EDITOR'S LETTER

Autumn is a particularly busy time for the beauty industry, as not only do seasonal products launch and businesses ready themselves for Christmas, but events such as trade shows and workshops fill our diaries. This month, the Scratch team is gearing up for the Salon Beauty exhibition at ExCel, London, where an exclusive gift will be given to attendees who purchase a magazine subscription. The team will also be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Nailympia London competition, at which nailists from across the globe will compete for titles, medals and trophies.

Events like these serve as a reminder of how important it is to immerse yourself in the opportunities that this industry presents. Many beauty professionals work on a solo basis, so it can be refreshing to step outside of the home salon space, or away from social media, to network with like-minded people and forge or join a community. Opportunities can present themselves as events, competitions and business resources – such as online courses and magazines – and support your growth in areas of nail skill, client care, marketing and more. Head to scratchmagazine.co.uk/events to explore notable dates to boost your motivation and success.

I’ve been getting to grips with TikTok’s features from social media savvy members of the editorial team, and if, like me, you have felt overwhelmed by the platform, Lilly has created a handy guide to help you navigate it for your business on page 38. On the topic of home salons, Rebecca has talked to pros about how they’ve created clear boundaries, to ensure client and work demands don’t impact responsibilities at home, and vice versa. If you feel that you need to draw a line between the personal and professional, turn to page 54 for advice.

When it comes to science and business know-how, Scratch has you covered this issue with an insight into the impending EU and UK bans of Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide (TPO) in nail products from page 26. What’s more, the profit potential of Halloween is explored, as are the benefits of AI for social media marketing.

It can be easy to neglect events and wider learning opportunities when you are busy, but carve out a little time each month to invest in your development: whether you attend an event, or schedule a few hours to read your favourite nail magazine. After all, knowledge is power – and power can lead to profit!

Until next month,

Helena Biggs Editorial & partnerships director +44(0)1959 547 000 helena.biggs@scratchmagazine.co.uk

COVER CREDITS

Image courtesy of Gelish, featuring the Gelish Cream Gel Palette in Neon & On & On, available via www.gelishmorgantaylor.co.uk

Nails: Vu Nguyen Photography: Linsey Karnopp

Creative director: Liza Samala

Model: Ellie Jay

Imaging: Froy Gutierrez