Couple ‘so proud’ to run joint nail and barber salon in Northampton and promote ‘quality over quantity’

Cristina Mihalache and Nicu Staicu run Nails Boutique by KM and The Man Cave respectively from the same premises in Kettering Road.

Cristina proudly offers high quality nail and eyebrow treatments and has a wealth of experience, after she first trained 12 years ago and has been working in the industry full-time for the past six years.

Nicu also boasts seven years of experience, having worked in other barber salons before taking the plunge to launch his own salon with partner Cristina.

The pair saw the perfect opportunity to start this joint venture at the end of last year, and they were both moved into the Kettering Road premises by January.

“We were both offering services and working with customers, and we thought it’d be nice to have the same place of work,” Cristina told the Chronicle & Echo.

Though they share the space, Nick’s barbering services are offered at the front of the building looking out onto Kettering Road. Cristina’s salon is tucked away at the back, and they are separated by a door.

Having their own salon is one of the pair’s proudest achievements to date and Cristina said: “To work as a team is even better. We can support each other and things go smoothly.”

Both of their client bases have supported the move and neither have lost any customers in the process, showing how loyal they are.

“My clients said I could move back to my country and they’d still come to me,” said Cristina, in jest. “They were open and happy for me, and it’s been the same for Nicu.”

The businesses have only got busier since the move to the outskirts of the town centre, and they hope it will continue to go from strength to strength.

When asked why it is important for the community to support independent businesses like theirs, Cristina said: “They’re supporting quality and we’re very client-oriented. Quality brings quantity, and supporting us means supporting quality services.”

Cristina believes it is this quality that sets them apart from other nail and barber salons across the town.

“I always said I want to treat my customers how I would like to be treated,” she continued. “We are really proud of us. This is just the beginning and we plan to do more things in the future, like open a training academy, to grow from here.”