Great Escapes: Pedicure, Take Me Away!

You've been running yourself weary all week, schlepping the children to school, picking up the dry cleaning, walking the dog and wearing your stilettos on date night.

Whew! After all of that, your feet need a break. What could be better than dipping them into a warm bubble bath in the comfort of a cozy chair at your favorite salon? Not much that we can think of!

At in Berkley, you will get more than just a pedicure, you will get a little pampering for yourself.

"When you come here, you're treated like royalty," said owner Mai Nguyen (pronounced Nwing). "My customers say it's just like coming home to mom."

Perhaps that's because Nguyen thinks of everything, offering a hot cup of tea during the chilly months or preparing a snack for customers who come straight from work.

"It's all about caring about other people," said Nguyen, a retired nurse who came to the United States from Vietnam decades ago.

Her efforts have not gone unappreciated by her loyal clientele.

"Being there on a Saturday morning is like escaping the world for just a little while," Berkley resident Connie Smith said. "(It) is like retreating to a friend's home for tea and the latest gossip. (Mai)'s so pleasant and inviting.  

"One Saturday, I went there with my 4-year-old daughter, Danica, and (Mai) fixed Danica up with a real cup of hot cocoa, in a teacup, and made sure she was cozy warm with a blanket," Smith said. "I don't know where else you can get caring service like that these days."

It's that kind of response that Nguyen said makes her work rewarding.

"We're very family-oriented," she said. "I'm very happy. Berkley – and Huntington Woods, too – are always trying to help local businesses."

But the owner's caring personality is not the only thing that makes Princess Nails special.

"We're very green. Except for nail polish and remover, we don't do anything with chemicals," said Nguyen, whose shop does not do acrylic nails. "We're all organic."

That means patrons can sip their tea and enjoy their pedicure without the bothersome odor often found in salons.

Princess Nails is also available for parties.

"You're welcome to make a ladies day, and I will make it special for you," Nguyen said with a smile.