Artwork Only

Margaret Thomas’s nail-art-only appointments mean she can get right to the fun stuff. Thomas, owner of It’s A Secret Salon in Culver City, Calif., recently added creative sessions to her menu, meaning another tech preps the nails and she delivers on the nail art design. “I came up with this idea to accommodate clients who want nail art for special occasions or who are happy with their nail tech, but want to add some art that their tech can’t do,” she says. “This works great for brides, birthdays, proms, holidays, vacations, teams/clubs, or just because.”

The service may include a polish change, but the nails are already complete up to the point of polish. “The client usually calls to let me know what she has in mind, then I can estimate how much time I’ll need,” she says. “Appointments are scheduled in 15- to 30-minute time slots — sometimes 45 minutes depending on the detail of the design. I charge $1 per minute and some add-ons — like charms, large crystals, and spinning beads — are extra.”