Salon and Spa Directory: côte

I recently started a new job as the Senior Copywriter for a beauty startup. I can't tell you more about it just yet, but I'm really excited for it to launch! Why am I telling you this, you may ask? Well, a couple weeks ago, my boss told our team that we should all treat ourselves to pedicures at any upscale nail salon in LA -- and that we could expense them. Let's just say my excitement level was at, oh, I don't know, 1000 out of 100! We all know how much I love nails, so getting a free amazing pedicure is kind of the best thing to happen to me in forever. (That and starting a new amazing job, of course.) I immediately high tailed it to côte so I could really treat myself.

I last visited côte back in 2015, before I even moved to LA. (You can check out my experience here). I absolutely loved my experience and assumed I'd be visiting all the time once I moved -- but Brentwood is just a little too far from West Hollywood to make it my regular salon. (Gotta love that LA traffic!) For this assignment, though, I absolutely had to check out the Luxe Pedicure, which côte describes this way:

Our signature nail treatment is luxurious from start to finish. Begin with a relaxing soak in water softened with 100% organic argan oil, followed by an exfoliating massage with côte’s signature sugar scrub. Next enjoy a relaxing and deeply moisturizing collagen treatment, and then for our pedicure clients, a heavenly hot stone massage. The treatment finishes with a fresh coat of our exclusive nontoxic nail color, and thoughtful layer of SPF protection to make sure you’re beach fabulous and sunshine ready.

I have to say, I was beyond impressed with this pedicure! I am a very frequent pedicure getter (every 3-4 weeks), and I always go to high-end nail salons. It’s the bougie beauty editor in me. I think côte pays extreme attention to both the products and the experience and really makes sure each client has incredible service. And, come on, look at all of their polish...

To expand upon côte’s description of the service, this is what I experienced.

My technician started by removing my nail polish with nail polish remover (earth shattering, I know), which was oil based without acetone. After filing my nails, she used a vegan and nontoxic cuticle remover, pushed back my cuticles with a silver file and then nipped cuticles and hangnails with silver nippers. Next, she exfoliated my skin with a scrub made from lavender oil and sugar.

Then came my favorite part of the pedicure -- the mask and massage. The Luxe Pedicure includes a collagen treatment, which is done with the Voesh Collagen Socks, which come in a package with two booties. The booties are soaked with argan oil and collagen rich emulsion to moisturize the skin. After encasing my feet in the booties, my technician covered them in hot towels for five minutes to make the product sink in. After removing the booties, she did a full foot and leg massage with hot rocks, which are meant to increase relaxation and improve both blood flow and circulation. I was basically in a comatose state of relaxation throughout all of this!

She finished by applying base coat, two coats of nail polish (I chose No. 86, which is a magenta purple), and then top coat. Oh, and I got a manicure too (why not, right?) I chose No. 63 for my manicure, which is a pretty minty teal. All of côte's products are cruelty free, vegan and free of formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, camphor, formaldehyde resin and triphenyl phosphate (TPHP).

The Luxe Pedicure is $50 and lasts for one hour. Out of the places I’ve visited for pedicures recently, this is definitely my favorite, both for the attention to detail and the thoughtfulness of the products used. I also like the salon itself, which is part nail salon (with canvas lounge chairs and iPads you can use during your services) and part shop (they sell a carefully curated collection of fashion, home and beauty items that go along with the SoCal aesthetic of the salon).

I highly recommend côte to anyone looking to pamper themselves during their pedicures! For more information and to book an appointment, visit https://coteshop.co.