{New in Lex}: Varnish Nail Shoppe
I'm always so excited to try out new local businesses in the Lexington area, but especially when one of my dear friends is one of the owners! Lexington's newest must-visit spot is Varnish Nail Shoppe, an chic and high end all-natural nail salon. They truly nailed every detail in this shop from the minimal, midcentury decor to the well-curated array of products and services. The service is top-notch and you really feel pampered every step of the way! One of my favorite parts of my manicure is when they mixed up a custom sugar hand scrub with my favorite scents right in front of me. I also really loved the selection of stylish polish colors that they had available AND they specialize in doing some super chic nail art too! I went with a super light pastel watercolor gel manicure with just a touch of glitter (see below).
I did have SNS on my nails when I arrived to the salon and they were able to soak it off for me using gentle, natural ingredients and tools (no grinders!). Even though many say SNS is better for your nails, my natural nails felt so dry and brittle underneath. I'm excited to let them strengthen and get healthier with this new all-natural manicure. Cara was able to add an all-natural gel topcoat that strengthens the nail and makes it feel super durable similar to SNS. Varnish also does pedicures and fun add-ons like under eye masks during your services! You MUST try out Varnish Nail Shoppe for yourself and get ready to be totally pampered! Be sure to mention Gathered Living for a FREE gel mani upgrade ($15 value) too! You can read a little more about Varnish and what they offer below. Be sure to let me know how you like it!
xoxo
Emily
Varnish is a fresh twist on the typical nail salon. Born out of the desire for something new, we strive to care for our clients - to offer comfort, health-conscious products, and personable staff in a non-toxic environment. It’s a new approach to a service you already love with high-quality products and no compromise.
NO HARSH CHEMICALS - ONLY THE GOOD STUFF!
At Varnish, we promise to deliver a consistently great experience, using only non-toxic products, in a clean and inviting space. Our selection of non-toxic, long-wearing varnishes were thoughtfully chosen just for you. We offer a wide range of current and classic colors from the safest brands.
We're able to achieve a flawless finish, without ever exposing you, our technicians, or the environment to harmful chemicals like dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, or camphor, which are commonly used in traditional nail salons. Our polish remover is gentle to ensure your skin doesn't dry out, and our scrubs, creams, and lotions are free of sulfates and parabens.
We think you deserve only the good stuff!
NO FORMALDEHYDE
Classified as a known carcinogen, formaldehyde is often used as a preservative, nail hardener, and strengthener in conventional polishes.
NO TOLUENE
Included in some polishes as a solvent to smooth application, it has been linked to impaired human reproduction and development, impaired breathing, being harmful to the nervous system, and nausea.
NO DIBUTYL PHTHALATE (DBT)
Shown to affect the reproductive system and linked to cancer, DBP has been used as plasticizer and solvent to increase wear.
NO FORMALDEHYDE RESIN
A derivative of formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin is often used as a hardener and in large doses can be a skin allergen.
NO CAMPHOR
Added to some polishes for high-shine, camphor can cause allergic reactions in large doses, irritation, dizziness, nausea, and headaches.
NO TRIPHENYL PHOSPHATE (TPHP)
Also known as TPHP, research suggests it causes changes in hormone regulation, metabolism and reproductive systems. It has been used in polish as a plasticizer which makes the polish flexible yet durable.
NO XYLENE
Used by some brands to help polish from getting gloppy, xylene is also a know allergen an a possible carcinogen.
NO ETHYL TOSYLAMIDE / EPOXY RESIN
This ingredient has antibiotic properties which raises concern over antibiotic resistance, it can be used as a plasticizer to help polishes dry faster.
NO PARABENS
Used as a preservative, parabens get a bad rep for having estrogen-mimicking effects which may trigger hormonal problems.
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*FOR A CLEANER AND SAFER EXPERIENCE, WE DO NOT OFFER ACRYLIC NAILS.
