Côte Shop

Recently, the New York Times published a much-discussed exposé on the abuses suffered by manicurists. It’s not a pretty picture. We all love a cheap and easy manicure, but we rarely stop to think about the effects of that experience on those providing it.The mani/pedi is ubiquitous. Nail salons pepper nearly every street and strip mall in LA. But at Poppy & Seed, we were looking for something different, especially given these recent revelations on the toxins flooding most salons.And we found that at Côte.Côte is a beautiful, luxurious organic salon on San Vicente in Brentwood. The interior is So-Cal perfection, with lush cream chairs and white-washed walls. The minute we walked in, we realized we were in expert hands.The very first thing we noticed was the beautifully packaged eponymous line of nail polishes. Yes, Côte created their very own line of polishes and all were developed free of the five major toxins that are found in nail polishes: formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, camphor, and formaldehyde resin. To boot, the colors are lush and stunning.Immediately after we chose our color (we settled on a midnight blue, #77) we were escorted to our chair and offered coffee, tea or rose.The staff and atmosphere are wonderfully inviting. We were encouraged to sink into the experience, as each hand and foot were worked on with care. We opted for the Luxe Mani/Pedi ($80, pre-tip), which left our skin baby soft. They also offer Classic Manicures ($20) and Pedicures ($26) as well as a 30 Minute Hot Stone Foot Massage ($45) and Manicures and Pedicures for your little ones ($12 & $16, respectively).Whatever you choose, you’re in great hands. Just be sure to make your appointments ahead of time.Given our experience, it’s understandable that the majority of their clients are regulars, with standing appointments, so getting an appointment last minute can be a little tough.We get the demand, though. We’ll be securing our standing appointments, too.