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: Essentials Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics Clinic, St Neots

By Kat Hill | 9 May 2018

Established 31 years ago, Essentials Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics Clinic has become a staple of St Neots. “The salon was one of the first in the town,” reveals owner, Nina Munday. “I have owned and managed the salon for the last 11 years. I am originally from London but moved…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Polished Sheffield

By Kat Hill | 2 May 2018

Bright pops of yellow contrast against the clean, contemporary lines of Polished Sheffield. Located in Chapeltown, the salon relocated to new premises last year. “We chose to move to be more accessible to clients and offer better parking facilities, too,” reveals Maria. In its new home, the salon’s team are…

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Spa consultancy suggests welcoming heartbroken clients

By Kat Hill | 27 April 2018

A spa consultancy has revealed ‘Break-Up’ spa breaks as a wellness trend to note. Raison d’Etre describes the break as a trip to ‘helps guests adjust to major life changes’ and for those ‘having to ‘break up’ with previous elements of their lives’, including relationships, life changes or even bereavement.…

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Manor Farm Spa & Clinic And Revive Beauty, Northampton

Salon in the Spotlight: Manor Farm Spa & Clinic and Revive Beauty, Lamport, Northants

By Kat Hill | 25 April 2018

“After living in rural Northamptonshire all of my life and always travelling into the town for beauty treatments, I felt there was a need to open a salon within a village,” reveals Tanya. “When driving past a farm in Lamport one day and noticed a sign stating there were ‘barns…

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Salon in the Spotlight: JK Beauty, Stockton On Tees

By Kat Hill | 18 April 2018

After originally dreaming of flying the sky as cabin crew, it was Jessica Healey’s love of beauty that kept her grounded and inspired her new career. “I’ve always been interested in nails so I decided to study my Beauty Therapy Level 2 and 3 – and since then I’ve been…

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Nailcraft By Vonny, Yvonne Tuckley

Salon in the Spotlight: Nailcraft by Vonny, Loughborough

By Kat Hill | 11 April 2018

Starting life as the home study in Yvonne Tuckley’s family home, this salon is now a cosy retreat for clients. Yvonne’s passion for nail care was inspired by her own experiences of nail damage, spurring her on to train and become fully accredited. Deciding she wanted to make her passion…

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