TECHS & SALONS

E-file rings of fire prevention

What are rings of fire on nails & how can they be avoided?

By Jess Watts | 7 December 2025

Red rings or semicircles that appear on the nail – often referred to as ‘rings of fire’ – can strike fear into the hearts of nail techs and clients alike, but what causes them and how can they be avoided? “Rings of fire appear as red rings on the nail…

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CMB Studio, Kent

Inside the Kent nail studio where calm meets creativity

By Jess Watts | 24 November 2025

Chloe May Boyce began her beauty career 12 years ago, training at her local college. Over a decade later, she is a successful nail artist & educator who has worked with Vogue and at London Fashion Week, and she owns home salon, CMB Studio. Scratch spoke to Chloe about what…

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Social media video creation tips

How to make your social media videos more watchable – a guide for nail artists

By Guest Writer | 23 November 2025

Nail content creator, Zoya Mac, shares what makes a social media video watchable, and how you can elevate your posts… Creating engaging video content is about more than producing aesthetically pleasing clips. You need to keep people watching. Picture this: your nail desk is set up, the nails are prepped…

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Dec 2025 low res scratch cover

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Amanda eldred winner

Safari themed nail comp inspires techs in lockdown

By Alex Fox | 20 February 2021

It’s exciting and delighting to come across Facebook groups where support, unity and inspiration are the names of the game. Invited to judge a weekly nail competition for a nail group on Facebook, I, Alex Fox, was charmed by what I found when I got there. The FB group, Nails,…

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June gilbert header pic

NAIL TECH TALK: June Gilbert of June Gilbert Nail Artist

By Callie Iley | 20 February 2021

Scratch chats with Magpie senior educator, June Gilbert of June Gilbert Nail Artist, about her journey into the nail industry and her passion for education… I have been in the nail industry since 1995. I started my career at college, completing an NVQ Level 3 in Beauty Therapy and then…

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Beauty bloggers software

Booking software vs. the paper diary | The Beauty Bloggers

By Guest Writer | 19 February 2021

The Beauty Bloggers, aka Natalie Thompson & Rachel Jenkinson, discuss beauty booking systems & what works for their needs… Nat and Rach are ‘The Beauty Bloggers‘ and have over 21 years experience in the beauty sector between them. Their aim is to discuss real issues that beauty professionals face. Passionate and hard-working, the…

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Maddie Regan

How to create a successful salon team

By Guest Writer | 19 February 2021

Maddie Regan, Scratch columnist & top tech at 81 Rose Garden, share her top tips for ensuring your salon staff are a happy, successful team… Effective teamwork is something that every organisation should strive for and is particularly important in the salon business. During my time at 81 Rose Garden,…

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Base Coat Beauty

Salon in the Spotlight: Base Coat Beauty, North East, England

By Kat Hill | 17 February 2021

When their family grew, Ella and Milly Shanks’ home salon relocated from a bedroom in the family home to a new garage conversion. “We’ve had our home salon for 3 and a half years,” the duo explain. “In the past, it’s been in our spare bedroom, which is now our…

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Ashleigh Rene Owens header pic

#NowTrending: White crystal nails by Ashleigh Rene Owens

By Callie Iley | 16 February 2021

Scratch chats to Ashleigh Rene Owens of Nails With Ashleigh, Denver, USA, about the nail art planning process & how she created this striking crystal design… “In 2011, I began doing manicures for my family and friends. What started as a hobby became my career after I realised that I…

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