A manicure is the beginning of nail care, not the whole of it. How long our work lasts is decided by what happens at home in the three weeks between appointments. Five habits our specialists tell every guest:
1. Cuticle oil, once a day. Preferably at night before bed. When the cuticle stays hydrated, gel polish doesn't lift at the edges, the nail fold doesn't crack, and the manicure visibly stays cleaner for longer. This is the single most useful item on the list.
2. Gloves. Dishes, laundry, general cleaning. Hot water and detergent dry out both nail and skin. The nails of guests with a glove habit are noticeably stronger.
3. File in one direction. A back-and-forth sawing motion separates the free edge into layers and invites breakage. One direction, from the side toward the centre.
4. Don't use nails as tools. Peeling labels, opening boxes, prying a lid. An invisible micro-crack becomes a real break a few days later.
5. Don't stretch the interval. Three weeks for a manicure, three to four for extensions. Stretching looks like a saving, but the pressure between the grown-out nail and the product increases breakage — and ends in a longer, costlier repair appointment.
Two frequent questions
*"Should I cut my cuticles?"* Push them back rather than cut. The cuticle is a barrier protecting the nail bed from the outside world. Cut, it grows back thicker and more uneven. In the studio we soften and gently push it back.
*"Why do my nails break?"* Usually one of three things: excessive water contact, a very dry home environment, or a nutritional gap. The first two are solved with gloves and moisturising; the third, if brittleness lasts for months, is worth discussing with a doctor.
Coming to your appointment
Don't apply cream that day — let us do the care. If you have a colour in mind, tell us; if not, we'll suggest three that suit your skin undertone.
We also offer manicures and pedicures in your home.
