The holidays are a hectic time. That’s why a pop-up nail bar at a cool, trendy store is a fantastic idea. NCLA at Kitson featured the brand’s spunky lacquers as well as its signature wraps. A manicurist was on hand every weekend between November 30–December 31 in the front of the store. Clients simply had to make an appointment for their holiday manicure while finishing up some shopping.

The nail bar at Kitson featured an exclusive palm tree wrap, epitomizing the Los Angeles lifestyle. While I love the colors of this wrap, I ultimately went for the Jazzi print. These wraps can be placed on the nail at either end to show the different color gradients. An accent nail in NCLA’s West Hollywood It-Girl over Mullholland Maneater gave off some subtle holiday sparkle that complemented the wraps beautifully.

I couldn’t have chosen this design without the help of nail tech Karen Gutierrez. Represented by Nailing Hollywood, Gutierrez has done nails for all sorts of editorials and ad campaigns, including those featured in the NCLA/Kitson campaign. I love how my manicure was a non-traditional one for this time of year, causing many people to take notice and give compliments. If you’re looking to change things up, don’t be afraid to step outside the green and red box.

Overall, a pop-up nail bar is a fun way to draw clients in. It reminds them that they can buy themselves something while out shopping for others. A moment of relaxation can be the ultimate impulse purchase. While not every service that can be performed in a salon can be performed in a store, it makes a great partnership. Cute, well-organized displays can sell polish and wraps in addition to the service. My thanks to Kitson, Karen, and NCLA for helping me take a breather while savoring the season.

— Beth