Bringing a nail art idea? How to get the design you want

Custom nail art is the fun part. French tips, chrome, ombré, marble, flowers, gems or a design you have saved from social media: we love it when someone sits down with an idea. A little planning beforehand means less guessing at the table and nails you are happy with.

Save a few pictures

A picture really does say more than a description. Save two or three on your phone before you come in: the design itself, plus anything that shows the colour you have in mind. If you like parts of different sets, such as the colour of one and the pattern of another, bring both and tell us which bits you love.

Think about shape and length

The same design looks different on short square nails and on long almond ones. Fine line work and detailed pictures need a bit of room, so if your heart is set on a busy design, a little extra length can help. If you are not sure what shape suits your hands, ask us. We will happily suggest one.

Pick the right base

Nail art goes on top of a gel manicure, BIAB or an acrylic set. If you want length, choose acrylic. If you want to keep your natural nails and make them stronger, choose BIAB. If your nails are already in good shape, a gel manicure is a lovely base for simple art. Our guide to BIAB, acrylic and gel explains the differences.

Book enough time

A simple accent nail adds only a few minutes. A full set of hand-painted detail takes a good deal longer. When you book online, add nail art to your treatment so the time is kept for it, and use the notes to tell us roughly what you have in mind.

Talk about the price first

Nail art is priced by the design, because a single gem and ten hand-painted flowers are very different jobs. Show us your picture at the start and we will tell you the price before we begin. If you would like to keep the cost down, we can suggest ways to get the same look, such as art on two accent nails with the rest in a matching colour.

Be open to small changes

Designs online are often on different nail shapes, under studio lighting or edited. We will aim to match your picture as closely as possible, and sometimes we will suggest a small change so it suits your nails better. The result is your design, made to fit you.