Meet Melissa Friess

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Friess and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
One of the biggest habits that has helped me succeed is disciplined time blocking. I keep dedicated working hours. When I’m not with clients, I dedicate that time to working ON my business rather than stepping away early or running errands. That habit allowed me to build my clientele and now even with a booked schedule, I maintain additional designated hours to focus on business growth. I also know my numbers, tracking them helps me set goals, measure progress, and make smart decisions about changes in my business.

On the client side, I focus on education. There’s so much misinformation about foot and toenail care and my role is to help clients solve their issues within my scope so they won’t need ongoing intervention. I pay close attention to areas where the industry often falls short, like sanitation. My practices far exceed minimum standards, which helps set me apart.

What should our readers know about your business?
I provide solution-based foot care that goes far beyond a typical pedicure. My advanced training and techniques bridge the gap between foot doctors and nail technicians, allowing me to offer a level of care that many people don’t even know exists. I work with athletes, active individuals and anyone dealing with issues like ingrown toenails, thick, damaged or missing nails, calluses, corns and cracked heels. Foot pain or nail damage can impact not just comfort, but performance, mobility and confidence. I combine precise techniques, careful attention to detail and a personalized approach to help each client maintain healthy, pain-free feet. Every service I provide is designed not just to solve the immediate problem, but to educate clients on how to care for their feet so they can prevent future issues and stay at their best. Whether that’s on the field, in the gym, or in their daily life.

Getting to where I am today wasn’t easy. In my early years in the industry, going on 25 years now, I tried to keep up with nail trends and the hottest seasonal colors, but I realized that wasn’t sustainable or satisfying for me. What truly lit me up was solving a client’s problem, because when I could do that, they were eternally grateful. That’s when I began to understand that this was what I was meant to do. This industry isn’t widely recognized for advanced foot care, so I had to carve out my own path, invest in specialized education and build trust with clients and athletes who didn’t even know this kind of service existed. There were plenty of challenges, but I overcame them by staying focused on my goals and refusing to compromise on quality or safety.

Continuing education is critical! If you aren’t continuing to learn, you risk becoming obsolete. While anyone in my industry could pursue advanced education in foot care, most don’t, because they don’t have the passion for it. I always say “Toes are my jam!” I eat, sleep, and breathe feet (pun intended). I hold myself to an extremely high standard and that passion is what drives me to keep learning, improving and raising the bar for what’s possible in this field.

I am a one man band. That has meant wearing many hats, from marketing, social media to accounting and reception, which can be challenging when some roles don’t come naturally. Over time, I’ve learned how to manage these responsibilities and I am now in the process of learning how to let go and get help from professionals in those areas so I have more time to focus on clients.

What I’m most proud of and most excited about is that my work is recognized by professional athletes and those who support them. I work weekly with Major League Soccer’s The Colorado Rapids and it’s incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact my care has on the players. A Denver Broncos player was recently referred to me by someone he trusts and I hope to continue growing my presence with the team. I began working with the Rapids at the start of their season and as they approach the end, you’d expect months of training and matches to take a toll on their feet. Surprisingly, it’s the opposite. Their feet are healthier and in better condition than at the beginning of the season. Along the way, we’ve been able to catch small issues before they became major problems. Resolve chronic issues from seasons past. I’ve also helped some players better understand the damage their ill-fitting boots were causing, allowing them to make adjustments and avoid further injury. This shows that with the right care, even the most demanding schedules don’t have to compromise performance or foot health.

Looking ahead, I’m excited about where my business is going. I’m in the process of developing an online course that individuals, including athletes can take to learn how to care for their own feet. The course will include virtual consultations, allowing people across the US to access my expertise, which is based on a version of the class I teach to teams. I hope to continue growing my presence with teams and individual professional athletes across the U.S. Eventually, I would love to collaborate with shoe companies to help design cleats that perform well while minimizing toenail damage.

I want people to know that foot care isn’t what you see on social media, it isn’t just cosmetic or instant- like so many videos show. It takes the right techniques and it’s essential for health, mobility, and performance. My mission is to elevate the standard of care in this field.
www.DenverToenailRemedies.com

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is a Saturday- Saturday trip. The Rapids games are on Saturday’s and the places listed are less busy and less expensive on weekdays. Both Saturdays start and finish near the airport for an easy travel transition and easing into the altitude.

Day 1 Saturday – Colorado Rapids Game Night

Attend a Colorado Rapids game. Tickets are affordable, parking is free and the game is exciting to watch live.

Day 2 – Granby Overnight Getaway

Stop in Winter Park for lunch at Randy’s, known for fish and chips.

Arrive at Sun Outdoors Granby for an overnight stay.

Rent a golf cart or bikes to explore the huge property.

Enjoy live music and dine at one of the two onsite restaurants.

Visit the Ace Hardware in Granby! It has a huge gift shop for souvenirs and unique items.

Day 3 – Estes Park for the day.

Head straight there from Granby to shop, eat, and hike.

Visit The Old Fashion Candy and General Store for nostalgic treats.

Day 4 – Central City & Black Hawk Day Trip

Begin in Idaho Springs with shopping and browsing local stores.

Have lunch at Beau Jo’s, famous for their mountain-style pizza.

Continue on to Central City and Black Hawk for gambling, history, and exploring.

Day 5 – Cañon City Overnight Getaway

Travel to Cañon City to see the Royal Gorge Bridge.

Stop for lunch at Penrose Pizzeria located in Penrose.

Day 6 – Relax & Recharge

On the way back to Denver, explore antique shops in Florence and enjoy a beer at Florence Brewing Co.

Finish the day with a casual dinner and great beer at Prost Biergarten in Northglenn.

Day 7 – Local Gems & Wildlife near the airport

Start the morning with fresh doughnuts at Tasty’s in Commerce City, a family shop that’s been in business since 1929.

Head to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge for the scenic Wildlife Drive, where you might see bison, deer, and birds of prey.

Head to the airport

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When I first entered the industry, I was fortunate to have veteran colleagues who supported me and helped me hone the skills needed to work with the public. My family has also been a constant source of encouragement, standing by me through the ups and downs of building a business and reminding me that I am great at what I do and it’s both unique and needed.

From a business perspective, the book Profit First is a game changer. It taught me how to prioritize profit and manage money wisely, which gave me the mental resilience to keep moving forward even when growth felt slow. Those practices have allowed me to reinvest in my business.

And finally, Major League Soccer’s The Colorado Rapids will always hold a special place in my heart. I work with them weekly, and I’ve loved not only supporting the players’ performance and health but also building relationships with the team and training staff, who have truly embraced me and the results of my work.

Website: https://www.DenverToenailRemedies.com

Instagram: @toenailremedies or https://www.instagram.com/toenailremedies

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-friess-denver-toenail-remedies-1279a1168

Image Credits
Denver Toenail Remedies