SahLan Nails & Spa’s vision board for 2026 includes new spaces and new opportunities for the community, and it’s been years in the works.

Consistently voted the No. 1 Best Salon in Volume One’s “Best of the Chippewa Valley Readers Poll” for six years running, we chatted with SahLan Nails & Spa founder and owner, Lan Pham Vu, about her business’s forthcoming move to Altoona’s River Prairie and the opening of SahLan Academy.

River Prairie Location To Open In February

Construction efforts have been underway at what will be SahLan’s brand-new home – 1451 Bluestem Boulevard, Suite A, Altoona – for about a year. SahLan will unveil an expanded space with the ability to serve nearly double the amount of clients and even more services than it offers at the current Birch Street location.

Lan and her team are nearly beaming with excitement about the soon-to-open River Prairie salon, and it’s not only because of the newness that makes it special. Lan is meticulous about the customer experience; something that becomes evident through the behind-the-scenes details.

One of the most significant parts of the construction project isn’t the most glamorous, but will make a big impact: A unique, custom dust suction system.

A powerful commercial suction system was installed underground and plumbed to the manicure tables to capture nail dust efficiently, replacing the weak portable units commonly used in the industry. Positioned at each manicure station, this high-performance dust-ventilation system makes SahLan one of the few — if not the only — salons in the nation with such advanced dust extraction.

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I am so, so excited for the new salon and to finally open SahLan academy.

LAN PHAM VU

OWNER, SAHLAN NAILS & SPA

SahLan Nails & Spa's current location on Birch Street, pictured, will become the home of SahLan Academy when the small business makes the move to its brand new River Prairie location (1451 Bluestem Blvd., Suite A, Altoona) in February.

“I really care about the cleanliness of SahLan, and that’s for our clients as much as for my staff,” Lan said. “Nail techs spend all day here, and being exposed to things like the dust is something I want to make sure I limit moving forward.”

Some changes will be evident even before sitting down at SahLan, too. Double-entry doors will ensure Wisconsin’s winter gusts and summertime heat don’t disrupt those inside the salon, and a strategic interior layout will place a private staff break room near the front of the space so the team can jump into action as needed.

The new space will allow double the amount of clients to be serviced at once, and includes two stations for those with wheelchairs.

SahLan’s services will also be elevated – and expanded. Individual rooms will allow SahLan to offer facials, massages and waxing services, evolving to meet clientele wants and needs. The salon’s pedicure chairs will also be secured on an elevated platform fitted with handrails, a thoughtful detail that maximizes client comfort and safety and provides an ergonomic working height for taller technicians so they don’t have to bend down all day.

A new drink menu will be offered to clients too, including kitty cocktails (SahLan doesn’t have a liquor license – yet!). Down the road, Lan hopes to open a drive-thru window, expanding on the drink menu and offering it to on-the-go customers. Cheers to that!

“I am so, so excited for the new salon,” Lan said, “and to finally open SahLan Academy.”

SahLan Academy Will Open On Birch Street

With all the paperwork and licensing, teachers and systems now secure, Lan is gearing up to officially welcome students at SahLan Academy in the new year. After the team moves into its new River Prairie salon around the end of February, the current Birch Street location will become the education space for SahLan Academy.

“We won’t just be teaching the books, but teaching in a way that gives students a real salon experience,” Lan said.

Students will be given an all-inclusive supply kit to successfully complete their hands-on practices and state board requirements, so they don’t have to worry about extra purchases.

With flexible, rolling enrollment – with an eight-week option to help students enter the workforce faster – SahLan Academy is also offering weekend schedules to give more people the opportunity to take part in the program.

“It’s very busy, getting ready for two new things at the same time,” Lan laughed. “I just can’t wait to see everything open up, and see clients and students there.”

SAHLAN NAILS & SPA

Soon to open at:1451 Bluestem Blvd., Suite A, Altoona

Current location, future location of SahLan Academy: 2705 Birch St., Eau Claire

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