Papillon Lounge & Spa Opens for Business on Sunset Blvd.

By ERIKA MARTIN | Reporter

Pacific Palisades has a new outpost for getting primped and pampered, offerring clients a luxury experience.

Papillon Lounge & Spa, located in the Village at 15119 Sunset Blvd., opened in December.

Partner Vince Nguyen describes the nail salon as a “cousin” to the nearby Bellagio Nails & Spa, as many but not all of the same people are involved in its operations. It is owned by Duy Phuong, the nephew of Nguyen’s wife Denise.

The location, formerly a hair salon, reopened after three months of demolition and renovation that created a blank canvas for Nguyen, who designed the interior and also manages day-to-day operations.

The spa’s clean, white design with neutral accents and upscale features, such as chandeliers spanning the ceiling, is meant to give clients a relaxing, high-end experience as soon as they walk in, Nguyen said. The space also includes 12 pedicure chairs and space for six at its nail bar.

Nguyen said for many the new salon will be more convenient and accessible than Bellagio. “We have customers who find it hard to climb stairs, and since we are on the street, parking is easier for customers,” he said.

But there are plenty of differences among Papillon’s services as well.

“All these years running a salon we’ve been more traditional,” Nguyen said. “At Papillon, we carry the high-end products like Formula X. We also went toward organic products and non-toxic polish that’s safe for pregnant women and children to use.”

Specifically, the salon carries Adrianne K’s non-toxic “five-free” nail polish and U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified B2Organic spa products for scrubs and lotions. But clients looking for traditional brands like salon mainstay OPI won’t be disappointed, either.

“After 15 years of business in Palisades we know what the customers want, so we’re ready to meet their demands,” Nguyen said.

Papillon offers organic services that use acetone-free nail polish remover and organic lotions and oil, costing $20 for a manicure, $30 for a pedicure and $45 for a mani and pedi. Prices for non-organic services start at $15 for a manicure, $24 for a pedicure and $34 for a mani and pedi.

The salon’s most expensive option is the Royal Manicure and Pedicure ($88), which includes an orange citrus exfoliation scrub, botanical ice hydrating mask, callus treatment, paraffin treatment and a 30-minute hand-and-foot massage.

For all services, files, buffers and pumices are never reused, and all other tools are sanitized after each client.

Business has been good so far, Nguyen said, and its central location has made it easier for the new salon to get noticed and has led to plenty of walk-in clients. However, Papillon will meet requests for house calls as well.

Papillon Lounge & Spa is open from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, call 310-454-5361 or email papillonloungespa@gmail.com.