A New Natural Nail Salon Vows to Change the Way Houston Approaches High-End Beauty

Chemical-free is the mantra at Paloma, a toxin-free nail salon debuting this October in the BLVD Place development. The brainchild of Maryam Naderi, Paloma aims to fill a gap in Houston’s cosmetic market by introducing one of the city’s first-of-its-kind nail spas (milk + honey recently debuted its own natural nail salon in West Ave).

It’s a welcome change for an industry riddled with chemical additives. Acetones, dibutyl phthalate, toluene, formaldehyde, and camphor are just a few of the toxins (most of which are already banned in Europe and Australia) typically seen in nail salons, compounds linked to skin irritation, respiratory deficiencies, and even cancers — conditions which affect not only the customer, but also the technicians. But Naderi is aiming to change the status quo.

“The inspiration for Paloma comes from my time spent in various beauty spaces around the world during my years in the corporate world,” Naderi explains. “Paloma is founded on the belief that beauty and wellness can and should coexist.”

Designed by Houston-based Content Architecture, Paloma will exude both posh style and organic flair, touting chemical-free furniture and five-free polishes — Chanel, Dior, Deborah Lippman, Jinsoon, RMS, and SpaRitual line the shelves. Stone basins also replace the conventional pedicure tub, limiting bacteria build-up and unpleasant odors.

Manicure and pedicure services include The Quick Fix ($20/$30), a comprehensive option for customers in a time crunch; The Standard ($30/$40), which showcases Naderi’s 18-step nail service (with skincare products courtesy Weleda); The All In ($40/$60), which combines The Standard with an exfoliation treatment and an extra massage; The Paloma ($35/$50), a full-service nail treatment sans polish; and The Petite ($20), perfect for kiddos.

While the nail menu is expansive, there are a few services Paloma will never offer: Acrylic, shellac, and UV lights aren’t welcomed in this toxin-free salon.