This Summer Special is Truly Special

[Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist]

Pampered hands and feet, perfectly painted, glistening nails, smoothed skin with no evidence of daily wear and tear from stilettos – most of us luxuriate in the relaxation of a good manicure and pedicure. As for me, I’m always looking for deals on pedicures, but most of the time, the best deals are at oriental nail salons. These are the same salons that are notoriously questionable in their hygiene and products and routinely rushed in their services, getting you in and out of the pedicure chair as quickly as possible – making you feel more like a product in an assembly line than a woman in need of pampering. I never feel like I have time to pick out a nail color, much less a magazine. But I must admit; since pedicures eat at my dining budget, I succumb to lesser quality nail care unless I’m gifted with the “real thing.” That is, until today. Today, I tasted the joys of the “summer special” at Inspirations Salon -- $40 for both a manicure and a pedicure!

You may be thinking – “must be some newbie nail tech trying to get her start.” But no, Julie Barnette has worked in the nail and beauty industry since 1986. The part about trying to get her start is true though; she recently moved to Sarasota from Pinellas County. Why would anyone give up twenty years of clientele to start all over again? Why else? Julie did it for love. After falling in love with a man she met online, Julie took the plunge and relocated to Sarasota. But Julie didn’t want to abandon the clients who have been loyal to her for 20 years, so she still commutes to Pinellas one day a week. Since relocating, Julie has worked briefly at two other salons in Sarasota, but she kept moving; it was important to her to find the right working environment. And at Inspirations Salon, Julie feels she has finally found a home – “a warm, welcoming salon” both for herself and her clients. A warm and welcoming environment, it is. As the name implies, the energy at Inspirations is good.

True to Inspirations’ slogan “high end service without the high end cost,” Julie uses top quality natural products like macadamia nut oil and argan oil with acai berry extract. The polish of choice is Zoya which was awarded the longest wearing nail polish by Women’s Health magazine; it’s free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP and camphor. The popular OPI nail polishes (which haven’t gone chemical-free) are also available, but they are the only chemicals you will find here. No chemicals or fumes – you gotta love it! The salon will soon be offering the all natural nail growth stimulator by Qtica, said to be the most advanced nail strengthener ever created. In keeping with the health-consciousness at Inspirations Salon, Julie uses LCN gel nails.

Relaxing in the massage chair while my feet and calves were sloughed and massaged provided a much needed pampering. Few things are as pleasurable and relaxing as a good pedicure. And this was a good pedicure! Without the fumes, I didn’t leave with a headache; I left feeling simply relaxed with smoothed feet and perfectly painted toes by Julie’s expert hands.

The summer special isn’t the only nail deal at Inspirations Salon. For people in a hurry, the mini-manicure and mini-pedicure express can be completed in a lunch hour, both for only $28. And don’t forget, as a WQ mag member, first time customers get a 20% discount on hair or nail services at Inspirations Salon.

You won’t find me compromising the quality of my nail care just to save money anymore. I’ve found a way to get quality care from experienced hands, to be pampered, to protect my health and to save money. Like Julie, I’ve found a new home. .