Guilt-Free Nail Salons
In the aftermath of the recent New York Times expose on unethical nail salon practices in New York City, we’ve been inundated with requests to share a short-list of socially-conscious salons in the city.  Here’s a sampling of five of our editors' favorite ethical salons so you can book with ease - and peace of mind.
1. TenOverTen SoHo, TriBeCa & Midtown West, Book Appointment
Relaxing and sophisticated, TenOverTen delivers meticulous manicures without the harmful chemical smell. Their natural branded lacquers and large color palette of high-end polishes provide lasting results. The best part? These polishes are all five-free as well as cruelty-free.
2. Fix Beauty Bar Upper East Side, Book Appointment The triple-threat: Fix Beauty Bar's skilled technicians ensure a perfect blowout, manicure and pedicure all simultaneously. Though you may have saved time, you will certainly not be skimping on quality. Fix gets you celebrity-grade in no time.
3. Blush Nail Lounge East Village, Book Appointment Tucked inside a pink exterior, Blush Nail Lounge gives a modern, but retro-chic feel with its unique booth style seating and exposed brick walls. This super-feminine salon places the utmost importance on cleanliness, as well as a quality job on nails.
4. Pink Lemon Park Upper East Side, Book Appointment Prepare to be pampered at Pink Lemon Park by their attentive and friendly staff. This girly oasis provides a sweet escape with rose petal water and heavenly pedicures. They also offer some of the most comprehensive sanitation and safety protocols in the city. Bonus – come on a Thursday or Friday for Cosmos!
5. Paintbox SoHo, Book Appointment Although Paintbox has only been open for a year, the downtown powerhouse has become a go-to destination for nail art. They offer a seasonal, trend-forward menu with customizable color options, all with three-free and five-free polishes. The salon also stated, via their blog, that their talented manicurists are "among the most (if not the most) highly compensated in the country".
