San Diego Waitlist

Prizm’s Founding Nail Artist, Ro, is excited to open her waitlist in San Diego! Please read through what to expect from her services below and sign-up for her waitlist at the very bottom of the page.
Thank you!

1) About: Ro is a licensed Cosmetologist of 10+ years that focuses on natural nail health AND bespoke nail art.

2) What does natural nail health mean? There is a misconception that gel, acrylic, or other nail enhancements ruin your natural nails. The truth is, it’s HOW these enhancements are applied and removed, is what causes damage to the natural nail.

Ro maintains the integrity of your natural nails by using a double-base coat method and a non-acetone removal process that she has been using since 2018. This tried and true method and process ensures that your natural nails are protected from dehydration (which contributes to brittleness) and over-prepping/buffing which weakens them more and more each time.

3) Services offered: Ro offers waterless gel art manicures and structured gel art manicures. She does not soak your fingernails in water and instead, uses a gentle e-file bit for safer cuticle clean-up. Hydrating moisture is applied after the gel is cured, at the end of the service, with either a hand scrub and/or cuticle oil. Ro does not currently offer single-color gel manicures - all manicures come with art.

4) What is the difference between a gel manicure and a structured gel manicure? A gel manicure involves applying soft gel polish to natural nails. It's ideal for regular maintenance or special occasions. A structured gel manicure adds a builder gel overlay for increased strength, allowing natural nails to grow longer over time with refills every 3-5 weeks. Structured gel manicures require regular maintenance and are not recommended for one-off or special occasions.

5) What type of nail art do you offer? Ro offers 3 tiers of nail art: 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes of art. You can view examples at the links below (which will take you to Instagram). She encourages you to view her full portfolio (or by clicking on any of the images in Portfolio below, which will take you to Instagram without needing to sign in) to get a sense of her art style (which are mostly asymmetrical looks). If you have specific designs in mind, you will have an opportunity to send them to Ro ahead of time. She does not currently offer classic french tip looks.

• 15 minutes of nail art or search #ronailart15 on Instagram

• 30 minutes of nail art or search #ronailart30 on Instagram

• 60 minutes of nail art or search #ronailart60 on Instagram

6) How long will my gel/structured gel manicure last? Depending on your lifestyle and how you care for your manicure after your appointment, your manicure should last between 3-5 weeks. Ro sends at-home tips in her follow-up appointment emails that you can always refer back to.

If gel or structured gel manicures haven’t lasted on you in the past, there is a possibility that you may not be a good candidate for gel services. Gel typically doesn’t last well on folks that have their hands in water often (i.e. hairstylists, healthcare workers, or others that wear gloves for long periods of time or wash their hands often) or for folks that have oily nail beds (yes, this is a thing!). Acrylic may be a better option for you.

7) What to expect at your nail appointment:

• Pricing for gel art manicures range from $110 - $180. Pricing for structured gel art manicures range from $150-$225. These prices include a waterless manicure, gel polish or builder gel application, art, and with or without a gel removal. Ro is a gratuity-free service provider.

• Because of the close proximity to each other during nail services, a face mask is required to be worn over your nose and mouth for the entire duration of the appointment.

• Nail appointments are longer than 1 hour. Some may go up to 3 hours. Once booking is open, the appointment duration will be listed under the Appointment Type. If you are unable to sit for long periods, this may not be the best service for you.

• Ro takes pride in ensuring that all work surfaces and tools are properly sanitized between clients, and disposables (cardboard nail files, sanding bands, nail wipes, etc.) are never reused across clients. Cleanliness also plays a huge part in natural nail health.

• Only high-quality products that are personally tested are used in all services to ensure the best retention.

• Ro does not remove acrylic, dip powder/SNS, or hard gel. Please have these removed prior your appointment or your appointment may be cancelled.

• Ro has a very strict cancellation/no-show policy. This will be detailed on the booking page, once opened.

• If you are coming to Ro for the first time and have significantly damaged or bendy nails, it may take a few appointments for you to see the real difference of her high-end manicures. This is because your foundation isn't stable enough to hold a hardened (cured) layer of gel. You may want to wait until all of the damaged parts of your nail have grown out.