Thursday, March 28, 2024 Mar 28, 2024
72° F Dallas, TX
Advertisement
Publications

THE NAIL FILE: THIRTEEN HIGHLY POLISHED BOUTIQUES

By HANCEL DEATON |

THERE’S NOTHING QUITE SO UNAT-tractive as a woman impeccably attired in a designer original and a profusion of jewelry reaching demurely for a cocktail glass with fingernails that look like they’d been caught in a Cuisinart. And nothing accentuates a new fall sweater like a long, sleek set of sumptuous cranberry-colored nails.

Until recently, long luxurious nails were the one fashion accessory that a woman just couldn’t buy -either she was blessed with healthy nails that grew no matter how much she abused them, or she did without. But now, many women who can’t seem to grow their own nails are seeking professional help in hopes of replacing what God neglected or a set of active bicuspids has destroyed.

Many women have achieved their “total look” with sculptured nails, linen wraps, and nail tips, although there is some dispute among manicurists concerning the overall desirability of the sculptured nail. Beverly Crittendon of Paul Neinast Inc. once sculptured nails and applied wraps, but now gives only basic manicures and pedicures. “Common sense tells you that if you file off two layers of nail before you put chemicals on it, it has to be bad for the nail.” Bobbie Johnson, a manicurist at the Lou Lattimore salon, agrees: “Getting sculptured nails is the worst thing you can do to your nails. It just eats them up.”

But Kathryn Carder, owner of The Nailery, insists that sculptured nails are fine since manicurists no longer file the natural nail until it is paper-thin before applying the sculpturing acrylic. “This process is very good and safe for a woman who cannot grow her own nails,” says Carder.

To “sculpture” a nail, a false nail is built onto the natural one with a liquid and powder acrylic. The acrylic protects and strengthens the nail and allows it to grow. Once the acrylic is brushed onto the nail, it dries almost instantly. The trick is not to put it on too thick; the sculptured nail should be a mirror image of a real nail. After it dries, the nail is filed and sanded until it is ready for polishing. Sculptured nails can be built onto any nail, even those that have been bitten to the quick. If a sculptured nail is broken, it can be easily fixed; and sculpturing gives nails uniformity in size and shape.

Although you may have considered sculpturing your own nails using a drugstore kit, you would probably be better off spending the money and letting a professional do it right. Tales like the one about the woman who, while sporting a set of do-it-yourself nails at a party, picked up a glass of punch and lost three of her new nails to an orange rind in the bottom of the punch bowl, convince us of the value of professional help.

Linen wraps, a more recent development, strengthen and protect the natural nail without using any potentially harmful chemicals. Through this process, a piece of linen is cut to fit the nail and then applied with nail glue. After the glue dries, the linen is filed down to match the nail; the process is repeated several times until the layering has made the nail stronger. Before polish is applied, the linen can be seen, but not felt, because it has become a part of the nail. Linen wraps have become increasingly popular, replacing the original method of strengthening the nail with tissue wraps.

Nail “tipping” is an ideal way for the nail biter to overcome the habit. Oval-shaped plastic tips are adhered to the upper half of the nail with nail glue. Often, both linen wraps and nail tips are used to strengthen and protect the tip; together they prevent the nail biter from chewing on her own nails, giving them a chance to grow.

For women with strong, healthy nails, a variety of manicures and pedicures is available. In the basic manicure (called the “Juliette manicure”), the manicurist takes off the old polish, soaks the hands in warm lotion, and trims and pushes back the cuticles. A clear base coat is then applied, followed by two coats of a colored polish, a coat of sealer to protect, and a dab of oil on each nail to help the polish dry and prevent disasterous smudges. At The Nailery, the manicurist puts clear polish underneath the nail for added strength. Beverly Crittendon at Paul Neinast brushes the color over the tip of the nail to prevent chipping. Most nail salon proprietors say their manicures should last two weeks with average wear. A new trend is the “French manicure”- the application of a clear base coat to the nail, then the highlighting of the tip with white polish, and the painting of the entire nail with a light peach color. The effect is a nude, white-tipped look.

One of the most relaxing manicures is a paraffin manicure, in which the manicurist dips the hands into warm paraffin that forms a waxen shell as it cools. The paraffin oils soak into the skin, acting as a moisturizer. Once the paraffin has cooled, the manicurist slowly peels it off, leaving the hands silky smooth. Some salons offer a theraffin manicure, using paraffin with therapeutic herbs and oils.

There’s nothing better than a good basic pedicure after a hard day. “With a pedicure, you are forced to relax,” says Beverly Crittendon. Pedicures are virtually the same as manicures, except that many manicurists use a small razor to shave dead, calloused skin from the heel and the sides of toes. Don’t worry about thoroughly cleaning your feet before your appointment; the pedicurist will soak your feet in a soothing solution before doing any clipping or painting. If you want to move a step closer to nirvana, try a paraffin pedicure.

Many manicurists agree on two common myths about nail care: Filing your nails in both directions is okay; and drinking clear gelatin and taking calcium tablets won’t guarantee long, strong, healthy nails -you’re either born with them or you’re not.

Most nail salons offer nail extras like diamond inserts, hand painted toe- and fingernail art, decals, and 14-karat gold nails. And even though Dallas nail salons are promoted as total nail care boutiques, most of them offer other services as well. Women often enter a salon with the intention of simply getting their nails done, but end up spending an entire afternoon relishing the benefits of a facial, massage, sauna, and new hair style.

Finding the right manicurist can be as tedious as finding the right hair stylist. If you have no idea where to begin, the following list of Dallas nail salons may help you decide which one could best provide you with your total look.

– Paul Neinast Inc. 6632 Snider Plaza, 369-5350. Open Tuesday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Manicures ($7) and pedicures ($20) are available Tuesday through Friday only. Beverly Crittendon gives a soothing mini-massage with each manicure and pedicure. She uses a Hindu stone (a cuticle stick made of light pumice) to take off rough edges, and says she will “just cut what absolutely has to come off.” Beverly, who has been a manicurist for eight years, has had some success curing nail biters of their habit. She believes in buffing the nails and applying a coat of clear polish to deter the nail biter. “Once people start getting nails, they’re proud of them,” she says. Beverly offers the basic, no frills manicure and pedicure, but she adds her personal touch, making her customers feel at ease from the moment they walk in the door. Her loyal clientele of over 50 people includes 10 men; it is best to make an appointment about a week in advance.

Lou Lattimore. 4336 Lovers Lane, 368-8915. Open Tuesday through Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Having been a manicurist at the salon at Lou Lattimore for two years, Bobbie Johnson has developed a very steady clientele. Like Beverly, she does a mini-massage with warm lotion and massages with an electric mitten while giving a pedicure. Bobbie offers the latest in nail care, the French manicure, and she believes that for the person with weak, chipped nails, “linen can work wonders” She has a “super strength” linen that she keeps hidden in a drawer to use only on regular customers. Lou Lattimore’s manicure (S7) and pedicure ($17.50) are among the least expensive in town. Linen wraps cost $40 and tips with linen wraps are $60. Although the salon has three manicurists, you should make an appointment a week in advance.

The Nailery. Prestonwood Town Center, Suite 1029, 980-6910. Open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday until 6. This total nail care salon offers everything from a paraffin manicure ($20) to nail “tipping” ($60). Owner Kathryn Carder’s staff of about 20 people is trained to do everything from nail care and facials to massage. “Everything we do is a specialty,” says Carder, who has been a manicurist for 16 years. The Nailery generally works by appointment, but will take walk-ins.

-Nail Art. 2510 Promenade Center, 235-3196. Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday until 8. Nail Art uses its own nail polish line and offers services ranging from sculptured nails ($40) to tips with linen wraps ($75). You can also get a basic or paraffin manicure or pedicure here. And if you want a tiny pumpkin painted on your toenail for Halloween or a turkey brushed onto your thumbnail for Thanksgiving, Nail Art can accommodate you. Nail Art works on an appointment or walk-in basis.

– Finishing Touches. Caruth Plaza, Suite 113, 373-3030. Open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thurs day until 9. Finishing Touches offers a theraffin manicure and pedicure that it recommends for people with dry skin. The staff does a simple polish change on natural nails for $3 and nail wraps with silk for $40. The salon works by appoint ment, but will take walk-ins if a manicurist is available.

-Nail Makers. 3301 McKinney, 521-8961. Open Tuesday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for wraps; 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for sculptured nails. Nail Makers offers a basic manicure for $10 and a French manicure for $17. This salon does not offer linen wraps, but instead uses a liquid wrap -a fiberous polish that is brushed onto the nail in alternate directions. It serves the same purpose as a linen wrap, but at $17 costs less than half the average price. Appointments are necessary.

– le nouveau moi. 2048 Promenade Center, 699-3594. Open Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Wednes day and Friday until 4, and Saturday un til 2. Here you can get a basic manicure for $12 or a pedicure for $20. Both are of fered with paraffin for about $10 more. The salon takes both appointments and walk-ins.

-L’Image. 3128 Harvard, 522-6230. 5100 Belt Line Road, 520 Sakowitz Village on the Parkway, 934-8080. Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. L’Image offers manicures for $8.50 and linen wraps for $6 each. Services require an appointment.

– Mona’s Sculptured Nails and Lashes. 5607 W. Lovers Lane, 363-4447. Open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday until 9. 7522 Campbell Road, 934-3111. Open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday until 9. Mona’s salons offer a wide variety of nail services from a French manicure ($20) to sculptured nails ($45). They also offer paraffin manicures and pedicures. Both salons take appointments and walk-ins.

Nailady. 1015 Preston Royal Plaza, 363-0264. Open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday until 8. Manicures are $10, French manicures are $12.50. Linen wraps cost $45; tissue wraps are $25. The only thing this salon lacks is the paraffin manicure and paraffin pedicure. Appointments are recommended.

The Nail & Eye. 374 Park Forest Shopping Center, 357-8371. Open Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday until 8. This is a full-service salon offering manicures with hot oil and massage for $15. A basic manicure is $12.50; a pedicure, $20. Although Nail & Eye does not offer a French manicure, it does have a theraffin manicure and pedicure for about $10 each over the regular price. Appointments are necessary.

-Nails by Jo Ann. 5952 Preston Royal, 696-0825. Hours vary, but someone is usually available to take appointments Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Prices range from $8.50 for a basic manicure to $40 for tips with acrylic.

-Making Waves. 2286 Valley View Center, 387-5757. Open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Although this is basically a hair salon, it does offer men’s and women’s manicures for $10. The salon operates by appointment, but will take walk-ins.

Related Articles

Image
Arts & Entertainment

Here’s Who Is Coming to Dallas This Weekend: March 28-31

It's going to be a gorgeous weekend. Pencil in some live music in between those egg hunts and brunches.
Image
Arts & Entertainment

Arlington Museum of Art Debuts Two Must-See Nature-Inspired Additions

The chill of the Arctic Circle and a futuristic digital archive mark the grand opening of the Arlington Museum of Art’s new location.
By Brett Grega
Image
Arts & Entertainment

An Award-Winning SXSW Short Gave a Dallas Filmmaker an Outlet for Her Grief

Sara Nimeh balances humor and poignancy in a coming-of-age drama inspired by her childhood memories.
By Todd Jorgenson
Advertisement