My name is Kamala and I'm the West Coast Editor for American Salon Magazine. Join me for a series of fun and exciting beauty adventures out here in sunny Southern California!
Recently I had the pleasure of meeting Jessica Vartoughian, Founder & CEO of Jessica Cosmetics International, who is known to many as the “First Lady of Nails.” Jessica opened Jessica Clinic, the first nails-only salon in the world, and has grown her brand into a worldwide phenomenon. Her full range of nail care products for the professional market can be found in over 60 countries, and what makes the brand so unique is the philosophy behind it: Jessica believes that everybody’s nails are different and therefore require individualized approaches to caring for them.
Her famous salon in West Hollywood is currently being renovated for the next few months but for those looking to get their nails done in the meantime, she has opened a temporary location at 8602 Sunset Boulevard where clients can go and receive full service manis and pedis until the grand re-opening of her original location.
I was invited to visit her corporate headquarters in North Hollywood and absolutely fell in love with the décor. Rows upon rows of colorful nail polish lined the walls, along with an impressive chandelier made out of – you guessed it - nail polish. I was also treated to a fantastic manicure by Joey Brown, an amazingly talented lady who introduced me to Jessica’s latest product launch – the Phenom Collection.
What is so unique about this particular line is that the polish acts like a gel but removes easily like a polish, it dries quickly under natural light, lasts up to 10 days, and the gel-like shine becomes brighter without touch-ups. So unlike your standard manicure, this polish doesn’t require holding your hands under LED/UV lamps for extended lengths of time. Joey also primed my nails with Jessica’s Custom Basecoat to keep them healthy and safe from color stains. I ended up choosing a gorgeous burgundy shade and was amazed by how glossy my nails looked (they looked wet but were actually quite dry!)
I ended my afternoon visit in Jessica’s gorgeous office and had the opportunity to sit down with her to chat about the remodel of her upcoming salon, which is slated to re-open in a few months. I can’t say too much right now about the upcoming remodel but it’s definitely going to be exciting and I can’t wait to see the new look. And you can definitely count on seeing me lining up for a manicure when her doors open.
Jessica’s latest line is available at www.jessicacosmetics.com and at salons and spas worldwide.
About: After graduating from the University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism, West Coast Editor Kamala Kirk wrote for TotalBeauty.com and worked in the production offices for the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. Prior to joining American Salon, she was the Editor for E! Shows Online at NBC Universal, creating editorial content for popular shows such as House of DVF, Keeping Up With the Kardashians and The Royals.