Valentim Nail Salon

The salon began with services given at home and later grew into a studio that works by appointment. Its owner, Ana Karolina, leads the work alongside nail designer Nicolly Valentim.

Each appointment has reserved time, and the salon does not serve two clients at the same time. Tools such as nippers, files and drill bits are autoclaved between clients, and the salon uses professional products.

The main focus is fiberglass extensions on the F1 mold, which the salon says hold up through everyday tasks such as washing dishes and typing. Extension maintenance, gel shielding, gel polish and gel pedicures are also offered, and nail art is available. Extra services requested during an appointment are charged separately, and the price can change if the nails need work beyond what was planned, with the client told before that work starts.

Prices shown in the booking app are the prices charged at the salon. Payment can be made in cash, by card, through Zelle or through Venmo. Cancellations made at least 2 hours ahead are free; later changes go through the salon's WhatsApp. Arrivals more than 15 minutes late may need to rebook, since the next appointment is already reserved. Repeated no-shows without notice may lead to a deposit for new bookings.

Valentim Nail Academy offers online courses and an in-person course. The in-person course is two days of supervised practice on a model, with individual follow-up and limited spots per class, and it ends with a certificate of completion. The total cost is $800: a $200 deposit reserves a spot and the $600 balance is paid on the second day at the studio. Photos of work shared in the app belong to the salon, and a client can ask for their photo to be removed from the gallery.

An appointment-only studio that reserves time for each client, works on one client at a time and sterilizes its tools between visits.