Frenchies Modern Nail Care might just care more about the health of your nails than you do

One of Ashley Rose’s favorite memories is when a mother felt comfortable bringing her newborn baby into the nail salon.   

“Only three or four weeks old, brought her here and her little carrier and sat right beside her while she got her pedicure,” Rose said. “Didn't think twice about it because we don't have that strong chemical smell.”

Rose, who owns the Durham location of Frenchies Modern Nail Care, is committed to upholding what she calls the “Frenchies Difference.” And the unique salon is only a 15-minute drive from the center of UNC’s campus.

“We're not your typical nail salon,” Rose said. “We are more about cleanliness, sanitation, and health” 

In a typical nail salon, the first thing you’ll notice is the smell. Rose described it as a “punch in the face” of chemicals and odors, enough to send some customers right back out the door. Those chemicals do a lot more than stink, Rose said – they come from low-quality products and harmful services that add up to unhealthy nails. 

“We don't do the acrylics, the fake nails or the powdered dip,” Rose said. “You can't just soak it off. You have to take a drill and drill down which then damages your nail bed.”

The Frenchies experience is built around creating an atmosphere where everyone, from newborn babies to nail technicians, can feel comfortable and safe. It’s a franchise-wide initiative, but Rose and the Frenchies staff feel personally committed to it. 

“Everyone who is here wants to do natural nails. They don't want to do the acrylics, they don't want to be in that environment,” Rose said. “They want something that's going to be safe for them and for their customers.” 

And keeping customers healthy starts with education. That’s why Frenchies starts every customer’s experience with a tour of the store.

“We have nothing to hide. We're an ‘open book’ store and we want you to know and understand why we're different,” Rose said. 

That difference is integrated into every aspect of the Frenchies experience. 

The basins at the pedicure stations are freestanding so they don’t use jets, which trap bacteria and cause infection, Rose said. Every tool used by the technicians is cleaned three times and put in a medical-grade autoclave, a sterilization tool like those used in hospitals. 

And Rose says customers are noticing the difference.

“We actually have a lot of customers who come to us just because they feel comfortable coming here and they didn't at other salons,” Rose said. 

Other customers have used Frenchies to get back to healthy nails after years of damaging them with acrylics and dip polishes. Frenchies has products available that are specifically designed to heal and replenish nail beds. Customers even get to choose what products are used on their nails by looking at the number of chemicals in them.   

While some could see this level of cleanliness and comfort in a nail salon as reaching into the territory of posh and expensive spas, Frenchies offers all of its services at a price close to what you would get at a normal salon, Rose said. Customers can also join Frenchies’ membership service – the Polish Pass – for discounted prices.  

Rose sees the membership as critical to Frenchies’ identity, creating a community of customers coming in to see technicians they know will keep their nails looking good and feeling even better. 

“Your typical salons aren’t going to offer a membership – they just want you to come in and out,” Rose said. “But we want you to stay with us and be part of our family.”