Best Non Toxic Nail Salon in Houston

When it comes to finding the right nail salon, we have one question for you — where should you get your nails done? Home-grown millennial women have found a connection with nail pros in some of New York City’s most exclusive neighborhoods, and the fact that these nail bars serve lunch is only a bonus.

We chatted with Theresa Black, CEO of NYC Nail Guru, a brand of beauty salons known for their streamlined “no-hassle” standardization that caters to New Yorkers of all backgrounds. The former banker has worked with the likes of the late singer Michael Jackson and fashion designer Zac Posen before branching into nail care, and she’s helped host countless celebrity guests at her salons, including Nicki Minaj, Heidi Klum, and Mark Ronson. In her professional opinion, Nail Guru is your best bet if you’re going to go to a nail bar for a quick manicure (not a manicure with ointment). Here’s what you need to know about the best places for nail jobs in NYC.

1. You don’t need an appointment

“Many venues that offer manicures by appointment require standing in line for several hours, waiting for someone to apply nail polish or thread nails, or for the manicurist to even enter the room,” Theresa tells POPSUGAR. “Nail businesses also need to stay open late. I may understand this if a business is coming into my neighborhood, but the first-floor nail shop I used to frequent? No thank you!”

2. Quality is the key factor

As a former investment banker, Theresa is mindful of how she and her clients can all feel comfortable. She suggests using the restroom first, calling ahead of time, and selecting a public phone line if there is no reception in your area, but if you can’t wait, this shouldn’t stop you from considering a salon. Each studio can produce a style that speaks to you and your personality, and the shop can cater to the specific kind of person you are.

3. Reserve a night to go during a slow time

Although Theresa says nail shops may lose business when the weather turns colder, that doesn’t mean they should go silent when it’s time to touch up. She recommends keeping appointments like an appointment on a fixed schedule — check in and pick up regularly, in addition to reserving a night for your visit to nail shop. If the business can’t accommodate your time frame, she advises coming back during a slow time, which could mean an evening or weekend that coincides with the average bar opening, before going super busy again the next day.

4. Get the best deal

If you’re a frequent customer, consider splitting the cost of a manicure with two or more other people. Theresa says this is the way to achieve the “average” price for each visit. “If everyone pays a high cost, everyone feels like a tourist,” she says. “Everyone is running around in the salon trying to eat, hide from the others, and talk. The not so committed will spend a couple more dollars for an experience and just as good.”

5. Check with your landlord

One of the main reasons women opt for nail salons instead of a salon at a spa is for the convenience of being able to do all their makeup during a break. But it’s not always a simple decision. Theresa explains that you don’t always find out whether or not your landlord will approve you running a nail bar unless you’re careful about how you plan to run the business. “You may find a great fit in the middle of the residential districts or the neighborhoods with a great concentration of bars that close before 8 p.m. Some of the other information I wish the industry would provide to its patrons: