Best Nail Salon

Finding the Best Nail Salon Near Me

It may sound like a no-brainer, but the number one indicator that differentiates an awesome nail salon from an awful one is cleanliness. "When choosing a salon, look for a clean environment, clean work stations, clean employees, and sterilization practices," says Susan Nam, celebrity manicurist and owner of Polished Beauty Bar. For specialty salon services, like CND Shellac OR OPI Gel Polish (a high-gloss polish that lasts two weeks).

Ask how the tools are cleaned and don't be shy! Find out if the salon uses an autoclave or at the very least, a hospital-grade sanitizer. Unfortunately, many salons skip both steps entirely and use either cheap Windex (no joke) or autoclave brand pouches that are never run through the actual machine. (2)

“Putting a dab of A&D ointment cream on your cuticles will keep your skin soft and help your manicure last longer. And not only is it super affordable but it’s rich so you only need a little.” —Lisa Jachno (3)

The fumes from nail polish, acrylics and other items commonly used at nail salons all have harsh odors. While some odor is normal at even the best nail salons, what you're looking for is a good ventilation system to ensure that the toxic chemicals from these products aren't lingering around while you're there. (4)

“Quality and how much your nails will be damaged really depends on the manicure you choose and where you go.”

Although she started off by prefacing that every type of manicure will damage your nails in some way, Leigh reckons there are four specific warning signs to look out for in your nail technician or manicurist.

If they’re doing one (or heaven forbid, ALL) of these below, you might want to think about finding somewhere new. ASAP. (5)

As you can imagine, the money you spend on these little luxuries is very important to the salon industry, meaning they will do whatever it takes to keep you coming back for more. While sometimes "whatever it takes" is going above and beyond excellent service, cleanliness and technique, it can also mean cutting corners and deceiving the salon layman in order to keep costs down and business booming. (6)

There have been so many advancements in artificial nail products that nail technicians can make the most natural-looking nails in the world, but artificial nails aren’t for everyone. Your nail technician should ask you about your needs and explain the at-home maintenance you should do to care for your nails. You should also share pertinent medical information with her (certain medications, for example, can hinder the application of certain nail products). (7)

Best Nail Salon

Finding the Best Nail Salon Near Me

Best of Luck!

Cited Sources