Manicures as Art, This Nail Salon Shines

Walking into the Lacquer Beauty Lounge, the first thing owner Lona Martinez tells me is "this isn't a typical nail salon."

The first clue is the setting. The nail salon is in a converted stucco house off Brennan Street. Inside, warm cornflower blue walls greet you and, unlike a strip mall nail salon, your nose isn't assaulted with a chemical odor.

Martinez has been a nail tech for 15 years, but prefers to identify herself as a nail educator. She's also owned Lacquer for the past five years, where she uses PETA-certified products that are free of carcinogens. 

She can paint delicate designs on nails, or add stylized elements such as dried flowers or fake diamonds. Beauty Entertainment magazine recently ranked her as the No. 10 nail tech in the country.

"We can put all kinds of little things into nails," she said, showing off glitzy examples of 3D art.

But instead of talking nail art trends for manicures and pedicures, our our conversation quickly turns to safety procedures, such as how she autoclaves the instruments to ensure they are sterilized.

Martinez's attention to products made from high-quality ingredients and cleanliness sets her apart. Yes, it costs more, she admits, but a loyal following of customers from as far away as San Jose, King City, Monterey and Scotts Valley fill her appointment book each week. She once finished a pregnant woman's gel tips as the client went into labor. Five hours later, the client had her baby.

"I just couldn't run a salon that wasn't going to provide the best for my clients," said Martinez. "You get what you pay for."

Martinez grew up hanging around salons run by relatives but thought she would pursue a career in computers. She married young and was tired of working in retail when her manicurist suggested Martinez go to nail tech school.

Painting nails helped Martinez tap into an artistic side she had never explored, and there was far more to learn than she had imagined.

"It's just amazing what she opened my eyes up to," Martinez said.

She took 15th in a nail design competition earlier this year, and continues to learn new trends in nail art to offer her customers.

Martinez, who is raising two daughters and a son with her husband in Watsonville, has dreams to expand her salon into other communities, perhaps when her kids are older.

"I just really wish I could make a chain of what I have," she said, describing it as "a traditional American salon."

Lacquer Beauty Lounge is at 38 Brennan St. in Watsonville. Call 831-728-1128 for information.

Lona Martinez's tips on how to identify a good—or bad—nail salon:

• Look for a license posted from the state Board of Cosmetology.
• "Completely stay away from anyone who does nails in their home for money," she said.
• Look for cleanliness.
• Burning, itching cuticles means you're having a reaction to the product and should discontinue using it.
• "Gel Nails" are a one-step process that doesn't smell. If the gel tip has an odor or comes from mixing a powder with water, it's just acrylic.