Mild 2 Wild Nails, 1139 Tower Blvd. in Lorain, celebrated its grand opening Jan. 6 with a welcoming party for the community, attended by the Mayor Jack Bradley.
Mild 2 Wild Nails specializes in manicures and pedicures, offering services including acrylic sets and gel nail polish, in a supportive and friendly environment, according to the salon.
Secretary Brooke Sisler said the building, once a karate studio, underwent major renovations, including adding rooms, to make it the colorful, vibrant salon it is now.
“There’s been walls knocked down, there’s a big chalk wall,” she said.
“We’ve put in a whole new stage; there is five pedicure chairs and there is now six girls (techs),” she added.
According to owner Caitlin Smith, each nail technician is independently growing their own business, and was allowed creative freedom in designing their work areas to match each individual marketing image.
“We have artwork all over the walls done by different small artists off of Etsy and local artists as well,” she said. “It’s just fun and colorful and laid back.”
In addition to the services offered in the salon, Smith said Mild 2 Wild partners with the Murray Ridge Center to give free nail services to clients there, as well as prepare novice nail technicians.
“While they’re training, they practice on the consumers at Murray Ridge for free so that those ladies and gentlemen can feel special for the day and have something to go home with,” she said.
“The nail techs can get used to working with tools and feel more comfortable and get used to working with people.”
Upon entering the salon, guests can expect not only to feel welcomed and supported, but quality designs and nail service, according to Sisler. Children who come with adults can even have their nails painted at no cost.
“She goes from real mild to very extreme,” she said. “I guarantee you, if you bring in something that you want, she can make a replica of it.”
Smith said due to her experience working in other salons, she wanted to create a safe space for other nail technicians to grow, thrive and feel supported.
“You can grow and support each other and treat each other well, without having to step on each other to get ahead,” she said.
“It doesn’t need to be a competition.”
According to Sisler, the values in which Smith has based her business off of have allowed for a family-feel in the salon, creating natural bonds among the women.
“I’ve watched her literally transform over these last six years,” Sisler said. “Just to see her support women the way she does is so empowering, she has such a gentle heart.”
Natalie Hicks, a nail technician, said she and Smith had worked together before, and ultimately made the switch to join her team with no regrets.
“She accommodates for everything, you need it she’s got it,” Hicks said. “She’s just amazing”
Although experience varies among the technicians, from a decade’s worth to only a couple months, excitement about the grand opening is a universal feeling, according to nail technicians Kimberly Sapp and Dewanna Davis.
“This is honestly one of the greatest opportunities we’ve ever gotten — personally, professionally, everything,” Sapp said.
Through all the trials and tribulations of starting her own business, to completely renovating a new space due to outgrowing, Smith said the overall closeness of the employees is what helps make this venture such a success.
“We just made it work,” she said. “We have all definitely become a family.”
Mild 2 Wild accepts appointment and walk-ins, more information can be found on its Facebook page.
