Earlier this year, Miniluxe opened it's latest New England salon at The Street Chestnut Hill. I've had great pedicures at some of their earlier spots but never a manicure so I was excited to see the new space and it didn't disappoint! Miniluxe has always had a bright, fresh approach to salon spaces but Chestnut Hill feels especially stylish with runway shows playing on a lifesize screen in the waiting area, rose gold fixtures scattered about, and a "color runway" just beyond where you can pick your polish without bumping elbows with other guests.
They have their own range of 5-free polishes (free from nasty ingedients like DBP, toluene, formaldehyde, and camphor) as well as colors from your favorite brands, various gel polishes and, miracle of miracles, Dazzle Dry. What is Dazzle Dry, you ask? Only the most amazing thing to happen to nail polish ever. It literally dries in five minutes (I clocked mine in at exactly 4 minutes) without ANY UV lamp exposure, it's non-toxic, and lasts for a good 7 days. I didn't believe my technician when she told me I just had to keep my hands on the manicure table and wait a few minutes. Even after she declared them fully dry, I just knew that I'd end up a smudged, chipped mess before I made it back to my car. How wrong I was! A week later and my manicure was impressively still intact. It fact it lasted for about 12 days before I felt I needed to remove it and, unlike gel, I used regular, acetone-free nail polish to wipe it off! I'm obsessed.But back to the salon itself. There are a few manicure stations upstairs near the color runway as well as a private waxing room and the most spa-like bathroom I have ever seen. For pedicures, brow shaping and extra manicure space, venture down the stairs to a surprisingly bright, spacious beauty hub.
Miniluxe was founded with the basic idea that "clean" should always be the utmost priority and, trust me, they have it down to a science in their "Clean Labs". Tools are triple-sanitized with the best technology. Don't believe me? That's okay! You can watch the process yourself thanks to a glass window. Plus, every client gets a brand new mini file and buffer that is used during the service, with the option of taking them home for your next appointment. I chose to keep mine (and they're ready for my next manicure in my purse) but if you forget yours, you'll get a brand new set at your next appointment. I like knowing that these tools aren't shared, especially since I don't think there is a way of truly sanitizing an emery board!
As for me, nothing about Miniluxe at The Street Chestnut Hill feels like another chore to check off the list. It's cheerful and welcoming and, best of all, relaxing. I let out an embarrassing sigh during my hand massage but it was so nice to actually enjoy the process! I had so much fun that I even stayed a bit and took my hands for a walk past the mani-cam! While it's a bit out of the way, this is my favorite location so far and there is so much to do at The Street (especially in the warm weather) that it's worth an extra few minutes in the car!
On Nails: Girlishy Giddy by Dazzle Dry.
Photos c/o Miniluxe
