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: PrettyPolish Nails & Beauty, Toddington

By Kat Hill | 27 March 2019

Juggling life as mobile technician with young family, Alex Bates has spent the last five years establishing her beauty business. Needing more space and a perminant location, Alex looked to a new high street location. “We moved into our currently salon 18 months ago and the business has absolutely boomed!”…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Becki’s Beauty, Berkshire

By Kat Hill | 20 March 2019

“I first started my business, Becki’s Beauty back in 2012,” reveals Becki Hobbs. “My parents had an unused log cabin in their garden, so this allowed me to kickstart my beauty business from there. I lived in a tiny flat so was unable to work from my own home. “Last…

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A peek inside the All That Jazz Beauty Bar

By Helena Biggs | 14 March 2019

Bright, decadent and oh-so Instagram-worthy, the All That Jazz Beauty Bar has opened on the seafront in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex; and it’s a true delight for the eyes – and nails. Headed up by Nail Harmony UK director, Georgie Smedley, and her daughter, Jazz Christodoulou, the Beauty Bar employs a talented…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Nancy Loves Nails, Middlesbrough

By Kat Hill | 13 March 2019

“I moved into my current salon four years ago,” remembers Sophie Dale. “I had turned 18 and had just finished college, and was looking for somewhere of my own after working from my parents’ house. They were finally sick of clients coming in til 10pm! I posted on Facebook looking…

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Salon in the Spotlight: The Lavender Rooms, Taunton

By Kat Hill | 6 March 2019

Having been established for eight years, The Lavender Rooms was created by duo, Catherine Bunning and Charlotte Patch. Located in the historic coach house at Hestercombe Gardens, the salon offers a tranquil setting for treatments. “The salon has remained to its original ethos of offering a one on one bespoke…

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 Salon in the Spotlight: RosielyNails, The Custard Factory, Digbeth

By Kat Hill | 27 February 2019

“My little studio is a nail art sanctuary,” smiles Rosie Lynall. “Before I start my own business, I was always so frustrated with the lack of creativity at my local nail salons. This led me to reopen the studio last year after having some time away from nails. What was…

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