TECHS & SALONS
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…
Read More
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…
Read More
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.…
Read More
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…
Read More
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’…
Read More
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…
Read More
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…
Read More
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…
Read More
Scratch chats to Carlie Fidgett of Bycarlie about her nail journey and the difficulties she’s faced dealing with diverticulitis… Carlie’s nail journey began in 2019 while she was working a full time job at Centre Parcs full time, when she enrolled on a gel polish course with Gellux. Following from…
Read More
Clare Hunt qualified in beauty in 2016 as a mature student, following the birth of her daughter. “Before I was a nail tech, I worked full-time as a college lecturer, teaching window dressing. I decided on a career change during my maternity as I wanted to do a job that…
Read More
Since leaving her former profession in floristry in favour of a career in the beauty industry, Helen Mulloy Reid has sought extensive training to further develop her nail and beauty skills. Helen has attended the Mary Reid International School of Beauty in Edinburgh for her beauty training, the Bath Academy…
Read More
The Beauty Hut opened its doors in July 2022, when Kate Morgan made the decision to move from her home based salon into a premises on a busy high street. “My vision is to create a one stop shop, offering a complete package of treatments including nails, lashes, waxing, massage,…
Read More
Scratch Stars Nail Salon of the Year 2022, Townhouse, has unveiled its eighth location in The Yards, Covent Garden, alongside the launch of the Townhouse Festive Collection. The salon Located within a few minutes’ walk from Covent Garden tube station, the salon sees Townhouse’s signature Insta-worthy décor brought to the…
Read More
Nail Tech Talk: Emily Jones of Nailed By Emily North Yorkshire-based tech, Emily Jones of Nailed By Emily, chats to Scratch about mobile tekking alongside her studies at university and her passion for creating nail art. “My nail journey began in summer 2020. As a university student who lives at…
Read More