I got up early in Columbus to head to the Short North district for a 9:30 am appointment at the W Nail Bar. The W is one of very few businesses open at 9 am on the street. My nail tech Jody, explained to me that the salon opens earlier on Saturday in order to accommodate the full list of appointments they take. During the week, they open later. A whopping 30 techs work at the salon. A massive wall of polish, including local brand James Robert John, fills the shelves along with popular pro brands like LeChat and OPI. Retail set up in the salon was tastefully featured with jewelry and even the photography on the walls, for sale. The W in W Nail Bar actually stands for "we" as the owners want the salon to feel inclusive and a place for all women. Even at 9:30 in the morning, the salon was hopping, and I definitely see why. The upscale and eclectic decor and extremely professional staff have me thiking "W" stands for wonderful.

Only about 15 minutes away is Elli Nail Spa in Grandview. Elli is an Ohio-based salon chain (there are currently four locations throughout the state). The owner does nails and nail artist Amanda Swartz traveled from the Dublin location to do nail art. The salon is on a cozy street, complete with boutiques and wine bars, and next to a blowout bar. Much like W, Elli specializes in gel-polish manicures and opens early on the weekend to accommodate larger crowds. Gel-polish offerings are large and include Entity, CND, Gelish, and OPI. The pedicure chairs are from J&A. Cute teal bins are placed next to the chairs for clients to store belongings during a service. Thank you, Elli Nail Spa for being so warm and welcoming!

While not from Columbus, NTNA alums Dana Cecil and Cate Widemire drove three hours (!) to talk nails with me while I was in their state.

Ohio may be known for buckeyes, but I know it as a place of warmth, where the nail community was so sunny it was almost like being back home.

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Next stop: Baltimore