Let The Nails Do The Talking

With intricate and unconventional designs that you can’t get at professional salons, home-based nail salons have now become the go-to place for those who want some creativity when it comes to their manicures

- AMANDA LEO

Hailey Bieber’s glazed donut nails, Blackpink’s stiletto-sharp extensions in the Pink Venom music video, or the velvet manicures that took over TikTok during the holiday season — a show-stopping set of nails is now an important reflection of one’s beauty identity, almost as distinctive as a signature shade of red lipstick or a particular flick of eyeliner.

This need for distinctiveness is why everyone is flocking to home-based nail salons, where manicurists have developed their own unique approaches to nail art, resulting in stunning manicures that can’t be easily achieved at typical brick-and-mortar salons. For most, their creativity seems to flow naturally as an extension of their own personality, and they use that to come up with designs that satisfy their clients. Pricing is always transparent, and upfront conversations about what can and cannot be done means that the process feels collaborative and fun, without any of the usual sales talk to pressure you into buying a package.

There’s also a certain attentiveness to the less pretty parts of getting a manicure done — like buffing the cuticles instead of cutting them, mixing shades to get the perfect nude that matches your reference and skin tone, and making sure that you’re pleased with your set before you leave. If you’re looking to get a fresh set done for the summer, these are five home-based nail places to try.