We ship our tools worldwide. Please select international shipping at checkout.

COVID-19 Shipping Update

Due to the pandemic, there are unfortunately many delays with postal services that are out of our control. Royal Mail have issues and staffing problems at distribution centres across the country which has in turn delayed services all over the UK.  Whilst usually Royal Mail aim to deliver 1st class parcels in 1-3 business days, it is currently seemingly taking around 10 business days for some areas.  If you need your order guarenteed for next day, then please select next day delivery at checkout.  We cannot provide tracking on standard selected shipping. If you wish for tracking, please select next day delivery at checkout or International Tracked for International Parcels (including Ireland). Royal Mail will consider your parcel lost after 14 days. After this time if your order has not arrived, please get in touch.  Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.

Products are non returnable or exchangeable unless there is a manufacturing fault. Any manufacturing fault or missing items must be reported with 48 hours of receipt of the parcel. It is the customers responsbility to check their order within this timeframe. We will not be able to provide any manufacturer guarantees or replacements after this timeframe.  We cannot replace items damaged, albeit it accidently by the customer.

Something which is important to us as a brand is pricing our tool range affordable to our customers consistently. We offer our customers the very best price at all times, so we do not offer discounts on our products.

Due to the pandemic, face to face education is on hold for the foreseeable future. We are currently offering 1-2-1 online classes and have a variety of online classes available here.
For the latest dates or to book a 1-2-1 please contact us.  

A non refundable 50% booking fee is required for each training course; the amounts are detailed with each course.  All courses are subject to price increases, please check prior to booking.  This booking fee secures your place and booking, your booking will not be taken or confirmed without a booking fee. The booking fee and remaining payment can be made by prior bank transfer, cash or card payment. This booking fee is non-refundable but can be transferred with notice to the same course only from an event held in Warwick.  You can default on this three times before the booking fee is lost and you will be required to pay the full training cost. This transfer must be booked within 6 months of the original date and will not be redeemable after this period. This payment will also be subject to any price increases in this time and the additional amount will be payable. If you have paid for your course in full in advance, this is also non refundable and should you decide not to continue with your course at any date a refund will not be granted. The remaining balance will be due two weeks prior to commencement of the course and four weeks prior to commencement for courses hosted at other venues. If you book your place after this time frame, full payment will be due at the time of booking, which will be non refundable but as above, is transferrable with a minimum of 72 hours notice in Warwick only.

Please ensure prompt payment of the remaining balance to avoid late payment fees being charged. If cancellation is made, we reserve the right to charge the course booking fee in full. In the event of a cancellation of the course by the academy due to unforeseen emergency circumstances, your place will be automatically transferred to the next available or suitable date for yourself. Please note, all courses will run regardless of the amount of students booked and will not be cancelled if the class hasn’t a minimum amount of students booked.  All course pricing is subject to change, please check prior to booking.

Receive an email or gift wrapped box gift voucher.

If youd like to receive an email copy, please email us to let us know and we will refund any postage charges. Please state the email address to send the voucher to and when.

If you'd like a posted gift wrapped box gift voucher, please select 1st class parcel at checkout.

Valid on training courses and katiebarnesacademy.com products only.  T&C's apply.  Can be transferred to another course with 2 weeks notice. Valid for 6 months. If for a Christmas gift, please state and we will date this from Christmas day.  Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers. No cash alternative, no refunds.

If you require funding, please contact your local job centre or The Prince’s Trust.

20% VAT is added onto all courses and products purchased. Our VAT registration number is: 232761714.

Katie is renowned for her experience and knowledge on the competition circuit and her obsession with the creation of the perfectly structured enhancement. For years, Katie has found that the industry tools were missing something: they were too long; too clumpy; blunt or difficult to use and she had to tailor her tools to get the desired results. With this in mind, and following many requests, the Katie Barnes Tool Range® was born. Katie wanted to create a range of tools which she could be truly passionate about and know that the industry was getting the best possible solution at a reasonable price. Development of the range began 2 years ago in 2017 and an extensive amount of research and testing has gone into the range, from both Katie and other respected industry techs, to ensure the tools and packaging meet the needs of the industry. With confidence in one hand and good tools in the other, we are excited to be able to launch the first products in the range: the KB Form Tailoring Range®; Cuticle Scissors and competition essentials such as Aluminium Form Support and Pinching Tools, with many more innovative tools to come. We have found that too many tools are packaged in unnecessary plastic which is immediately discarded, so we have researched and designed our packaging to ensure that it can be recycled or reused.

Scissors and sharp tools will last longer, and keep a sharp edge for longer, if you take the appropriate level of care. Although each of us has a preference for how to use our scissors, the essentials for scissor care do not change:

Separate storage

Keep your scissors in their protective box, a scissor case or holder, when not in use. Never store scissors together or touching – each must go in their own compartment. Tips and blades should be carefully protected from damage using the plastic cap provided. Never store them downwards. 

Careful handling

Take care when putting scissors down and during working. The tips can damage easily.  Take care when working with sharp implements and follow HSE guidelines.

Avoid drops

If you drop your scissors you’re best to get them checked by a professional. Even a little damage can get much worse if you keep using them without checking. A drop may mean they need a service and sharpen or it may make them redundant to use.

Take care when cleaning

If you are using a jar to disinfect your tools, you must protect the blade tips by placing a circle of cotton wool in the bottom of the jar.

Keep them dry

Store them somewhere dry. Even the humidity from warm air can damage them, making them rust, discolour or pit. Ensure tools are thoroughly dried after sanitising, disinfecting or sterilising.

Only for intended use

Use different pairs for form tailoring & cuticle work as cutting paper will blunt blades.

Do not share

Sharing is caring but not when it comes to scissors, brushes or tools! Sharing is often regretted. Even a small change in the way someone else holds and uses your scissors can quickly shorten the scissor’s life and make them feel like they never cut the same again for you.

Practice safe cuticle prep

Never cut living tissue. Follow our tutorial and guide here.

We often get asked when to use each of these blades on our scissors.

Simply put, curved cut curved lines and straight cut straight lines.

There is also a matter of personal preference and results wanted to achieve but these are our recommendations:

The curved blades have the sharpest point facing upwards allowing you to follow the natural contours of the cuticle zone to remove cuticle and hangnails without worrying about damaging the surrounding or the underlying skin. When tailoring forms with the curved blade it allows you to follow the natural contours and shape of the nails free edge which is curved. This saves time versus trying to achieve curves using straight scissors.  The curved blades are ideal for making controlled cuts because they can be closed without the user needing to worry about accidentally cutting surrounding tissue.

Straight scissors are required to achieve a straight line such as when wishing to cut nail art items or relief cuts that are required to be straight to get the perfect form closure. They leave a smoother outline and finish.