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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Meet Miki of My Name Is Miki Nail, the New York nail tech who tends to the nails of Ariana Grande, as she shares her career journey and reveals the nail shade worn in the Yes, And? music video… Working for a fashion company in her early 20s, Miki became…
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Raynaud’s Syndrome causes an interruption of blood flow to all extremities including the hands, fingers and toes, when a spasm occurs in the blood vessels of these areas. Essex-based nail tech, Em Lee of Rebel Nails, and Newport nail pro, Kathryn Collins, share their experiences with Raynaud’s, how it affects…
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In a meticulous process spanning two months, Anna Sosina’s dragon nail look was created to reflect her commitment to artistry and professionalism. Detailing the process of creating the intricate nail look, Anna reveals how her hard work on the nails came to become a stunning poster image, with the help…
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London College of Beauty Therapy (LCBT) student, Damla Osman, scooped the Level 2 Technical Beauty Therapy Student of the Year title at the college’s Star Awards 2023. Awarded in October, she shares that winning the accolade, which was sponsored by Scratch, still feels incredible. “It’s a huge accomplishment for me,…
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Abi Hassan, owner of Canterbury-based salon, Hot Wheels Nails, shares her experiences as a disabled nail technician and explores the importance of advocating for accessibility in the industry… As a disabled nail technician, I found navigating my way through the start-up of my business to be a minefield. I needed…
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Maria Nevirchak entered the nail industry after she finished school, initially hoping to pursue a different career after her 18th birthday. However, she quickly found herself becoming immersed in the world of nails. “The more I delved into the profession, the less I felt the need to switch paths,” she…
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