Having your nails done is on a par with cleaning your teeth twice a day when you’re a beauty-focused girl – you just do it. But while there are countless nail salons in Dubai, which are the ones that leave our hands and feet looking their prettiest? The nail wizards that we simply couldn’t live without? These five favourites have us high-fiving our technicians week in, week out.
WHO?
We Nails
WHERE?
Trident Grand Mall, Jumeirah Beach Residence
WHY?
You’d be forgiven if you thought that you’d been magically transported to the heart of New York when you first set eyes upon We Nails. Between the exposed brick walls, white subway tiles, graffiti, and neon signage, this boutique nail spa perched on the edge of JBR looks like exactly the kind of place Carrie Bradshaw would come to have her weekly mani. Pressed for time, I booked in for a Gelish mani and pedi and was thrilled with the results that, seven days later, still look unchipped and flawless. Rapid pampering aside, add We Nails to your list of must-try beauty haunts if you’re a lover of nail art – the yellow ombre nails we saw taking shape on the lady next to us were seriously envy-inducing. The salon also offers an array of beauty services, so sign me up for a blow-dry and lashes next time.
DIGITS, PLEASE?
Call 04 452 8226 or WhatsApp 050 5077 501.
WHO?
Pastels Jumeirah Salon
WHERE?
Al Wasl Road, Umm Suqeim 3
WHY?
One of Dubai’s first top-to-toe salons, Pastels has an army of dedicated fans who go nowhere else but this sprawling Umm Suqeim villa for every one of their beauty needs. Offering cutting-edge hair, skincare, lash, and nail treatments, the newly remodeled salon is bright, spacious, and chock-full of highly trained beauty professionals, many of whom have been with Pastels for years – always a good sign. The nail services range from a classic polish mani and pedi to gel formulations, gel enhancements, nail art (including Minx, loved by both Rihanna and Beyonce), and skin-boosting treats like callus peels and paraffin wraps. And aside from the really comfy spa chairs, super-relaxing foot soak and scrub, post-polish massages, and really good filter coffee, we can attest that our hands and feet always look and feel amazing after a pitstop at Pastels. Ten days into our latest Essie Gel manicure, and our keyboard-hammering nails still look hand-model perfect.
DIGITS, PLEASE?
To book, call 04 388 3534.
WHO?
Essa Beauty
WHERE?
Goldcrest Views 2, Jumeirah Lakes Towers
WHY?
Award-winning salon Essa Beauty is best known for its incredible facials, the secret behind the glowing complexions of numerous women across the city. But while its wide-reaching fanbase may well not entrust their skincare to anyone else, the same can be said for those who come here to keep their hands and feet in tip-top shape. It offers every kind of nail service – think: regular manis and pedis, gels, acrylic nail extensions, nail art, chrome nails, and an array of treats for hands and feet. And then there’s the beautifully styled space, where super-comfortable tan leather recliners, white walls, warm woods, and stunning murals set the tone as seriously talented technicians leave you looking gorgeous and feeling relaxed.
DIGITS, PLEASE?
Call 04 374 4288.
WHO?
Sisters Beauty Lounge
WHERE?
The Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Village Mall, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Mirdif City Centre
WHY?
Sisters is basically a Dubai institution when it comes to beautifying, having been the go-to for women since it opened in 2003. Now a multi-award winning brand with seven outposts across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, it is all about 360-degree luxury pampering – book yourself in for a mani and pedi, and we guarantee you wish you could stay all day. With a booking app boasting an interactive menu of nail trends, colours, designs, and shapes to help you choose exactly what kind of nails you want to leave the salon with, you can be as creative or as classic as you wish. We love the newly launched vegan gel bottle polishes. Besides the fact that they come in over 100 shades, are chip-resistant, and last up to three weeks, they actually prevent the nail damage that can happen with harsh gel products. But our favourite? The Russian manicure, a gentle gel technique that is great for the condition of the nails and takes only 60 minutes.
DIGITS, PLEASE?
Call 04 388 3534.
WHO?
The Nail Pavilion
WHERE?
Goldcrest Views 1, Cluster V, JLT
WHY?
A one-stop shop for hair, nails, and beauty, this independently run salon in JLT has been on our speed dial since it was recommended by one of the most well-respected women in the Dubai beauty community – and for good reason. For starters, the menu boasts all manner of polishes – regular, gel, halal, vegan, and non-toxic included. As for the nail services? They range from basic mani-pedis to gel treatments, acrylics, enhancements and overlays, nail art, and rainbow nails alongside pampering scrubs, softening wraps, and much more. With a team of experienced nail experts who train every three months, every nail service here comes with a 24-hour guarantee and a free service if anything goes wrong. Better still, if you can’t get to the salon, the salon will come to you! Bringing the total beautifying option right to your front door for just AED 55 extra, you can be glammed-up from top to toe in the comfort of your own home – ideal when working from home means that a Zoom call from the manicure station is an impossibility.
DIGITS, PLEASE?
Call 04 442 9791.
