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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Kirrin Tasmin’s journey in the beauty industry began in 2015 when she started doing hair extensions, however in 2018, she decided to train in nails. “I started off working in a couple of local salons, before deciding to start working from home in July 2021. It’s been my best decision…
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Beca Carrillo of Gemininails sits down with Scratch to chat about the wealth of opportunities for nail techs and where she sees her future within the industry… “I love to express myself with colours,” Beca smiles. “I have always had a love for painting and drawing. “When I started doing…
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Working in a spa up until 2017, Zoe Cook made the decision to go self-employed, spending the first three years as a makeup artist in the wedding industry. “I was inspired by my own nail artist to expand and do more, and that’s exactly what I did!” “In January 2020,…
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Session stylist, Nikki Boulton of Nikki Boulton Nail Technician, chats to Scratch about session tekking and her business she runs on the side… “I’ve been in the industry since around 2008,” Nikki shares. “I love how no matter how long you’ve been in the industry, you can never stop learning.…
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Qualifying in 2010, Emma Merrifield has worked in various roles during her time in the beauty industry. However, after the birth of her second child in 2020, Emma realised it was time to take the plunge and set up her own business. “Setting up a business in the midst of…
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Scratch chats to Lucy Ames of By Lucy Alana about balancing a full-time job with tekking, and the sense of community that the nail industry offers… “My favourite products to use has got to be The GelBottle’s Builder in a Bottle or Glossify’s Naturabuild,” Lucy enthuses. “They’re both absolute game…
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