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Prices for manicures are on the rise, but how much is too much to spend on getting your nails done these days, especially in big cities?
After a tourist paid around $260 for a manicure, the viral TikTok got people talking about the price of nail art.
Commenters were distressed by the high price, with one responding: “$220 is crazy for this in NYC girl you got robbed in plain sight.”
Many people were not only shocked by the price, but also pointed out that the manicurist was not wearing gloves and that the final product did not look like the inspiration image.
To find out how much it’s reasonable to pay for an elaborate nail design in a major city like New York, and how clients can avoid price shock at the end of their appointment, FEMAIL consulted three very high-profile nail artists about their fees.
To find out how much it’s reasonable to pay for an elaborate nail design in a big city and how customers can avoid price shock, FEMAIL consulted three high-profile nail artists (file image)
Julie Kandalec is the founding creative director of Paintbox in New York City and has worked on major beauty campaigns as well as doing nails for stars including Selena Gomez (left) and Lauren Sanchez (right).
Sataya Stone, owner of Art Nail NYC (above), told FEMAIL that ‘in a big city like New York, someone can expect to pay anywhere from $90 to $200 or more for a nail design or elaborate manicure.’
It’s no secret that inflation makes everything go up, including expensive beauty treatments.
However, many New Yorkers shared what they paid for manicures in the comments section of TikTok.
Many people in the outer boroughs noted more reasonable prices, including $90 in the Bronx, $80 in Queens and $100 for a Russian manicure.
Others explained that they paid from $75 for a complete set with designs up to $140 or £65 ($83) in the UK.
How much should I expect to pay in a big city?
Sataya Stone, owner and founder of the nail salon downtown Nail art in New YorkShe told FEMAIL that “in a major city like New York, someone can expect to pay anywhere from $90 to $200 or more for a nail design or an elaborate manicure, depending on the complexity of the design and the reputation of the salon.”
Julie Kandalec is the founding creative director of Paintbox in New York City and has worked on major beauty campaigns as well as behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week.
The celebrity manicurist explained that rates vary in New York, with some artists charging by difficulty and breaking it down into levels like simple or intermediate nail art, while others charge by time and another option is per finger or per gem or stud, calling it “very personal.”
Rita PintoThe founder of the celebrity-loved nail art paradise Vanity projects in Miami and New York, told DailyMail.com:The complexity of the design, the length of the appointment, the number of colors, the number of gems or stones used, are factors that are taken into account in the final price.
Rita Pinto, founder of Vanity Projects, told FEMAIL that ‘the complexity of the design, the length of the appointment, the number of colours, the number of gems or stones used, are all taken into account in the final price.’
‘The client should ask about the cost of each component of the manicure and request a quote based on their specific requests,’ Sataya advised.
How to avoid price shock?
It’s best to be upfront with your nail artist ahead of time so there are no surprises, but you may need to go into detail to ensure you don’t get an unpleasant surprise at the end of a lengthy appointment.
Julie said it’s best to communicate ahead of time to make sure you’re on the same page with your nail technician when it comes to budget.
“I wouldn’t want to put them in a situation where they’re in for a surprise,” Julie said. “I love working backwards with a budget. My client often gets more this way, too.”
“To discuss pricing up front and avoid surprises, the client should ask about the cost of each component of the manicure and request a quote based on their specific requests,” Sataya advised.
‘We recommend that you be honest about how much you expect to spend on this nail service before booking the appointment so that we can proceed accordingly.’
Rita said: ‘For those who are budget conscious, designs can always be adjusted or altered to ensure they stay within budget.’
“Sharing details about your inspiration, as well as being transparent about your budget, is essential,” Rita told FEMAIL, adding that Vanity Projects offers 17 different seasonal or trend-driven monthly specials at a fixed price.
Vanity Project clients — who in the past have included Serena Williams, Adriana Lima, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Lily Allen, Sam Smith and more — can customize presets by choosing colors, and specials range from $100 to $130.
The duration of a manicure is usually between two and four weeks.
Julie said it’s best to communicate ahead of time to make sure you’re on the same page as your nail technician when it comes to budget.
It’s hard to imagine paying a high amount for a manicure and nail design, plus removing the polish (stock image)
Why do you have to pay for gel removal now?
It’s hard to imagine paying a high amount for a manicure and nail art, plus removing the polish from your last appointment when that wasn’t always the case.
But Julie explained that salons are “finally realising the value of slow, methodical and proper removal” and “should have always been charging”.
Julie, who has performed elegant manicures on celebrity clients including Selena Gomez, Camila Cabello and Lauren Sanchez, warned that “improper removal is the biggest cause of nail damage.”
“I never understood that business model: when a service is not paid for or is priced very low, it is a rushed service,” Julie explained.
“I would personally charge $50 or more for a painless removal. A bad removal can cause damage that takes three months or more to disappear. Isn’t $50 worth three months of healthy nails?” Julie asked.
“Removing gel is a time-consuming process that includes cuticle care, nail trimming and filing, and removing all old products and accessories,” Rita agreed.
‘Our salon charges existing clients $10 for removal and $20 for clients coming from a different salon, where the products used are unfamiliar and often take longer to remove,’ Rita continued.
‘If the removal is done poorly or in a hurry, it can cause damage to the natural nail.
“When removal is done correctly, it allows the gel application to properly adhere to the natural nail bed, resulting in long-lasting manicures with beautiful nail bed growth,” Rita said.