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: Nails By Sharon Gabrielle, Hertfordshire

By Scratch Staff | 14 March 2024

Following a diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in her eye in March 2021, Sharon Goodway reflected on her 16-year job in the finance sector and decided that she wanted to pursue a creative career. She enrolled on a course with Bio Sculpture in June 2022 and on qualifying, decided to hand…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Nini’s, Portrush NI

By Callie Iley | 7 March 2024

On a visit to her wife’s native town of Portrush, Northern Ireland, in Easter 2022, an empty premises beside the sea caught Naoise McGeer-Letson’s eye. Formerly a hairdressers, the original shop had closed due to the pandemic and remained empty since, until it was transformed into Nini’s salon. Moving from…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Nails Edinburgh, Edinburgh

By Scratch Staff | 29 February 2024

Former street artist, Miska, channelled her creativity into a home-based nail studio, from which she offers manicures and gel enhancements. “Street art made me who I am,” she shares. “Cutting stencils requires a lot of precision, and this skill led me to be good at nails.” Miska immersed in the…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Candy Claws, Birmingham

By Callie Iley | 22 February 2024

Millie Mills modelled Candy Claws salon’s decor around her personality and style, creating a salon space with inclusivity, artistry and creativity at its core. “I wanted my clients to know who I am when they walk through the door. Candy Claws is a safe space which is fun and playful,…

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Find out about the wellness-focused nail salon offering meditative manicures

By Callie Iley | 31 December 2023

Founder of Sundays Studio, Amy Ling Lin, was inspired by former clients and salon experiences to create a nail space that promotes safety, self-care and inclusivity for both clients and nail specialists. With a focus on wellness for its nail services and product offerings, Sundays Studio offers clients and staff…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Halo Nails, Maidstone

By Carter Rogers | 30 November 2023

Despite falling in love with nails and qualifying as a nail tech in 2007, Chantelle Wicks had to return to her office job in 2008 after becoming a single mum to her young daughter. It was during the pandemic that she rethought her career and thus, in 2022, nails becoming…

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