Hard as Nails

“I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe in kissing. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.”

- Audrey HepburnLike Audrey, I take my cuticles very seriously. Even if I am broke as a joke, my manicure and pedicure are the last thing to go. You’ll never catch me without neatly lacquered nails. Fact.

If you’re like me, you probably have a go-to manicurist in your neighborhood. For me (and Linds and Mer…), it’s Lily’s Nails on the top floor of the two story strip mall at Monroe and Piedmont. You don’t need an appointment (which is key for last-minute girls like myself) and my fabulous $10 manicure lasts at LEAST a week. Plus, Lily, the owner, is adorable and will occasionally serenade the entire salon with Top 40 songs as she bustles around the place. Fab. If that is convenient for you, I suggest you try them.

Lily’s Nail & Spa
1529 Piedmont Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 249-8080

BUT: We have all been stuck outside of our ‘hood in desperate need of a mani. Never fear. I enlisted a glossy little group of girlfriends (Linds, La, EZ, Stephanie, Stefani, Christine, Cari, Meredith and Stacey) to help make a handy-dandy list of our favorite places around town!

However, if we have somehow missed your favorite place, PLEASE kindly leave the address and phone number in a comment.

Buckhead:

Both Stephanie and Stefani recommended Sugarcoat (www.sugarcoatbeauty.com)
And when I lived in the Eclipse, this was my go-to as well. It’s the cutest salon ever. It’s pink and girly and PRISTINE. It’s also the best place to get an adorable gift, they offer fabulous products (Haviana flops, Hanky Panky, Lollia, etc.) and Sugarcoat is owned and operated by the cutest duet of ladies (well, besides L+L, of course), Christie and Colette, who are PERFECT to consult with on gift options or polish colors! C+C – I miss you!
Note: You DO need an appointment, though, they book up quickly.

Sugarcoat
256 Pharr Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 814-2121

Stefani also recommends Eminence (on the top floor of the two story strip mall in Buckhead Loop) She says the massage chairs are to die fah!

Eminence Nail & Spa
3495 Buckhead Loop NE Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 846-1555

EZ is faithful to Nail and Toe. (They do a great job and offer a fabulous shoulder massage with every manicure…)

Buckhead Nail and Toe Spa
3210 Roswell Rd NW # B Atlanta, GA 30305-1822
(404) 869-8999

Christine goes to Glamour Nail (in “The Peach” shopping center)

Glamour Nail
2900 Peachtree Road NW Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 239-0717

Midtown/Highlands:

If you can’t make it to Lily’s, Christine recommends Highland Nail (off Amsterdam)

Highland Nail
1190 N Highland Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 249-6245

Sandy Springs:

You can find La at her weekly Friday 3:15 appointment at Hammond Nails (off Roswell Road)

Hammond Nails & Spa
4279 Roswell Rd Atlanta, GA 30342
(404) 250-9698

Recently, she has been getting “Gel Nails” which is a new process by OPI. For $25, they will paint your own nails with a similar solution as acrylic nails. The benefit? It lasts 2 weeks without ANY chipping and does not harm your nails. Note: you must have them “soaked” off a la acrylics as well. As far as I know, Hammond Nails is one of the only places in town offering this service.

Cari loves Nail Talk and Tan (in the Target Shopping Center by Perimeter mall.)

Nail Talk Tan & Spa
90 Perimeter Center Pl NE Atlanta, GA 30346
(678) 320-0400

Stacey either goes to Hammond Nails or Fancy Nails (She said Fancy Nails is cheap + good but not actually Fancy.  Which is funny because conversely, Stacey herself is fancy + good, but not cheap.  Interesting?)

Fancy Nails
6125 Roswell Rd NE # 10A, Atlanta
(404) 257-1205

Please stay tuned for a post regarding polish color. For now, I’ll leave you with a quote from the American cinematic masterpiece, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde (2003):

“Never underestimate a girl with a French manicure and Harvard Law degree.”

(Listen, I don’t have one of those things, but don’t you underestimate me, either.)

xx, L

PS. Thanks, ladies!