How do you take your girls for manicures and pedicures without spoiling them? I love to drag them to the nail salon with me, but I don’t want their heads to get full of nonsense like pampering, privilege and social inequality. I can take a pure feminist anti-pedicure stand, or I can just accept that I really love getting my feet massaged and my toenails painted perfectly without smudges. I tip well to justify my behavior.

This is an inner struggle I’m passing down to my girls, age 7. It was bound to happen–there are more than 10 nail salons in Montclair alone, and they’re all popular with females ages 4 to 74. My kids started out by tagging along with me and my iPad to keep them entertained. Of course, they started asking to get their own nails done with sparkly flowers and dotted ladybugs. One thing led to another, and now their getting manis and pedis is a regular reward when they accomplish special goals.

This week, all of my kids’ teachers gave them accolades at the parent conferences. They’re rocking the first grade and kindergarten, and we intend to celebrate a smooth and excellent year. My husband will take my son to play football at the park, and I will take the girls to the nail salon. I’ll take them all ice skating, too. Everyone will bond and have fun. We’ll still be feminists, just well-groomed.

So where should you go for kids’ salon services, and how much should you pay? I found a wide range of prices—girls’ manis and pedis run anywhere from $19 to $30. And even a kids pedicure includes a soak, scrub, cut, file and polish–often with designs. You need an appointment at the packed places (i.e. Pinky and Jeeyune). But you can easily walk in to other spots. Here’s all the info on your favorite local salons below: Continue Reading