“I want people to feel, like, more relaxed. When they have a bad day or a long day at work, they come here and have a drink and just relax,” said Victoria Nguyen about her newest salon, Velvet Nails, located in the Fairway Plaza, Kitchener, Ontario.

This salon is not your typical salon: it is the ultimate, tranquil spa experience. They offer manicures, pedicures, massages, relaxing hair washes, laser treatments, waxing, and even have a bar on deck, ready to serve a glass of relaxation and escapism.

Nguyen owns five nail salons outside of Waterloo Region, but she says she has never owned one quite as blissful as this.

The atmosphere of the salon is quite serene; with pure white walls and sparkling floors, creamy beige, yellow-gold, and deep chocolate-brown accents, the space provides a warm and cozy yet sterile feel.

Soft, melodic piano plays in the background, loud enough to be heard but not blaringly obvious and deafening.

Despite being home to esthetics, it doesn’t smell like acetone and acrylic are soaking through the floors. Of course, there’s a hint of those smells, but it hides behind toasted vanilla and green tea.

The salon is massive, with enough room that even on the busiest days, patrons don’t feel cramped. The size is matched with a gorgeous chandelier, consisting of six multi-sized golden rings.

Every detail of this salon was methodically planned, including purse hooks at every chair, and beautiful, lacey sconces on every wall.

Nguyen moved to Canada from Vietnam in 2002. Shortly after, she found out she was pregnant and later gave birth in 2003.

“I was struggling with the language, and then to find out that I’m pregnant with my first daughter, it was even harder,” said Nguyen about her first few years in Canada. “I’m like okay, I think I’m gonna find a job, then do school at night. [Doing nails] is easier for me because, in my country, it’s very popular.”

While the beginning of her story is filled with stress and change, her salon business is filled with success and excitement.

Julie Tran is a friend of Nguyen’s, and when the opportunity to work with her at her newest salon came up, she was thrilled to make the change. She has been working at Velvet Nails since its grand opening in June 2025.

“[We] talked about a deal, you know, the pay. Then [the acceptance of the job] was right away,” she said.

Tran boasted about working at Nguyen’s salon, saying, “Everything is professional, clean. It’s less stressful, and the owner is really nice.”

She was not exaggerating about the cleanliness of the salon. Without a mere speck of dust on the wall or crumb of dirt on the floor, Velvet Nails is truly dedicated to providing the absolute best customer service. Tran has worked at several salons over the past decade and says that there is no comparison between Velvet Nails and the others.

Nguyen talked about adding more appeal to an already luxurious treatment. “I’ve been doing this for years; this is just a new version of doing nails.”

She prides herself on the extravagance of the salon and plans to further the business to new locations.

“I want more of what’s happening [at Velvet Nails] in every city.”

The salon has perfected the art of self-care. Manicures, massages, martinis; everything needed for the ultimate leisure day can be found at Velvet Nails.

The bar in the salon serves an extensive list of drinks, including wines, beers, and cocktails. There is even a section of the menu dedicated to margaritas. They also have non-alcoholic drinks, like Coca-Cola and juice, for those looking for a sober retreat.

Hot stones, aromatherapy, and quick massages are just a few of the other services available. Each option delves further into more specifications, like the length of time.

The high-end feel of the salon might cause some fear of prices. This amount of premium services would normally cost an arm and a leg, but at Velvet Nails, the pricing is more than fair.

It is $30 for a regular manicure, and $50 for a regular pedicure.

Their basic hair wash is an hour of relaxation, including a mini-facial, head and shoulder massage, and blow dry for $95.

Visit Velvet Nails & Beauty Lounge for a more in-depth price list.

They go even further to ensure their customers are satisfied with the price point. Birthdays, as well as health-care workers, students, military officers, teachers, and seniors, are gifted dedicated days for 10 per cent off.

Nguyen’s vision goes beyond beauty; she crafts an atmosphere where indulgence feels effortless. After all, pampering isn’t just about looking good; it’s about feeling good, too.