Our Story
The idea of Sènsé Nail Spa comes from two siblings, Victoria and Robert Luu. It was Winter 2004, closing time at the local coffee bar where the idea of Sènsé Nail Spa was created for the first time on the back of a newspaper comic margin.
Tired. Hungry. And exhausted from a full day of college courses and work, they discuss what is happening with their mom's nail salon, Nails Today...
Spacing out for a few moments, Robert looks up and says to Victoria,
"You know mom called today and is worried that grandpa is very sick and that she wants to spend some time with him in Australia."
Victoria drinking her hot chocolate looks up at him, "Yeah, I know. She's been worried about it for a long time. She wants to visit him, but not sure how she can do it since she's working by herself at the nail shop. I don't think grandpa is able to fly over here to America. His body is pretty frail and I don't think he'll be able to withstand the long journey."
"What can we do?" Robert asks worriedly.
"Well, if she wants to visit him, then we'll have to figure out how we can help her out at the store. All I can do is take over her clients in the meantime. I have to work at the bank still and take care of my clients, but I can pick up the hours after work in the late evenings so she can go to Australia."
"Yeah. I think she could use some time off to be with him during his final moments" says Robert.
Amidst the whirring of the coffee shop and table top chatter, Victoria begins to explain some of her concerns to Robert.
"I stopped by mom's shop yesterday and it was really dirty. The bathrooms had dust all over the lights. Her TV was blasting some soap opera and some of the polishes she's been using are dried up and out of fashion."
Robert interrupts, "I'm still amazed that she's been seeing the same clients for the past 13 years. I remember helping her out at the salon when I was in middle school! You know what's crazy to think about though?
"What's that?"
"She's been working all throughout my high school years and now I'm about to graduate from UW. To think that you and I have had a lifetime of learning and she's still doing the same 'ol thing over a decade later. Her work ethic is absolutely incredible."
"Yeah. But she's tired" says Victoria. Snapping him back to reality, Victoria continues...
"I don't think she has the energy to take care of her clients, clean the store, stay motivated and stay educated on all the changes that is happening in the nail care industry."
"Changes...like what?"
"Well, I keep telling mom that some of the products she is using isn't very good. Although it's cheap and she can lower her prices, the stuff she's using isn't healthy for her or the natural nail. There's this chemical called MMA that is in some of the product she's using. It bonds too tightly that it can damage the natural nail. I keep telling her to change it but she can't understand why."
"Hmmmmmm, so are you using the higher quality stuff on your clients in Bellevue?" Robert asks curiously.
"Yeah. But there's so many changes that are happening right now in the nail care industry. The technology is improving so much. There aren't any salons that are focusing on these changes right now. Mom is way too tired to keep up and besides, they don't even have any information in her language. It's all in English." Victoria adds disappointingly.
"That's strange. You would think that an industry that is 40% dominated by non-English speakers, there would be material written in other languages."
"There isn't. And there's only so much I can teach mom before I get blue in the face. All the nail salons get their stuff from the same supplier like mom does. That's why they can undercut each others prices. But the thing is, if they only knew about the products and other alternatives they would change them out. Although it might cost more, it's actually worth it."
Victoria begins to feel that her point is being received.
Robert is quiet for a few moments and she knows he is putting the bigger picture together.
"I see. And all the hair salons don't do nail care because it isn't very profitable relative to hair cuts and it's not worth it to them to keep up with these changes either, I suspect" adds Robert.
"Exactly. As everyone undercuts their prices, it makes it more and more difficult to justify higher prices without educating yourself and your clients. And with the price of haircuts at $200 sometimes, it just doesn't make any economical sense to focus on nail care."
As Robert begins to understand the bigger picture, his philosophical inquisitiveness keeps them talking about the industry way past closing time.
The barista interrupts their conversation, "I'm still closing out so you guys can continue to chat for a few more minutes."
"It's closing time already? " Robert and Victoria simultaneously exclaim.
The barista clears their table spotting the doodles on the comic strip grinning as he turns away.
Robert thanks the server and turns again to Victoria smiling and staring off into space again and says,
"On a different note the cutest thing happened last week when I saw mom. She was writing a note to a her client that was recently diagnosed with cancer. The client's husband was at work and her children no longer live with her. She had no one to turn to after receiving the news so she called mom. It was really touching to see mom try to write this note in her broken English to send her condolences and to tell her she was thinking of her client.
You know, I think we can really change things for the better in our industry. These workers that are just like mom really need someone to help inspire them and to assist them with on going education. At the same time, I think we could really create a place that honors some of the forgotten women that go through so much but are inspirations to everyone around them. Like mom's story. Like her clients story. Like the thousands of people that never get noticed but are the true heroes here in America. Maybe we can create a salon that can honor these clients that touch our lives. Perhaps we can share them with others too. I think we can really inspire people" says Robert.
And for the first time, these two siblings put down their rivalries and bonded with a single new mission to change the nail care industry. Feeling inspired and passionate, the two would continue their discussions and ideas late into the nights.
Victoria breaks the silence, "Yeah. I really like that idea. Let's talk about it. But the first thing we need to do is change the name and take down the neon Nails Today sign. What should we call it?"
Sènsé Nail Spa is located in North Seattle aka Shoreline. Family owned and operated, we specialize in nail enhancements (acrylics and gels) for haute couture. Fashion. Photography. And runway modeling.
We do not use products containing MMA (Methyl Methacrylate). As a non MMA nail spa in Seattle, you can be rest assured we have your best interests in mind by staying up to date on health related issues and to campaign for safe cosmetics.
We also offer manicures, pedicures, acrylics, gels, skincare body waxing and massage.
You can view our prices if you click on "services" on the left hand side. But do that later...keep reading...
Sènsé Nail Spa (pronounced sawn-seh), nails for haute couture
The meaning of Sènsé is derived from a combination of both eastern and western philosophy meaning "Touch, Feel and Inspire." Our 5 senses provide information about our physical world, but metaphysically, it is a deeper understanding that gives meaning and purpose to our work.
Touch. All of our services, hands, face and body are centered around this core emotion.
Feel. There is a distinct vibrational and emotional connection when human beings connect called 'somatic resonance.'
Inspire. Our line of work allows us to feel your stories physically through your body. They have come to inspire us and we share them in our article "With These Hands."
Testimonials
"Wow" -April Zepeda, KOMO 4 News
"The best in the Northwest"-Colors NW Magazine
"I go into many salons...you guys have established a premier nail spa ." Patricia Miller, GM Collin
"...LIKE BEING IN A LUXURIOUS NY NAIL SALON. WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SPA AND WISH IT WAS IN NYC." -Suetuckman, New York
"Robert Luu and his sister Victoria have transformed their parent’s once humble North-end nail salon into a sophisticated, fashionable and oh so comfortable nail spa." -Blair deLaubenfels, editor Junebugweddings.com
"Very clean and relaxing environment!! Staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable. It's not like any other spas that I've been to...it is absolutely breath taking inside!!! Not a huge chain....it is family owned. I am a customer for life!" -Urkittykat, Seattle, WA. Citysearch
Additional Reviews of our Instant Gift Certificates.
