The Philippine Star

TIPS N TOES IS STILL NAILING IT AFTER 20 YEARS

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ThERESE JAmORA-gARCEAu

So many nail salons have sprung up in the Metro it’s hard to be loyal to one, especially if you’ve had a bad experience with an unskilled manicurist who butchered your cuticles or looks like she hasn’t sterilized her tools in a week.

There’s no chance of that happening at Tips N Toes. This pioneering nail salon is celebratin­g 20 years this year — a testament to the excellence of its services and staff, most of who have been working there for over 15 years.

“I am proud of my staff,” says owner Jennifer Tipton Angeles. “They’re not just contractua­l workers, they’re highly, highly skilled.”

Twenty years ago, Angeles was the first to conceive of a salon specializi­ng in nails with trained technician­s, comfy couches with lots of pillows, and make it fashionabl­e. “I came up with the grandfathe­r’s chairs, and everybody copied it!” she laughs.

Now that there are so many copycats, to keep Tips N Toes on the cutting edge, Angeles equipped the flagship SM Megamall branch with reclining massage chairs a few years ago, and is renovating all the other branches to follow suit.

She’s added Chanel and Christian Louboutin nail polishes to the menu, and updated services to offer all the latest trends, like powder polish and nail art. You can choose your preferred design from a catalog, and select from a wide range of embellishm­ents like rhinestone­s, beads or stickers.

If your nails are too short for art, Tips N Toes can lengthen them with natural-looking acrylic tips or sculpted gels. Those with thin, weak nails can try overlays, a thin layer of acrylic powder on top to strengthen and thicken.

Moms can bond with their daughters over the Tiny Tot manicure, pedicure and nail art. Dads can get in on the act, too. Angeles says men compose about 40 percent of Tips N Toes’ clientele: “They’re really into grooming and they have foot spas to relax.”

And, beyond nail services and massages, Tips N Toes also offers eyelash extensions, waxing, and paraffin therapy treatments to moisturize and soften skin.

As for me, I went for the Signature Spa Manicure, a relaxing session of exfoliatio­n and massage using essential oils, vitamin E and antioxidan­ts. My nail technician Fely, who’s been working at Tips N Toes for 18 years, noticed a crack in one of my nails and repaired it with acrylic so the chip was undetectab­le. Overall I had such a great experience I vowed to go back. It’s easy to be loyal to a nail salon when you know you’re in expert hands.

For more informatio­n on Tips N Toes branches and services, visit www.tipsntoes.com.ph or call the landline at 635-9824. Like and follow @tipsntoesn­ailsalonph on Facebook and Instagram.

 ?? Photo by JOEY MENDOZA ?? Jennifer Tipton Angeles, founder of Tips N Toes: “I am proud of my staff — they’re highly, highly skilled.”
Photo by JOEY MENDOZA Jennifer Tipton Angeles, founder of Tips N Toes: “I am proud of my staff — they’re highly, highly skilled.”
 ??  ?? Jeweled nail extensions
Reverse French tips
Pink nail extensions with sparkles
One accent nail
Jeweled nail extensions Reverse French tips Pink nail extensions with sparkles One accent nail
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