While having a fresh manicure might look nice, there’s a dark side to nail polish — most contain harmful chemicals that are apparent by that pungent smell. But when you walk into Gordon Square Art District’s Verdure Salon, there is no stench. That’s because it’s the only nontoxic nail salon in Cleveland, which means the polishes used don’t contain harsh chemicals such as formaldehyde, toluene and more. Here are three things to know about the salon that opened last September.
Safety Rules Here
Verdure favors natural polishes such as Zoya and Sundays because of their wide range of colors and nontoxic ingredients. “A lot of [harsh chemicals] can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness,” says owner Chrissy Freeman. “You think, Oh, it’s not like my body’s absorbing this because my nails are hard. But they’re porous. You have tissue underneath there that is living skin, so the products you put on your nails can be absorbed through the pores.” Verdure carries other nontoxic, cruelty- and paraben-free beauty products such as lotions, sugar scrubs and lip balms.
It’s a Creative Space
For those who like a little oomf with their mani, try a nail design ($10) such as a yellow sunflower on your ring finger with the others painted white. Or get all of your nails done in a geometric design. “Anything you could dream up, we’re happy to try,” says Freeman. “People post a lot of [designs] on Instagram and someone will say, ‘Oh, I want that one.’ ”
The Colors are Anything but Boring
Freeman sees turquoise being all the rage this spring. Bold blues are catching people’s eyes in fashion, which means you’ll need nails to match. Check out Sunday’s No. 36 polish that perfectly balances green and blue. “Normally, I’d be plain Jane but right now I’ve been lured by all of these people who are bolder than I am with the blues,” says Freeman.
