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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From crafting nail styles to building ventilators: Holly Sutherland put her time away from the nail desk to excellent use when she responded to an advert by Ford Cars. The founder of Nails by Holly in Thurrock, Essex, found herself out of work from mid-March to July when the coronavirus…
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Sarah Brenton-Sara, lecturer in Level 2 & 3 Nail Services & Beauty Therapy at Truro & Penwith College, reveals how her students have been learning & developing their skills during lockdown… It has been a turbulent year for the nail industry, however my part-time nail students have excellent throughout lockdown and created some…
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Janine Hartley, of Nails & Diamonds By Janine, shares how she kept herself busy during lockdown, her favourite nail styles and how to create this monochrome marble design… “I have been working in the nail industry for around 17 years now. I started my career at college when I took…
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Charlotte Fletcher, of Head 2 Toe Hair & Beauty, chats to Scratch about her journey into the nail industry as well as how to create this super chic pink ink & gold fleck nail look… “I initially trained with Izabelle Hammon in 2017, however it wasn’t until 2019 that I really grew…
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Bournemouth-based nail tech, Lauren McBride, has been crowned Nail Tech of the Year 2020 at the British Hair & Beauty Awards. Having trained 17 years ago under CND educator, Jacqui Jefford, Lauren’s salon journey truly began as a Saturday girl at the age of 13, before she took up nail…
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Maisie Poultney, of Maisie Leah Nails, shares her love for the nail industry, her career story so far and how she created these oh-so pretty sunflower nails… “I have been qualified in Calgel since 2015 but I only really did nails for my friends and family,” explains Maisie. “I started…
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