TECHNIQUE
How to stop nail biting & picking: experts share treatment plans
Natural nail specialists share tips for nail biting and picking clients… Why do people bite and pick at their nails and skin? “Nail biting, also known as onychophagia, and skin picking and biting, named perionychophagia, are habits associated with stress, anxiety and compulsive disorders,” explains Lucy Price, Scratch Stars Natural…
How to remove L&P acrylic nail enhancements safely
Whilst it is tempting to try remove nail enhancements as quickly as possible, correct removal requires professional attention to prevent damage to the natural nail. Here’s how it should be done… Each type of nail enhancement requires a specific method of removal, and the time this takes varies. While UV…
Cat eye & velvet nails: what’s the difference & how are they created?
2025 has seen the rise of textured nail finishes, with cat eye and velvet nail looks dominating salon styles. But what is the difference between the two seemingly similar designs, and how can they be created? Cat eye and velvet nails boast a lot of similarities, including products used and…
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Red rings or semicircles that appear on the nail – often referred to as ‘rings of fire’ – can strike fear into the hearts of nail techs and clients alike, but what causes them and how can they be avoided? “Rings of fire appear as red rings on the nail…
Join me as I relay my visit to Stoke-on-Trent and Glitterbels’ stunning HQ, where I took my first official steps into professional nail styling… My first encounter with the Glitterbels team was at The Scratch Stars Party 2025, at which the brand’s education team was recognised with a third win…
Nail technician & educator, Becci Hollis, shares her journey launching nail tool brand, MUSE. Becci Hollis has been part of the nail industry for 11 years. Originally training as a nail technician, before opening her own salon and training academy, Becci has had her fair share of successful enterprises. Now,…
Justyna Pryke, Scratch Stars Gel Tech of the Year 2015 & 2025, serves up a step-by-step guide to removing hard gel enhancements safely and effectively. Removing hard gel manually (without an E-file) can be done safely, but it requires patience and care to avoid damaging the natural nails. Here’s a…
Gel polish overlays should not cause any damage to nails. As award-winning nail artist, Katie Clark (née Barnes), has previously written for Scratch, natural nail damage can occur as a result of ‘improper application or removal, overly aggressive filing or client abuse such as picking or biting’. If done without…
Nail industry veteran, Marian Newman BEM, shares top tips for caring for weak, brittle and ridged natural nails… Weak nails A client may have thin and weak nails as a natural characteristic or result of a systemic condition. Weak nails can also be due to external impacts, such as damage…