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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Starting out part-time, offering evening appointments alongside her office job, Rachel Enriles dreamt of owning her own salon space. “My career started around six years ago when I set out with a few gel polish shades and a lamp,” she smiles. “I decided I wanted a more permanent base so…
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Scratch chats to Lauren Adams of Get Nailed By Lau about her future goals and how she created this summery Hawaiian floral nail art design… I’ve always loved doing my own nails, as well as the nails of friends and family members. During the pandemic, I was furloughed from my…
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Scratch chats to Gemma Anne Dawson of Gem’s Gels and Glitters about her training and the importance of developing new skills as a nail tech… My journey in nails only really happened in 2016. Before then, I worked in a university teaching statistical analysis to undergraduate students. I’d always studied…
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Scratch chats to Stephanie Connolly of Nailed it! Nails by Steph about dealing with self doubt and her advice for aspiring nail techs… My favourite all time nail product is my complete Kokoist USA gel collection as they are so pigmented and apply beautifully. I’m a massive nail art fan…
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Shelby Holmes, co-founder of The Beauty Edit Podcast & Scratch Stars Awards Gel Polish Stylist of the Year finalist 20/21, shares her thoughts on imix, the hands-free mixing device for gel polish & lacquer… “I love everything about imix. I have been looking for a mixing system for a while…
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Having been in the industry for over 20 years, Sammy MacDonald has grown her beauty business from the ground up. “My salon business opened on the 1 December 2016 with the Victoria Street branch,” reveals Sammy. “I took on half of the building as at the time I could not afford the…
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