A New York City Wellness Salon Successfully Pivots Amidst The Pandemic

Nobody would blame you for being- at least a little- on edge these days. With the pandemic-induced safety measures unfortunately showing little sign of easing up, people are feeling frustrated from having very little to keep them occupied outside of the house. Normally, when I would feel this way, I’d go to a spa or a salon to unwind and decompress, but that’s become a bit harder for most folks.

One of those places I’d go to is sundays. Started by Amy Ling, she sought to recreate the typical salon experience in more ways than one. This isn’t the first time I’ve written on this amazing destination, so I’m already a bit familiar with what makes them so good at what they do.

Nail salons, Lin explains, have gotten a bit of a bad rap for the past few years. A number of scathing exposées came out detailing the dangers that salon technicians face with their exposure to chemicals in the products they use. sundays, however, takes a different approach with its line of completely non-toxic products. Unlike most nail salons with hundreds of different colors, sundays only has 50. This not only prevents the paradox of choice that grips most people in this situation, but the colors they’ve selected all fit the vibe and feel of the salon, with just enough different variations to keep you on track.

Not only that, sundays isn’t just a nail salon; it’s an entire wellness brand, with other lovely additions like candles and self-care products.

The experience at sundays is unlike any other when it comes to the state of mind they put you in. While you’re getting your mani or pedi, sundays helps you alleviate your mind by introducing meditation to your routine. This includes anything from donning a headset and listening to a soothing voice guide your breathing, to sipping on freshly brewed tea while technicians get to work on your nails (or lounge on the couch with your cup while your nails dry).

Ling said the idea for all of this came from suggestions by her own clients, who told her that coming to the salon was the only free time they had during the day. From that, she devised a way to make the most out of her customer’s visits to rejuvenate both body and mind.

“It dawned on me that I could give them a chance to not only look good but also feel serene through meditation,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to meditate more but say, like so many of us, that I’m too busy. These services make the time for you.”

While heading out to this incredible salon sounds like your most relaxing day in the making (which you can do, as all three of their locations are open at limited capacity), I know what the homebound and out-of-towners are saying to themselves: “You keep talking about how great this place is, but I’m never going to be able to experience it!” And that, dear reader, is where you’re wrong. Because now this unique salon experience can come to you.

With the dawn of the pandemic, Ling decide to (figuratively) take her show on the road, offering scheduled, online sessions beamed into the comfort of your own home. Now, I know what you’re thinking: Online manicures? Let me explain.

On sundays’ website, you can purchase a number of full boxes like manicure or pedicure kits. After you kit arrives and your appointment is scheduled, a technician will either voice or video chat with you to walk you through your treatment and to teach you how to do it yourself or with the help of any friend or family member you can employ for an extra pair of hands.

For those who want a professional to help with their nails, but can’t make it to the actual salon, this is as good as it gets. And it’s even better for a frequent traveler like me because when I am able to globetrot all over the world again the way I was pre-pandemic, I never have to worry about missing my weekly manicure.

The best part? sundays has no intention of stopping these classes once the pandemic dies down. Ling says she has been amazed by the reception of these online sessions. She cited a recent Mother’s Day class that the salon hosted, which got a much larger audience than she was expecting.

Yet no matter what direction the brand goes, Ling said she’s committed to keeping true to her vision.

“We are always about doing things in a very holistic, self-care and self-love way,” she said. “We’re striving to teach people that they’re their own best friend.”

Also, be sure to check out their blog for handy tips on nail care.