Smarlen Balbi
Nail Technician and Pedicurist
Smarlen Balbi is a nail technician based in New York City, NY. With over 5 years of experience, Smarlen has built a loyal clientele in New York City, known for her premium toe services and transformative fungal reconstruction work. She has served over 1,000 clients and is widely recognized as one of the top toe techs in NYC. Smarlen has had the opportunity to work with celebrity clients and public figures, solidifying her reputation in the beauty industry. She is passionate about helping her clients improve their foot health and giving them confidence again. With over 11k followers on her Instagram @nailzbybalbi, she is focusing on content creation and sharing her work and experience with others.
Professional Achievements
- Founder of “Nailz by Balbi,” a brand dedicated to luxury foot care and confidence-building pedicure services
- Has had several viral moments on social media, with videos reaching hundreds of thousands of views
- Launched multiple digital products to support other nail technicians, including client consent forms and educational content
- Did a live-streamed manicure on the Tylittleshow in 2024
- Preparing to launch her first digital guide for aspiring toe techs, with a focus on fungal reconstruction and service professionalism
Favorite Piece of Advice
One of my favorite pieces of advice is: take care of your feet like you do your face. Your feet carry you every single day, and when you prioritize their health, your confidence follows. Cleanliness, consistency, and quality products go a long way in keeping your toes looking and feeling their best.
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Forum Comments (3)
Trying to stop biting my nails. Tips to break the habit?
Get acrylic nails! They physically prevent you from biting your nails and help break the habit.
Easiest/safest way remove acrylic nails at home?
I don’t typically recommend acrylic nail removal at home, but it is possible. You’ll need 100% acetone and cotton balls. There are clips you can get on Amazon or you can use a bowl. Place a smaller bowl with acetone inside a larger bowl filled with hot water to warm it up. Then, clip down the acrylics as much as possible and file them down before soaking. It can take up to an hour of soaking to fully remove them.
What etiquette should you know when visiting the nail salon?
Tipping isn’t something I see as mandatory. As a business owner, I believe you should be charging what your work is worth. So a tip shouldn’t make or break anything. That said, tips are definitely appreciated because they show your customer really values your work. If someone tips on top of your rates, it’s a great sign they’re happy with the service.
