TECH TALK
Get to know the Scottish nail stylist who led nail looks for Victoria Beckham
In Sammy Mac’s two decades in the nail industry, she’s won numerous awards, opened a thriving nail salon chain and led multiple teams backstage at Fashion Week events. So what’s left on the career tick list for this Scottish nail pro? “Leading the nail team for the 2024 Victoria Beckham…
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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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I’m a Scottish nail artist working in London. Here’s what I miss most…
“If anyone from outside Scotland asks me, I say I’m from Glasgow, but as Scottish folk will read this, I’m actually from Livingston,” smiles Becki Menzies. The nail pro lived in Scotland for 28 years before moving to East London in 2023, where she works within tattoo space, Soteria Studios.…
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Why nail technicians should enter the Scratch Stars Awards: tips from a nail competition maestro
Bespoke nail artist, Jiak Hing, who has won the Scratch Stars Gel Polish Stylist of the Year accolade for three consecutive years, shares insight into the competition, what to expect on the day and the benefits of entering. Why did you decide to enter the Scratch Stars Awards? To…
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Introverted nail techs: how to grow your skills & clientele comfortably
Do you love the creative aspect of being a nail professional: perfecting enhancements and getting arty, but find it challenging to converse with clients and colleagues? You’re not alone. A need to recharge after client interactions or feeling most comfortable in quiet environments are signs of introversion. The word ‘introvert’…
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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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Abi Markey, of Nailed It Beauty, South Wales, reveals why and how she’s helping to raise awareness of the #SaveThe Arts campaign, an initiative that encourages support of those working in the entertainment sector throughout the coronavirus pandemic… “As a self employed nail tech with with my own salon, this…
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Scratch chats with Cassandra White of Cass Creations about her experiences within the industry and how nails have helped her through difficult times within her life. I’ve been doing my own nails on and off for 10 years now, mixing between doing them myself, and going to salons. However,…
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Sam Biddle and Melanie Lewendon of the Mel & Sam Show have announced the winners of their September month-long nail art competition, which attracted 40 entries. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month for October 2020, this competition afforded great industry support and prizes while inviting contestants to enter for free, yet…
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Scratch chats with Kirsty Parker, nail artist and accredited educator, about how she finds inspiration for nail art in everyday life, and her love for sharing skills and knowledge with others. I qualified with CND in 2006 and progressed onto my CND Grand Master qualification. I’ve worked in salons in…
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Thanh Vu, managing director of four Dream Nails salons, serves up insight on client habits since reopening… Since nail salons were allowed to reopen on 13 July following the coronavirus outbreak, I have seen a number of changes in client behaviour and demands at Dream Nails salons. Across all four salons,…
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Scratch chats to Nikola Clifford of Beauty Box in Balloch, about her journey into the nail world and her passion for nail art… Since 2015, I’ve had my own salon in my garden called Beauty Box. I studied a HND in Beauty Therapy at Clydebank College in 2003, but found…
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