The 5 Best Places to Get the Newest Gel Manicures in NY

For Fades
You may think you want classic red tips, but when presented with the myriad colors and permutations possible at LES salon Sakura Nail and Spa, you’ll have second thoughts. Ask for Momo, and opt for a graduated color or glitter job. Our peach-orange ombre manicure ($60) was
picture-perfect for two and a half weeks.

For Glitzy Add-Ons
Nolita salon Valley takes digital art to the next level with an extra layer of eye-popping 3-D designs (rhinestones, bows, stars, hearts). Our suggestion: Ask
veteran nail tech Maki to decoupage nails with a cut-up dollar bill and
gel overlay. Cost is $45-$65.

For Natural Brilliance
Pretty-in-pink nail chain Dashing Diva’s own $45 version, Gelife, will have you in and out in just 30 minutes. Though there are traditional color options (purples, pinks, reds), our
natural shade went with everything. Even better, use the clear gel as a
base and apply regular polish over it (it made our Essie Tart Deco mani
last that much longer).

For Serial Biters
For nervous gnawers, pickers, and otherwise efficient nail destroyers, polish/gel hybrid CND Shellac breaks bad habits (but not the bank). Jin Soon Natural Hand and Foot Spa’s
$45 application buys you two-plus weeks of high-sheen, dent-free
perfection. Countless purse digs, key scrapes, and graceless stubs
later, our flawless fuchsia pointers are still going strong.

Best Bang for Your Buck
West Village spot QQ Nail & Spa (51 Christopher Street, at Waverly Place; 212-924-0782) offers gel from polish staple Opi. There’s a
limited selection of colors — an acceptable range of nude to red — and
no fancy fade tricks, but a mani and pedi will run you $80 (take that, East Village). Bonus points for the comfy massage chairs.

Editor’s Note: Depending on the spa, it can cost up to $20 to have certain gels removed. Rumor has it that all you need to do is soak cotton balls in an
acetone-based polish remover, place one on each nail, and wrap in
aluminum foil for about ten minutes.

courtesy of dailycandy.com