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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Nails By Liv

Salon in the Spotlight: Nails By Liv Salon, York

By Kat Hill | 8 May 2019

Take a peek inside a double-Scratch Stars Awards finalist’s new salon… Having honed her skills in a salon, Liv Oldfield decided it was time to spread her wings and fly solo, seeing her open Nails By Liv Salon. “This venture is a brand new, at-home studio,” explains Liv. “I opened the…

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The Nail Gallery

Salon in the Spotlight: The Nail Gallery, Bawtry

By Kat Hill | 1 May 2019

Get to know the names behind The Nail Gallery, Bawtry – finalist in the Scratch Stars Nail Salon of the Year category 20/21, sponsored by The Gel Bottle Inc… “Jessica Haith and I both met when we began working together in a nail bar in 2017,” explains Ilex Wood. “Unfortunately, …

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Amber Bout

Salon in the Spotlight: The Amber Boutique, Milford Haven

By Kat Hill | 24 April 2019

“My salon opened in August 2017,” explains owner, Sally Sanderson. “After being made redundant suddenly, I was looking to open my own place and had to act quickly as my client base was waiting. My building was advertised the very week I left my old job, so I decided to…

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Buffed Beauty Bar, Keighley 2

Salon in the Spotlight: Buffed Beauty Bar, Keighley

By Kat Hill | 17 April 2019

Starting out in a rented chair at the age of 19, Bethany Jade Savage has worked hard to build up her beauty business. “I began my career with very little products or experience but with passion and hard work, I built up a client base,” explains Bethany. “After two and…

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Naild It

My trip to Nail’d It! for a Voesh treatment

By Kat Hill | 8 April 2019

Last week, I was transported to a girlie wonderland thanks to the Marylebone branch of Nail’d It. The successful London salon chain sees set-ups in Oxford Street, Belgravia, Battersea, Marylebone and Clapham Junction, all offering a variety of hand and foot treatments in an ultra Instagrammable set-up. The salons pride…

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The Nail Room & Co, Hackney, London

Salon in the Spotlight: The Nail Room & Co, Hackney, London

By Kat Hill | 3 April 2019

After honing her craft in some of London’s nail hot spots, Lucy Francis knew it was time to put her stamp on the scene with her own salon space. “While working in Shoreditch four days a week, I decided to rent a space in a hairdressers for the other three…

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