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Mix Your Own Nail Polish Color at TriBeCa's New 'Polish Pit'

By Irene Plagianos | March 4, 2016 1:23pm | Updated on March 7, 2016 8:47am
 The Polish Pit lets you mix your own nail polish,
The Polish Pit lets you mix your own nail polish,
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The Polish Pit

MANHATTAN—  A new TriBeCa shop is hoping to mix up your nail polish routine.

At The Polish Pit, a small space inside 59 Franklin St., the nail polish you buy is the nail polish you create yourself.

“For me, I like my pinks, but I was getting a little tired of what I saw out there,” said Shae Jones, the owner of Polish Pit, which launched during the last week of February. “I thought it would be fun to make my own colors and thought other people would have fun too.”

The shop, which for now only runs on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, is dedicated to helping women create their perfect shade of nail paint — or at least have fun trying. The store has BYOB hours from 6 to 9 p.m.

Polish Pit has a slew of colors, in both powder and liquid pigments — along with instructors, and an instructional video to show customers how to stir their hues.

The basic process starts with a liquid base that’s “5-free” — meaning without certain toxins often found in store-bought polish, including formaldehyde.

Customers get to choose from a variety of nail polish bottle shapes, then get to selecting their colors.

Using little scoops for powder pigment, or syringes for the liquid variety, customers pop their chosen colors into a bottle, then hand shake the mixture.

The colors are then put through a mechanical shaker to really get things mixed up.

“We give everyone the needed tools, along with aprons and gloves, and then you can go ahead and experiment,” said Jones, 34. “You might pop in some color, but realize you need more pigment if you want it more opaque.”

There’s also glitter and other embellishments that customers can add to the bottle.

Once customers get the mix right, they can name the color and get a recipe card of all the colors and amount of scoops they used, so they remember for next time.

Prices are $12.50 for a standard size bottle, 12 milliliters, or $14.50 for 15 milliliters. The store also does mini sample size 5-milliliter bottles, and gives a top and base coat to each customer.

Jones is also offering package deals and group offers for a ladies night out with friends that includes getting nails painted.

The storefront holds about 20 people at a time and will be adding a permanent manicurist, so customers can leave with their nails done in their color for an extra charge.

A native of Bushwick, Jones, who has a full-time job as a court assistant in Manhattan Family Court, which is down the street from The Polish Pit, said she came up with the make-your-own polish idea when the space at 59 Franklin St. was offered to her.

The Polish Pit shares space with another type of polish purveyor, a longtime shoe shine and repair shop, which takes up the back of the storefront.

"The owner [of the shoe repair] and I have been friends for a long time, and there used to be a barber in that storefront, but when he left, the owner told me 'Shae, you're a business woman, you should start something of your own.'"

Jones said her launch was packed, and hopefully she can keep the momentum going. "You know, it's just a great way to spend time with friends, do something a little creative and enjoy yourself," Jones said. "People really seem to be having fun, and that's all we can ask for."

The Polish Pit at 59 Franklin Street is open from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 12:30 to 8 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, check out its website.