TECH TALK

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Hull home nail salon owner: How I prioritise the mental health of clients

By Scratch Staff | 19 April 2025

Lucy Allman, owner of The Nail Shed, shares about the supportive ethos of her East Yorkshire garden salon… In 2021, Lucy Allman was made redundant and welcomed a second child. It was this change in lifestyle and need for flexibility that inspired her to carve a career in the nail…

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Pet-friendly salons: key benefits & important considerations

By Guest Writer | 10 April 2025

Have you ever considered making your salon pet-friendly? A spokesperson for luxury nail salon, Paint Nails London, shares the advantages and what you need to consider. Why did you decide to become a pet-friendly salon? We decided to become a pet-friendly salon because so many of our clients are animal…

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Nail industry siblings

Family affair: Meet 3 sets of siblings finding success in the nail industry

By Rebecca Hitchon | 10 April 2025

Scratch puts the spotlight on brothers and sisters working together in the nail industry… Glitterbels While Annabel Maginnis will likely come to mind when you hear the word ‘Glitterbels’, there is a trio of siblings involved in the brand: Annabel’s husband, Elliott, and his brothers, Mac and Alex. It was…

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Nail Tech Talk: Beth Buckley of Sassy Nails

By Callie Iley | 19 August 2023

Despite not considering nails as a career until later in her life, Beth Buckley of Sassy Nails had a lifelong passion for nails. “I even used to paint my friend’s nails in the toilets at school,” she laughs. “I trained in L&P Acrylic and later in gel polish, and never…

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The Great Scratch Shoot Out: Meet the 2022 winner, Ania Kesiak

By Chloe Randall | 14 August 2023

Scratch chats to Ania Kesiak, winner of The Great Scratch Shoot Out 2022, about how winning helped her career and why fellow nail pros should enter… What did you enjoy about creating your competition entry? I loved that there is no theme for The Great Scratch Shoot Out, so the…

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Nail Tech Talk: Denise Maples of Onestop Nails

By Callie Iley | 12 August 2023

Attending Olympia Beauty with a nail technician friend, Denise Maples became enthralled in the world of nails, making the decision to train and qualify herself. A single parent to three sons, Denise was working as a cleaner during school hours to make ends meet, with one of her jobs based…

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Nail Tech Talk: Nicola Julian of Oakwood Nails

By Callie Iley | 5 August 2023

Overcoming self-doubt to pursue a career in the nail industry, Nicola Julian of Oakwood Nails discovered her love for nail art during the pandemic before completing her training in 2021. Having had an interest in make-up, hair and nails from a young age, Nicola Julian initially pursued a career in…

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Nail Tech Talk: Tammy Fontaine of Nails By Tammy 

By Callie Iley | 29 July 2023

Without an artistic background, East London-based tech, Tammy Fontaine, shares that when completing her training in 2006, she never believed she’d have the patience for nail art. “Nail art didn’t come naturally to me,” she remembers. “I trained in basic manicures and pedicures at college, gaining my NVW Level 2…

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The Great Scratch Shoot Out: Winning advice

By Scratch Staff | 22 July 2023

2019 winner of The Great Scratch Shoot Out, Nina Lewis, shares her thoughts on the importance of entering competitions and why you should enter this year’s The Great Scratch Shoot Out… What are your thoughts on industry competitions? Why are they so important? I believe you need tenacity when entering…

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