Free Edge Beauty Studio
Despite her talents, when Raven Voorhees started training as a nail technician, she didn’t imagine sticking with it for the long run. “It wasn’t common to see Black girls doing nails, so I felt out of place for a very long time,” says Raven, 33. “I always kind of got judged at the door until people experienced my services and saw that I was really good.”
Luckily for us, Raven, owner of Free Edge Beauty Studio, stayed in the industry, opening her Prospect Heights shop in 2016. Taking a personalized, diligent approach to nail care, Free Edge also offers waxing and makeup services. And after last month’s highly publicized assault on African-American customers at another salon in the borough, Raven’s business has seen a significant uptick in support.
“I’m happy that Black-owned nail salons are getting the exposure that we know we deserve,” she says of the influx of attention. “This has been a long time coming.”
Painted in soothing blues and greens (selected for their gender-neutral qualities to make all clients comfortable) with high ceilings and quaint finishings, Free Edge Beauty Studio is energetic and inviting. Other design elements include a color block mural by one of the salon’s nail technicians and deep foot baths encased in glass tile. But what strikes us even more than the fresh decor is the fun, communal atmosphere, the kind often conjured up in places run by Black women.
“We sometimes have the beauty shop conversations where everyone chimes in,” says Raven, a native of Coney Island. “It’s sometimes a therapeutic experience where everyone lays out whatever’s going on in their life, and we all get a lesson before we leave the shop. Whatever it is, it’s gonna be a good time.”
“It’s sometimes a therapeutic experience where everyone lays out whatever’s going on in their life, and we all get a lesson before we leave the shop. Whatever it is, it’s gonna be a good time.”
Raven’s team of four technicians specialize in natural nail care, concerned not only about the look, but the health, of your nails. “Even though we also perform acrylic and gel services, we still make sure that we take care of the natural nail,” says Raven, who adds that this step is sometimes missing from other nail professionals, leading to damaged digits.
“It’s always been my thing to educate our clients about what’s in our products, and why we’re doing things the way we do it, so that going forward — even if they don’t come back to us — they know what’s okay and what isn’t.” Walk-ins are welcome, but your best bet for avoiding a wait is to conveniently book a reservation on the Free Edge Beauty Studio website. A perfect manicure is just clicks away.
Photo: Free Edge Beauty Studio
Photo: Free Edge Beauty Studio
Photo: Free Edge Beauty Studio
470 Sterling Place, 929-234-2209, freeedgebeautystudio.com
