TECH TALK

Sammy Macdonald Victoria Beckham Nails

Get to know the Scottish nail stylist who led nail looks for Victoria Beckham

By Helena Biggs | 8 January 2025

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

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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Becki Menzies Burns Night Nail Tech

I’m a Scottish nail artist working in London. Here’s what I miss most…

By Guest Writer | 3 January 2025

“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

By Lilly Delmage | 3 January 2025

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

By Lilly Delmage | 22 December 2024

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

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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Victoria Bejma Nail Tech

#ManiMonday: Pretty in pink nails by Victoria Bejma

By Zoe Wickens | 9 March 2020

Scratch puts the spotlight on a striking pink stiletto nail design and the talented tech behind it… Nail tech Victoria Bejma of Victoria’s Nails has been in the nail industry for more than three years. “I started my journey by doing my own nails and then decided that I wanted…

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Melissa Whiffen Nails

WHAT I’M WEARING: Melissa Whiffen, Moonstruck Nail Studio

By Sophie Nutt | 8 March 2020

We want to see what you’re wearing on your nails! Melissa Whiffen, of Moonstruck Nail Studio, wears a nail look inspired by her local hockey team. “I created these nails using Artistic Colour Gloss in Swag for the base colour. I used Wildflowers and LCN nail paints to create the…

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Kelly Christie

IWD 2020: Kelly Christie on surviving a traumatic brain injury & becoming a CND Grand Master

By Sophie Nutt | 8 March 2020

Scratch puts the spotlight on inspiring & successful businesswomen in the run up to International Women’s Day, 8 March…  MEET KELLY CHRISTIE Kelly is a traumatic brain injury survivor, public speaker and nail technician. Attending a number of events including the Scottish Brain Injury Forum, Glaxo and Montrose Academy’s Senior…

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Amy Baker Lead

IWD 2020: Amy Baker on combining her nail career & caring for her husband

By Scratch Staff | 7 March 2020

Scratch puts the spotlight on inspiring & successful businesswomen in the run up to International Women’s Day, 8 March… Meet Amy Baker – a self employed therapist who has found her calling with nails and beauty through hardship. Based in Cambridgeshire, Amy lives with her husband, Malcom, and two children: Toby (7)…

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Jennie N Fashion Week

What it’s really like to work at London Fashion Week

By Scratch Staff | 7 March 2020

Session nail stylist, Jennie Nippard, shares her tales from behind the scenes at London Fashion Week… My alarm was set for 4.45am, which can only mean one thing… it was time for London Fashion Week! I headed into London to the Serpentine Gallery where Vivienne Westwood was shooting a lookbook…

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International Women's Day

IWD 2020: How a nail design helped raise awareness of a serious illness

By Zoe Wickens | 6 March 2020

Scratch speaks to some successful and inspirational women in the nail industry leading up to International Women’s Day, 8 March… Suzie Eglon has worked in the nail industry for around five years and is currently employed by Quintessential Beauty, a salon in her hometown of Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. “I turned…

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