THE SCRATCH scoop

The Scratch team offers an insight into its antics & unveils events & treatment news across the nail & beauty realms

Helena Biggs – Editorial & partnerships director

Rebecca Hitchon – Senior news & features writer

Jess Wilkie – Art editor

Lilly Delmage – News & features writer

Introducing… Lilly Delmage

Scratch is delighted to welcome Lilly Delmage to the team, in the role of news & features writer.

Lilly, a former Scratch intern, graduated from Leeds University last month with a first-class Journalism degree and will be creating content for the magazine, website and social media platforms. She is passionate about the beauty sector and excited to report on industry developments.

Adventures with OPI

On Lilly’s second day at Scratch, she headed to OPI’s UK HQ in London to learn about the brand’s revamped GelColor range. Joined by Helena, the duo were introduced to the Intelli-Gel™ system by OPI UK&I’s education & capability manager, Belinda Price, during a group session. Scratch Stars Shooting Star Award winner 2024, Dani Bailey, then took to the stage to host a chemistry session. Following this, pros watched a practical demo by Belinda, before trialling the products on colour pops. The next stop for the group, which featured press, educators and OPI Nail Bosses, was St Martin’s Lane Hotel to get creative with colour and practice painting skills on candles.

Helena attempted the Scratch logo and a paintbrush effect, while Lilly opted to paint clouds and a seasonal strawberry design. Read about the OPI GelColor Intelli-GelTM system on page 16.

Belinda Price

Dani Bailey

A dreamy date in Manchester

The grand Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester called for Helena and Rebecca, who participated in Glitterbels’ DreamFest event. Centred around the launch of the brand’s DreamCure lamp, the Glitterbels team put its signature pink stamp on the events space, offering opportunities for guests to try products, win prizes and learn about the brand’s competitions.

Hosted in partnership with Scratch and ABT Insurance, Helena led Q&A sessions on The Cloud Stage with Glitterbels founders, Annabel and Elliott Maginnis, and industry expert, Marian Newman BEM.

Geordie Shore stars, Charlotte Crosby, Sophie Kasaei and Chloe Ferry, arrived for manicures courtesy of Glitterbels educators, and were interviewed by Rebecca in the Scratch media area. Here, attendees could walk their nails down the mani runway and post their nail career dreams on a board for all to see.

Praisi ng talent at LCBT

Helena and Rebecca headed to The London College of Beauty Therapy for its annual Star Awards event, which celebrates the successes of students. Scratch was proud to sponsor the Level 3 Beauty Therapy Student of the Year category, won by Sophie Mendham, and presented her with a goody bag. Attendees enjoyed a prosecco reception and buffet, mingled with lecturers and listed to a keynote speech by Caroline Neville MBE, president of the Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) organisation.

Margate manicures

The pretty seaside town of Margate was visited by Helena, who met the team at YBL, a salon with an inclusive ethos that offers nail, hair, waxing, massage and make-up services. She spoke to the team members about their beauty journeys and explored the space, which features vintage furniture items and colourful fabrics. Read all about it in next month’s issue of Scratch.

What we’re wearing...

Jess has embraced the summer season with bright coral The GelBottle Inc shade, Twiggy, on fingernails, applied by Hazel Martin of Nail Creations by Hazel, Crawley.

Inside next issue…

Check out snaps from The Scratch Stars Party in London, where the nail industry was celebrated and Scratch Stars Awards champions were announced.