Cyndy Drummey, editor/publisher—What’s better than getting to go to salons all over the country in the name of work? Getting to go with the team! The NAILS editors were in Dearborn, Mich., last October for our annual Salon of the Year Award, which were held at the Great Lakes Beauty Show. We went out a few days before the show so we could do some errands (like shoe shopping) and get every thing ready for this year’s awards finalists. We also visited a couple of salons, so this month we bring you a special edition of “On the Road.”

Preparing for Salon of the Year—between the application process, fielding calls from entrants, the actual judging, then planning for the presentation—is a huge undertaking that starts early and culminates on the evening of the awards. And then we get about two weeks off before we have to start planning again for the next year. So by the time we get to the show, we’re ready to have a good time. While in Dearborn, we enjoyed a couple of side trips—dinner in Detroit’s Greek Town (Where we were so fascinated by the traditional appetizer of flaming cheese we ordered several plates of it), and a drive to Windsor, Canada (the girls had never been to Canada, so we drove across the border so they could say they were actually in Canada). Patty ditched us one day to go tour the Henry Ford Museum, and we lost Hannah and Vanessa one day to a shoe sale at Sake Fifth Avenue.

We did mange to get some work done while we were there, and I asked each editor to file her own report on her salon visit.

Hannah Lee, managing editor. On Friday before the show got started, we split up in two groups—Patty and Cyndy were off to visit Renee Skrocki’s new salon, while Vanessa and I ran out to pick up a bunch of last minute items for the Salon of the Year Award. But first, we had something else on our agenda—manicure and pedicure appointments at She’s Got Nails in Westland, Mich. Unfortunately, owner Jane Waynick was in Australia at a trade show, but she left us in good hands—those of her daughter Michelle Thrushman.

Vanessa and I both got manicures from Michelle and spa pedicures from Silvana Caya. She’s Got Nails is a family affair—Michelle’s two younger twin sisters work there too. Vanessa and I switched services, and Vanessa’s fabulous French looked so good I decided for the same look (Which was funny because we ended up wearing the same shoes to the awards as well).

Vanessa Jezin, associate editor. I had never been to Michigan and wasn’t familiar with the salons there. Hannah and I were equally excited at the prospect of visiting a new salon as NAILS editors, it’s one of our favorite things to do. It was no surprise that the staff at She’s Got Nails was not only warm, but also extremely talented. The salon—where all the techs are Galaxy educators—has been open for more than 15 years.

During my pedicure, Silvana, who is originally from Brazil, revealed a secret desire to start competing in nail competitions. I encouraged her to do so after seeing her work and listening about her passion for doing fiberglass nails. Next, it was off to get my natural manicure from Michelle, who is used to doing acrylics since they make up the majority of her clientele. She did an impressive job, giving me a natural manicure with a polish job that lasted more than a week! She commented on my “nice nails and hands” and even said I should be a hand model (unfortunately, my fellow staff members disagree).

Patricia Oropeza, senior editor. Even though I’d gotten a manicure a few days before, I wanted to get my nails done again at a local salon. As workers installed plumbing, sound-proofed spa rooms, and painted the walls a soothing gray next door at what would become The Salon at VIP, Cyndy and I got manicures at VIP Nails & Tanning in the final weeks before it closed. Rose, one of VIP’s talkative nail technicians, worked away on my hands and nails, and I listened to her talk excitedly about the new VIP that was soon to be. It seemed like she and the rest of Renee’s staff couldn’t wait to start working in the locale. And after talking a tour of the place, I could see why. This was going to be a bigger and better VIP, and Renee even had a surprise in store for her techs—new nail tables.

Tanya did Cyndy’s nails under the constant supervision of Renee, who was walking her team through a new natural nail care system they were launching. Renee was effusive with her praise of the new bio solutions line from Orly.

The simple, three-step system is high moisturizing and long lasting.

Our four days in the Motor City ended with a delayed flight, sprinting through the airport to make a connection (which we missed), and finally landing back home in the wee hours. We got a few days without discussion of Salon of the Year before we gathered back together for a whole team critique of the awards and started the whole process over again…