Salonpreneur Magazine Enters the Scratch Stars Shooting Star Award 2026

Why Salonpreneur Magazine Has Entered the Scratch Stars Shooting Star Award

This year, Salonpreneur Magazine has entered the Shooting Star category in the 2026 Scratch Stars Awards - and we're a little bit excited! Scratch Stars is one of the most respected recognitions within the professional salon industry.

Industry awards can make people uncomfortable. Many professionals hesitate to enter because they feel they are “not ready yet”, worry about putting themselves forward, or assume recognition is reserved for others. Yet awards were never meant to be about ego. At their best, they create moments of reflection, recognising the work professionals contribute to their industry and encouraging others to step forward too.

For more than a decade, the Scratch Stars have celebrated technicians, educators and businesses who are helping shape the future of nails in the UK and Ireland. The awards recognise creativity, professionalism and contribution to the community, qualities that sit at the heart of the industry.

They have also been a consistent thread throughout my own journey within the sector.

A Personal Connection to the Scratch Stars

Over the years, I have experienced the awards from several perspectives. I have been a non-shortlisted entrant, a finalist 7 times, I have been fortunate enough to win twice, and later I've had the privilege of serving as a judge.

Each of those experiences offers a different view of the industry. As a competitor, you feel the nerves and excitement of sharing your work or business. As a judge, you see the extraordinary level of skill, dedication and passion that professionals bring to their world.

What stands out most is how much confidence recognition can bring to a technician or business owner. Sometimes the act of entering alone encourages professionals to look back at their journey and recognise just how much they have achieved.

Why Salonpreneur Magazine Exists

Salonpreneur Magazine was created to support the increasing number of professionals across the beauty and nail industries who are not only technicians but also business owners.

Running a salon, studio or freelance practice requires far more than technical skill. Professionals are managing marketing, finances, client relationships, well-being, and personal development alongside their craft.

The magazine was designed to reflect that reality.

Through our Collaborative Columnist team, educators, specialists and experienced professionals share insights that help readers strengthen both their businesses and their confidence. Contributors cover areas including regulation, marketing, education, finance and wellbeing, with guest writers joining each edition to bring fresh perspectives from across the industry. Alongside this work, the magazine has also begun exploring wider issues affecting the sector.

A recent research project investigating professional boundaries within beauty and wellness revealed an important shift within the industry. The findings showed that 71% of respondents now work alone, highlighting how much of the sector operates in isolation. Lone working can influence everything from professional development to safety and business resilience, particularly within the nail industry, where independent professionals form such a significant part of the workforce.

Opening constructive conversations around these realities is an important part of supporting the future of the sector.

Leading by Example

Salonpreneur Magazine has always been rooted in a simple principle: leave the ladder down.

That belief reflects something former US President Barack Obama expressed perfectly:

"Our job as leaders is to empower others to find their gifts and help them exercise those gifts."

This philosophy sits at the heart of the magazine. The aim is not simply to publish articles, but to create a platform that celebrates the knowledge, experience and generosity that already exists within the industry. Encouraging professionals to step forward, share their expertise and recognise their own achievements strengthens the entire sector.

Entering the Scratch Stars Awards is part of that same mindset.

Why Awards Matter

Awards offer more than trophies or titles. They provide an opportunity to pause, reflect and recognise the work that often happens behind the scenes when no one is watching - the long hours of additional input, practice, reading or tapping away on your socials at midnight.

For many professionals, entering an award also becomes a moment of confidence. Writing an application forces you to acknowledge the progress you have made, the impact of your work and the direction you hope to take next.

The salon industry and particularly the nail industry is built on creativity, skill and dedication. Celebrating those qualities publicly helps raise the reputation of the sector as a whole.

A Message to the Industry

If you have ever considered entering the Scratch Stars Awards, this is your encouragement. Put yourself forward for 2027 - you've now got a year to work out the what, why and how.

Recognition plays an important role in any professional community, and every entry contributes to the story of an industry built by passionate, skilled and determined professionals.

Salonpreneur Magazine was created to support that community.

Entering the Shooting Star category is simply one way of continuing that journey.

Ultimately, the industry grows strongest when professionals recognise their own value and help others do the same.

If Salonpreneur Magazine can play even a small part in that, then the work I do behind the scenes is worthwhile.