When we picture nail salons, we usually conjure up images of spaces devoted to beauty and self-care. Beyond the superficial allure of polished nails and pampering treatments, though, lies an untapped opportunity to elevate the entire salon experience through biophilic design. Biophilia, which means “love of life,” is the term used to describe the innate human affinity for the natural world. It’s more than just an aesthetic appeal; biophilia can have profound psychological and physiological impacts by connecting patrons to the nature—even in an urban, interior environment like a salon. I don’t have many vivid memories of the pedicure I received last fall, for instance, but I can close my eyes and easily remember the salon that felt like an earthy sanctuary as much as a functional temporary space.
I’ve been in less “naturally” inspired salons with far fancier tools and amenities. Yet those salons often feel more stressful and less rejuvenating than places that seamlessly blend sounds, smells, and sights in ways that remind humans of their time spent in the wild.
Section 1: Embracing Nature Beyond the Surface
Biophilic design is commonly misunderstood as merely adding plants. While greenery plays an essential role in biophilic design, the concept goes much deeper. It involves creating a space where all of the senses are engaged in ways that mimic the natural world. I remember walking into a nail salon in a busy central city—a secret oasis tucked away in an unexpected corner. What struck me was not just the verdant foliage sprinkled throughout the room but the way the space seemed to breathe. Soft light filtered through sheer drapes, casting delicate… shadows on the floor, much like sunlight filtering through a forest canopy.
The sound of trickling water emanated from a small, wall-mounted fountain, creating a serene backdrop that instantly put me…
Consider the choice of materials. Options with even a whisper of eco-friendliness would be an improvement. But it’s only a half-measure if wood is used for the armrests but not the partitions, or stone and concrete make the basic “scenting” more effective by attracting and retaining essential oils. These materials don’t just “look pretty”; they bring an embrace of nature to the salon. Have you ever placed your hand on a stone surface and felt the coolness of it? What if your nails were in contact with stone? Would you experience that same “connecting with the Earth” sensation without the stone itself?
Nature is most powerfully experienced through our senses; doesn’t it make sense to invite something other than a picturesque flowerpot into a salon? The use of color is a whole other matter; because I was inarticulate at the time, I called it “spaciousness” when I really meant “calmness.”
Section 2: Sensory Layers that Enhance Experience
The most successful biophilic spaces use all of our senses to engage us, not just our vision. A thoughtfully designed nail salon can smartly incorporate sound, smell, and touch to create an experience that resonates with its clientele. This multi-sensory setup can convert a pedicure or manicure into a transforming ritual. Let’s focus on sound. Many salons have music playing softly in the background, but few think to add a more natural auditory experience. One salon I visited often played sounds of nature, like bird calls, gentle rain, and rustling leaves. Those are lovely sounds to hear, but the salon really just had a nature sound machine, so how could it be an excellent auditory experience?
The way the sounds were layered and mixed was what made it an experience and not just a normal nail salon visit. You could tune in or not, and the sound still worked its magic.
One way to enhance the sensory experience, especially in the auditory dimension, is to introduce water into a space. The gentle burbling of a water feature is naturally relaxing and calls to mind the soothing sounds of rivers, brooks, or waterfalls. I have seen nail salons that opt for an almost spa-like vibe by incorporating small water installations into their designs—not just as a focal piece but tucked into corners, where a surprise trickle might greet you as you step from one room to another. It’s such a lovely, understated, elegant way to let nature indoors.
A similarly crucial role is played by scent in establishing the tone of a biophilic salon. I once visited a salon that diffused essential oils into the air, creating a natural, earthy aroma—think cedarwood, lavender, or even eucalyptus. That salon took advantage of a critical olfactory connection to nature that can calm nerves, ease tension, and enhance the overall mood and ambience of the space. Any lingering scent of nail products was totally masked by the natural aromas engulfing me the moment I walked in. I left that particular salon feeling not just renewed but practically reborn, and it wasn’t just because my nails were impeccably polished.
The sensory atmosphere of a space can benefit from temperature and airflow. One of my favorite biophilic designs is a salon that cleverly used natural ventilation to replicate a warm summer breeze. This is a pretty cool space in which to be, even on the hottest summer days. The salon has large, operable windows and ceiling fans that work in concert to pull fresh air through the space. The way they staged the airflow—in, up, and around—feels so much more pleasant than the typical indoor environment. It isn’t stuffy, and it certainly isn’t artificially cooled.
It’s just fresh and alive—like being in a cooled outdoor space, if you will. That’s biophilic design at its finest: fresh and alive.
Even the experience of touch can have an unexpected influence. I have usually found that materials from nature—smooth stone countertops, soft wool cushions, or a leather chair—have a way of making me feel more centered, as if the item I’m using is somehow anchored to this planet. One salon I visited had chairs made to order, with the utmost attention paid to the linen covers. The fabric was soft and natural, offering an inimitable sensation against the skin. That degree of tactile detail might seem inconsequential, but it adds a layer of comfort that synthetics can’t and that your basic runs-in-the-mill textiles hide.
Creating a natural atmosphere doesn’t just happen; it takes deliberate design decisions. For one, lights in a salon should ideally not just be artificial overhead lights. Aestheticians and nail artists should be working under bioluminescent lights, which are a far better substitute for the way mankind used to rely on artificial lights at night while natural sunlight was the only option during the day. To that end, in a salon I once visited, the bioluminescent lights were dimmed to a too-warm shade that simply failed as a night light (colloquially, “day” lights or lighting that mimics the first half of the sunset, which is not as warm and intense as lighting that mimics the second half of the sunset).
It was a terrible fail, implementing one of the very bad opportunities to better synchronize lighting with a natural rhythm of day and night.
I have also run into salons that employ indirect lighting—soft lamps and wall-mounted fixtures that throw off a gentle glow, sort of like the sun streaming through a canopy of trees. This type of lighting is organic and soothing compared to the tormented fluorescent lights of so many other spaces. What I love about well-lit biophilic salons is that they can use light to put the natural materials in their spaces on display, to highlight the woods’ grains and the stones’ textures. Or, in a well-lit moment, to bring out the commanding shapes of plants.
What I find most captivating about biophilic design is its inherent duality that seems to effortlessly promote two very different but also very related agendas: personal well-being and environmental sustainability. In what is already a wellness space, biophilic design can elevate that experience to yet another level of intimacy and care. It’s not merely about manicures, pedicures, or good old-fashioned finger-stretching hand massages. It’s about an experience that seems almost axiomatic: If a person is engaging with you in some sort of handshake, make it a good one, for both parties involved and for the planet.
One specific salon with which I worked was fully committed to sustainability, incorporating a medley of biophilic, eco-friendly design principles. To begin, the walls were insulated with natural wool—a material with excellent renewability and renewability-resembling properties. The floor was even made of reclaimed wood, which is way more sustainable than most others on the market, to reduce the space’s overall footprint while also lending some rustic warmth to the aesthetic. My favorite detail, though, was the way the polish racks were made of bamboo—another sustainable material that is highly comparable to reclaimed wood. When I got to tour the space, the attention to detail really impressed me and seemed to send a clear message: This is a salon that truly cares about its sustainable mission.
Energy efficiency is another big plus of biophilic design, especially where lighting and ventilation are concerned. When it comes to lighting, nothing beats natural light. Salons, for instance, can nearly eliminate their lighting bills simply by placing large windows or skylights in the right places. Ventilation is another story. A salon facing a bustling urban street can’t exactly throw open its windows to the fragrant breezes of nature. A darling salon I know of on an urban corner used strategically placed planters and tinted glass to go almost completely natural light- and energy-efficient while still managing to be private, which is what biophilic design is all about: harmony between the space and its environment.
Another biophilic design feature found in salons is living walls. Sure, these vertical gardens beautify salons, but they do so much more. They provide natural detoxification and improve indoor air quality—in nail salons, where the presence of chemicals like acetone, nail polish, and other “toxic” décor would otherwise compromise air quality. One of my favorite salons had an entire back wall covered by a vertical “garden” of ferns, ivy, and assorted non-toxically painted plants. When clients would comment on the salon’s living wall, they’d mention how it made them feel just a bit more relaxed after a long day, and even after some apps to improve their appearance.
They were DIY-ing “non-anxiety” as the ultimate “look good, feel good” moment.
Water conservation is also of crucial importance, considering how many gallons of water a nail salon can use in a single day. Each of the salons I visited had ingenious systems in place to conserve water. For example, one salon used a filtration system with their pedicure chairs that allowed them to reuse water; after the water was “cleaned” by the system, it was pumped back into the basin for the next client to use. Clever use of technology like this not only reduces a business’s negative impact on the environment but also makes it easy for clients to feel good about patronizing an establishment that cares.
The advantages of adopting a biophilic approach extend beyond the environment and clients. They encompass the salon staff’s well-being—an oft-overlooked factor when considering biofriendly spaces in the salon and spa sector. This is relevant to salon and spa staff because, in hard-hit, unventilated spaces, their physical, chemical, and near-light “health” is at risk, negatively impacting mood, productivity, and absences (for sick days). Air quality control, natural near-light, and even the presence of plants could offset many negative health factors salon workers face. And healthy, happy salon employees not only enjoy coming to work, but they also serve as a compelling part of the eco-salon sector narrative, because biofit spaces generate the sort of aural, visual, and chemical environment that salon staff would be proud to share with clients.
Including biophilic components in a salon doesn’t necessarily mean an extensive renovation is in order. Minor adjustments can yield major dividends. When I visited one salon, it had done just that. It positioned a few strategically placed planters around the space, switched out its harsh fluorescents for warm, energy-efficient LED bulbs, and augmented its ambient music with the sounds of nature. And that’s all it took—the place felt substantially different. Clients reported feeling like they were on the verge of an out-of-body experience, while even salon workers said they were now in a zen state of mind.
Biophilic design is simple and beautiful. It promotes well-being and environmental sustainability. These are two vitally important aspects of our lives, in every space we inhabit, but most especially in one like a nail salon, where the atmosphere can feel clinical or even stressful. Natural light reduces the appearance of chromophores in acrylic nails. Biophilic design can create a healthier, more enjoyable work environment for nail technicians, as well as a better experience overall for clients, who can hopefully shed the stress of worrying about their wellness.
One of the most interesting things about biophilic salons is that these spaces that exist in nature are emerging as a new type of salon, and part of that has to do with what their owners are committed to. There’s a huge difference between a space that’s simply beautiful and one in which eco-friendly practices permeate every level of the design. Salons have a long way to go in terms of reducing their energy consumption. They’re generally open to the public six or seven days a week, with only two to three going dark during the evening hours.
For those maintaining night shift hours, the only way to operate is to run lights for the entire time of service.
This specific salon took special care to use non-toxic nail products. This was good for the health of their clientele, of course, but I would argue it benefitted the salon employees even more. As non-toxic products become the norm, more and more salon workers will leave the trade having spent far fewer hours in toxic environments than in years gone by.
Bioaesthetics is one of the big reasons I run something of a personal campaign for biophilic design—spaces that are healthy and that make us feel good are what the world needs now.
I stumbled upon another compelling example when I visited a salon that had incorporated sustainable water solutions into its design. Salons are inherently water-abundant spaces of concern—think about all the cleaning that must happen, not to mention the pedicures. This one was decidedly forward-thinking, though, in its installation of a water recycling system that filtered and reused. … But even that wasn’t said to be an ideal solution. Systems like that, plus the salon’s living walls that find a use for certain kinds of algae, might make it seem like a possible ecosystem. I left with a feeling that if I had certain kinds of money, I would plow it into these kinds of ventures.
Another clever design choice I’ve noticed in biophilic salons is the use of natural ventilation systems. Many nail salons rely on artificial ventilation systems, which don’t always function well and lead to dry, stuffy interiors. In contrast, fresh air and natural breezes are welcomed in biophilic salons. One such salon I experienced in Oregon had large operable windows lining its walls. The setup allowed for brilliant cross-ventilation—an effect that left the salon feeling as if it were truly part of Oregon’s verdant exterior. In that salon, I was at once a sheltered client and a vital part of the air composition of the salon’s atmosphere.
Biophilic design promotes the inclusion of design elements that connect people with nature. For millennia, humans have found solace in the natural world, and research shows that being in nature—or even just being near it—enhances our health and well-being. Nail salons, often tucked away in the less natural spaces of our cities, can now be in on the secret, bringing biophilia to life in their interiors via elements both real and imagined. Salons can provide customers pathways to mindfulness and moments of tranquility, which serve as a counterpoint to the frenetic pace of everyday life.
One such salon had the luxury of a meditation room—a small, tucked-away space in which one could sit undisturbed before or after an appointment. The setup was unpretentious: a chair with a footstool that was a hair’s breadth away from being a throne, a small water feature that had “trickle” written all over it, and a handful of leafy friends that made the room feel secluded despite its proximity to the salon. I wouldn’t have called the space luxurious, but it definitely carried an air of exclusivity. I had the room to myself. Beyond these four walls, it was a real-time moment of transcendental meditation that I was experiencing, much like Dr.
Aditi Nerodico will talk about in a couple of slides for this evening’s lecture.
Wellness design must also consider light and lighting. Our exposure to artificial light can upset the circadian rhythms that the body’s cells use to gauge what time of day it is. González has seen biophilic nail salons that take this into account, using natural light during the day and warm, dimmable light as the sun sets. “The kind of design consideration makes a huge difference,” she says. One reason for this is that harsh, fluorescent lights, the biophilic alternative is natural and feels gentle, almost like the sunlight one would hope to get through a window at a salon.
I find biophilic design particularly compelling because it integrates so intimately with the tenets of sustainability. It moves beyond sustainability as just the “eco-friendly product” realm; it moves us toward spaces where the environment and inhabitants are interconnected, where inhabitants even part of the biotic design, or feel alive in the space. Salons that practice biophilic design are more sustainable just by their nature because they rely less on a whole host of artificial inputs, and encourage a lifestyle that is clearly more in tune with the natural world.
In the end, biophilic design is concerned with crafting settings that invigorate both body and spirit. Often underestimated as locales of true relaxation and bonding, nail salons can become much more than just spots for topping off a gel manicure. With the right design principles in play, they can be wellness nirvanas—inviting clients to experience even a moment of retreat from the noise of everyday life and the sensation of being momentarily untroubled and connected to nature, right in the middle of urban mania.
The most important part is to think beyond the immediate function of the space and to contemplate deeply how all environments can boost or even support the holistic health of their users. To that end, some nail salons are starting to integrate biophilic design principles into their spaces. And even if you might not think it, this is the type of design principle that can actually boost your quality of life while getting your nails done and make a manicure feel even more special. After all, it’s what your fingertips are inherently made for.
