How to choose a great manicurist

In choosing a manicurist, you have to ask yourself, “What do I really want?” Do you want to get in and out very quickly or do you want to find someone that you will have a connection with and look forward to seeing and talking to on a weekly/monthly basis?

Finding a quickie nail salon isn’t as easy as it sounds, because just any corner nail salon could be dirty and full of germs that you may bring home with you.

Here are some key things to look for in ANY nail salon:
· Overall cleanliness (This is the first tip off; if it’s dirty overall, walk out the door!)
· Tools sterilized after EVERY client
· New files used on each client
· New/fresh pumice used on each client
· Fresh water for manicure bowl (Yes, some have been known to reuse)
· Pedicure chairs, aka footspas, need to be cleaned after EVERY client and this means
o Completely rinsed, run for 10 minutes with a sanitizer added, and then rinsed again (If there’s a question, ask to see their log, where the salon keeps track of the cleaning process)
· New bit on drills (used for artificial nails)
· Fresh towels


If you’re looking for a more permanent manicurist to connect with and get to know better, it’s best to get a referral. Start by looking at other people’s nails and ask them who they see. It can be very hard to get an appointment with a really good manicurist, so be patient and flexible. When you do get in to see her for the first time, make small talk and watch to see if you like her style, since every manicurist is different.

If you want a different shape, let her know. Right away you may know this is a good fit or not. Give her one more try, unless you just know you can’t spend another minute with her. Make sure her schedule works with yours, i.e. if Saturdays are best for you and she only works during the week, check with someone else in the salon or ask her if she recommends someone else. It’s okay to try other manicurists in the same salon even though it may be uncomfortable. Key things to look for above still apply here.