TECHS & SALONS

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Lancashire tech: The local council didn’t recognise my nail & beauty salon as a valid business

By Lilly Delmage | 22 February 2025

Owner of The Nail & Beauty Lounge, Julie McCabe, shares the challenges she faced when trying to set up her business, as well as its growth and success… Julie McCabe was excited to open her salon after finding the perfect space. She details: “It is a former hair salon in…

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Nail & beauty apprenticeships: salons share benefits, their experiences & advice

By Rebecca Hitchon | 16 February 2025

In a recent poll on Scratch’s Instagram, almost 80% of respondents shared that they’re considering taking on apprentices. Here, two UK salons share how they’ve reaped the rewards of the apprenticeship process… Nailspa, West Yorkshire “As a business owner, I believe that when it comes to employees, you cannot beat…

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Ashford beauty salon: how exceptional customer service creates relaxing client experiences

By Lilly Delmage | 15 February 2025

Sarah Webb, owner of Bella’s Little Nail Boutique, takes pride in her standout beauty services, which place an emphasis on the client experience. Working in customer service for over 20 years, Sarah knows how to offer clients an exceptional appointment. She explains: “My clients receive a coffee and biscuits, and…

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NAIL TECH TALK: Kayley Cairns, Scratch Stars finalist 20/21

By Lilly Delmage | 7 May 2021

Kayley Cairns is a Scratch Stars Awards finalist in the Mixed Media Artist of the Year (sponsored by Magpie Beauty) and Nail Stylist of the Year (sponsored by OPI UK) categories 20/21. Here, shares her experience in the nail industry thus far, her lockdown endeavours and why she entered the…

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Salon in the Spotlight: Serenity Beauty & Co, Bolsover, Chesterfield

By Kat Hill | 5 May 2021

Best friends, Tammy Hobson & Shelley Riley, had a clear vision for their jointly-owned business, Serenity Beauty & Co – to create a beauty hotspot for the local community. “After working from home for several years due to childcare, I decided my home needed to be just that, so along…

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Inspirational nail tech, Maya Velkova tells of her will to succeed while living with a lifelong disability that could have held her back

By Alex Fox | 4 May 2021

‘Be a flamingo in a flock of pigeons’. That sounds great doesn’t it! Yet how does, ‘be a pigeon in a flock of flamingos‘, sound? From my perspective, when being a pigeon one can create great inner strength. In each and every one of us there is some weakness, which…

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Is it OK to not want to chat at the salon?

By Kat Hill | 4 May 2021

As we ease back into life from the quiet of lockdown living and more clients – both new and old – return to the salon, have you considered their noise preference by offering silent or sensory-aware appointments? Many may be experiencing anxiety surrounding their appointment. While many salons enjoy a…

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Keeping it in the family: The day my little sister showed us her hidden nail talent

By Guest Writer | 4 May 2021

Lead image L-R: Mike & Jazz Christodoulou, Jason & Georgie Smedley, Eliza Smedley Many of you may be familiar with Jazz Christodoulou; general manager of GS Group Ltd, award-winning nail tech and protegé of Georgie Smedley. Georgie just so happens to be her mother – a hugely successfully tech, educator…

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#NowTrending: Funky French nails by Jen Phillips

By Callie Iley | 4 May 2021

Scratch chats to Jen Phillips of Nails by Jennifer Marie about her love for nails and how she created this funky French design… I am a fully qualified nail technician offering acrylic, builder gel and gel polish enhancements. I qualified in January 2020 in L&P acrylic and gel polish and…

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