Noktivo

My husband gifted me a Signature mani/​pedi at Noktivo for Mother’s Day and I could not be happier with the EXCELLENT service I received! Not only do my nails + toes look amazing, but the whole experience was really relaxing. Jenny does an great job and it’s so clear that she’s passionate about her work & the mission of the salon. I would HIGHLY recommend Noktivo!

The owner, Jenny, is FABULOUS! My daughter and I have come in for Mommy/​Daughter mani/pedi’s and loved the experience. I love that Noktivo products are green-​friendly and it not is easier to breathe but more enjoyable of an experience. Definitely eases my mind in bringing my daughter for this little luxury of ours.
Not only are the products fantastic but the customer service and quality of the mani/​pedi is fantastic, too!

Ahhh!!! I am beyond thrilled to have found Noktivo! Jenny is so passionate about her business and customers well-​being. It was a breath of fresh air (literally and figuratively!) and a very enjoyable experience. I will definitely be back and think twice about the products I use everyday. This salon is ahead of the industry and thanks to Jenny, is paving the way for much healthier beauty products. Very inspiring! Go support this amazing local small business and see for yourself!

My nails look fantastic after a great experience at Noktivo!
I came in with a Groupon for a manicure/​pedicure and scheduling my appointment could not have been easier. Jenny (the owner) did a fabulous job in a relaxing environment. I especially enjoyed the hand and foot massage… and Jenny gave a lot of time to this portion of the experience! While the Groupon stated that my manicure/​pedicure would use Milk and Honey products, Jenny gave me a choice of other options as well. This was a lovely surprise. Knowing that all products were environmentally-​friendly was an added bonus. Noktivo (and ChromaK8) is a lovely addition to our neighborhood– what a great spot!

I luv this place… have been here several times. The owner Jenny is wonderful. I don’t live around here but like to come whenever I’m in the area. Love the fact they have some local nail polish and environmentally friendly products.

I love Noktivo. It’s intimate and friendly. And since all their products are nontoxic it doesn’t smell like a bunch of chemicals. I have been here several times, and my manicure always lasts about 7 days without a chip, and it seems like my pedicures last for an eternity. The whole staff is very knowledgable about all their products and will not hesitate to recommend something to you even if they don’t carry it. Be good to yourself, ditch the toxic nail salons, and go here!

Such a lovely find. I had a Milk & Honey Signature Pedicure with the owner Jenny. Cristina also helped me out while Jenny was finishing up. Both ladies were warm and attentive to all of the details of a great personalized experience.
After reading the NYTimes series and feeling a bit wary of the human dynamics of nail salon culture for some time, I honestly thought I’d never get another salon pedicure. Unfortunately, I had a surgery that left me unable to tend to my own feet for over a month, and my husband, for all his wonderful qualities, doesn’t do pedicures. From the web, Noktivo looked like a reasonable compromise, and the actual experience exceeded my expectations.
Jenny is serious and incredibly knowledgable about non-​toxic beauty and low impact living, but she also comes from a traditional salon background. Like the women profiled in the NYTimes series, she started getting sick after working as a nail tech for a few years and thought there must be a better way. She likes products, wants you to look good, and tests «all natural» products intensively to make sure they perform as well or better than traditional counterparts. The current space is shared with another salon and is definitely cozy, but it didn’t feel awkward or oppressive (no chemical fumes!). Now, you’re not going to get a no-​chip at Noktivo or be pounded within an inch of your life by a remote control massage chair, but you might find that you like the alternative better. I’ll definitely be back for special occasions.

Cristina was awesome. I honestly have never had a better manicure and look forward to going back again.

Really glad I found this place.
I needed a manicure for a shoot, I didn’t have a lot of time, and wanted something close… I didn’t even know there was something as a non– toxic nail salon. Wow did I luck out. Gina was so nice, they got me in the same day, and even though they are in a temporary location on Lincoln, they did their very best to make me feel comfortable and welcome.
And, the manicure is still beautiful 5 days later, and for me, who is really rough on my hands, gardening, taking care of animals, 5 days is awesome. I mean, no chips, barely make it two weeks on me. I am looking forward to going back and having a pedicure very soon.

They are so well educated about the safety of the products they use. She did a great job and was wonderful to speak with during my pedi. It was clear how passionate they were about using non toxic chemicals. I feel like she really went the extra mile to provide great customer service.

TL;DR: Great service with a green beauty philosophy you can trust. Look good *and* feel good!
I read about Noktivo in Crain’s this week (google it!) and thought it would be a great place to bring a visiting friend of mine who sells Arbonne (very high-​quality green beauty products). I knew my friend would appreciate the non-​toxic & green philosophy behind Noktivo.
It was very easy to make an appointment online, and then when we showed up and realized I had made the appointment for next week, not today, Jenny (the owner) was very helpful and fit us in just half an hour later.
We both got the signature pedicure and I added the manicure; we also both chose the lavender lemonade scent which was *wonderful*. Jenny worked on my friend and I believe I had Cristina. Both of them were extremely thorough, thoughtful (Would you like some more water? Let me know if I’m using the callous scrubber too hard, etc.), and easy to talk to. You know how sometimes when you’re getting your nails done or some other personal service and it’s difficult to talk to the person, there’s just some awkwardness even though you’re both trying to be polite and kind? None of that here. That little nail room was full of warmth and good vibes.
Best of all, however, in addition to leaving with lovely polished nails and smoother hands/​feet for a very fair price, I was *so impressed* by Noktivo’s entire approach. Jenny has been involved in the green beauty space for about a decade, and it’s clear she’s done her research, she’s involved in the national conversation around toxicity in beauty products, and she really cares about providing her clients with safe, non-​toxic pampering. We had this really fascinating, winding conversation that covered everything from maternal health to differences in U.S./Euro approaches to chemical policy. She is a smart cookie, and it was clear how motivated she is by concern for other peoples’ health & well-​being.
I had never even considered a place like Noktivo might exist before reading about them in Crain’s this week. But it makes sense. If you’re enough concerned about ingesting unnecessary chemicals or other toxins that you read labels or try to buy organics, the next step is to think about what kind of products you’re slathering on your skin, and how those products might affect your health. You only get one body, so be gentle to it.

I had such a nice experience here on Sunday. I treated myself to a mani/​pedi with Jenny. Her Chroma K8 location is so warm and inviting — I immediately felt comfortable. I booked the signature pedi — she took almost an hour to complete it — which I really needed after what winter has done to my feet. I got the mojito scrub, which smelled incredible. And the moisturizer she used on my legs was still going strong by the time I got ready for bed that evening.
My manicure was perfect. I have bad nails that peel, and generally my polish is chipped by the end of the day. This morning it still looks as great as it did when it was first applied.
I purchased non-​toxic polish remover on my way out, as I’m really trying to green up my products.
Loved it and will be back.

You definitely get what you pay for. Had a milk and honey mani/​pedi on Sunday, it is now one week later and it still looks super fresh. I don’t think I’ve ever had a Mani that lasted this long! Although this is a only a temporary location, Jenny made me feel right at home and comfy in this cozy little space. Highly recommended!

Such a wonderful salon! I had a fantastic facial and mani-​pedi. Love the all-​natural concept. My facial included a bunch of customized ingredients — note ingredients not products, like a yogurt mask with honey and essential oils — not a product with a bunch of fillers, but just those three ingredients!
LOVE how my pedi came out, mani is still going strong 4 days later, and all with green ingredients :)

Save your money — go elsewhere.
1. I read the reviews online before deciding to go ahead and book an appointment. The reviews mentioned that Jenny is good so I decided to book an online appointment with her. However, when I got there, I got another nail tech without any explanation. Ok – not a deal breaker… that stuff happens.
2. There was a big dog in the nail salon from another guest. Hmmmm — this struck me as odd considering there might be some people with allergies. I’ve never seen a nail salon, or any salon that allows dogs. Probably not the best idea (even though I’m a total dog lover… but that doesn’t mean everyone else is)
3. The Pedi Chairs are not comfortable (there are only 2). Actually, mine had a pretty big stain on it. So no lux chairs with massages. No magazine was offered. There were dirty sponges on the side of the chair which is not a good view when trying to relax.
4. The manicure was horrible (pedi was ok). It looks like I could do it myself (and a better job at that!) I let it dry for about 45 minutes while my sis was getting her nails done which I think is plenty drying time (I usually bolt after 10 mins) However it still smudged all over and no offer was given to rescue my expensive mani.
5. While drying there was no check up on us — are the nails dry? would you like more tea? nope — don’t care once they got their money
6. There was no offer for bringing us our shoes or helping us with coats. It was really like they didn’t care once we paid. All the other nail salons Ive been to rush to help with shoes and coats to ensure you leave with a good mani/​pedi — well my medicore nail job got messed up after all that drying time (45 minutes of sitting in the cold being ignored by the staff).
Other Cons:
The place was really cold!
The nail tech I got hardly talked to me (which is fine… I enjoy a bit of silence once in a while) However, she seemed like she just didn’t care.
I still left a generous tip because I believe in tipping people well, however a simple ‘Thanks’ would have been appreciated rather than walking past me while I was struggling putting on my shoes.
Pros: Tea was offered, and free wifi
will never go back. I advise that you dont bother… actually this is the worst Ive been to.

Short version: just not great.
Number of times I was apologized to: 18.
Oh Gena, sweet Gena, you are such a lovely soul, but you still need a lot of experience and probably shouldn’t be allowed to charge full price yet (though I think their prices here are very fair). I do hear Jenny (the owner) is amazing, but she’s out on maternity leave so the shop is left to other employees that seem a little greener.
My other little gripe was that it took a loooooong time, not because it was long and luxurious, but because she kept messing up and with drying time of so many thick layers of polish I was there for close to 2 hours. Their tubs for pedi’s also aren’t that comfortable for setting your feet on. Lastly, there was very little massaging in either mani/​pedi so I found myself wishing I was in a cheapo salon in a massage chair.
I still want to support this cute local business though! Great products used here.

I originally came here for «Beer & Beauty» night, but returned because of the wonderful attention Jenny gives to her clients. The care she gives to her customers is refreshing and the shop is charming. My pedicure also lasted a good long time so there maybe magic there too. I bought a friend a g.c. for a friends night at Noktivo, looking forward to it!

Jenny goes to great lengths to ensure she is offering her customers the very best in green beauty. Constantly hungry for new knowledge, her patrons are the beneficiaries of her passion.
I’ve been to Noktivo several times and I am always happy with the end result. Frankly, I was surprised at first that non-​toxic nail products would have such excellent results!
A huge plus is it actually smells GOOD at Noktivo. No harsh chemical smells that make you anxious to get some fresh air. Noktivo gets my vote as one of the best places in Chicago for both moms and mamas to be for pampering!

Do you hate walking into a nail place and it smells? I do. Thats why I come here! Toxic free and I smell like myself once I leave. Unlike other salons.
They have this cake batter, cinnamon, pancake scrub that makes me want to lick my toes that’s how good it smells!
A great place to come relax with the girls and come out looking and feeling like you spent $$ in the Gold Coast, without spending that money.
Plus this is an all green environmental friendly place. Hence not smelling like a toxic waste zone. I’ll be back soon!

Clean and cute place. Most importantly, I feel good to know that all the products they use are green and non-​toxic.
I went in on a Friday night (they open till 10pm on Fridays) and had a manicured done by Jenny. She did the most amazing job in getting my hands pampered and then painting my nails to perfection.
I’ll be going back for a pedicure next time when I am not in a rush and probably try out their facial, too.