Maggie Rants [and Raves]

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are!

by Maggie Franklin | May 26, 2009 | Bookmark +

I wrote a blog entry for my Myspace page once about finding a good nail tech. It's one of my favorites actually. One of the things on the list was that if you are looking for a high-end nail tech, you will have to go searching for us. The salons we work in aren't on every corner and in every strip mall, with oversized neon banners announcing our presence.

 

Now, I wrote that, so it stands to reason that I'm aware of that, right? Nevertheless, where are all the upscale nail techs in the Phoenix, Ariz., area?

 

I know you're out there.

 

The BF dragged me to Phoenix for a slightly-longer-than-the-holiday-weekend, but still slightly-shorter-than-a-real-vacation trip to his old stomping grounds. He packed his bags and left home at the tender age of 17 to attend U.T.I. (Universal Technical Institute), so he has great memories of Phoenix — who wouldn't have fond memories of having their own apartment far from home when they're only 17? He doesn't even remember that it's HOT in Phoenix! Oh, BTW, I do not like hot.

 

So we drove out to Phoenix over the holiday weekend and spent four days wandering around the desert in the atrocious heat (but it's a dry heat, right?) while the BF scrunched up his forehead and said, "All this was not here" over and over. We walked up and down Mill Avenue in Tempe, we went to every mall in the land, we wandered the shops in Old Town Scottsdale, and we had a beer at the Yardhouse at the Scottsdale mall while the BF explained to me why each of the very expensive cars left for the valets was so awesome.

 

I've been to Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, and Glendale ... Where are your salons? I found three Aveda day spas — no nails. I found fancy day spas where nails are frowned on. I found a handful of prominently placed but less than desirable nail salons that I wouldn't consider in the running. And I only saw ONE woman all weekend who was wearing enhancements of any sort.

 

What gives, Arizona? I can't believe all those college girls partying on Mill Avenue are decked out with their hair and their makeup and their 5-inch heels and their dresses that look like they were intended to be shirts, not dresses — and NO NAILS!

 

All those ladies with their Louis Vuitton handbags and their Gucci shoes having their Mercedes valet-parked at the Scottsdale mall, but NO NAILS? Not even nice manicures.

 

I'm even surprised that down at the Desert Sky mall, where I ran into all manner of folk, I encountered a fair portion of lower-income ladies and teens interested in making a showier fashion statement with some extra bling, but none of them was wearing nails. Not even cheap and easy discount NSS nails.

 

Very discouraging. But at least I'll be able to convince the BF that I won't be able to find work if we move to Phoenix.

 

I admit that I didn't get on the Internet or drag out the Yellow Pages to conduct a major search. I'm sure you're out there and I'm sure your clients work and shop somewhere. Maybe they all went to Lake Havasu City with their boats this weekend and that's why I missed them.

 

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