Responding to client feedback, we are changing our Saturday hours! Since opening in 2014, our Saturday hours have been 10am-7pm. Our clients tell us they would prefer to have the opportunity to book nail services earlier in the day, so beginning in May 2016, our Saturday hours will be 9am-6pm. We look forward to serving you!
Price Increase and Enhancement for Select Services beginning April 1, 2016
We wish to inform our clients that prices for select services will increase beginning April 1, 2016. The new pricing is as follows:
Express Manicure: $17
Express Gel Manicure: $28
Express Pedicure: $28
Sport Manicure: $20
For both the Express Manicure and the Express Gel Manicure, we will enhance the service by beginning to include an application of hydrating oil to soften cuticles and improve the finished look of our Express manicures. Our Sport Manicures will now include the option of either a buff & shine finish, or a clear coat.
This is the first time that we have raised prices since opening in June 2014. Prices for all Signature and Deluxe services will remain the same.
Thank you for your business!
Buff & File Holiday Gift Guide
Here are our top picks from our retail section - beauty enthusiasts will love unwrapping these treats. Plus, the ladies behind the nail bar share a few of their favorite gift ideas from around town!
1. Solar Oil minis ($3) for stocking stuffers.
2. Non-toxic polish by RGB and Deborah Lippmann ($18) for the natural beauty lover.
3. OPI Smooth ($20), a callus removing lotion, is sure to soften the sole!
4. Alex is a fan of tiny stud earrings from Serendipity to gift to her group of girlfriends. And her mom and aunts will love the fingerless gloves she picked up at Hazel Boutique.
5. Amanda is stocking up on hats and scarves from Pretty Little Things to put under the tree for her sister and friends.
6. Alliyie is shopping at Ten Thousand Villages for unique, fair trade home decor items that she'll gift to her sister.
7. Jaimee loves the well designed, stainless steel S'well water bottles over at Jane Gee - these eco friendly bottles are a perfect give for just about anyone!
8. Samantha found some fabulously rugged gifts for her husband at Inside Out, new to Market Street in Portsmouth. Check out their kids and pets selection too!
9. Andree is treating her mom to a night out with certificates to Louie's for dinner and a show at The Music Hall.
10. Kim is buying beautiful and sustainable florals as gifts from Wanderbird Floral, who also offers floral design services - great idea for a gift certificate!
Our staff picks their fall favorites!
After a summer full of light and airy colors, our staff is transitioning to their fall favorites! OPI's Guys & Galaxies (#1), a rich oxblood, was the favorite of both Alex and Andree, with Alex preferring it with a wash of gold sparkles. Amanda is wearing OPI's Center of the You-Niverse (#2), a charcoal black with just the right amount of sparkle. CND Serene Green (#3) is the go-to color for Jaimee this fall, while Kim cozies up with Essie's Wicked (#4), and CND Plum Paisley (#5) looks perfect on Sam. Our other staffers will be chiming in with their picks next week - stay tuned, these are the season's hottest colors!
5 No-Chip Tips
Two weeks of wear...high shine...dig in your purse for your keys immediately...ah, the benefits of gel manicures! While gel may seem like a miracle product, many factors can effect its longevity - including hormones and body chemistry - but here are a few easy ways to help your manicure live up to its No-Chip name.
1. Treat your nails like jewels, not tools! This is the number one tip for a lasting manicure of any kind. Using your nails to pry, pick, poke, or pinch can easily break the seal of gel polish along the free edge of the nail and cause chips. Take as much care as possible with your nails, and find an appropriate tool to do the job!
2. Moisturize. Apply lotion to hands and nails, and oil to your cuticles daily. Lack of moisture in the skin around the nails can cause premature lifting and chipping. Solar Oil ($3, and in convenient mini bottles) is a great option and available for purchase in the salon.
3. A week in, rub rubbing 99% alcohol on nails to bring the shine back. Exposure to the elements and products such as lotion can take the shine off of a gel manicure. To get them looking like new, use a cotton ball to rub 99% rubbing alcohol (available at drug stores) onto each nail.
4. Don't pick or peel! Picking and peeling causes damage to the nail plate and can affect the staying power of future gel manicures. Have the gel professionally removed, and try not to leave gel on for longer than two weeks, as the product is designed to wear for that length of time. Wearing gel longer can make it more difficult to remove, which could in turn cause nail damage.
5. Get the best value. Buff & File's full No-Chip Manicure is a great value - at $40 it includes full cuticle care, a hydrating hand massage, free soak off removal ($10 value), and 10 days of free chip repair if needed!
SHOP is live!
Our online shop is live! We have 13 beautiful shades of RGB nail color currently in stock, and we're constantly adding more. RGB is one of our favorite lines. Free of the five most toxic chemicals typically found in nail color, all of the ingredients are vegan, the formula is cruelty free, and it's made in the USA. Our clients find that RGB polishes are as long-wearing (or longer wearing) as traditional favorites like OPI and Essie. Plus, RGB's on-trend colors will have everyone complimenting your nails.
OPI for the home
Clark + Kensington paint has teamed up with nail color giant OPI to make what has to be the world's chicest interior paint. Available exclusively at Ace Hardware, now your favorite OPI colors are available for your walls as well. Cajun Shrimp and Can't Find My Czechbook top our list! More info about the collaboration at Clark + Kensington.
OPEN!
We have had a fabulous opening week! We've enjoyed meeting each and every person who has come through our door and we are so grateful for your enthusiasm. Looking forward to a great summer here at Buff & File!
Opening update!
We are so excited to open the doors of Buff & File to the beautiful women of the Seacoast! Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and we'll be putting the finishing touches on the salon space and confirming the last of our permits. We hope all of you will be enjoying sunshine and clambakes! Our online booking system will be up and running in the next few days, and we will be accepting appointments from Monday, June 2 and onward. Save the date for Friday, June 6 - we're having an open house cocktail party at 92 Pleasant Street from 5pm-7pm. Hope to see you there!
Bright things coming to 92 Pleasant St!
We are busy putting the finishing touches on our shop! Buff & File will be located at 92 Pleasant Street, in the space that formerly housed the Clip Joint. As one of Portsmouth's longest running businesses, we're hoping to harness a little of that great Clip Joint karma. We even kept the black and white tile floors - talk about iconic!
While the plumbing is being hooked up and the furniture is being crafted, we've been doing some serious shopping for the colors you'll be wearing on your fingers and toes all summer long. Our color wall is going to pop with shades from RGB, Chanel, Essie, and more.
Stay tuned for updates, but our opening is set for Thursday, May 22!
