Luster Nail Parlour | Top-Rated Luxury Nail Salon in Nashville

We regret to announce that we have had to close our doors. Thank you to all who supported us in the last 5 years

Frequently Asked Questions


I can’t find you, where exactly are you located?

We’ve taken to calling ourselves "the speakeasy of nail salons", since we’re a little hidden. If it’s your first time, here are some hints: We are located in the grey warehouse building at 5202 Centennial Blvd. The same building as White Bison. Even though we have a big sign on Centennial Blvd, there is no entrance on Centennial Blvd. To enter, park in the back parking lot and wave to Mr. Estes (the man in the mural). Look for the silver door with 114 on it.

Do you take walk-ins?

We only accept pre-booked appointments. This helps us to best serve you and other clients, with a consistent and quality experience, because we wouldn't want you to have anything less. We can do our best work when we have the perfect amount of time blocked out to focus on you. If you would like to be on the cancellation list for the current week, click on "book now" at LusterNails.com, then click "request" under "first call cancellation".

What do you mean by "boutique luxury"?

Boutique means we're small on purpose, and specialized in what we do. Think fashionable boutique hotel, in nail salon form. Luxury means that we use quality products, with high end service delivered by highly trained professionals.

What’s the difference between a “quickie” and a "classic" pedi?

Our quickie service is for when you need to be in and out the door. Sometimes our lives get busy and we just need it done quickly. The main difference with the classic is that it’s more of a spa experience; you get a massage, an exfoliating sugar scrub and a moisturizing mask. No matter what service you choose, your cuticles and calluses will be worked on, but if your nails, cuticles, or calluses need any extra attention, we recommend booking a classic service.

What do you charge for a full set?

Generally when this question is asked, people are referring to traditional acrylic nail extensions. We do not use traditional acrylic at Luster.

Do you do acrylic?

The traditional form of acrylic is being used when a liquid and a powder are blended together into a paste, which is applied to your nail using a brush. We do not use traditional acrylic at Luster. Dip powder is a form of acrylic, and will produce the same look, feel, and performance as acrylic, but without the strong odor. We are not offering either of these options at this time.

Is dip “healthier” for your nails?

Like many things in the nail industry, technicians aren’t always in agreement on the answer to this question. Many clients report that their nails grow fast and strong with dip and absolutely love it. While it is true that the powder has added vitamins and calcium, it is still made with acrylates, and has the same look and feel as acrylic, because it is acrylic. Whichever product you choose, if it is applied, and more importantly, removed properly your nails should remain healthy.

What’s the deal with dip?

Dip powder is one of the biggest trends in nails right now. A lot of people end up trying it just because all their friends are doin’ it. But that doesn’t mean it’s right for you. Dip powder is applied by alternating layers of acrylate powder and glaze (glue) on the nail to create essentially the same effect as traditional acrylic, without the strong odor. On the plus side it adheres better and therefore lasts longer than gel polish. On the flip side it takes slightly longer to apply and remove, and is slightly more expensive. Many don’t like dip because it can appear too thick or bulky on the nail. We have discontinued our dip service at Luster because we believe that builder gel offers the same benfits, with a better result.

Should I do gel polish or dip?

Gel polish is for when you want to keep color on your nails for longer than a regular nail polish usually lasts. But it will not add strength or structure to your nail. If you want that, or if gel polish just doesn’t seem to work for you (everyone’s nail chemistry is different), we recommend dip powder or builder gel. If you are in healthcare or you’re a hairdresser, dip or builder gel usually works best. For some people gel polish is enough.

What is builder gel?

You may hear this product described as builder gel, structure gel, builder in a bottle, hard gel, a structured manicure and more. They all essentially mean the same thing. Traditionally hard gel was not soakable, it would have to be filed off. Newer iterations and hybrid products can be soaked off. We love our builder gel because it offers the staying power of dip (2 1/2 to 3 weeks), with the same protection from breaking, but with a thinner more gel polish feel. It's very strong and adherant, but has a flexibility that moves with your nail. We use a soakable builder gel by Luminary Nail Systems called Mulit-Flex. It is vegan, cruelty free, and 5 free.

What is hard gel?

Hard gel is a nail enhancement that is in the same family as soft gel (the gel polish we all know and love) but unlike gel polish, you can add strength, structure, and even length to the nail. It is also cured in an UV or LED light. It's sometimes referred to as resin or builder gel. In our opinion it's a better alternative to acrylic.

Why do you believe builder gel is a superior product to traditional acrylic?

First and foremost, no more acrylic smell! Hard gel doesn’t yellow, get brittle over time, or crack the way acrylic does. In our opinion it has a more natural look and feel. Our hard gel is biocompatible, that means it works in harmony with your body. It was initially a dental product, and later used inside the body for joints, so we feel it's safer for long term wear on nails. It's also vegan and cruelty free. Hard gel is very strong but also has a bit of a flex to it, so it moves with your natural nail, rather than fighting against it the way acrylic does. That can mean less lifting and fewer painful breaks.

Do you do extensions?

We are not currently offering nail extensions. When we do offer nail extensions, we prefer to do this using nail forms (as opposed to glueing on tips) and builder gel.

Why can't I book extensions online?

When this service is offered, we need to first chat about your current nail situation, your goals, and your lifestyle. Believe it or not, your nails can be too short to be extended. You want a good base foundation to build on, and we need a little bit of nail to fit the form under. We use nail forms as opposed to gluing on tips, but even with tips, your nails can be too short for extensions. You never want to be gluing tips or applying product to skin. It's unsafe and likely won't last. If you want long nails ASAP for an event, we recommend a system like Gel-X by Aprés Gel.

Do you do Aprés Gel or Gel-X?

We do not carry this product. Gel-X is a nail extension system from a company called Aprés. In this system builder gel is used to afix a pre-shaped tip onto your entire nail. We think it's great for "weekend nails". For example if you are someone who doesn't normally have long nails but wants to try them for an event. If you are ready to transistion into long nail life for the long haul, we prefer using builder gel in the traditional way for long term nail health and practicality.

Why don’t you use razors and graters in your pedicure services?

We don’t believe it’s ever a good idea to use either of these “tools” on your calluses, in fact it can be very dangerous. It can lead to discomfort, calluses returning worse than before, and even infection. Your calluses are there for a reason, to protect you. They can be gradually softened over time but should never be abruptly removed, no matter how satisfying it seems in the moment. For best results we recommend getting on a regular pedicure schedule, with home maintenance in between if you like.

What can I do in between services to keep my nails healthy and make enhancements last?

There are quite a few things you can do:

Apply cuticle oil twice a day. We moisturize our skin and our hair, but we forget our nails need moisture too. We recommend applying cuticle oil twice a day. We have some great products in our store that we recommend, or you can use vitamin e oil from the drugstore, or olive oil from your pantry. Massage gently into cuticles.

Push back your cuticles. You can get a cuticle pusher from your local drugstore. Periodically pushing back your cuticles can help prevent hangnails, dryness, cracking, hard cuticles, and extended cuticles. But be very gentle. The best time to do this is right after you get out of the shower.

Protect your nails. Remember not to use your nails as tools no matter how tempting. The more you baby them the more they’ll love you. Water is not a friend to gel polish and other enhancements. Try to wear gloves when doing dishes or yard work and avoid immersing your hands in water for any length of time.

NEVER NEVER NEVER peel off your gel polish, dip, multiflex or hard gel. We know, it’s so tempting, but this is one of the most damaging things you can do to your nails. If your gel polish starts to peel, nip or cut off the lifted part, buff it down if you can, and patch it with a similar color or some clear regular nail polish to hold you over until your next visit.

Why don’t you have jetted pedicure tubs?

At Luster we believe a foot soak with no jets is the best way to go. We find we are better able to clean and sanitize tubs and therefore reduce the risk of infection by skipping the jets. Jets are another place for germs to hide. If you have jets, especially with a piped system, and bacteria or fungus infiltrates these areas, they can be permanently compromised.

Why the charge for soak offs?

Soaking off enhancements correctly, in a way that won’t damage your nails, takes time and care. We soak off the product exactly according to the manufacturer’s instructions whenever possible. Proper removal not only maintains the health of your nail, it sets the stage for the next product to perform at its best and last longer. That’s why we don’t do things like scrape with metal implements to try to make the process go faster. Especially when coming from another salon, we can never know exactly what’s on your nails; so whether it’s gel polish, dip powder, or traditional acrylic, it can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour to safely remove. The extra time and products used in the removal process are what account for the added cost.

How are your tools cleaned?

All of our stainless steel implements are first scrubbed and cleaned with soap. They are then placed in a medical-grade dry heat sterilizer for a full cycle. That means our tools are sterilized to the same level as dental or surgical tools would be. Feel free to ask us for a tour of our disinfection area any time.

What do I need to know about disposable tools?

There are certain tools that cannot be properly disinfected, they are one-time use only. We throw these items away, or in some cases give them to you to take home. Here is a list of such items that we guarantee have never been used on a client before you, and will never be used again after you:

Mini nail files, buffers, pumice blocks, toe separators, foam flip-flops, wood sticks

Feel free to ask us for a tour of our disinfection area any time.

How are your pedicure tubs cleaned?

As per state law they are cleaned and disinfected after each use. They are cleaned with soap and water and disinfected with an EPA registered bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal, and pseudomonacidal (Formulated for Hospitals) disinfectant. If they were jetted tubs, the jets and filters would need to be flushed and the disinfectant circulated for a recommended amount of time, but our tubs are not jetted.

How do I cancel or modify an appointment I made online?

You can sign back into the account you used to make the booking and make adjustments at: https://go.booker.com/lusternailparlour

How do I book online if I have a gift certificate?

Booking online does require a credit card, but this is just to hold the reservation. Once you are in the salon and ready to pay for your service/s, you can use any method of payment you choose, including gift certificates.