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: Luscious Nails & Beauty, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland

By Kat Hill | 20 November 2019

Looking to create a balance between family life and a busy business, Lynne Scott sought a solution close to home – converting her garage into a studio for her nail services. “With a young family, I feel it has been a great move to allow me to work my diary…

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Amelia Beauty Box

Salon in the Spotlight: Amelia’s Beauty Box, Christchurch, Dorset

By Kat Hill | 13 November 2019

“I started up my own business three years ago after my family moved onto an old farm house,” smiles Amelia Butt. “The cabin was already set up with running water and insulation, so it was perfect for my dream cabin. “My salon is unique as it’s easy to get to…

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Moody Hair Ltd

Salon in the Spotlight: Moody Hair LTD, South Shields

By Kat Hill | 6 November 2019

Blending nail treatments with hair service, Nathan Moody’s career took a turn when he chose to train in nail services. “I have had Moody Hair LTD for roughly for now years now, trading as a hairdresser in Lancashire,” Nathan explains. “When I trained last year in nails, I decided it…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Tress & Bloom, Neath Abbey, Wales

By Kat Hill | 30 October 2019

The team at Tress & Bloom pride themselves on combining ‘good vibes and amazing treatments’, reveals owner Sandy Clavey. “We opened the salon earlier in the year,” Sandy explains. “We are a dream team, working in a beautiful environment. The salon is unique because of the team. They are all awesome,…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Awe London, London

By Kat Hill | 23 October 2019

Newly opened, Awe London has been a bolt of blue in South Woodford. “This is my first venture into salon ownership,” smiles director, Kamden Monplaisir. “My aim is to provide awesome and accurate treatments in a beautiful environment, while keeping client wellness at the forefront of what we do.” Specialising…

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Quiet Copy

How to incorporate ASMR into beauty treatments

By Sophie Nutt | 22 October 2019

Autonomous sensory meridian (ASMR) is a trend that dates back as far as 2013 on YouTube and is continuing to grow in popularity, with over 13 million ASMR videos currently on the platform. The trend isn’t slowing down, either, as there was a 122% increase in searches for ASMR videos from January…

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