The Tel-Twelve area seems to be a parched wasteland for good nail salons, surprising given the number of professional offices in the shopping epicenter of northern Southfield. I therefore awaited Be N... Read More
The Tel-Twelve area seems to be a parched wasteland for good nail salons, surprising given the number of professional offices in the shopping epicenter of northern Southfield. I therefore awaited Be Nails opening with some interest. This new shop opened up beside Cosi and kitty-corner to DSW, a wise move for all the sandal-shopping ladies who realize they need a pedicure to accessorize those adorable M.I.A. wedges. It sits in the first "island" of buildings which doesn't contain Sam's Shoe Repair, across a very popular parking lot for the lunch time crowd.I didn't realize how big this nail salon is until I went inside. Bright and trimmed in polished wood all over, Be Nails invites guests into a clean space. Two rows of posh pedi chairs stretch back from the first chamber into the second area where the nail bars are attended by technicians. The separation is a great concept, diminishing noise and concentrating each group on one another. Someone was really thinking on the layout and I hope to see it emulated more in the metro area. The pedi chairs do not vibrate but have a swooping arm-rest/mini-table to prop your iPad or magazine down, and two of the largest flatscreens I have seen are centrally mounted for everyone to watch shows. I caught the beach volleyball trials and 200m swim in eye-popping resolution while the nail tech restored my toes to queenly glory. Be Nails' selection of polishes is a bit limited, featuring a sampling of OPI and several other lower tier brands I admit I don't recognize. They carry a full range of the shellac and fast-set gels as evidenced by the samples up at the front counter. No crusty and withered bottles here, but since they have not been open more than 3 weeks, hardly surprising.The service was prompt and efficient, and a pedi ought to be something performed over a lunch hour. My tech got me all polished up in about 25-30 minutes, not including drying time, and he was kindly gentle after I warned him I am ridiculously ticklish along my instep. Add a warm towel and an always beloved calf rub with a sweet scented lotion and all the cares of a rough week just float away. The pedi drying bar is near the front, the manicure bar at the back, which is necessary since I think they have fifteen to twenty pedi chairs and imagine if those all filled up! Costs are reasonable; I paid $26 plus tip. Early week specials run Monday to Wednesday, when the same pedi is $22 and a fill is about $14. I didn't realize they stopped on Wednesday due to the green sign in their window, and the price difference took me by surprise. For an emergency job or a quick touch up, they slot people right in; a young performer in the cutest cherry dress popped in after a bottle of nail polish in her car spilled all over her arm, and they helped get her fixed up in a jiffy and made sure her manicure wasn't ruined. They offered to fix it -- not even sure she had it done there, likely not -- on the spot if she needed. That's a nice touch.Be Nails wins points for being clean, reasonably priced, full service and organized. I would like to see a few more lines of nail polish if a girl can have her wish: Zoya or Butter anyone? Pleeeeease? Read Less