TECHS & SALONS

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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Salon in the Spotlight: Boo Does Nails, Birmingham

By Callie Iley | 4 August 2022

During lockdown, Beckie Jones reflected on her career, deciding to take a risk when restrictions eased, opening up her own salon. “It was a risk I needed to take, as I felt a deep need to finally carve out a space where I could be free to do what I…

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Nail Tech Talk: Carrie Bohan of Nails by Carrie

By Callie Iley | 30 July 2022

Carrie Bohan of Nails by Carrie sits down with Scratch to talk about her love for natural nail transformations and the importance of posting regularly on Instagram… “I love natural nail transformations and restoring peoples confidence in their nails,” Carrie reveals. “I am a builder gel only tech, so my…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Eden Nails & Beauty, Derby

By Callie Iley | 28 July 2022

Beginning her nail journey in 2013, Laura Lima has a variety of experience in the beauty industry. “I have always dreamed of having my own salon one day, and in 2020, I decided to experience the self-employed side of things and was never happier!”   “I started to slowly climb…

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Nail Tech Talk: Sophie Day of Glam Nails 

By Callie Iley | 23 July 2022

Scratch chats to Sophie Day of Glam Nails about changing trends and pushing outside of your comfort zone… “I began training as a nail tech August 2019,” Sophie shares. “I am trained to work with natural nails, of which I find seems to be popular at the moment. “I was…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Annissas Beauty, Blackpool

By Callie Iley | 21 July 2022

After leaving college early due to her mental health, Annissa Colton enrolled onto a nail and beauty course, qualifying by January 2019. “I absolutely loved doing nails from the very start, I feel like it is such a therapeutic and creative industry to work in. Following my struggles with mental…

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Nail Tech Talk: Tasmin Russell of Nails By Tazzy

By Callie Iley | 16 July 2022

Tasmin Russell of Nails By Tazzy chats to Scratch about her next career steps and keeping up with nail trends… “I did my training with the company I work for now, Lux Beauty Training Academy,” Tasmin reveals. “My training was what set me off on the right track. Charlotte and…

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