Plot Synopsis

Produced by Buddy Valastro's Cakehouse Media, UNPOLISHED is a one-hour reality series that follows sisters Lexi and Bria Martone, co-owners of Salon Martone on Long Island, as they run their business, while also juggling family dynamics and each of their own romantic relationships. Bria is a hair colorist/makeup artist, and Lexi is a nail artist with a knack for never-before-seen designs. Behind the teasing, primping, buffing and gluing, their salon is truly a family affair with their mother Jennifer, who helps manage the business; grandmother 'Foxy,' a seasoned hairstylist who can't be tamed; and even their dad Big Mike stops by occasionally to join the hustle of salon life! It takes more than a broken nail or split end to mess with this tight-knit crew, but just like any family, they face their share of challenges that test their bond and patience. Throughout the season, viewers get to know Lexi and discover the skill that helped her rise to fingernail fame. Having created extraordinary designs for celebrities as well as her devoted regulars, viewers follow along as she takes on outrageous requests -- from a 3D boombox that plays music, to glow-in-the-dark talons and designs that even bring some of her clients to tears (of joy!). At the end of the day, there's nothing Lexi won't do in her quest to take the term 'nail art' to a whole new level! Meanwhile, Lexi must also deal with family matters including tension with Bria's on-again, off-again boyfriend, plus secrets that threaten to tear the family apart. Through it all, the Martones work hard to prove that blood is thicker than hairspray and nail varnish!
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The sophomore season of UNPOLISHED premiered on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 10pm ET/PT on TLC. It's been a year of extreme highs and lows for the Martones and the glitziest family-owned and operated salon on Long Island. Always hard at work for their beauty business, Lexi, a cutting-edge nail artist, and her sister Bria, a hair colorist and makeup artist, saw their routines come crashing down as the pandemic arrived earlier this year. Then, in the thick of it all, the tragic and unexpected passing of their father and biggest supporter, Big Mike, left the family in shambles. Mother and administrative lead at the salon, Jennifer, is forced to step up to help make ends meet, taking control of the family's obligations. Despite all the personal and financial turmoil, and to Lexi's dismay, Bria and her fiance Matt are still planning to have their wedding as the extravagant affair she and her father dreamed of, but coronavirus restrictions get in the way of Bria's dream wedding. Meanwhile, once the green light is given to safely resume services while adhering to health and safety guidelines, Lexi must put the personal aside and continue to deliver for her special clients' extreme requests, from a "mer-mazing" set of nautical nails to an amusement park-themed look. But as Bria's big day approaches, Lexi starts to crack and reveal some long-suppressed emotions about her tight-knit family.

In the season opener, "A New Beginning," a devastating loss hits the Martone family at its core as sisters Lexi and Bria and their mother Jennifer work together to reopen the salon after being closed due to the pandemic.