Great nails don’t happen by chance. They happen by appointment.
-Unknown
Audrey Hepburn famously said, “I believe in manicures.” Well, New Canaan, so do I! In fact, like many women I know, I have been getting weekly manicures and pedicures since adulthood. The nail salon is truly my happy place, and I can honestly say that I think that mani-pedis are the one luxury that is actually a necessity. After all, it’s the art of painting happiness on your fingers and toes, and the secret to feeling polished inside and out…the finishing touch on a woman’s beauty, if you may. It’s a way in which we can speak our own style without actually having to say a single word. Whether you prefer natural or acrylic, short or long, bold colors or neutrals (or even no polish at all), like it or not, your nails say a lot about you…they are one way in which we can tell our story.
The appeal of the nail salon is glaringly obvious…I mean, every woman loves to be pampered; to see her nails trimmed, buffed and polished to her particular taste. A hub of female bonding, a nail salon is a woman-dominated space that allows you to spend time by yourself with your own thoughts or chat quietly with your friends; a safe place where it’s physically quite difficult to do anything other than surrender and relax. To get a mani-pedi is to be catered to for almost an hour (and sometimes longer if you factor in additional options such as the beloved extra massage). For this period of time, you are no longer a mommy or a working woman. Oh no, instead you are temporarily a woman of leisure, your every need attended to. Heck, we’re not even expected to carry our own bags for fear of smudging our fresh polish. Not required to answer phone calls or respond to texts, we are transported to an oasis of sorts in which we are literally free to just simply be.
And I haven’t forgotten about the men out there who have discovered our little secret…mani-pedis have officially broken the gender barrier: men are going to nail salons. Although it may not quite be the norm yet, I want all of the guys who proudly own that they, too, need a little TLC, to know that I see you and respect you… I am all for it; the more, the merrier as far as I’m concerned! In fact, I have tried to get my husband on board, once taking him with me to experience the full monty for himself. Sadly, the experience wasn’t for him…his discomfort throughout the ritual was almost palpable, and, somehow, he actually managed to seem more stressed upon exiting the salon than he did before we came. No, neighbors, unfortunately I do not think I will be bringing him again anytime soon. Maybe, just maybe, a part of me is secretly a little bit happy that the nail salon still belongs to just me; it’s not ours, but mine, and mine alone.
When I moved to New Canaan, I made it my mission to find my go-to nail place (I mean priorities, people!), and I had a wide selection to choose from. I sampled at least four different local salons before I found the one. Now everyone’s tastes are different, but when I walked through the doors of Nail Page II on Main Street, I knew that I was home. Not only do they consistently deliver an impeccable mani-pedi, but they give some of the very BEST massages I have ever experienced. I highly recommend adding on at least a 15-minute massage to your appointment, and I, myself, am partial to the chair back massages which are completely out of this world. I’m such a regular, that I have pretty much befriended every employee at this point. I now walk in to warm smiles and cheerful hellos from all of the staff, and I look forward to seeing which friends I might bump into on any given day. As silly as it may sound, Nail Page II has played a significant role in helping me feel a part of this wonderful community. After all, we may not have it all together, but together we certainly have it all. And remember New Canaan, if the color fits, go ahead and wear it!
