Clive Rousseau of Nails by Clive. Photography: Courtesy of Clive Rousseau
Have you ever dreamed about a pedicure that would last for at least one month? If so, we can introduce you to the person who can make your dream a reality—manicure specialist Clive Rousseau.
Mr. Rousseau has tended to the upkeep of celebrity manicures and pedicures, with a client list including Martha Stewart, Conan O’Brien, Angela Basset, Brittany Murphy, Mena Suvari and Jennifer Love Hewitt. He has also been selected by top fashion designers including Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, Yves Saint Laurent, Vera Wang, Christian Dior and Donna Karan to preen models’ nails for runway shows.
Rousseau has developed a unique technique of nail care that he derived from working closely with a podiatrist for many years. His work is far more advanced than standard pedicure procedures. Average pedicures deal with cosmetic niceties: cutting and filing, removing dead skin around the toes, sloughing of rough skin, and some pretty polish. In contrast, Rousseau’s medical pedicure truly gets down to dealing with problematic nails on hands and feet. His regimen includes the following treatments: removing ingrown toenails, getting rid of calluses and fungus, and serious sloughing—not just in rough spots, but all over the foot—finishing with a reflexology massage to help with circulation.
Rousseau started as an uptown man at a non-defunct nail salon at Bergdorf Goodman. There, Rousseau gained a notable clientele comprised of ladies who love to lunch and shop. His current solo operation caters to private clients mainly at their homes, but he also has two salons on opposite sides of New York: one in Brooklyn Heights and the other in Midtown.
Rousseau recently stopped by the office to talk with us, and now we have some precious tips to share with you! First things first, every person has a different type of nail profile. Ironically, nail care has very little to do with nails and more to do with the cuticles and skin surrounding them. The treatment of maintaining healthy hands and feet requires an evaluation of the skin on these particular extremities. Some people may have excessively dry hands and feet requiring more care, others may just require a once weekly exfoliation. Do your homework to find out the best products and brands for you based on your personal needs. After finding the right products, you should begin a regimen, and most importantly, stick to it!
To make your nail polish last longer, the advice is simple: every 3 days put on top coat. It will make your nails look fresh again, and the nail polish won’t run out! If you are in a rush and don’t have time to do your nails, simply take a cuticle stick and clean underneath really quickly, put some top coat and cuticle oil on, and you are done!
Some recommendations by Rousseau include: Tea Tree Oil which hydrates and heals skin infections naturally, Solar Oil which blends three natural oils and vitamin E—serving as a triple duty nail strengthener, conditioner, and cuticle softener—and Neosporin Oil which is similar to Tea Tree Oil and heals skin infections.
We asked Mr. Rousseau about the popular colors for fall and he steered us toward the reds, the nudes and the blacks. Check out some of DOWNTOWN’s selections below based on Mr. Rousseau’s recommendations, and head out to one of his salons today to get yourself properly pampered!
Manhattan: Mon-Sat 8am to 7pm. 105 West 55 street, Suite LD
Brooklyn Heights: Mon-Sat 8am to 11pm. 20 Columbia Place, Suite B53
-Maria Zanetti
Top Coats: GUERLAIN Le Top Coat Gel $23; DIOR Vernis Gel Top Coat $24; DOLCE & GABBANA High Shine Nail Coat $24; DEBORAH LIPPMAN Umbrella Oxygen Raincoat $20
Nudes: CHANEL Le Vernis in Atmosphere $27; MICHAEL KORS La Notte Nail Polish $20; RUBY WING Color Chaning Nail Polish $10
Reds: 3.1 PHILLIP LIM, for NARS Hell Bent $20, ESSIE Bordeaux $8, BUTTER LONDON La Moss $14
Metallics and Darks: ESSIE Over The Top $8, DEBORAH LIPPMAN Take the A Train $20, TOM FORD Black Cherry $32, NARS La Notte $20
