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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The Beauty Box, Wiltshire

SALON IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Beauty Box, Wiltshire

By Kat Hill | 19 April 2017

“I originally started my nail business working on mine and my family’s nails as a hobby while I worked as a nanny,” remembers owner of The Beauty Box, Nicola Robbins. “I decided it was time to get some training so I could launch a  part time business. I chose to train with Nail…

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Hand And Foot Spa Nail Polish Selfridges Birmingham

AWARD-WINNING BRAND seeks nail technician & managers

By Helena Biggs | 14 April 2017

Luxury nail business, The Hand & Foot Spa, is seeking nail technicians and a nail bar manager. Full and part time vacancies are available and applicants must have exceptional customer service skills – as well as nail skills – and be friendly and enthusiastic with immaculate attention to detail. All…

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Nail Couture Nails & Beauty, Bingley

SALON IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Nail Couture Nails & Beauty, Bingley

By Kat Hill | 12 April 2017

With its quirky decor and open-plan design, Nail Couture Nails & Beauty is a conversation starter – and its clients agree. “We are a very sociable salon,” enthuses owner, Cathy Lansbury-Palmer, “We created our unique trio pedicure station and reception area with this in mind. Clients love to talk and chat, as do we.…

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Little Luxury, Warrington, Cheshire

SALON IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Little Luxury, Warrington, Cheshire

By Kat Hill | 5 April 2017

With only four weeks to prepare the salon for its opening before Christmas, owner Kayleigh Marley had a lot of work to do, but the results of Little Luxury stun. With its purple and grey theme, the salon is a tranquil and welcoming space. After the salon’s many guises over…

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He Nail Shack, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire

SALON IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Nail Shack, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire

By Kat Hill | 29 March 2017

After honing her craft in a busy salon and a rented room in a hairdressers, Sinead Bulley grew her client base sufficiently to go it alone. Sinead’s career took a new turn when she converted her garden room into a stylish home nail salon. “The salon offers a wide range of…

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Harvey's Nails, Staffordshire

SALON IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Harvey’s Nails, Staffordshire

By Kat Hill | 22 February 2017

A real labor of love, the newly decorated Harvey’s Nails has been the result of years of hard work and perseverance from owner, Samantha Harvey. Starting out in the nail industry 12 years ago, Samantha’s career has seen many ups and downs including illness and salon relocations. Despite that, Samantha…

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