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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What it’s really like to own a nail salon – Part 2

By Scratch Staff | 7 August 2019

Industry veteran, salon owner and Scratch Stars Services to the Nail Industry champion 2017, Sue Davies, reveals an insight into her experience of running a nail salon business… Read part 1, here. We all like to think that our futures are bright and stable, however that isn’t always the case…

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Sue Davies Salon 1

What it’s really like to own a nail salon – Part 1

By Scratch Staff | 7 August 2019

Industry veteran, salon owner and Scratch Stars Services to the Nail Industry champion 2017, Sue Davies, reveals an insight into her experience of running a nail salon business… For many graduates in the hair, beauty and nail industry the ultimate dream is to own a salon one day.  It is…

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Bold Salon Glasgow

Salon in the Spotlight: Bold Salon, Glasgow

By Kat Hill | 7 August 2019

Bold by name, bold by nature! Bold Salon in Glasgow is making its mark in the local area owing to the quirky decor and impressive collection of professionals working from its treatment rooms. “I had been self-employed lash and brow specialist for 21 years under my own business, The i…

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Nailco

Salon in the Spotlight: Nailco Nail Bar, Glasgow

By Kat Hill | 31 July 2019

Currently with three locations in Scotland, the Nailco team have their eyes firmly set on success. “We launched Nailco Nail Bar in September 2017 in Glasgow city centre,” explains owner, Jayd Alexandra Linney. “I bought the salon and fully refurbished and re-branded. The salon already had a great foundation and client…

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Here’s what I saw at the Nails By Annabel salon

By Sophie Nutt | 30 July 2019

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting the new Nails by Annabel salon in Newcastle Under Lyme. Opened at the end of May this year, the salon is owned by talented tech, Annabel Maginnis, and her husband Elliott. With an utterly Instagram-able interior and huge social media following (with Annabel’s Instagram page seeing just…

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Alchemy Nails

Salon in the Spotlight: Alchemy Nails, Launceston, North Cornwall

By Kat Hill | 17 July 2019

Pixie White decided to make the move into the nail realm for a magical career change. “I was a counsellor for years, working with young offenders and people with addictions and mental health issues, as well as the homeless,” explains Pixie. Moving from Chester to Launceston, North Cornwall, from Chester nearly…

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