Stephanie Spear Everything about the serene environment at Nothing In Between (NIB) Studios is by design. From the quiet and calm atmosphere to the carefully selected non-toxic nail products in use, founder Jade Kim Trusso has made every decision with precision and care, with her clients’ and employees’ well-being at the top of mind. Read on for more about Jade and her reflections on seven years in business.
About Jade
Jade’s professional background is in client management for fashion. Her path to nail salons was indirect, but fueled by curiosity. Jade was born and raised in Korea and lived in France for several years, working in the fashion industry. She came to the US in 2014 with her husband, who was working with the federal government. They settled in Falls Church and now have a son.
While getting her bearings here in Northern Virginia, Jade started learning about American nail salons. “In 2015, I started working at a nail salon and working toward my licensure,” she said. “The more time I spent in the more traditional environments, the more I knew I wanted to change it from the inside out.”
Jade opened the first NIB location in Falls Church in 2018, implementing the lessons she learned from her experience. She emphasized good ventilation, non-toxic products, and training and operating procedures that protect both clients and staff. “Transparency has always been important to me,” she said. “People think about what they put into their bodies, and not so much about what they put on their bodies. Sharing our processes and being open with clients is important because it helps them educate themselves.”
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Jade’s focus on ventilation proved to be an advantage during the COVID pandemic, when there was a renewed interest in air quality. “When we were able to reopen, we were very transparent with clients about how we were reopening safely,” she said. That helped to build trust with clients, and since more people were looking for spaces with better ventilation, a new set of clients came to the studio. “We were constantly sharing our protocols on social media, and it helped to build trust,” she said. “A lot of people tried us out because they weren’t sure what the protocols were at their old salon, and they liked knowing what we were doing behind the scenes.”
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Jade and the NIB team opened a second location in Alexandria in 2021 and a third location in Tysons Corner in 2023. Fall 2025 is the company’s seventh anniversary celebration, which Jade says will be all about the customers.
What to Expect
The Tysons space is clean and quiet, but not in a sterile or intimidating way. Rather, there’s no pressure to make small talk, no expectation of pedicure-chair socializing. Jade’s eye for design is apparent from the moment guests walk in: the studio’s white walls and floors leave room for its black metal and natural wood accents to pop. Architectural light fixtures designed by artist Isamu Noguchi add texture and dimension to the space.
To say nothing of the nail polish selections, which look like jewels lined up waiting to be selected. All of the products have been carefully selected for their low and non-toxic qualities. Coffee table and reference-style art books line the shelves, inviting guests to read about Japanese designers or gardening, or art.
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There is no smell, which seems like a funny thing to notice, but anyone who’s spent any time in a nail salon knows that there’s a faint chemical aroma to the place. There are no stray nail polish marks, no waterlogged magazines, or other detritus of the classic, around-the-corner neighborhood nail place. Fresh flowers in handcrafted vases are placed throughout the space, and each workstation has elegant, dark brown glass containers holding manicure materials.
The Falls Church and Alexandria locations offer manicures and pedicures, but the Tysons Corner location also offers manicures, pedicures, facials, and massages. The Tysons location also offers memberships and birthday and wedding specials.
The quiet and tranquility is part of the plan. “I want people to come here, shut the door, and just let themselves relax,” Jade says. “Our team understands that quiet is something customers want.” There is also a deliberate and beautiful selection of retail items available, mostly items made from small, women-owned businesses such as non-toxic candles, books, and artwork.
The setup resonates with customers, as all three locations each have a 4.6-star rating on Google, with dozens of reviews each. The reviews call out the salon’s serenity, cleanliness, and calm atmosphere. Clients also rave about the trendy and fun nail colors and how long-lasting the manicures are.
Something Deeper
All of these cues, from the elegant and inviting space to the thoughtfully considered protocols for guests, add up to the ultra-pampering experience Jade wants for her clients. While NIB is a sanctuary for clients, it’s also how Jade gives back to the community.
“I love the DMV community,” she said. “I always think I’m so lucky to get this much support from our community. So my mission is to create a space where people can come and relax.” Jade says that her clients inspire her. “It’s so important to take care of yourself, and seeing my clients come in and take good care of themselves is inspiring.”
“I am so inspired by my team,” she said. “Many of them are immigrants who came here for a better life, like me. They are working step by step to build their lives here. You think of a role model as someone who has had incredible success but to me, they are the role models. My team is amazing and I’m so grateful for them.”
Jade has been a longtime supporter of Doorways for Women, an Arlington-based nonprofit that provides services, shelter, and supportive housing for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and their families. “When we first opened, a client introduced me to Doorways,” she said. “And we’ve been fundraising and supporting them ever since.” Jade has an ongoing collection at NIB for needed supplies and was recently asked to be on the Board of Directors.
Even the salon’s anniversary celebration is an opportunity to give back by supporting other small businesses and community organizations. “We invited a ceramicist to make special cups that will be a fundraiser for Together We Bake, an Alexandria non-profit that trains women in baking and food service,” Jade said. “We’re also having Zanna Tea, going to one location each day, to make special drinks for our clients.”
NIB Falls Church is located at 6410-C, Arlington Boulevard. Its hours of operation are Monday — Friday 10AM – 7:30PM; Saturday 9AM – 6:30PM, and Sunday 11AM – 6PM.
NIB Alexandria is located at 1306 King Street. Its hours of operation are Monday — Friday 10AM – 7:30PM; Saturday 9AM – 6:30PM, and Sunday 11AM – 6PM.
NIB Tysons is located at 1590 Capital One Drive; Monday — Friday 10AM – 7:30PM; Saturday 9AM – 6:30PM, and Sunday 11AM – 6PM.
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