Shatter, Crackle, Pop!
Crackle polish takes texture to a new level with eye-catching fault-line styled breaks that will make passers-by ask, “Who did your nails?”
by Sree Roy
Sree Roy
Contributing Editor
Sunshine Services
A salon owner turns her house’s sunroom into a sunshine-filled nail room.
by Sree Roy
Learn 3-D Nail Art
Nail tech Vinny Patel has launched a series of tutorial DVDs to share his skills with other techs.
by Sree Roy
One-Stroke Nail Art
Painter and craftswoman Donna Dewberry is perhaps best known in the art world as the inventor of the One-Stroke painting technique, a method that allows painters to blend, shade, and highlight all in one stroke of a brush.
by Sree Roy
Low-Flow Pedicure Spas
It’s no secret that pedicure spas can use a lot of water, a fact that’s reflected in your salon’s monthly water bill and maybe in some nagging guilt in your conscience about your environmental footprint. Luckily, spa manufacturers have been steadily decreasing the amount of water needed to perform satisfying pedicures, so here’s a look at their latest low-water-usage options.
by Sree Roy
On the Road: Nails Icon, Montclair, Calif.
A one-stop shop, Nails Icon in Montclair, Calif., boasts a bustling retail area, clean, affordable services, and isn’t afraid to stay open ’til 1 a.m. for mani-pedi parties. The owner credits the salon’s customer service as key to surviving the recession.
by Sree Roy
Trend Watch: Late 50's/Early '60s Fashion
Inspired in part by the AMC drama “Mad Men,” hourglass silhouettes, bold red lipstick, and other looks from the late 1950s and early 1960s are back in style.
by Sree Roy
Brush Stroke of Genius
Disappointed that hairstylists have an abundance of edgy, beautiful tools (like tatted up blow dryers and flat irons), while nail techs have fewer choices when it comes to stylish implements, Anna Cobasky, salon owner and operator of Salon Designs in Glendale, Ariz., decided to give her nail brushes an edgy twist.
by Sree Roy
On the Road: Southcentral Alaska
The noteworthy salons and spas in Southcentral Alaska are proof that top-notch services aren't always hard to find.
by Sree Roy
Polish Preview Fall 2010: Back to School
Nothing quite rings in the fall season like the toll of school bells indicating that class is back in session. So pull out your trusty highlighter and be sure to take notes during this lesson on the new fall colors. (Your clients might surprise you with a pop quiz later.) With reds, blues, purples, and grays all on the syllabus, you’ll want to keep these polishes on your supply list until at least winter break.
by Sree Roy
Crafty Deals
Etsy.com, the ever-growing online marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of handmade goods, is the perfect place to find one-of-a-kind items for your salon.
by Sree Roy
Just My Type
Get the down low for how to cater to four common client types — the glamour girl, control freak, escapist, and eco-conscious client — with nail styles, colors, services, and more that are fine-tuned to the needs of each.
by Sree Roy
On the Road: Nailcessity, Chicago
Managing Editor Sree Roy heads to Chicago to check out Nailcessity in the heart of the big city.
by Sree Roy
33 Ways to Work Smarter, not Harder
From saving money on products to developing an efficient schedule, salon coaches offer practical advice behind the cliché.
by Sree Roy
Party Crashers
About two weeks before her wedding, Anne Silvey, now Mrs. Anne Franscioni, was putting the finishing touches on the plans for her big day. She’d had the color palette picked out long ago — navy, cream, and wine — and her six bridesmaids were prepared with their navy dresses. Wanting everything to be perfect to the last detail, she of course wanted a perfectly matched look for the group’s fingernails and toenails.
by Sree Roy
You’re the Inspiration
Even just the service names sound enticing — coconut milk pedicure, eucalyptus manicure, cosmopolitan mani-pedi — but how do you come up with these ideas? Brainstorming experts and salon owners share how to turn even a small idea into a big nail service that will liven up your menu.
by Sree Roy
What Is...Splattered Color?
Speckles and drips make fashion pop this spring.
by Sree Roy