VALDOSTA — Don’t tell Chris Vu that men don’t like pedicures and manicures. His swanky new nail salon next to Publix on Gornto Road has the occasional male customer who enjoys a good primp just like the ladies.

Well, maybe not quite like the female customers.

“I have one guy who likes pedicures, but he says ‘Don’t say it’s a pedicure. Say it’s foot therapy.’ That way, he thinks it doesn’t sound so feminine,” the 13-year Valdosta resident says with a chuckle.

Vu opened Nails By Chris in the brand new strip mall next to We’re Expecting You maternity wear and City Cuts hair salon on April 1. And it was no April Fools joke. Vu is serious about his work and is dedicated to his customers, no matter what age or gender, he worked for approximately eight years doing nails at Ken’s Hair Salon on Baytree Road before deciding to open his own nails-only shop.

And he rang all the bells and blew all the whistles when he started designing his very own salon.

“I want the local residents to know they don’t have to drive all the way to Atlanta to find an upscale nail salon that provides the most modern and comforting environment one would expect to find in a large city,” Vu said.

Entering the store makes it clear that Vu means what he says. You’ll find your feet on an elegant floor of ceramic tile that Vu picked out and laid himself. There’s modern, mahogany furniture from the receptionist stand in front to the circular hand and foot drying station behind it and more.

An arched false atrium in the center of the ceiling has been painted as a mural of blue sky and clouds with dimensions so real that if you look at it long enough, the clouds move. (OK you have to be in the mood. But it’s literally a beautiful piece of art done at Vu’s request by local artist Craig Hawkins.

A state-of-the-art high definition flat screen TV hangs unobtrusively from the center rear of the atrium, too, so you don’t get lost in the clouds.)

Leather clad chairs make the front waiting area a nice place to ponder the coming pamper. Vu does take appointments but he and his eight full-time employees do treat walk-ins.

If you’ve ever been in a nail salon, or a hair salon or spa that has a nail shop, you might recall the sometimes unpleasant odor that arises when folks get their treatments. (Maybe you’ve smelled burning hair before?) You won’t find that odor in Vu’s salon thanks to his modern ventilation system. The modern system is apparent when peering around the attractive salon.

Its silver colored coil funnels wander straight up through the ceiling in an almost decorative fashion in the six-station nail area near the front.

There’s a 10-customer capacity pedicure lounge, complete with huge leather covered thrones for comfort.

The chairs are equipped with massage mechanisms for easing away stress from salon customers. And behind there is a private VIP room that includes an inviting foot spa and room for two in case you and the spouse or a friend want to enjoy a private chat while you get the staff’s attention. Or you can go in by yourself.

With its environment geared to soothe and relax, getting your nails done takes on a new meaning when coming to Vu’s dream come true salon.



Q: Do you offer specials?



A: Yes. We offer discounts to all students, from public schools to VSU and Valdosta Tech. We also have other specials from time to time.



Q: What are the key services you offer?



A: We offer pedicures, manicures, do acrylic nails, have multiple choices of nail polish and colors to choose from, and get an exceptional level of service from our staff. My sister Rose and I each have 15 years of experience in this business, and we work hard to train our employees on how to elevate their attention to each customer so they have an unforgettable visit. We work hard to make our customers happy.



Q: What if I get some nail work done and when I get home, something goes wrong?



A: All of our work is guaranteed. If anything happens within 10 days of your visit, call us or come see us and we’ll make sure you obtain satisfaction. We want our customers to be happy.



Q: Do you offer gift certificates?



A: Yes. It’s a great way for our customers or local residents to treat their friends or relatives to a wonderful experience.



Nails By Chris

Address: 1733 Gornto Road

Owner: Chris Vu

Phone: 229-506-5220

Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday