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: The Apothecary Room, Halifax, West Yorkshire

By Callie Iley | 18 April 2024

Transforming a plain grey office space into a moody maximalist nail studio carefully curated with curiosities, oddities and antiques, April Kitson wanted to reflect a dark academia aesthetic through her salon décor. “My personal style is heavily influenced by Stevie Nicks and Morticia Addams, so I’ve used vintage and thrifted…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Eleven Kings, Royston

By Callie Iley | 11 April 2024

Explore Eleven Kings salon as Jess Dickerson discusses its pink and green colour scheme and reveals her future plans in the beauty industry… Despite not enjoying doing her own nails, Jess loved the idea of styling others’ nails. In October 2021, she enrolled in training with Next Step Beauty via…

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Salon in the Spotlight: The Studio, Doncaster

By Callie Iley | 4 April 2024

Creating a tranquil salon space in The Studio, Doncaster, for her clients to unwind, find out about Lian Davey’s neutral décor choices and the vibes she hopes to create… Having worked in the law sector since her teens, Lian entered the beauty industry after the birth of her son, enrolling…

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Salon in the Spotlight: JR Beauty, Cheshire

By Scratch Staff | 30 March 2024

Jessica Roach had a double celebration on her 30th birthday, as it not only marked a milestone, but she attained a nail qualification with LIT Training Academy to turn her nail styling hobby into a career. The creative found enjoyment in painting her nails during lockdown, and while on maternity…

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Mayfair celebrity beauty hotspot marks 10-year milestone

By Callie Iley | 24 March 2024

Luxury boutique salon, Nails & Brows Mayfair, is marking a decade of beauty services since its opening in March 2014. The team at Nails & Brows Mayfair consists of 22 beauty experts, who deliver a range of services to clients including celebrities and royals, serving up manicures, pedicures, lash extensions…

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Salon in the Spotlight: KHAOS Nail Bar, Ross-on-Wye

By Callie Iley | 21 March 2024

Having worked at a previous premises alongside one another, KHAOS Nail Bar co-owner trio, Georgie, Jess and Niamh, outgrew the space and set out to create a salon brand of their own. “Georgie came up with the name,” they remember. “After that, we decided to follow suit and go mental…

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