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…
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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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Scratch chats to Daisy Tann of Sweet As Hell about her passion for cruelty free nail products and inclusivity in the beauty industry. “I think for me, the thing I love most about being a nail tech is a combination of things,” Daisy smiles. “I love delivering a service that…
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Salon in the Spotlight: Sweetcheeks Salon, Shrewsbury Sweetcheeks Salon, Telford was first established in 2015 by Sophie Williams, who had previously worked as a mobile tech for 12 years. Sophie branched into education in 2019, starting her own training academy, and the Telford salon began to expand. “I had been…
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Scratch chats to Laura Prigg, a nail pro who’s busy juggling her nail career alongside a very different role… Laura Prigg has spent her working life in the retail industry, progressing from Christmas temp to store manager at Yankee Candle. She began creating custom press-on nails at the end of…
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Salon in the Spotlight: The Granary Spa, Ashford Established in 2012, The Granary Spa is based in a converted Victorian granary barn in a rural location just outside of Ashford. “We thrive on delivering a 5-star service to our guests, and offer a range of therapies including massage, tailored facials,…
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Lucy Allen, owner of Sheffield-based SuperNatural Nails, a Green Salon Collective member salon, shares what pros need to know about becoming members of the circular waste management authority. Why did you become a Green Salon Collective member? I joined Green Salon Collective (GSC) in September 2021 after reading an article about…
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Nail extension specialist and encapsulation enthusiast, Anastasia of NoiNails, sits down with Scratch to share her passion for tekking and the importance of self-belief… “My favourite product to use is the KRYLX acrylic powders, which I’ve fallen in love with. I’ve never worked with anything like it,” Anastasia enthuses. “The…
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