Across the country, nail salons have long operated transactionally. Services often are rushed, impersonal, and centered solely on aesthetic rather than health. Many clients have learned to tolerate burning sensations from harsh chemicals, limited communication, questionable sanitation practices, and the unspoken expectation to move quickly in and out. You sit down, pick a color, and hope nothing goes wrong.
A Sacramento nail salon owner is quietly reshaping what the industry can look like.
Roberta Stensrud decided the described experience no longer could be what people accept when they walk into a nail salon. As someone who frequently received nail services herself, she knew something had to change.
“I just did not like what I was seeing so I said I’m going to build it,” Stensrud says.
In January 2025, she opened Smudge Nail Bar with a clear mission to provide safe, hygienic, eco-friendly nail and beauty services that place client health first. From the beginning, Smudge Nail Bar rejected the industry norm of speed over care, choosing instead to build a space rooted in intention, trust, and well being.
Nothing about Smudge Nail is accidental. Every detail, from the pedicure chairs to the products on the shelves, was tested, questioned, and thoughtfully selected. Stensrud invested in hospital-grade steam cleaning systems and eliminated acrylic services, opting for healthier alternatives such as Gel X, hard gel, and poly gel. These options are gentler on natural nails and significantly reduce risk of damage and infection.
That attention to health is deeply rooted in Stensrud’s professional life. For 22 years, she has worked as an ICU nurse, caring for patients facing serious infections, complications, and long-term health consequences.
“I’m a whole nurse, and I’ve seen when things go wrong,” Stensrud says. “I see what happens when you don’t take care of your skin.”
Her medical background has shaped how she views nail care. She understands that health is not limited to hospital settings and that services often dismissed as purely aesthetic can carry real medical risks. Skin and nail health matter, especially for seniors, people with diabetes, and immunocompromised clients.
Her own experiences in traditional nail salons reinforced that belief. Many spaces felt cold, cleanliness was inconsistent, and communication was limited. As a nurse, Stensrud noticed issues others might overlook, including infections caused by improper acrylic removal and chronic nail bed damage.
That clinical lens guides every aspect of Smudge Nail. Stensrud trains her staff not just to perform services, but to assess, listen, and pause when something does not feel right. Services include a short consultation with clients about what they want and what type of service might help them best care for their nails.
“You’re coming to us for a skill, so being heard should be the easiest part,” Stensrud says.
Technicians are encouraged to prioritize clients’ long-term health over a short-term aesthetic outcome. At Smudge Nail, it is common for a technician to decline a service if it could cause harm and to explain that decision with care and honesty.
“When you’re coming in with physical holes in your nails because they’re just throwing powder back on top of it, that’s a problem, and it mostly happens to people that look like us,” Stensrud says, referring to Black women who make up a significant portion of nail salon clients.
Despite the salon’s growing success, Stensrud’s path has not been without challenges. As a Black woman owning a nail salon in an industry where Black ownership is rare, she has seen the disparities firsthand. When Smudge Nail opened applications to hire nail technicians, more than 150 people applied in a month, yet only five were Black.
The numbers reflect a broader imbalance. While Black women make up a large share of nail salon clientele, Black nail technicians represent roughly 2.9% of the workforce nationwide, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In California, only about 1% of nail salon owners are Black.
“Representation matters,” Stensrud says. “That’s a big reason why I’m doing this.”
Beyond the services, the physical space itself reflects her commitment to change. Smudge Nail Bar is filled with greenery, colorful seating, original artwork from local artists, and live plants that invite clients to slow down and relax. It breaks away from the sterile, neutral designs common in many salons, offering a glimpse of what the industry can become when care, culture, and community are placed at the center.