Summer’s Hottest Nail Trends + Free Bellacures Treatments

We'll do a lot of things to save a buck, but exposing our hands and feet to infection at hole-in-the-wall mani/pedi joints is not one of them.  So, we have long been fans of Bellacures, a chain of nail salons that emphasizes cleanliness and customer service above all else, so that you get a spa experience without the spa pricetag.  In advance of the unveiling of the newest Bellacures (in Pasadena), we sat down with Bellacures founder and local powerhouse Samira Asemanfar to get intel on the summer's hottest nail trends, her biggest nail no-no's, and her favorite places in LA.  Make sure to stop by the grand opening party tomorrow night for complimentary beauty services, apps, cocktails, and gift bags!

Samira has also graciously offered the first 5 BGG readers who email us at michelle@brokegirlsguide.com a voucher redeemable for a FREE Gelicure* at the Pasadena location ($50 value).  

BGG: What nail trends are you predicting for the summer? 

SA: The more pop the better! This year, colors and sparkles that pop are hot. We are seeing more people want to make a statement with brightness, whether it is a pair of neon sandals or some reflective nail polish. At Bellacures, we love this! We believe that the happier the colors on your nails are, the better your mood throughout the week. Here are some colors in the neon and metallic shades that we love:

Neon Brights:  Essie’s Braziliant (orange), Essie’s Bazooka (orange), Essie’s Lights (pink), OPI’s Greenwich Village (green), Never a Dull Moment by Ginger & Liz (Yellow), and Make a Difference by Gelish (Pink).

Metallics: OPI’s Just Spotted the Lizard (a gold/green metallic) and Platinum by Dolce & Gabbana (pewter metallic).

BGG: For you personally, what are your favorite nail polish colors?

SA: Essie's Fifth Avenue is a “Samira Classic” color. Other than that, I am loving neon pink Gel ("Make a Difference" by Gelish).

BGG: What is the worst thing you see people doing to their nails?

SA: Biting their cuticles (gross!). The more you do it, the more it peels and grows back funny. Another awful thing I see is girls peeling off their gel! The gel comes off in one piece, but it usually brings a layer of your nail bed with it, thinning out your nail. Not so good for you nails!

BGG: We hate chipped nails!! How do you recommend getting a manicure to last?

SA: Get a gel manicure (what we call a Gelicure). They last around 2 weeks or even 3 weeks. It's the best manicure on the market right now. 

BGG: If you can't make it to the salon one week and have to give yourself an at-home mani, what are the most important steps, and do you have any tips?

SA: 1. Push your cuticles back with a cuticle pusher as evenly as possible. The best time to do this is when you get out of the shower because the cuticle skin will be soft and easy to push. 

2. File your nails with a soft file (making sure the grit is 180 or more). An abrasive file will damage the edge of your nail, and open it up for water and other liquids you make contact with to get in the nail and soften/damage the strength of your nail.

3. If you own a cuticle nipper, lightly clip any hangnails or hanging skin. Don't peel it with your hand or bite it off.

 4. Always use a base coat! If you apply a colored polish to your nails, it will make them turn yellow over time.

5. Finally, apply a top coat. The best at-home top coat is the Healthy Hoof Laquer, which you can buy on Amazon. It’s easy to apply, it dries quickly, and it really coats your polish well while adding lots of shine.

BGG: How did you come up with the idea for Bellacures, and what makes it different from all the other nail salons?

SA: Ever since I was a little girl, I formed the belief that a well put-together woman always has a fabulous manicure.  This stems from my background as a Persian American girl who was raised in Calabasas.  I got my first set of short pink-and-white acrylics at the age of 12, and so began my obsession with my own nails. From there I have spent the last 17 years at the nail salon weekly and a total of over $30,000 on my nails.  But, there are those of us who end up learning the tools to turn this crazy fixation on beauty into more than just a mindless addiction.   I was raised with the mindset that I have to take something that I love and find a way to contribute to society with it. I set out to take on the beauty industry with what I knew to be true:  if I was spending that much money on manicures, so were most of the women out there. Then I set out to find a niche to fill.  Knowing that the nail industry, while saturated, is filled with salons that don’t put hygiene and comfort at the top of their service list, I went about my way starting Bellacures to tend to one’s hands, feet, and ultimately, heart.

BGG: What are some important lessons you've learned from starting your own company?

SA: 3 important lessons I've learned:

1. I learned how to trust my gut in making decisions (especially game-time decisions).

2. I learned to differentiate between challenges that I need to take seriously and challenges that are part of the game of owning your own company, which come and go as often as pedestrians on a promenade.

3. The most important thing I have learned: I'm really good at some things and horrible at others, and that is okay! I’ve learned how to refrain from being too critical of my weaknesses and instead delegate to those who are better in those areas.

BGG: What advice would you give other would-be entrepreneurs?

SA: 1. Learn how to deal with the feelings that arise as a result of the uncertainties of running a new company.

2. Find a few mentors.

3. Focus on the vision you have for your company and check in with it every few months -- don't lose sight of your big-picture goal.

BGG: Since we're an LA-based site, we always love hearing people's favorite spots in LA. What are yours? 

SA: Fav eating spots: Urth Caffe, Pho Cafe (in Silverlake), and Ago.  Fav walks: San Vicente (from Barrington to the Ocean), and Montana (from 26th to the Ocean).

*The voucher can be used for other services if a Gelicure is not desired.