Salt Lake magazine’s Women Who Move Utah special section is an acclaimed and respected part of our September/October issue. Over the years, we have profiled and spotlighted successful women business leaders and owners across the state of Utah. Here, they share insights into their entrepreneurial journeys so others like them can follow their leads.
At Nailed, each experience begins long before the first coat of polish is applied.
It starts with intention, how a space feels and how a simple beauty appointment becomes social and personal. For founder Tricia Bennion, that distinction is exactly what she set out to create.
“When my daughter was ten, every Friday was our mother-daughter day,” Bennion explains. “We tried an express nail salon, but it wasn’t a great experience.”
That early curiosity paired with a lack of welcoming nail salon options eventually became the blueprint for Nailed. What began as a personal routine evolved into a concept built around clean design, elevated service, and the social connection often missing from fast-paced, transactional nail environments.
In the early days Bennion met with the same learning curve many founders experience when stepping into a new industry and were met with challenges. Over time, the business shifted away from artificial enhancements toward a focus on natural nail services, refined technique and a stronger emphasis on overall guest experience.
A distinguishing part of Nailed’s identity is its atmosphere and its loyal and committed team. The salon blends boutique design sensibility with a lively, communal energy–part beauty service, part gathering place. Guests come not just for manicures and pedicures, but for connection, conversation and consistency.
“That social layer,” Bennion says, “is one of the biggest differences between Nailed and traditional express salons.”
That evolution has been shaped not only by vision, but by structure. Alongside Bennion, Anna Oaks plays a central role in translating ideas into systems that support growth and consistency. Where Bennion leads brand direction and guest experience,
Oaks ensures operations run with precision behind the scenes.
“Anna is our future and the yin to my yang,” Bennion says. “I’m the big picture thinker, and she is methodical. She makes sure what we envision actually works in real time. I couldn’t have done any of this without her.”
Together, their partnership has refined how Nailed operates, especially as demand has accelerated after a post-covid boost. Behind the scenes, running a high-volume salon requires constant coordination. Bennion points to staffing, scheduling precision, and client flow as ongoing challenges.
“There’s a lot people don’t see,” she says. “We are always analyzing systems and making sure every decision supports the whole team.”
That mindset extends to innovation. The salon has integrated an AI operating system designed to balance quality and efficiency. In addition, there’s a new focus on viral art work.
“We’ve hired more artists and are loving the nail art we’re seeing and are inspired by.” Many of which can be seen on their “what’s trending” board in the salon.
Looking ahead, Nailed is expanding its highly-successful apprenticeship program and deepening its role in beauty education. Even after 23 years this iconic salon is still being recognized with several best of awards in 2026. Including Salt Lake magazine’s Best of the Beehive.
For Bennion and Oaks, the vision remains clear: an artistic salon where creativity and intentionality work in balance to propel this company to unprecedented popularity.
Nailed
3369 Highland Dr., Millcreek
801-532-6245
nailedboutique.com
