All week long we are collaborating with Fall For Local to feature 5 local businesses that will be participating at the Fall for Local event on October 22.  You can read a new post each day during this Week of Local on the Fall for Local blog.

JOYRIDE

The dictionary defines joyride as, “a ride taken for pleasure”, which makes it the perfect name for the experience that owner Claire Mandell creates at Kitsilano’s newest nail salon. The idea for Joyride came as Claire was looking for a career change (she had attended culinary school and was working as a cook). Inspired by her own manicures and pedicures, she came up with the concept to provide a different type of nail salon experience.

Despite not having any previous experience running her own business, Claire has been learning as she goes, with support from her family. The name is a nod to the male influences in her life who enjoy the fast and the dangerous (her father and her brother are former and current race car drivers, respectfully). Claire sees the experience at Joyride as something a little daring – taking time out of our busy schedules for our own pleasure.

Joyride opened a month ago and had its launch party last week. The salon is already fully booked on the weekends and appointments are highly recommended. People seem drawn to the unique experience that Joyride offers. Like meeting friends for coffee, Claire wanted to create an environment that draws people in and makes them feel comfortable. That starts with the décor, which is a combination of contemporary and comfort, while paying homage to the West Coast board culture that is so prevalent in the area. Recognizing that consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the products they use on their bodies, Joyride created its own line of plant-based products that use organic products manufactured in Canada. The nail polish brands are 3 Free or 5 Free, which means they do not contain the toxic chemicals that are found in most nail polishes. Any chemicals that are used (such as those required for sanitization) are quickly removed from the air by the salon’s air filtration system. All the nail technicians have a BeautySafe certificate so you can relax knowing you are in good hands. And like any true Vancouver experience, Joyride offers coffee, tea, and juice from nearby Glory Juice.

Services start at $20 for a manicure and $35 for a pedicure, which includes nail shaping, cuticle care, exfoliation, and a massage. There’s even a special service for Junior Joyriders, and men are always welcome. No matter what the situation, this Joyride is all about you!