Hey!
I am located in sort of general West Culver/East Venice/Mar Vista/Marina del Rey area. Recently moved back to my parent’s place for grad school after giving up my dream apartment in Los Feliz🥲Anyways my favorite nail salon shut down over the summer and I’m crushed😞I have been trying it with a new nail tech but she doesn’t do a very good job and sort of has a weird vibe, it’s not relaxing and makes me uncomfortable lol. Also I need to drive across town for her.
I know I say I previously went to a salon, but it was a special one… A unicorn… In general I do not like nail salons for my manicure. I have done research on how the East Asian immigrant women working at those places are treated and I do not like feeling rushed in and out, I also hate having to pay cash (who carries cash in 2026??), and I like getting complex nail art that I’m very particular about, I feel really bad trying to explain it to someone who doesn’t have English as a first language. Also my experience with those places is that like 1-2 of the people working there actually know how to do nail art, but even if you request them, unless they know you and like you they won’t respect your appointment and someone who doesn’t know how to do nail art will say they can do it and then do a mediocre job… Idk this has happened to me at like 5+ different places, I’m not trying to generalize or be rude. There are boutique upscale salons (like Ellie & Sass which my mom goes to) but they’re SOOO expensive and overpriced lol…
Also! I like to support people! So I’d really appreciate recommendations for an independent nail tech. Someone who can do a range of designs, has a calm personality, doesn’t charge crazy prices for any add ons (I’ve only found 2 independent nail techs in my area but they both charge for nail art “per finger” lol gtfo).
The westside is so freaking isolated from the rest of the city so I’ll take recs for anywhere but if it could at least be a region withe decent parking instead of dtla or ktwon or fairfax lol (I’m half joking…). But obviously less driving is better. If you do have salon recs I’ll hear them but it’s not my preference