Matcha & (Non-toxic) Manis at Chillhouse

I love how on top of the wellness scene NYC is. As much as I don't consider myself a "city girl" and think NYC is usually the most un-relaxing place, I'm so appreciative of all of the places popping up that are geared towards helping us escape the loud and crowded streets and providing outlets to CHILL.

So naturally, when I first heard about Chillhouse I was immediately attracted. Anything with the name "chill" in it...sign me up!! (as long as it's the "chill" for "chillaxin" and not for anything cold weather related). Seriously I LOVE chillen and relaxing, however that might be.

The concept of this salon is brilliant. We need to get our nails done and we love our matchas so why not combine it into a one stop wellness shop and save some time? The vibe is white and airy with some low chill music and they also offer massages. When I first head of Chillhouse I thought it was going to be a splurge situation but the pricing for a special design mani actually isn't that bad (I got the tier 1 nail design which was $35 but lasted SO long without chipping...over a week!).

I went with my two best friends and we all ordered a "chill latte" from their cafe...the beet, ube and a regular latte (very unlike me but they were SO good that I drank it too quick to snap a picture). While normally I would get the matcha, I felt obligated to try one of their other beautifully colored drinks. And ube? This is a new one to the wellness scene so Chillhouse seems to be ahead of the game. The only other time I've had ube was at a very unhealthy ice cream place. It's basically a purple yam - some benefits include antioxidants and fiber. I got it with almond mylk and it was sweet and delicious - just like I like it. They also sprinkled some activated charcoal on top. Amaze. Note - they also serve organic wine and beer.

We were worried about how we would be able to drink our lattes while getting our nails done but the people that worked there were so CHILL, literally, that they encouraged us to just take a sip whenever we wanted during the manicure service (this would not be OK at a normal salon). They were also very friendly, but not overly to the point where you couldn't chill.

A big selling point for me was the non-toxic nail polish. They carry brands such as Base Coat and Jin Soon. Base coat is vegan friendly, scented with only essential oils, plant based preservatives and never contain petrochemicals, parabens, sulfates or any other harmful chemicals. Jin Soon uses 5-Free formula meaning there are no toxic chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene, DPB, camphor, and formaldehyde resin High-tech polymers and resin for longer wear and extended shelf life. I'm in the process of making a lot of non-toxic beauty upgrades and nail polish is a territory I haven't nailed (ha), so it was exciting for me to try a clean polish and to also see how long it lasted (very long).

I will definitely make my way back to Chillhouse as a once in a while pampering experience with girlfriends. Unfortunately the location isn't too convenient for me living in Weehawken so I'm hoping they eventually expand and open on the West Side but if I happen to be nearby in their hood, I would make sure to pop in for another ube latte!