GEL TECH OF THE YEAR

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This category recognises techs that demonstrate unrivalled skills using a hard or soak-off gel system applied via separate brush and gel pot. This category is NOT for gel polish techs or those that apply brush-in-a-bottle gel. Entrants are capable of creating stunning enhancements using both sculpt and Tip & Overlay techniques.

JUDGING

Once the entry deadline has passed on 10 March 2025, all entries will go through a first round of judging, and five finalists in this category will be announced on Friday 18 April 2025.

Finalists must then attend a practical judging day in London on Monday 19 May 2025 and create a set of French gel nails on one hand, followed by answering judges' questions. Failure to attend this day will forfeit the finalist position and all associated benefits. Instructions and details about this judging day will be sent to finalists after 18 April 2025.

Scores at this practical judging day will be tallied to determine the winner of this category, who will be announced at The Scratch Stars Party on Sunday 6 July 2025.

Scratch Stars Judging Day, Comm By Helena Biggs

Nails created at the Scratch Stars judging day 2024 by Catriona Leith, who went on to take the Gel Tech of the Year title 2024.

READ THE RULES & REGS

Answers must be given in less than 300 words. Text over 300 words will not be read or considered. Please do NOT use artificial intelligence (AI) to generate your answers. Any entries have more than 20% AI influence will be disqualified.

Please confirm(Required)

Tick to confirm you have read the rules and regulations, you gained a recognised nail qualification in the UK prior to 1 February 2024 (12 months or more) and are currently working as a nail professional in the UK or ROI for 10+ hours a week.

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Note: There is no autosave feature on this application form. Please copy and paste all below answers into a text document and save images elsewhere before pressing submit in case of technical error. Images must be no bigger than 4096KB. Please read the rules and regulations before entry.

If you are having trouble submitting your entry, please send all required details via Dropbox or WeTransfer instead to scratchstars@scratchmagazine.co.uk. A confirmation email will be sent on receipt of your entry. Please check your junk mail before contacting.

Your details

Name(Required)

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Business name

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Headshot(Required)

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Please provide proof of a UK/ROI-recognised nail qualification obtained on or before 1 February 2024 (12 months ago)(Required)

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Which company do you currently hold your nail/beauty insurance with?(Required)

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Competition questions

Please list any online/offline nail courses, classes and workshops you have taken part in since 1 February 2024 (12 months ago)(Required)

What kind of client/nail type is best suited to the gel system?(Required)

What do you do to ensure your continued professional development (CPD)?(Required)

In what capacity to you use the gel system most, and what do you enjoy about working with this system?(Required)

e.g For sculpting, Tip & Overlay services, natural nail overlays etc…

Roughly what percentage of your nail treatments involves using the gel system (NOT gel polish)?(Required)

What systems/products and tools do you use to create gel nails?(Required)

Please outline your key achievements/career highlights from the past 12 months(Required)

How do you plan to develop your business and/or raise your professional profile in the next 12 months?(Required)

How do you ensure a high standard of nail services, hygiene and client care? Please give examples where possible(Required)

How do you keep up-to-date with nail industry news and innovations?(Required)

Why would you be a worthy winner of this category?(Required)

Please provide a client testimonial/review of your service (or a web link to a review)(Required)

At least 40 words – with their full name included

Image uploads

Please upload 5 high-resolution images (JPG or PNG, 300KB to 4MB in size) of your gel nails. If possible, showcase a combination of one-colour overlay, sculpted/T&O nails a French and a gel design.

Nail image 1(Required)

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Nail image 2(Required)

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Nail image 3(Required)

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Nail image 4(Required)

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Nail image 5(Required)

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Where did you hear about the Scratch Stars Awards?

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I consent to receive updates about the Scratch Stars Awards and its sponsors from 1 February 2025 onwards and confirm I've read how we use your personal information

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On pressing submit, you agree to enter the Scratch Stars Awards 2025 and will receive a confirmation email of your entry. Please check you have filled in all required fields as image uploads will need to be reselected if validation fails.

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The Scratch Stars Awards 2025 is sponsored by:

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