She wants to nail down a new, more social salon model

Laurie Nguyen has loved getting her nails done since she was 16, but she found most nail salons to be old-fashioned and not very social.

“Something was missing,” said the 30-year-old Westminster resident. “It seemed more like a chore than something fun. I wanted to change that.”

So she started her own nail salon, Black File in Fountain Valley, with soft openings in August and an official opening in December.

In some nail shops, the music can be outdated or foreign and communication can be difficult because of the large number of Asian workers in the field. At Black File, Top 40 music and chatter among clients and aestheticians accompany the buzzing of electric nail files and other tools.

Guests can also shop for clothing and jewelry in the lobby while waiting, and a snack bar with candy is available for those who get hungry.

“We decided that what was missing was a fun environment,” said Nguyen, who co-owns the shop with her fiancé, Scott Nghiem, who also co-owns After’s Ice Cream, which is also in Fountain Valley. “When I got my nails done, I went to different nail places all the time because I never found a place that I truly liked. It was always awkward going because it was hard to communicate to the technicians. I felt like we wanted a nail social, where you could bring your friends and socialize.”

In fact, she commonly refers to her business as a nail social.

The atmosphere is also modernized by elegant-looking yet comfortable furniture, including 10 all-white pedicure stations and a nail bar where up to 12 people can get manicures at a time.

Because the seats are closer to each other than they would be with individual stations, customers and technicians feel encouraged to chat.

Nguyen, a certified manicurist who doesn’t perform nail services at her shop but instead focuses on management duties and promoting customer service, said all of her technicians are fluent in English, an element that she hopes adds to a comfortable environment.

“I’m Vietnamese myself ... but there are times where I don’t feel comfortable speaking Vietnamese when there are non-Vietnamese speaking people next to me,” she said. “We wanted a place where everyone could communicate, and in order to get your service done properly, communication is key.”

Black File offers manicures that start at $14, pedicures that start at $18 and gel manicures that start at $29, as well as acrylics and nail decor, like rhinestones and glitter. It also has a station in the back for facial waxing, eyelash extensions, makeup application and dry hairstyling and up-dos.

The salon carries more than 500 colors of polish, in regular and gel form, from brands such as Young Nails, OPI and Presto. Nguyen said the difference between the two is that gel lasts longer, is thicker and is “cured” under an LED light so it dries faster. It is taken off by a manicurist through filing. Regular polish can be easily taken off with nail polish remover but takes longer to dry and is more prone to chipping.

Nghiem, whose other businesses are mainly food establishments, like After’s and the newly opened UJelly, said he was excited to take on a different type of model with his fiancée.

“I’ve been doing this for so long that the part about building the business is one of the most exciting parts for me,” said the 31-year-old Huntington Beach resident. “I love building the environment and designing. Seeing if the world loves a new business when it comes out or how they take it, that’s almost addicting to me. This is an attempt to bring nails back to current times and make it young and hip again.”

Madison Lockrem, 23, of Fullerton said she has been visiting Black File routinely every two weeks since August to get her nails done because she enjoys the unique environment.

“The staff is just so friendly and the shop is always so clean,” said Lockrem, who has been getting her nails done since she was 16 and found out about Black File after following Nghiem on Instagram.

“Laurie goes out of her way to make sure her customers are satisfied. You feel really welcome, and they remember your name every time you come in. I’ve been to so many nail salons where I can’t have a conversation with my nail tech. I feel almost like I have friends at Black File. They just make me feel good.”

Black File is located at 16055 Brookhurst St., Suite A, in Fountain Valley. It is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. It is closed Sundays and Mondays. Appointments are recommended by calling or texting (714) 924-4040.