Nail salon reopens after installing protective barriers

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — A nail salon has reopened after the owner installed plexiglass and plastic curtains to protect customers and workers from COVID-19.

Manicures and pedicures at Brilliant Nail Spa in Cool Springs look a lot different these days.

Sams is a nurse and lives in Kentucky. She researched nail salons that were open and decided to go to Brilliant Nail Spa because of their safety measures. “I drove 2 and a half hours over state lines to get my nails done today," Sams said. “With this virus we absolutely do not know who’s contagious. A lot of people are asymptomatic walking around, so it’s nice to have this protective barrier between us."

Owner Anthony Nguyen said he installed the glass barriers at the manicure stations, and the plastic walls at the pedicure chairs on his own. “I just cut them into shape.”

He said they’re following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which includes sanitizing the plastic curtains that separate pedicure chairs every two hours.

They’re also cleaning the chairs between every customer so appointments take a little bit longer than usual.

He said he lost a big chunk of his income due to the pandemic, and supplies are more expensive.

“The cost of everything has gone up, all the material, the acetone, alcohol,” Nguyen said.

Nguyen is requiring all customers to wear masks, they must wait in their vehicle until their appointment time, and use hand sanitizer when they walk into the nail salon before they pick a polish. “I send a list of what the CDC requires us to do to each customer.”

He said the biggest hurdle is that everyone wants to come back all at once, but they’re only allowing a handful of people inside at a time. In addition, nail technicians who don’t feel safe coming back, are staying home.

“When they feel safe, they can come back and work," Nguyen said.

Overall, Sams said she was happy with her nail experience. “This salon has gone above and beyond to protect you from the virus.”

No walk-ins are being accepted at this time so they can manage staying less than half capacity per the governor’s order.