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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The truth behind a bully – an insight by UK nail tech Leo Ko-Nkengmo by nail artist & educator, Leo Ko-Nkengmo of The Nail on Sunday blog The hair and beauty industry has taken a beating this past year alongside other industries. The monotony of the pandemic is a…
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Thanh Vu, managing director of four Dream Nails salons, shares her experience back at work following lockdown 3.0 and draws in thoughts from an employee… As owner of four Dream Nails salons, I have become accustomed, due to Covid-19, to closing them with a few days’ notice and then needing to…
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Scratch chats to Stephanie Holland of Nailin Itt about qualifying as a nail tech during the lockdown and her next career steps… Initially, I started doing nails as a hobby during the first lockdown. It became evident that I had a natural flair for creating nails and especially nail art.…
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With 22 April marking Earth Day – an annual event to demonstrate support for environmental protection – Scratch chatted to Jess Wallbridge, owner of vegan beauty and wellness salon, Honestly Ombré, in Swindon, Wiltshire… “We want every visit to our salon to feel like Earth Day!” smile Jess. “We strive to shed light…
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Salon booking service, Treatwell, reveals the importance of sustainability, organic/eco products and ‘being green’ when choosing a hair, beauty or wellness salon and treatments. For Treatwell, ‘Earth Day’ – 22nd of April – is about connecting customers with sustainable and eco-friendly salons and treatments, undertaking research* conducted in April 2021,…
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Scratch chats to Amber Green of Pop Beauty Norwich about the importance of having an all-inclusive studio and how she created this pretty pooch nail art… I trained in 2015 with a brand that I loved. I worked full time and was doing the nails of a few friends, but…
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