While you can certainly do your own nails at home, visiting a manicurist is still something most people love to do. Sipping tea and reading on the tablet, all while having your nails trimmed, filed, and polished? It’s a luxury. It’s no wonder why there are so many manicure salons in Singapore. But with this many choices, which will make the best fit for you? We sussed out eight nail salons and compare them so you don’t have to do the legwork.
The Nail Social
Best for: Feel-good manicures
The Nail Social is a winner in its own right. Not only is the nail salon socially-conscious, it is fully committed to giving back to the local community. For the most part, all products used for nail services here are non-toxic, eco-friendly, fair-trade and/or cruelty-free. Also, it is worth a mention that their manicurists at this lifestyle concept salon are local underprivileged women whom they’ve offered vocational training and employment opportunities for!
Additionally, patrons get to enjoy luxurious manicures in pure comfort coupled with personal iPads pre-loaded with movies, books and games. We are simply blown away by their thoughtfulness. To make the deal even sweeter, The Nail Social gifts their customers a glass of wine each on Fridays and Saturdays!
What patrons say: “Excellent” and “Highly recommended” are some of the key comments we saw on social media. Some commented especially about how they like being able to pamper their nails and support a social cause at the same time.
Price: From SGD10 onwards for basic nail polish application. (The most affordable among the eight we featured!)
Outlet: One; 42A Haji Lane
The Nail Artelier
Best for: 3D nail art + Cute designs
Nestled amongst a slew of eclectic indie stores in artsy Haji Lane, it is no wonder that art takes centre stage at The Nail Artelier. Their manicurists are known to create nail art according to your whim and fancy so bring along photos of your inspiration if you want them to recreate any designs that you are dying to put on your nails.
But of course, feel free to browse their pile of Japanese nail art magazines in the nail parlour – you’ll never know what gem of a design may be out there for you! If these aren’t enticing enough for you to pay them a visit, The Nail Artelier counts many local celebrities and social media influencers part of their regular clientele.
What patrons say: One yelp user shared her very pleasant experience at The Nail Artelier, citing how “patient”, “attentive” and “sweet” the girls were at the Kembangan outlet she visited. However, a scroll through their Facebook page shows very mixed reviews – some sang praises while others weren’t as pleased.
Price: From SGD12 onwards for express manicure
Outlets: Two; 16 Jalan Masjid #01-06 and 666 North Bridge Road
Manicurious
Best for: Fashion-forward nails
Manicurious is a haven for fashionistas who take as much pride in dressing up as when they are seeking to make their nails look artsy fartsy. It prides itself on its ability to recreate any design that you fancy regardless whether it’s the whimsical wallpaper you saw on Pinterest or that ethnic print on your comfy PJ pants! But of course, the more complicated the design, the more expensive your nail art is going to cost.
Even if you aren’t that into avant garde nail art, you may want to visit Manicurious for their handcrafted coffee and dope retail space that stocks a curated bunch of chic, indie products all rolled under one roof. Manicurious’ repertoire includes everything from the most basic to the most complex, whichever that floats your boat.
Those who love a good manicure with a discount factor of 20% can look forward to their Happy Hour promotion, from Mondays to Thursdays between 11am and 4pm, terms and conditions apply.
What patrons say: Reviews on their Facebook page yo yo-ed. One customer raved about the great service provided by her manicurists while another customer was upset that she’d waited over an hour for someone to tend to her despite having booked an appointment. Others were intrigued by Manicurious’ concept of combining a nail salon, cafe and retail space in the same space.
Price: From SGD18 onwards for express manicure
Outlets: Two; 41 Beach Road and 49 Tras Street
Pink Parlour
Best for: Convenience + All-in-one beauty pitstop
Besides having eight outlets all over Singapore, Pink Parlour makes appointments a breeze to secure by offering seven channels to do your booking. What’s not to love about hassle-free pampering sessions?
On top of the wide variety of manicures and pedicures available, Pink Parlour offers everything under the sun from waxing, brow and lash tinting to even long-term hair removal.
What patrons say: Most people are happy that they are hygienic and easily accessible. However, there has been quite a hoo-ha online complaining about how unfriendly and unprofessional some of their waxing staff are. Another reviewer cautioned for patrons to not expect too much for service and manicure jobs and “just go for the basics”.
Price: From SGD23.54 onwards for speedy manicure
Outlets: Eight, including Marina Square, Orchard Central, Far East Plaza, and NEX. (This is the most convenient of them all!)
Click on the arrow keep reading. We have four more recommendations and we’ll tell you what people think about them!