Long before Covid-19 changed how everyone does business, Touch Nail Spa in Wesley Chapel, which is owned by the husband-and-wife team of Timmy Pham and Tiffany Ha, specialized in cleanliness, excellent customer service and relaxing spaciousness. What started as a 3,200-sq.-ft. nail and beauty salon in 2017 expanded to nearly 5,000 square feet as the largest nail salon in Wesley Chapel.
Now, Timmy and Tiffany have their sights set on doing the same in New Tampa, where a second Touch Nail Spa officially opened Dec. 12 in The Village at Hunter’s Lake, in between The Coder School and Sprouts Farmer’s Market off Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
To celebrate, Timmy and Tiffany are offering all customers 10 percent off any service through Jan. 12.
The new salon has all of Touch Nail Spa’s signature, well, touches — it is 3,500 square feet, boasts high ceilings for better ventilation, has rows of comfortable leather pedicure chairs lining the walls, and there are tables offering 32 manicure stations in between.
Like the popular Wesley Chapel location, Touch Nail Spa in New Tampa offers a relaxing and luxuriously-designed environment to enjoy a pedicure and manicure — appointments are encouraged for safety reasons — as well as some of the salon’s other offerings, including eyelash extensions, waxing, facials and even licensed massages.
“We try to make this an experience,” says Timmy. “We want people to come in and go, ‘Wow, that is beautiful.’ And then, our customer service completes the package.”
As for Touch Nail’s Covid-19 safety precautions, Timmy and Tiffany have continued what they already were doing in the first salon — Timmy called it “flawlessly clean, with all tools and surfaces constantly being sanitized” last year, before coronavirus — and takes it to another level.
When you walk in, you are greeted by a sign asking you to walk to the back on the salon, where two sinks are set up for hand washing, which all customers are required to do. Masks are available for those who may have forgotten theirs, and hand sanitizer also is readily available.
Once you are ready to go, Touch Nail Spa offers a complimentary beverage with every service, such as water, soda or even wine, which is served in a chilled glass (limit one per adult customer with proper I.D.). Timmy also is proud of the extra touch of keeping the drinking glasses for customers in a glass cooler, keeping them free of dust and germs.
Although there are 32 stations for manicures, only every other one or two is in use, to create proper social distancing. And, plexiglass partitions separate the technicians from their customers, with enough room on the bottom to comfortably slide your hands through.
The pedicure chairs look as expensive as they are — which Timmy says is $4,500 a pop. And, he is quick to show you that he can walk in between each one.
“We don’t pile customers on top of each other,” he says. “Lots of room here.”
There are 22 pedicure chairs in all, which can accommodate big groups or parties in non-pandemic times (or socially-distanced groups currently).
The chairs are a soft brown leather, and the foot baths are colored gold and have adjustable leg rests. As an extra layer of protection, the foot baths are covered by a disposable plastic liner held in place by elastic, preventing the spread of foot fungus and bacteria.
“Between each customer, we sanitize and clean the chair and the liner goes in the trash,” Timmy says. “It’s very clean.”
While the pandemic has been particularly hard on salons, Timmy says he still has roughly 45 employees in Wesley Chapel and, as business ramps up, New Tampa will probably have the same. For now, he has brought some of his best technicians, all of whom are State-licensed in cosmetology, over for the launch of the New Tampa Touch Nail Spa. “Our customer service is what sets us apart,” Timmy says. “They love what they do. They know how to make the customers happy. We listen to them, and they leave happy.”
A variety of spa manicures and pedicures are offered, and even the “Simple Touch” pedicure (just $27) includes a callus treatment, pineapple sugar scrub, hot towel wrap and lotion massage, along with nail trimming and shaping, buffing and cuticle grooming.
For an even more spa-like experience, a variety of “Hot Touch” and “Organic Touch” pedicures are offered ($47-$62). These include a hot stone massage for your legs and feet, plus additional treatments — such as specialized exfoliation for the bottom of the feet and a mask for legs and heels. Timmy says the Orange Burst and Milk & Honey pedicures are among his most popular.
Touch Nail Spa also offers discounted prices for children under the age of 11.
You can add additional services like French and gel polish, or dipping power, acrylic nails and nail design.
And, just like at the Wesley Chapel location, the color choices are seemingly limitless. Touch Nail Spa carries roughly 1,700 colors, available in both regular polish and gel, giving you access to 3,400 bottles of colors. For those who prefer dipping powders, which add a layer to your nails that is as strong as acrylic but healthier for your nails, there are 2,000 choices.
“We have every color,” Timmy says.
Touch Nail also offers deals for its customers. Timmy says if you come in on your birthday and purchase two services, you’ll receive 50-percent off the more expensive service. You must show ID that it is your actual birthdate, as the offer is not valid any other day.
The salon also offers a new customer reward program. Upon arrival, sign in on one of Touch Nail’s iPads, and register for your free membership. Rewards members receive 1 point for every dollar spent, and when you reach 500 points, you receive $25 off a pedicure service.
You also can now purchase e-gift cards for both locations online at the spa’s website, TouchNailAndSpa.com.
There are more than 50,000 nail salons in the country, and many are barely surviving due to the dangers presented by Covid-19.
Timmy says his two locations aren’t immune to the pandemic’s reach, but unlike other salons, Touch Nail’s many layers of safety protocols allow the spas to offer the level of social distancing that your typical strip center salon can’t.
The New Tampa Touch Nail Spa (8630 Hunter’s Village Rd.) is open Mon.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m., and 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on Sun. Walk-ins and appointments are welcome. The Wesley Chapel Touch Nail (27233 S.R. 56) has the same hours as New Tampa.
To make an appointment at either location or for more info or call (813) 973-4111 or see the ad on pg. 18.
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