw on the whimsical vibe of the building with her decorative touches. “My salon packs a punch with character;…

Read More
Hollie Barker Nail Artist Lead

Salon in the Spotlight: Hollie Barker Nail Artist, Castleford, West Yorkshire

By Kat Hill | 26 August 2020

When the nation went into lockdown in March, salon owner, Hollie Barker, was forced to close her business’ doors – before they’d even opened. Completed just one week before the restrictions were enforced, her new summerhouse had to wait for its big reveal. “My studio was built from scratch; it…

Read More