When we asked Orange, Calif.-based celebrity nail artist Elsbeth Schuetz to come up with a toenail art design for this month’s cover, she brought us a whole slew of nail tips to choose from. While her hand-painted nail art is always super creative and artistic, we wanted to go with something a little more simple and wearable for the cover. Inspired by tone-on-tone patterns, she created this faux-snakeskin design using layered polish and diamond-shaped rhinestones.
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.