Candler Park, a neighborhood located about five minutes from downtown Atlanta, is home to cute shops (from vintage to couture), good restaurants (my all-time favorite breakfast place, The Flying Biscuit is here), and interesting people (from punk to business). It’s an eclectic family-friendly neighborhood that is on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s the kind of area where you don’t feel like you are in a big city, even though you are. It’s the kind of area that attracts a funky, artsy, upper-middle class crowd. It is here that I found Salon Red. (OK, I actually found it online. They have a great website—www.salonred.com.)

In Atlanta for vacation this fall, I happened upon Salon Red in the eclectic Candler Park. Nail tech Angie Gross (right) and I dished on everything from trends in the industry to wht to do in the neighborhood.

In Atlanta for vacation this fall, I happened upon Salon Red in the eclectic Candler Park. Nail tech Angie Gross (right) and I dished on everything from trends in the industry to wht to do in the neighborhood.

The salon has been open just over three years and owner/master stylist Jessica Soler recently expanded the downstairs area into a spa. Angie Gross, the salon’s only nail tech, met me downstairs for my Spa Manicure. She said they had only been doing nail services down in the spa area for about a month and they were still working out some kinds. For my manicure, I sat up on a custom-made bench with a high back and Angie stood to perform the service. She said she likes doing this instead of sitting all day long. (They do have a regular nail table upstairs in the salon where she still performs some of her services.)

Angie, who has been a licensed nail tech for 13 years and used to be a manufacturer’s educator and sales rep, has been at Salon Red for a year and a half. She is also an esthetician, although as the salon’s only nail tech she dedicates two days a week to performing only hail services. Spa and body treatments are performed in the rooms that run along the manicure/pedicure area. Depending on her service volume, Angie might get one of these rooms dedicated for hands and feet. For now, the manicure and pedicure throne it was located in the large main room downstairs. When I was there it was quite and relaxing—even though other clients were frequently arriving for their spa services.

My Manicure was nice; she used high-quality products and had a selection of polishes for me to choose from. After my manicure, I treated my friend to a Spa Pedicure and we chatted with Angie while she performed her service. The pedicures are performed on the same custom-made bench with cool built-in-copper tubs. The only thing I noticed was it looked like it might be a hassle to fill the tubs up with warm water from the sink around the corner. We didn’t indulge, but the spa also offers a Lime Explosion pedicure complete with lava rocks, sea salt exfoliation, and an avocado foot massage. Next time, that is definitely what I will schedule for myself!

 

 

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