Kay Nail Spa’s New Management Promises Great Nail Services & Customer Care! 

(L.-r.) Belinda, Jackie, Lauren, owner Lee Alley, Nina & Dolys are the friendly, professional nail techs at Kay Nail Spa on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., across from AdventHealth Wesley Chapel. (Photos by Charmaine George) 

Lilliana Harrington is a huge fan of having her nails done by owner (and experienced nail technician) Lee Alley at Kay Nail Spa, located in the Shoppes of Wesley Chapel, across Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, in the same plaza as Dickey’s BBQ. 

She’s such a fan, in fact, that even though Lilliana sold her home in Wesley Chapel and moved to outside of Orlando, she now travels more than two hours every three weeks to have her nails done by Lee. 

“When you find someone who is so extraordinary,” Lilliana says, “you can’t leave them.” 

Lilliana says she, her 19- and 11-year-old daughters and even her husband all go to Kay Nail Spa for pedicures and manicures, despite the drive. They discovered Lee at her first salon in Wesley Chapel — Colorful Nails in the Freedom Plaza on S.R. 54, which Lee and her husband Chris still own. 

The Alleys bought Kay Nail Spa just a few months ago, in November 2024. They also previously owned Lavender Nails at the Tampa Premium Outlets, but Lee made the decision to sell that salon when the opportunity presented itself. 

“[Lavender Nails] was very successful,” says Lee, “but someone offered us a good deal and I thought three salons was too much, so we let it go.” 

Lee says she loves the location at Kay Nail Spa, since it’s close to her home and even closer to her two-year-old’s day care. Lilliana says she’ll follow Lee anywhere, but she particularly likes Kay Nail Spa. 

“It’s a very clean place,” Lilliana says, noting that there are never any stray items on the floor and that it doesn’t have a strong chemical smell, as some nail salons do. “It’s very beautiful, very calming and very uplifting. All of her places are wonderful, but I fell in love with the chair at Kay.” 

And, while Lilliana has a strong loyalty and prefers that only Lee do her nails, she says that whenever she’s had her nails done by other technicians at Lee’s salons, she’s still always has been happy with both the quality of the work and the customer service she’s received. 

Lee says she worked at a salon when she first came to Wesley Chapel with her husband in 2019. She says she was often booked all day from people requesting appointments with her. She loved the work, and knew she wanted to go into business for herself. 

Now, she’s busy managing the day-to-day operations at both salons and Chris, who also works as an information technology (IT) professional, supports the salon with IT, paperwork, payroll, marketing and other administrative functions. Lee still makes time for her loyal clients as much as she can, but fully trusts her employees to care for those clients, too. 

She says the most important thing to everyone at Kay Nail Spa is providing not only good quality manicures and pedicures, but also excellent customer service. 

Growing up in Vietnam, Lee says her family owned a small nail salon, so she was always around it. She left her home country to work on a cruise ship, where she got a job as a casino dealer. 

Lee explains that, as an employee of a huge company that trains thousands of people in customer service, she learned a lot of lessons that she now applies to her nail salon businesses. 

For example, she says it’s important to always put relationships first. 

“We treat our customers like friends and family,” she says. “We have to make them feel welcome. If any issues happen, we try to understand them so that we can build a strong relationship.” 

Lee also says that, because of that mantra, clients often become friends, too. 

“I tell my employees that they can improve their skills over time, and if they mess up, their customers will give them a chance to fix it,” Lee says. “But, if they’re mean or rude, people won’t come back.” 

Lee says another thing she likes about her shop is that there are nail technicians of many nationalities. “We have Spanish, Asian and African technicians,” Lee says. “I don’t care where they come from if they do nails well and have a good attitude.” 

Lee says Kay Nail Spa offers all nail services such as acrylic, gel and dip powder. “If it’s available in the market,” she says, “we do it.” 

While Kay Nails was not previously known for offering nail art, now that Lee’s technicians are there, they are proud to offer those trendy and beautiful nail art designs, too. 

And, Lee says, customers can rest assured their nails will last. “We guarantee our nails for at least five days,” Lee says. “We fix anything for free within five days. After that, we are happy to take care of any issues that arise. But, if it’s not our mistake, we may charge a small fee to fix it.” 

Kay Nail Spa offers a number of discounts, including 5% for members of the military and seniors ages 65 and older. Lee says she’ll also take 10% off all services on your birthday. 

The spa also offers a loyalty card, where each service of $30 or more equals one point. Once you have 10 points, you’ll receive $10 off any service.

Kay Nail Spa is located at 2653 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Suite 104, in the Shoppes of Wesley Chapel plaza. It is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.,; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday; and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. To make an appointment, call (813) 527-6524 or visit KayNailSalon.com.

Lavender Spa & Nails Can Make Your Nails Look Beautiful While You Shop At The Outlets! 

New Tampa residents Nidhi Dwivedi and Arvind Gupta of Financial Vision can help you with estate planning, life insurance and more. (Photos by Charmaine George) 

If you’ve never visited Lavender Spa & Nails, located at the Tampa Premium Outlets (on the south side of S.R. 56), now is the time! The nail spa’s convenient location makes it the perfect spot to get a manicure and/or pedicure in between shopping and dinner. 

Indulge in a luxurious spa experience as Lavender Spa & Nail’s highly skilled professional technicians customize your treatment to your needs, leaving you relaxed and rejuvenated. The spa is now under the ownership of Chris and Gaiu (who goes by “Lee”) Alley, the same husband-and-wife team that also owns Colorful Nails on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel. 

Chris, who has a background in information technology (IT), takes care of the “back end” of the business, such as managing the software at the salon and its website and marketing, while Lee oversees the day-to-day activities at the spa. The Wesley Chapel residents took over ownership of Lavender in February of this year but the previous owners and most of the staff stayed on to make for an easy transition. Most of the nail technicians have been at the spa for more than five years. 

“We weren’t really planning to open another salon, but this opportunity came along and we decided to go for it,” says Chris. “You sure can’t beat the location.” 

The revamped interior of Lavender Spa & Nails lets you know you’re in for a luxurious experience. 

Lee has made several improvements to the spa by expanding the area for facials and adding a massage room — massages will be available soon by appointment only. She also has updated the interior with an elegant new dĂ©cor. Lee also has added new nail services, including the Hot Sweet Pedicure that incorporates hot steam into the luxurious Lavender Detox Pedicure (with the most luxurious pedicure products to reduce anxiety and stress with a fragrance you will love for total relaxation, leaving your feet and skin purified and replenished). 

The machine in this picture adds invigorating steam to the Hot Spa Pedicure. 

Lavender Spa & Nails also offers a wide array of other pedicures, including a paraffin spa pedicure (a high-end, eco-friendly paraffin alternative that is 100% natural, with shea butter and essential oils, that is great for dry and cracked heels), a volcano spa pedicure (with five steps of organic ingredients, including detox volcano crystals and activator, combined to create a fun, bubbling “explosion”) and the ultimate aloe spa pedicure (with natural aloe jelly that retains heat, soothes aching muscles and alleviates joint pain; the jelly also acts as a gentle exfoliant while the aromatic natural oils soften the skin and relax your mind and body; also includes hot stone massage and Eco-Fin wax in medicated boots in four different heavenly scents), to name a few. 

Manicure services include acrylic, gel, Gel- X, and dip powder nails. Spa services offered are waxing, facials and eyelash extensions. If you’re looking to treat your little ones, there are several Princess services available for ages 11 and under. 

Client Cheyenne Alderman, in her 5-star Google review (Lavender has a 4.6 overall Google rating, on nearly 600 reviews), raves about the services for younger clients. 

“Took my nieces to get their nails done for their birthdays, the staff was absolutely amazing! They were very accommodating to us, had great prices and they did a wonderful job! Would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a quality nail salon!” 

Lee says, “What sets us apart from other salons is that we treat our staff and clients like family. Customer service is our highest priority.” With a staff of 13 highly qualified technicians, you will always be treated to high-quality services and a friendly atmosphere. 

Lavender’s nail techs can re-create pretty much any design and style of nails you want.

In her 5-star review on Google, Sydney Caplinger said, “I loved how relaxing the environment was! Everyone was so nice. Halle did my manicure and she was so nice and respectful and I showed her a picture of what I wanted for my nails and she exceeded my expectations!” Lee says, in fact, that Lavender Spa & Nails specializes in nail art. 

The spa also has a reward program — you receive a stamp with a purchase of a service over $32 and on your 10th service you receive $10 off. Seniors age 65+ and active military and veterans receive a 5% discount and you’ll receive a 10% discount on your birthday. Everyday pricing is competitive with the area, despite Lavender’s desirable (and not inexpensive) mall location. 

And finally, customer Lindsay Kendall says in her 5-star review, “This is the best nail salon experience I have ever had! The salon is gorgeous and the owner is so nice. All of the nail techs are friendly and take their time. I felt so at home and relaxed the entire time. Dolys did my full set and Nina did my pedicure. Highly recommend these ladies!” 

The next time you’re shopping at the outlet mall, give yourself a break and get the pampering you deserve at Lavender Spa & Nails located at 2398 Grand Cypress Dr., Suite 430, Lutz. The spa’s hours are Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and 11 a.m.–6 p.m. on Sun. For appointments or more info, call (813) 300-3005 or visit LavenderSpaNails.com.


Lavender Spa & Nails features thousands of colors available in acrylic, Gel-X and dip powder. 

When you receive the new Hot Sweet Pedicure from Lavender nail tech Benny — or any of Lavender’s experience technicians — you’ll be treated to a soothing leg massage.

When you visit Lavender Spa & Nails, you’ll be treated like family by the experienced staff.

Visit Colorful Nails For Nail Art, Gel-X Manicures, Eyelash Extensions & More! 

Chris & Lee Alley (under the sign) and their entire staff at Colorful Nails in the Freedom Plaza on S.R. 54 provide manicures, pedicures and nail art, as well as waxing and eyelash volume and extension services. (Photos by Charmaine George) 

If you’re in the market for a new nail salon, be sure to check out Colorful Nails, located in the Freedom Plaza on S.R. 54. Open since February of this year, after taking over for a previous nail salon (KS Nails), Colorful Nails is a completely rebranded nail salon with comfortable seating, elegant decor and new staff. 

The salon offers acrylic, gel, Gel-X and dip powder nails, manicures, pedicures, nail art and designs, waxing (including eyebrow, lips, Brazilian and legs) and eyelash volume and extension treatments. 

Colorful Nails is the vision of husband-wife owners Chris and Giau (she goes by Lee) Alley. Before she worked on nails, Lee, a native of Vietnam, worked for Carnival Cruise Line for eight years and in fact, it was on a cruise ship where she first met Chris. 

“Four years ago, when Chris and I met, he asked me to take a chance,” shares Lee. “Come back to the US with me and let’s build a good, beautiful life together.” 

Lee left the cruise business to be with Chris and they moved to Wesley Chapel, where they are building that life together with their 15-month-old son Conner. 

In a new country — and on land full-time — Lee was ready to learn a new business. She befriended a fellow Vietnamese neighbor, who introduced her to the nail business and helped her get started with an introductory nail class. She then worked for a few different salons in the area to gain experience. 

Now, even as an owner and lead technician of her own nail salon, Lee is still passionate about learning all she can about her craft. She has taken eyelash extension and nail design classes and loves to watch online videos to keep up with the latest in nail art. 

“Lee is always trying to learn new things,” Chris says. “She spends about an hour a day watching YouTube tutorials on nail designs and techniques.” 

Chris, who has experience in the restaurant business and in information technology (IT), assists Lee with the “back end” of the business, such as managing the software used at the salon, Colorful Nails’ website and the salon’s finances. But, he says Lee is really the face of Colorful Nails. 

“Lee is modest, but I can say that she treats every customer like a family member,” says Chris. “Her background of working on cruises helps her emphasize excellent customer service, using high-quality products and delivering a satisfying experience for everyone.” 

Of course, Lee can’t do it alone. She has eight wonderful staff members who have a mix of Vietnamese and Hispanic backgrounds, so you can hear English, Spanish and Vietnamese all spoken at Colorful Nails. 

“If a customer or nail technician is more comfortable speaking in Spanish or Vietnamese, we all help each other out to make sure that the communication is clear,” Lee says. 

The Latest In Gel Nails 

While manicures, pedicures and nail designs are always popular at Colorful Nails, one option that is gaining attention with the salon customers is Gel-X. 

Chris says that Gel-X is an alternative to acrylic nail extensions. Instead of using glue, a special extension gel is used to apply fake gel-based nails of your desired shape and length to your natural nails. Since the fake nails are made of gel, they are thinner and more flexible than acrylic nails and the removal process is gentler on your natural nails. 

“I like to tell my customers about Gel-X because not all of them know about it,” Lee says. “Those who try it have given me good feedback about how nice it feels and that it lasts for 3-4 weeks.” 

“(I) absolutely love Lee and Colorful Nails!,” shares Rose Connell, a regular at the salon. “It’s a beautiful place and the people are all so kind. And, of course, they do quality work, I’ve always been satisfied with my nails. I used to drive to there from Ocala because Lee is so amazing. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.” 

Meanwhile, Loretta Hernandez, another Colorful Nails customer, says, “Jasmin and Caridad are both awesome and the owner, Lee, is very sweet and concerns herself with her clients’ happiness. It’s not about rushing to get to the next client as fast as possible. They give you the attention you deserve. The more I go, the more I enjoy the place. Everyone is friendly, and wonderful.” 

The holiday season is a perfect time to visit Colorful Nails. Get a mani, pedi and some beautiful holiday nail designs — then buy gift cards to give to friends and family as gifts/stocking stuffers. The salon is currently offering a promotion on gift cards — buy a $100 gift card for only $90. Also, you will receive 10% off the regular price on services if you visit Colorful Nails anytime on Monday-Wednesday, as well as on your birthday. 

Colorful Nails is located at 30036 S.R. 54. The salon is open Mon.-Fri., 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m., 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sat, and 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Sun. For appointments or more information, call (813) 501-4297, visit ColorfulNailsSalon.com.