Posts by Rebecca Hitchon
Revealed: one in five UK hair & beauty businesses operating at a loss
The National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) has unveiled the findings of its latest State of the Sector survey, revealing a ‘busy but not profitable’ hair and beauty industry. The findings were sourced from 423 hair and beauty professionals and presented at NHBF event, Respect Live 2026 – The State of Our Sector, as part…
Read MoreHow to tailor nail treatments to mums-to-be, new mothers & mature mums
Mother’s Day offers a chance to boost your treatment offerings to satisfy a range of clients. Let expert nail pros show you how… Mums-to-be The aches and strains of a pregnancy warrant some well-deserved TLC, so turn your focus to expectant mothers. Artistic Nail Design & Famous Names brand ambassador, Kay Kirsop, offers luxury pedicures…
Read MoreHow to spot a high-quality professional nail product
In today’s saturated nail market, quality is a complex issue that requires unpacking. From ingredients to in-house support and labelling to UK and EU law, read on to discover what quality means in the professional nail realm. What is a high-quality product? “A high-quality product is one that performs as expected without causing unanticipated consequences,”…
Read More27 dog nail art ideas to inspire pawsome manicures
Calling all dog lovers, we’ve rounded up fetch-tastic nail designs inspired by man’s best friend. Take inspiration from canine-themed claws created by nail pros below…
Read MoreAI nail machine brings Disney nail art to Shanghai shoppers
To celebrate Lunar New Year, Disney’s Shanghai store has been offering themed nail art to customers via Umia Beauty‘s AI-powered manicure studio. The nail art machine directly applies intricate patterns to nails, and serves to automate the time-consuming tasks of nail professionals, while compensating artists for their work. Find out more here. For the month…
Read MoreNature nail art with a twist – contest entries & winner reveal
The winner of the Scratch Snap nail art contest for February is Karolina Paradowska of @nailsbykal_x. In a showcase of talent, UK&I techs created salon-style nail designs inspired by theme, Nature with a Twist, in the bid to win Glitterbels products and training. As Karolina is Polish, she incorporated Slavic flowers and pierogi (dumplings) into her design. Entries were…
Read MoreImportant March dates for your nail & beauty business
Prepare your business for the month of March with our roundup of dates to note… 1st: St David’s Day This event celebrates Saint David: the patron saint of Wales, on the day of his death in 589 AD. To commemorate the occasion, Welsh people often sport the country’s national emblems: a daffodil and leek. Appeal…
Read MoreBad Bunny spotlights nail tech talent in Super Bowl half-time show
America’s biggest sporting event, the Super Bowl, took place last night (8 February) and saw NFL team, Seattle Seahawks, beat New England Patriots. But one of the most talked-about moments was the half-time show, where Puerto Rican music artist & actor, Bad Bunny, made history by becoming the first musician to perform entirely in Spanish…
Read More94 Valentine’s Day cat eye nail ideas: heart designs, French manicures & more
Check out entries to the 4 February 2026 nail art challenge from Scratch, in which techs were tasked with creating a design to fit the theme: Valentine’s Cat Eye. Each nail style was submitted via Instagram or Facebook using #ShowScratch #CreativeChallenge. Follow Scratch on Instagram and Facebook for future Creative Challenges – launching every other Wednesday.
Read MoreCelebrity nail looks shone bright at the 2026 Grammys
The 68th Grammy Awards took place in Los Angeles on 1 February, honouring the biggest names in music. Bringing together a whole host of stars, the red carpet featured eye-catching fashion styles and shimmering nail designs, which dazzled with chrome and 3D embellishments. Scroll down to check out the celebrity nail designs that sparkled at…
Read More78 winter nail designs: nail art contest entries & winner
The winner of the Scratch Snap nail art contest for January is Bristol nail pro, Kellie Sanfiz-Gould. In a showcase of talent, UK&I techs created salon-style nail designs inspired by theme, Frosted Fingertips, in the bid to win an Artistic Nail Design prize. Entries were judged by Victoria Trafford, Artistic educator & brand manager at Sweet Squared, and Scratch editor, Rebecca Hitchon. Victoria comments: “The nail…
Read MoreHow to stop nail biting & picking: experts share treatment plans
Natural nail specialists share tips for nail biting and picking clients… Why do people bite and pick at their nails and skin? “Nail biting, also known as onychophagia, and skin picking and biting, named perionychophagia, are habits associated with stress, anxiety and compulsive disorders,” explains Lucy Price, Scratch Stars Natural Nail Specialist of the Year…
Read More40+ black tie sparkle nails – contest entries & winning design
The winner of the Scratch Snap nail art contest for December is Ryan Hobbs of @rocksta_ry. In a showcase of talent, UK&I techs created salon-style nail designs inspired by theme, Black Tie Sparkle, in the bid to win a Bluestreak Crystals prize. Entries were judged by Abi Middleton, director at Bluestreak Crystals, and Scratch editor, Rebecca Hitchon. The winner, Ryan Hobbs, has scooped Bluestreak Crystals’ Serinity Flatback Ultimate Mix…
Read MoreGerrard International acquires Jessica Cosmetics nail brand
Nail and beauty distributor & training provider, Gerrard International, has announced its acquisition of Jessica Cosmetics. The Hertfordshire-based company, founded by manicurist, Susan Gerrard, and her late husband, Ian, has been leading Jessica Cosmetics’ UK arm for the past 35 years, helping to make it the nailcare brand’s most successful market. The announcement follows the…
Read MorePantone unveils white hue, Cloud Dancer, as Colour of the Year 2026
Image credit: The Development PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer is Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2026. The global colour authority selects a shade each year that it sees to be influencing all areas of design, and that resonates with consumers and their attitudes. Pantone describes Cloud Dancer as a ‘lofty white whose aerated presence acts as…
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