Nail Werks

Nail Werks is a private nail studio in Marietta, Georgia, run solely by Bridget Berger. Studio 18 is inside Salons by JC East Cobb in Suite 17 of the Sope Creek Crossing shopping center, between Fugu Express and Petco. The shopping center lot has plenty of parking and is well lit at night.

The main service is a Russian manicure done without water, using an electric file with diamond, ceramic and silicone bits, so nails are not soaked. The studio says results usually last about two to five weeks or more, and it suggests rebooking every two to five weeks depending on the nails and lifestyle. Hard gel is the main system, with Akzentz as the primary brand, and hard gel strengthening is offered to support longer-lasting manicures and nail growth. Sculpted gel extensions add length and are formed over paper forms rather than plastic tips. Structured gel covers fills and rebalances, where length can be kept, reduced or removed. An IBX treatment is available as an add-on for damaged nails and to help enhancements adhere. Special methods are used for very short, bitten or free-edge-less nails.

Nail art includes natural marble, quartz, terrazzo and tweed designs, as well as cat-eye, ombre, hand-painted and encapsulated work. The studio keeps up with nail art trends in Korea, Japan and the US.

Clients submit photos of the nails they want worked on when booking, and bookings open at noon on the first of each month. Clients are invited to describe their nail needs and wants openly at booking. The studio describes its services as gentle, with no pain or discomfort during any service, and as detailed, with work adjusted to skin type and individual needs. The focus is on the health of the nails and the surrounding skin, and anatomy is always respected. If a nail or the skin around it shows a problem outside the technician's scope, clients are referred to a physician. Nails with an exposed nail bed, bleeding or infection-related redness need to heal before service and may need a doctor's visit first.

Tools are sterilized and surfaces are disinfected with a plant-based EPA Category IV disinfectant. The studio runs a six-stage RabbitAir purifier with HEPA filtration and a toxin absorber filter. Complimentary cold drinks and snacks are offered. Appointments are available Thursday from 12:30 pm to 10:00 pm, Friday from 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm and Saturday from 1:00 pm to 11:00 pm, and the studio is closed Monday through Wednesday and on Sunday. Before and after hour appointments carry an extra service fee starting at $20. Pricing ranges from $20 to $100 depending on the request. Payment is accepted at the time of service by cash, debit, credit, Apple Pay and Cash App Pay. After 5:00 PM or outside concierge hours, questions are directed to video tutorials on Instagram or TikTok.

Focuses on nail and surrounding skin health, with services customized to each client's skin type and needs, and invites clients to talk through what they want at booking.

A private, calm and quiet studio with a 50-inch 4K TV with streaming access, a manicure chair, a purse stool and a coat hook.