DASHING Diva is tucked away in a quiet corner of some Beauty Bar stores.
The scene sometimes appears surreal. You occasionally see children, even as young as 5 years old, flocking (with their moms in tow) to the internationally franchised nail salon that is attached to the Beauty Bar cosmetic store. As the name suggests, Dashing Diva promises to provide glamour conscious girls nothing less.
The salon offers more than the basic manicure (P200) and pedicure (P275) service for little divas (12 years old and below). Nail art on such small fingers can be had for an additional P150. Should your daughter wish to bond with fellow girlfriends, the salon also provides the Little Diva Party Package for P475 per person that already includes basic manicure, pedicure, nail art, and complimentary drink.
Of course, the salon is really geared for adults given its wide range of services such as nail extensions, gel manicures, waxing and paraffin therapy. It appears to be the parents who bring their children to the salon since young kids usually would have no way of knowing about the services unless an adult introduces and pays for them (or if peers have influenced in some way). The thought could raise many eyebrows given the unconventional indulgence.
BEAUTY Bar is part of the Stores Specialist group of companies.
What makes the salon impressive and unique is the process that the New York based franchise has perfected. The nail instruments used are sterilized and stored in a medical grade pouch – it’s a self-sealing sterilization pouch with internal indicator. When the instrument is chemical vapor or steam processed, a sign on the pack turns black. When ethylene oxide processed, another sign turns brown. If none of those appear, then you may ask your manicurist how sterilization was done.
Even the drying method for nails seems well thought out since bubbles hardly appear. For those wearing closed shoes (usually not advised for pedicures), they also go to the extra step of wrapping the toes with plastic wrap to avoid smudges.
For certain moms and kids, a day trip to Dashing Diva could simply be one unique way to bond. For others, it could be pure luxury and excess. But on hindsight, the value of an experience becomes unforgettable when all good things are tied with the sensible knot of moderation.
Photos By Ma. Esther Salcedo-Posadas, Contributor