New Nail Salon Hopes to Offer 'Spa Setting Without Spa Costs'

Lockport resident Penny Montana has always loved getting her nails done, but after a couple of bad experiences at various salons she took the matter into her own hands and recently opened her own salon in New Lenox: .

“My inspiration for opening the salon was years of bad service from other salons," Montana said. "I felt it could and should be done better. And it shouldn't cost a fortune.”

The mother of two and former saleswoman went to school to learn the trade and started searching for the perfect location. She had all but given up on the current location, at 398 N. Cedar Road, when the Realtor told her that it was already leased out. Days later he called and told her that it was available again after the other deal had fallen through.

“The location was perfect here in New Lenox, I looked for months and months for the right place," she said.

Located in the small white frame building that used to house the Café on Cedar, the salon held its soft opening last week. The space feels more like a living room than a salon and is decorated with the intention to welcome.  Dark wood flooring and warm earth tones help create the setting that Montana desired. Soft lighting fills the space that is cozy and comforting.

“I wanted to create a spa setting without the spa costs," Montana said, aiming to make her salon all that she hoped and never received elsewhere.

“Communication is important, especially when your health can be affected by the service," she continued. "When you come to Pretty Penny Nails we ask that you fill out a medical form. It is imperative that we know if there is something conflicting with the services requested, we know how to care for you properly.”

Safety is very important to Montana and she guarantees that all precautions are taken to avoid the missteps sometimes found in nail salons.

“In my 20 years of salon experience I've had technicians cut me, rip my fingers open, cut my feet too," she said. "Those things will never happen here. We don't shave your feet with razors."

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All of the products used at the salon are free of MMA (or methyl methacrylate, a chemical that has been accused of causing nail infections or loss) and free from harsh chemicals that can cause cancer.

The new salon owner hopes that when customers come in and pay for a relaxing and pampering service, they get just that. 

“We don't treat you like a number and try to hurry your service," Montana said. "We take our time to be sure you are perfect before you leave the salon.”

Montana spoke of her concern about opening a new business in this economy and said that she believes that women are cutting back on beauty services such as hair coloring and styling because the services are costly. She knows that women "still want to feel pretty" and hopes her salon will appeal to women.