Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 06/05) - It is that time of year when feet are freed from the confines of boots.

A new store in town offers services to make the transition to sandal season a bit more pleasant for all.

Diamond Nails opened in Centre Square Mall last week with a waiting list for appointments.

Having operated shops in Toronto for three years and Edmonton for another seven years, Thai Lu and Tran Thai, along with their two children Cynthia and Ryan, are now calling Yellowknife home.

"We are putting our trust in Yellowknife and on the economy diamonds bring," Thai said.

They carry only top-of-the-line products because the extreme weather is hard on hands and feet, she said.

"With our products, nails are stronger and the work we do lasts longer," she said.

Their services can help people who have bad habits such as biting nails, or with minor complications such as nail splitting.

"For medical problems, we have to refer people to a doctor," she said.

A special pedicure chair and basin were shipped up from the U.S.

The chair massages the client's back "just like hands" while Lu or Thai work on completing the pedicure.

Foot treatments can last as long as one hour for people whose feet are in rough shape, said Lu.

"The more frequently people get a pedicure, the less time is required," he said.

The couple also offer air brush designs. Either pre-designed patterns or special orders are available.

That service can take anywhere from five minutes to one hour, depending on the complexity of the design, he said.

Some customers visit for more than purely aesthetic reasons, Thai said.

"A lot of guitar players have one hand done in artificial nails to help pick," she said.