SALON SPOTLIGHT

Opened: April 2014. “We then moved to our current location in May 2016.”

Interior design vibe: “The salon is bright, quirky and fun, much like the nails we do and the team who work here.”

Techs: Six

Bookings: “Most of our clients find us via social media so our online booking system Ovatu works really well.”

USP: “We’re probably best known for detailed and arty acrylic nails with hand-painted line work.”

Most popular services: “Glitter, glitter and more glitter. Acrylic enhancements for fingers and glittery gel polish on toes.”

Tools of the trade: “We mostly do acrylic extensions and use the INK London Acrylink line. There’s a cover powder to suit every skin tone and the different-speed monomers mean there’s one to suit all of our staff, no matter how fast or slow they work. We also love mixing the Additions glitter range with the powders for full custom designs.”

Creative influences: “I take inspiration from everywhere. I’m always snapshotting a colour or pattern that would work well on a nail, or even something like a flower, leaf or piece of furniture.

“I see an element of design that I like and develop it until I have a nail-friendly idea that works. I also try to keep my training up to date, even though I teach myself, as I always feel most inspired after a course.”

Social media: “Instagram is very ‘nail friendly’ and probably the platform we concentrate on the most. At first I just posted pretty pictures of nails and it’s grown more than I ever imagined.

“I have been lucky enough to have some high-profile clients who posted pictures of their nails, so a lot of our followers have come from that. I am very particular about the pictures we post now – if the nails and picture aren’t perfect then they don’t make the cut.”

Plans for 2018: “A second location for Notorious Nails is at the top of our list and we might be starting our own merchandise brand.”