Melissa Fagan on where to preen your talons
With hashtags like #nailsofinstagram showcasing over 10 million manicure photos online, getting your nails done is serious business these days. Whether you opt for holographic talons or sleek matte nudes, it seems everyone wants expertly painted nails they can flaunt.
Luckily, Manchester is host to a variety of nail salons offering everything from luxury solar oil and keratin, shellac hot stones and even vegan manicures. To help you decide where to treat your hands to something new, we’ve compiled a list of the cheapest and dearest nail salons across Greater Manchester.
(All listed prices were correct on date of publication. Please contact the salon via their website for any change to pricing.)
Manicures over £30
The Lowry Spa | 'Fire and Ice' gel manicure - £65
50 Dearmans Pl, Chapel Wharf, Salford, Manchester M3 5LH
Based a stones throw away from Manchester city centre, you can treat yourself to the ultimate high-end gel manicure. Once your nails have been filed and prepped, a warming scrub is applied to remove dead skin cells, followed by hot stones and aromatic oils to stimulate blood flow. This technique energises the skin, then is finished off with a cooling mask before your choice of polish is applied.
Nataya Beauty | Deluxe vegan manicure - £50
14 St Mary’s Street, Manchester, M3 2LB
With Veganuary in full force, incorporate your meat-free commitment into your nail care with a deluxe vegan manicure. A whole host of treatments at Nataya Beauty are organic, vegan and cruelty free, so you can get a whole animal-friendly beauty transformation while you’re there. The manicure includes a soak, exfoliation, cuticle tidy, file, shape, hand and arm massage, vinylux polish application, solar oil and a paraffin wax treatment. A lot of bang for your buck.
Spa at the Midland | Luxury manicure with Jessica Colour - £50
The Midland, 16 Peter Street, Manchester, M60 2DS
A relaxing hand exfoliation, massage and moisturising treatment are all part of Spa at the Midland's luxury manicure colour package. You will be seen by the spa's best nail technician, for a hands on personalised one-to-one treatment. With a range of colours, some of which are quick dry, your treatment lasts 50 minutes leaving your hands feeling replenished and elegant.
BellaSpa | Shellac/Gel Hot Stone manicure - £49
12 Faraday Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M1 1BE
You’ve probably heard of a hot stone back massage, now your nails can indulge in an luxurious treatment too. While your nails are filed, shaped and painted with shellac or gel polish, you'll receive an exfoliation and moisturising treatment, followed by a hot towel, skin rejuvenating heated mitten mask and full arm massage. You will leave feeling truly spoilt and want everyone to see your nails and feel how soft your hands are.
Kokoa eco beauty bar | Deluxe manicure and Gel polish - £43
13 The Downs, Altrincham, WA14 2QD
Pay a visit to Altrincham’s ethical beauty haven, Kokoa, for a deluxe gel polish manicure. Promising five-star beauty service, all products used during treatments are 100% vegan and their polishes contain fewer toxins and chemicals than other brands. Kokoa have a loyalty points system where you can unlock exciting perks and find out about exclusive rewards as you build up points. From African black soap to clay masks and night oils, the products used in the salon are own brand and available to purchase in store or online.
House of Evelyn | Luxury manicure - £35
40 Spring Gardens, Manchester, M2 1EN
Whether you’re after show-stoppingly long and dramatic nails or a more elegant touch, House of Evelyn’s nail technicians can do everything. Relax with a chilled glass of complimentary champagne while you decide from over 200 shades in the spacious salon. The oasis of well-being guarantee their clients impeccable service with a wide range of other treatments besides nail care available. You could spend the whole day and come out a brand new woman.
New Church House | Luxury manicure - £33
34 John Dalton Street, Manchester, M2 6LE
Formally known as Barn//It, the recently rebranded New Church House offer a variety of beauty treatments from styling, colouring, lashes to microdermabrasion and much more. Their selection of nail services range between £15 - £40 and you can get a simple file and polish or go all out with a full set of acrylic nails. Their luxury manicure gives you extra care and attention needed to make your hands feel and look brand new. They offer French add ons and nail repairs too for £5 extra.
Nailista | Relaxed style manicure - £32
7 Police Street, Manchester, M2 7LQ
With two floors of manicure stations, Nailista is a popular city centre nail bar for good reason. They offer a relaxed style manicure, which includes the usual file, buff and paint, a hand massage, hot mittens and a luxury hand mask to nourish the skin for super soft hands. If you live further out of the centre, they have another salon in the Trafford Centre Topshop on the top floor. All treatments are available across both stores.
Manicure under £30
Spa Satori | Jessica manicure - £29
112 High Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 1HQ
Sometimes we don't have the time to indulge in a manicure with all the bells and whistles, so a quick treatment is the best and a Jessica manicure ticks that box. Get your nails back to their tip top standard and maybe just use some hand cream from the bottom of your bag instead. Spa Satori have a deluxe version of the Jessica manicure available for £50 but the treatment takes 75 minutes, so not a quick in and out visit.
Nail Culture | Culture manicure - £26
Manchester Arndale Shopping Centre, Manchester, M4 1AZ
Nail Culture is a nail bar stall based inside the Arndale centre on the top floor. Conviniently located in the midst of the shopping bustle, you can wonder over in the middle of a shopping spree, put down your bags and get your nails glammed up. Quick and easy, Nail Culture don’t have a website to book your treatment. Instead, just show up on the day to see their availability and you could be seen straight away or book an appointment.
Beauty & Bubbles | Shellac manicure - £25
47 Dale Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M1 2HF
Get your nails done and receive a complimentary glass of bubbles every time you go, at Beauty and Bubbles in Northern Quarter. Their flagship shellac manicure treatment costs £25 including a file, cuticle work and a choice from over 100 polishes. Their CND shellac polishes have a 14+ day guarantee thanks to the no-chip technology, meaning your manicure will last even longer. If a girly day sipping Prosecco and getting your nails done appeals to you, they also offer a variety of pamper parties one of which you can get a butler in the buff... All info available online.
Blink, Selfridges | Express mani - £17
63 Regent Crescent, Stretford, Manchester M17 8DA
With 25+ salons across the UK, Blink have two Manchester bases, one in Exchange Square and the other in the Trafford Centre. Get all the beauty and glamour from Selfridges but for an accessible price with their express mani costing £17. If you want to splash the cash, they offer fancier treatments at higher prices. All treatment prices are the same across both Manchester salons.
Linh Beauty | Manicure with solar oil & Keratin - £16
Trevor Sorbie Salon, 19 Spring Gardens, Manchester, M2 1FB
Keratin is said to do wonders for your hair as the protein strengthens the follicles, leading to less breakage and damage. Turns out the same can be said for your nails. At Linh Beauty treat your nails to the strengthening power of keratin protein and solar oil during your manicure, for stronger and healthier nails. Located in the Trevor Sorbie salon in Spring Gardens, it is in a prime location of Manchester City Centre. You can head over to Linh’s Facebook page to book in your treatment and see what other nail treatments she has to offer.
Shavata, Harvey Nichols | Express manicure - £12
21 Cathedral Approach, Manchester, M1 1AD
Have you ever been in work and noticed your nails are chipped or looking a little shabby? If so, you can pop down to Shavata in Harvey Nichols, get an express manicure done within 15 minutes and still have time to grab some lunch on your way back to the office. The express manicure excludes gel polish but they have a wide selection of OPI chip resistant shades to choose from.
