SALON & SPAS
Unique salon décor: The Birmingham nail salon featuring a piano as its reception desk
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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Manchester’s city centre spa, The Spa at The Midland, has partnered with Wellness for Cancer, a non-profit educational foundation that provides cancer therapy training to spas and wellness facilities. Wellness for Cancer has specifically trained and certified The Spa at The Midland to provide services for guests who have experienced or…
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Award-winning company, The Hand and Foot Spa, has opened a nail bar in Selfridges, Birmingham. Launched by Donna Haar-Jørgensen in London nine years ago, The Hand and Foot Spa scooped a Scratch Star owing to its stunning decor and commitment to hand and foot care. The arrival of the nail…
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With its pretty wallpaper and fresh feel, A Little TLC Nail Studio in Guildford started life as quite a different environment – one not as welcoming, as owner Tina Campbell explains. “A year ago, the salon was a dirty garage but now it’s my stunning salon. “I offer all aspects…
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Salon owner, educator, former Scratch columnist and award-winning nail stylist, Katie Barnes, susses out the waterless manicure… The traditional method of dipping your fingers into a bowl of water while getting a manicure has become somewhat dated, with many techs now offering a waterless ‘dry’ manicure service. Waterless manicures are becoming increasingly popular, particularly with…
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The award-winning Hand & Foot Spa is looking for looking for franchisees for its mobile service, as well as both technicians and managers. The company, which was awarded the 2012 Scratch Star for Nail Salon of the Year: Independent for its Chelsea flagship, is expanding to meet demand. Delivering quality treatments to clients’ homes,…
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With its romantic name and matching interior, Blush opened its doors in August last year. “It’s been one of the best decisions I ever made,” owner Kelly Pestell enthuses. “I qualified in 2002 at NVQ Level 3. After a short period in a high street salon, I went into financial…
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