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Beauty schools
Chicago Nail School
Chicago Nail School

Chicago Nail School

Beauty school salon in Blue Island, IL

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Chicago Nail School has operated for more than 25 years from its campus at 13004 S. Western Avenue in Blue Island. The school is licensed by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation and is built around one core program: a nail technology course of about 350 hours, which most students finish in roughly three to six months depending on their schedule. The first three weeks are theory, and the rest combines hands-on work covering manicuring, no-chip manicures, pedicures, gel, fiberglass, gel over acrylic, nail art and salon management.

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About

Chicago Nail School has operated for more than 25 years from its campus at 13004 S. Western Avenue in Blue Island. The school is licensed by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation and is built around one core program: a nail technology course of about 350 hours, which most students finish in roughly three to six months depending on their schedule. The first three weeks are theory, and the rest combines hands-on work covering manicuring, no-chip manicures, pedicures, gel, fiberglass, gel over acrylic, nail art and salon management.

Day classes run Tuesday through Saturday, either mornings or into the early afternoon, and evening classes meet three nights a week. New nail technology classes begin on the first Tuesday of each month, and students are asked to register at least two weeks ahead. Schedules can be adjusted with the approval of the school director. Admission involves an interview, a campus tour, an application, a registration fee and tuition with a down payment. Tuition covers the student kit, the textbook and the registration fee.

Beyond the core course, the school offers advanced workshops year round, including sanitation and disinfection, electric filing, freehand and 3D nail art, the acrylic one-ball method, a medical spa track for beauty technicians and a medical tech module. It also runs a teacher training pathway: a 500-hour short course for licensed nail technicians with at least two years of licensure, and a 1000-hour instructor course that begins with the 350-hour nail technology course and continues into instructor training. A 60-hour refresher course, taking about three weeks, covers manicure, pedicure, nail tip, acrylic and gel application for technicians who want to brush up or whose license has lapsed for five years or more.

The student clinic is where practice clients come in. Services there are performed by students under supervision, and the menu runs from basic manicures and pedicures through acrylic and gel sets, nail repairs, removals and nail art, at prices listed on the school's price sheet. Clinic hours follow the school's class schedule, and the last client is seated one hour before closing. Gift certificates are available, and the school sells nail treatments.

The school says job placement is central to its results and reports placing graduates in Chicago-area salons and spas, including Mario Tricoci Salon and Spa, The Palmer House and Kohler Salon and Spa. Parking is not on site: three city lots nearby offer free all-day parking, and free street parking is available. The campus is also near bus and train routes.

The school combines structured classroom theory with supervised hands-on practice, using a student clinic so learners work on real clients while they train.

Services

Final prices may vary.

Acrylic sets and their variations, from sheer pink and length or shape add-ons to full sets with tips or fills, plus no-chip and French options.

  • Long Nails or Extra Long $5
  • Pointed/Stiletto/Coffin Nails / Almond Shape $5
  • Sheer Pink Acrylic $5
  • Acrylic (Fullset w/Tips or Fill-ins) $18
  • Acrylic (Fullset w/Tips or Fill-ins) with No Chip Polish $30
  • French Pink and White/Fullset or Fill $40

Gel manicures, shellac-style no-chip manicures, gel over acrylic, French tips and hard gel full sets or fills.

  • No Chip/Shellac Manicure 2nd Color $3
  • Gel Over Acrylic $6
  • No Chip French Tips (White or Color) $10
  • No Chip/Shellac Manicure $22
  • No Chip Gel Over Acrylic (Fullset with Tips or Fill-ins) $30
  • Hard Gel Full Set or Fill $40

Decorative add-ons such as nail art priced per nail and rhinestones.

  • Nail Art (Starting At) Per Nail $1
  • Rhinestones (4) $1

A broad group of core services including manicures, pedicures, acrylic and French sets, nail wraps, tip changes and shortening.

  • Repairs (Per Nail) $3
  • Cut Down/Shorten $5
  • Pointed/Stelleto /Coffin Nails / Almond Shape $5
  • French Tips (White or Color) $6
  • Manicure $10
  • ACRYLIC (FULLSET W/TIPS OR FILL-INS) (round, square, squoval) $18
  • Pedicure $18
  • ACRYLIC (FULLSET W/TIPS OR FILL-INS) (round, square, squoval) W/No Chip Polish $30
  • Nail Wraps (Fiberglass or Silk) $40

Second-color polish and no-chip second-color options, plus polish changes on acrylic nails.

  • 2nd Color Polish $2
  • No Chip 2nd Color Polish $3
  • Polish Change (Acrylic Nails Only) $10

Filing off and soaking off shellac, no-chip and acrylic enhancements.

  • File Off (Shellac or No-Chip) $8
  • Soak Off (Shellac and No Chip) $8
  • Soak Off (Acrylic) $10

Paraffin treatment for hands or feet.

  • Paraffin Treatment (Hands or Feet) $10

Photos

  • Long stiletto nails with pink, yellow and teal art and rhinestones
  • Stiletto nails with black tips, purple glitter and black linework
  • Hand with green and yellow nail art and embellishments near supplies
  • Two people in black scrubs with purple and orange nail work at a table
  • Pink and white nails with pearls, rhinestones and chrome accents
  • Matte multicolored long nails in red, blue, yellow, green and purple
  • Glossy black almond-shaped nails on a wooden table
  • Blue, white and glitter nails with hand-painted pink and blue roses
  • Glitter nails with pink and black floral nail art on long almond shapes
  • Green and pink acrylic nails with leopard print and gem accents
  • Long stiletto nails with gold glitter and black tips
  • Stiletto nails with nude base and gold glitter black French tips, hands crossed

Meet the team

Their website doesn't list the team, so we don't either.

Highlights
  • Licensed by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation and aimed at the Illinois State Board exam
  • 350-hour nail technology course covering gel, fiberglass, acrylic and no-chip work
  • Student clinic services performed by supervised students
  • Teacher training path from a 500-hour short course to a 1000-hour instructor course
  • Day and evening class schedules, with classes starting the first Tuesday of each month
  • Year-round advanced workshops and a 60-hour refresher course
Good for
  • Students starting a nail technician career
  • Students who want a daytime or evening schedule
  • Licensed technicians seeking advanced or instructor training
  • Technicians returning after a lapsed license
  • Budget-conscious clients looking for student-performed services
  • Clients wanting walk-in style nail services near public transit
Treats
  • Nail technician training
  • Acrylic nail sets and fills
  • Gel and shellac manicures
  • No-chip polish
  • Nail repairs
  • Nail art
  • Soak-off removal
  • Pedicures
Techniques
  • Gel application
  • Acrylic application
  • Acrylic one-ball method
  • Fiberglass nail wraps
  • Silk wraps
  • Gel over acrylic
  • No-chip manicures
  • Electric filing
  • Freehand nail art
  • 3D nail art
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