When you’re busy, squeezing in a trip to the nail salon can feel like another chore on your list. A lot of local salons know this, which is why they put a premium on speed, convenience and price. A few spots go the opposite direction, creating a full-on luxury spa experience.
Sometimes, we just want a middle ground — a place with a slower pace, a little higher price and nail technicians we enjoy having a long conversation with.
Here are six local nail salons that find a peaceful balance between acetone-fumed caves and deluxe spas that require PTO and a consultation with a financial planner.
1. Hoopla
Hoopla was started by Megan Thornberry and Molly Maxwell, two moms who dreamed up the brand while their sons were on a playdate at the park. The pristine salon offers facials, brow tinting and massages. Thornberry and Maxwell handcraft the salon’s nail polish, which you can buy a bottle of to take home. Multiple locations. hooplanails.com.
2. Ardor Nails
When you walk into Ardor Nails, you’ll be greeted by a vast library of polishes and dip powders (over a thousand, actually). Whether you’re wanting one polish color or an intricate design, the technicians at Ardor can do just about everything — even cheetah print nails. 11709 Roe Ave., Leawood, Kan. 913-498-1399.
3. Organic Nails
Organic Nails is all about protecting the environment and customers’ health. Every polish is organically made and colored with nontoxic ingredients like lemongrass, ginger, matcha and citrus. 6469 Quivira Road, Shawnee, Kan. 913-631-4444, organicnailsllc.com.
4. Awesome Nails
Get comfy in a top-grain Italian leather chair at this Olathe stop and stay for a while. Hygiene and cleanliness are the salon’s top priorities — the technicians medically sterilize all of their equipment and toss buffers and files after one use. 16433 W. 119th St., Olathe, Kan. 913-393-5412, awesome-nails.com.
5. Signature Nail Spa
Although there are ample spots (12 manicure chairs and 12 pedicure chairs) available, the vibe at Signature Nail Spa is serene. Along with traditional manis and pedis, the spa offers hot stone pedicures and skin purifying masks. 9542 Nall Ave., Overland Park, Kan. 913-831-8808, signaturenailspakc.com.
6. Blush Nail Lounge
From the blush pink champagne flutes to the sputnik chandeliers, details matter at Blush. The natural light-filled hidden gem is tucked in the commercial space of an office building in Brookside. 751 E. 63rd St., Suite 322, Kansas City, Mo. 816-694-7659, blushkc.com.
