Friday, Jan. 15, 2010

Being catered to at the nail salon

Business celebrates first anniversary

After working all week you sit down in the recliner, take off your shoes, grab the remote and relax.

It's what many Los Bañosans do on the weekends, especially during the summer. But they aren't in their living rooms. Instead they are at Nails Now! being pampered with pedicures.

The nail salon, located on the 1900 block of Pacheco Boulevard, celebrated its one-year anniversary last week. The business is owned by the Ho family. Nails Now! came to Los Baños after finding an overwhelming amount of competition had moved into its former home in the Arlington, Texas area.

Chau Ho joined the business about three years ago, giving her the opportunity to work closely with her parents. Her mother, Lisa, has 20 years experience doing pedicures and manicures. Ho said she enjoys it despite criticism that some people may lob at her.

"People think, 'Why would you want to do someone's pedicure?' It's your job and you get used to it. It's really not that bad," Ho said.

She said she also enjoys the clients. Women will come to the shop in groups to unwind from the stresses of life.

Ho said men come to the shop too.

"Some come in, not as many as women," she said. "They're really shy because they think it's all for women only."

Ho said she believes doing acrylic nails and manicures is a more difficult task than the pedicures. She leaves the hand care to other employees and her parents.

She said the most important thing at Nails Now! is making sure the equipment they use is cleaned regularly. Customers have commented to her that they appreciate Nails Now! openly cleaning the equipment in front of them.

Ho said the winter is typically a slower time for nail salons, especially for the pedicure portion of the business. She said in the summertime customers tend to wear flip-flops and other open-toed shoes more often. In the summer customers frequent the business every two weeks, according to Ho. She said in tapers off to about once per month in the winter.

Ho recommends the two- or three-week intervals.

"If you're a woman, your polish will start to chip off, and if you want to show off your toes you want it to look good," she said.