Meet Olive & June Founder Sarah Gibson Tuttle
Sarah Gibson Tuttle, founder of nail salon Olive & June. (Photo: Bonnie Tsang)
Olive & June, the LA based nail salon, is not only a destination for the stars, but it’s also for women (and men) who care about beauty done right. Their dedication to proper practices, healthy products, and not only customer, but staff happiness is unlike any other nail salon you’ll visit. The salon is delightfully girly with an inviting hint of warmth, and a selection of 5-free polishes (that means they are free from these five toxic ingredients: formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, toluene, formaldehyde resin and camphor) that will make you wonder why you ever bothered with the other stuff. We caught up with the owner and vision behind the chic salon, Sarah Gibson Tuttle, on what it took to get where she is, baby prep (she just gave birth to a new baby girl a few weeks ago), and what the future of nail beauty holds.
Yahoo Beauty: How was Olive & June born?
Sarah Gibson Tuttle: After a decade of working in finance in New York, I started escaping to Los Angeles regularly. While I was there, I realized the city could really use a new kind of nail salon that was an alternative to inexpensive strip mall salons and over-the-top posh spas. I had the idea for Olive & June and that shaped my transition from finance into the beauty. I opened the salon in August 2013. I truly wanted to change the modern day manicure experience! Women had to either choose to make it a chore or accept that it was a considerable splurge to get their nails done and I wanted to make it easy, accessible, and fun again.
What was your greatest hurdle along the way?
Staffing is always the greatest hurdle because we always want to work with the best team possible.
What elements did you know you wanted to add that would make it stand out from all the other salons?
So many! Not only did I want a stylish salon that clients could enjoy a great manicure and pedicure experience, but I also wanted to add all of the little details from retail stores and other salons that I loved so much. This includes an amazing polish selection of over 500 bottles, credit cards on file, a curated magazine selection, online booking, and so on.
Inside Olive & June in Los Angeles (Photo: Bonnie Tsang)
What’s your favorite thing about what you do?
Making clients happy! I truly am the happiest when I’m in the salon.
The salon offers so many 5-free and organic polishes. Do you think soon enough that’s all we’ll see?
I do, but I think the formulations need to be continually approved upon because unfortunately, the cleaner polishes have less staying power than the conventional formulations do.
How important do you think it is for women to pamper themselves?
What I think is most important is for women to take time for themselves to do whatever it is that makes them feel good — whether that’s getting a manicure or something else entirely!
What’s your go-to color?
It is always changing! Right now, I’m loving a lavender grey by CND Shellac called Field Fox.
How do you define beauty?
Happiness on the inside.
“Not only did I want a stylish salon that clients could enjoy a great manicure and pedicure experience, but I also wanted to add all of the little details from retail stores and other salons that I loved so much.” (Photo: Bonnie Tsang)
Any summer nail trends we should be on the lookout for?
Considering the run neutrals have had this winter, I think dark colors will be in for summer!
Any difference in what you see in NYC compared to what clients in LA want?
Clients in LA tend to have more fun with their nails and especially with nail art. New York trends tend to be more subtle and subdued. I love both!
What are your favorite beauty products right now?
Tata Harper Revitalizing Body Oil, Pursoma foot baths, and CND Solar Oil cuticle oil.
You just had a baby. Any tips for expectant working mothers you discovered while pregnant?
Prioritize and sleep!
Will we see more shops opening soon?
Yes! Very soon.
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