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…
Read More
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…
Read More
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.…
Read More
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…
Read More
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’…
Read More
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…
Read More
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…
Read More
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…
Read More
Having evolved her business from a fold-up table in her dining room, Leeanne Andrews has found success in the world of nails. “I was previously a graphic designer, but I was bored of looking at a computer screen all day,” Leeanne explains. “I wanted to retrain in something that still…
Read More
Scratch catches up with Cat Upjohn of Blossom Nails Bristol about what motivates her to do well as a nail tech and her future goals… My name is Cat Upjohn and I work as a nail technician on a part-time basis at Blossoms Nails Bristol. The name Blossom is an…
Read More
Abi Markey, of Nailed It Beauty, South Wales, reveals why and how she’s helping to raise awareness of the #SaveThe Arts campaign, an initiative that encourages support of those working in the entertainment sector throughout the coronavirus pandemic… “As a self employed nail tech with with my own salon, this…
Read More
Scratch chats with Cassandra White of Cass Creations about her experiences within the industry and how nails have helped her through difficult times within her life. I’ve been doing my own nails on and off for 10 years now, mixing between doing them myself, and going to salons. However,…
Read More
Sam Biddle and Melanie Lewendon of the Mel & Sam Show have announced the winners of their September month-long nail art competition, which attracted 40 entries. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month for October 2020, this competition afforded great industry support and prizes while inviting contestants to enter for free, yet…
Read More
“I originally opened SKETCHED four years ago after having worked as a resident nail tech in a hair salon for four years,” Julie-Anne Lariviere explains. “I was expecting my son at the time and found it was the right time to convert my garage into a nail salon so I…
Read More