Ani’s Nail and Beauty Lounge is a dream that has come true for beauty therapist Anna Burns, who opened the business in April.

Ms Burns had worked at The Reefs Spa for ten years where she earned a sterling reputation for her manicures, before branching out on her own.

Now, she has created a haven of peace and tranquility on the courtyard level of Victoria Place at 31 Victoria Street in Hamilton.

Originally, Ms Burns is from Armenia, where she lived with her family before they migrated to Los Angeles in California. “I’ve been in Bermuda for ten years — I have my husband and now a daughter,” explaining it is her daughter for whom Ani’s Nail and Beauty Lounge is named.

“I like the word ‘lounge’ better than spa or salon. It’s more relaxing,” she said.

“I wanted to have a little something of my own — an oasis, for what I do, on my own. It was a dream, which came true after so many years. I had always had it in my head, and then I thought: “This is a good time.”

Decorated in a palate of soft, natural colours in myriad various-toned tiles and painted walls, she explained: “Blues and greens I love — it’s more like Bermuda and relaxing for the eye; it reminds me of the ocean and it’s peaceful.”

The slim, curved pedicure chairs are reminiscent of an Eames lounge chair or a Kardiel egg chair, and Ms Burns compared sitting in them to driving a Mercedes Benz or BMW, as opposed to a lower-end car.

“I love these chairs,” she said. “They look beautiful and they sit really well here with our colour scheme.”

At Ani’s Nail and Beauty Lounge, she offers a personal touch. Clients get “all of my attention, all the time; I love to listen to my clients, and I develop a relationship with each and every one of them. We talk about life.

“Everything remains confidential,” she added.

At the moment, Ms Burns offers manicures, pedicures, and she provides waxing, eyelash and eyebrow tints as well.

For the time being she is the only treatment therapist, but once she expands her staff she plans to offer massages as well.

Pedicures and Brazilian waxes are the treatments which she enjoys the most. “It’s the satisfaction,” she explained.

For waxing, she uses an Australian product called Lycon Wax from a company that has been in business for more than three decades. “It’s one of the best waxes, especially for a Brazilian,” she said. “It’s less painful than other waxes, and removes all the hairs — even the littlest, tiniest hairs. It’s so much more comfortable on the skin. It has a lot of essential oils and so is very calming.”

She also offers an express manicure for women who are on the go, which costs just $54, while an express pedicure costs $74.

Manicures, which are $80 for the luxury option, and pedicures, that are $94, include a paraffin wax treatment. “Paraffin is just so good for your joints and circulation,” she said. They both last an hour.

Ms Burns also offers a full range of waxing options, and her Brazilian costs $80.

Eye brow tinting costs $20, while eye lashes are $30. For a combination of both, it costs $45. She said she has made sure that her prices are competitive.

If friends would like to come for their appointments together, she will accommodate them and can offer them a glass of Champagne. Or, she said, they can bring their own.

This beauty therapist already had a following of clients. “The support and loyalty of my clients, I am very fortunate, and very lucky to have them,” she said. “Up now, most of my clients have followed me, for which I’m really pleased and thankful.”

The reason for her reputation? She says she thinks it is her attention to detail.

“I pay attention to the little things,” she said. “It is that gratification when you get your feet done, you feel much better than you did. I soak the feet, use cuticle oil, and scrub — a marine salt scrub, and I give a foot massage with some pressure points. We also have leg warmers.”

She carries the CND — Creative Nail Design Company — Vinylux nail colours which last for a week without chipping. “It doesn’t come off for at least seven days — and it can stay on for two weeks if you’re careful. The fall range of nail colours is already in, and is called the ‘Modern Folklore;’ saturated earth tones made mystical with metallics glinting through some of the shades, along with a woodland berry red. And she does not charge extra for these polishes.

“When I work on people, this is what is very important — I feel that I am working on myself, and I feel very satisfied, she said.

For appointments call 292-0700 or e-mail info@ani.bm

Useful website: www.ani.bm