When I was home for the holidays, I went to Avalon Hair & Day Spa with my mom (right) for side-by-side pedicures.
NORFOLK, VA. — Hannah Lee, executive editor — I first met nail technician Monica Pugh at a networking breakfast during the Premiere Orlando Beauty Show.When everyone passed out their business cards, I noticed that one of them was from Norfolk, Va., which is where my parents live. I sought out the pink-haired tech and we chatted for a few minutes and she told me to come in for a service next time I was in town. As things tend to go when I’m home for the holidays, I was so busy with family and friends I never made it into her salon that year.
So imagine my surprise when my mom called last fall to tell me she was getting her hair done and the nail tech at the salon knew me. Turns out it was Pugh, and my mom booked pedicure appointments for us.
Avalon is a full-service salon and day spa in Ocean View, an up-and-coming Norfolk community on the Chesapeake Bay. The salon has hair stations, massage, and facial rooms, as well as a two-station nail nook and separate pedicure room. The owners, both hair stylists, previously worked at another day spa before they struck out on their own. Pugh, who has been doing nails for 10 years, went with them to start their new adventure.
Nail tech Monica Pugh was no stranger to me. I previously met her on several occasions at trade shows where she was educating for Young Nails.
She’s the sole full-time nail tech, but there is also a licensed cosmetologist who does nails part time. She told me she does a lot of acrylic — both pink-and-whites as well as color acrylic designs — and she offers clients nail art whenever they are willing.As the only nail tech in the salon, the owners
let her pick and choose what products she wants to use for services and what she thinks will retail well.
A Young Nails educator for the last two-and-a-half years, Pugh travels to shows and is excited that she will soon be teaching classes at the salon for other nail techs to attend.
Even though it was pretty chilly outside, I opted for a spa-style pedicure that included a choice of a paraffin dip or a mask. I went with the mask and completely enjoyed the thorough leg massage. I hadn’t seen my mom since May and it was nice to sit in the cozy private room getting side-by-side pedicures. Before rushing back out into the cold, I topped my pedicure off with deep purple polish
and abstract nail art.
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