DEARBORN – It’s been just a month since Milan’s on Monroe Nail Salon opened on the west side of Dearborn, but already, word has spread quickly across the city and beyond.

Milan’s on Monroe employee Zena Jawad (left) gives a manicure to fellow employee Fadia Shuayto (right) at Milan’s on Monroe Nail Salon. PHOTOS: Nick Meyer/TAAN

“We started out with 2,000 business cards and now we’re down to 500,” said owner Sally Taleb.
Clients have been grabbing them by the handful to give out, not just to their girlfriends, but even to the men in their lives as well.

Taleb says that men enjoy the nail salon’s services such as pedicures and manicures, but it takes a little prodding to get them to go.

“Women buy gift cards for their husbands, because sometimes that’s the only way they can get them to come in,” said Taleb.

According to Taleb’s daughter Milan, however, that isn’t always the case.

“One of my sister’s friends asked his dad for money to get his nails done but his dad told him ‘No, that’s for sissies,’ ” she said.

But despite that public perception, they keep coming back, much like Taleb’s female clients. Customers come in for a multitude of services like various waxing procedures and professional makeup application services as well as gifts and accessories such as lotions, handmade purses and more.

They also come in for the friendly, inviting atmosphere, as Taleb and her staff bring customers coffee, café mochas, water, or tea while they wait to make them feel comfortable. The atmosphere can best be described as warm and cozy, but the shop still maintains a modern, stylish look.

“People come in and tell me I should have been an interior decorator instead,” said Taleb about the store’s look, which features a Marilyn Monroe theme and includes luxurious granite countertops for manicures and pedicures.

“They say it’s kind of like a Paris boutique.”

The Milan’s on Monroe staff (from left to right) of Fadia Shuayto, Salley Taleb, Milan Taleb, and Zena Jawad prides itself on making customers feel at home.

Milan’s on Monroe also features a staff comprised of three licensed nail technicians and an esthetician who focuses on waxing and makeup. One technician, Alika Shover, who is certified by the popular nail polish company OPI, drives in from Dundee to work with Milan’s clients, approximately a 45 minute commute to Dearborn.
Many of the clients come into Milan’s from right in the neighborhood. It’s located at 2229 Monroe Street. Milan’s staff goes to great lengths to make it feel almost like they never even left.

“We want people to come in here and feel like they’re at home,” said Fadia Shuayto, an employee and Taleb’s niece. “That’s our goal.”

For more information about Milan’s on Monroe or to make an appointment, call 1.313.7900. Mention this article and receive a 10% discount off all services. Gift certificates are also available. The salon is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Saturday.