Step inside the purple paradise nail salon in Hazel Grove, Greater Manchester
By Jess Watts | 16 September 2025 | Feature, Salon & Spas
Nikki Holliday has had quite the year: just six months ago, she was an engineer, and now she owns a nail salon. She shares her journey to creating the purple paradise that is Nikki Nailed it…
Nail tech, Nikki Holliday, has been passionate about nails for a long time. Though she officially trained and qualified with The Nail Tech Org at the end of July, she says: “I’ve been training my whole life really, by always doing my own nails.”
Nikki says that doing nails has been her saving grace. “Even when I was at my lowest, the one thing I wanted to do was paint nails,” she comments. After a friend asked Nikki to do her nails, the urge to become a nail tech was cemented. “The whole experience was so wholesome and rewarding,” Nikki smiles. “I knew I had to make this happen.”
Thus, the idea for Nikki Nailed it was born. After working extremely hard to secure a startup loan, Nikki ordered the shed that would become her studio and, alongside a group of local builders, got to work building her dream business. Starting from scratch is no easy task, and Nikki even says: “On my wedding day, I had callouses on my fingers from the painting!”
Key features of Nikki Nailed it include the plant ceiling – a nature-inspired element that adds to the unique charm of the salon – and the purple and blue colour scheme. “My favourite colour is purple, and my wedding theme was even purple,” Nikki laughs. “It’s such a fun and beautiful colour, and it makes me feel relaxed and happy.”
Her second favourite colour, light blue, is also featured in the salon and her logo. “I figured ‘hey why not’; the space is mine so I can paint it however I like,” she says.
Nikki focalised comfort and care in the design of her salon. “It’s a reflection of my personality, because this whole project has helped me realise my worth and practice self-care, and I want to bring that to my clients too,” she details.
The iconic plant ceiling, motivational prints and fairy lights create a warm, safe atmosphere. It was important to Nikki that all clients feel at home in her salon. “As someone who suffers with ADHD and mental health disorders, I know how to create a welcoming safe space, and I hope that is reflected in my salon,” she says.
Nikki Nailed it is located in Nikki’s back garden, around a 30 minute drive from Manchester city centre, and she offers gel-based services including gel polish and builder gel manicures and nail extensions. Nikki is also a talented realistic portrait painter and loves all kind of nail art.
The nail pro recently introduced a service called Mani for Minis, which offers child-friendly, safe nail painting and press-ons for younger clients who are interested in having their nails done but are too young for a full manicure.
Looking to the future, Nikki hopes to keep growing her client base. “I so desperately want this to be a success,” she says. “I want to keep creating tiny masterpieces until the day my hands don’t work anymore.”
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