lol I'm seriously happy every single time, it always turns out so pretty. The girl is super sweet and patient, and the salon itself has a really nice vibe. She even gave me a little gift after my nails were done, which was such a nice touch read more

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They do beautiful and perfect Nail Art work, I have been a client of them since 2015 You can do solid colors, colors plus gems, only gems, nail art design, extensions. Highly recommend!!!!! read more

Studio L - Nail art at Studio L - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

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Nothing new to report, just more pictures. Love this place and come here every four weeks since summer 2022. Same advice. - Not a super luxurious salon - Book well in advance - Be ready for a 2 hour manicure if you're getting a mani+ a removal read more

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I have to update this review and give them what they deserve. I continue to get my nails done here and I am not disappointed they are meticulous and detailed taking pride in their work. At times there is a wait time for appointments which is understandable as this isn't your typical mani-pedi salon. Highly recommend, read more

This has been my go-to nail salon for about 2 years now, and I had to share a #ThankYouThursday review for them! Haruku and Manumi are seriously the best, kindest nail artists I've found in the city. My manicures last 4 weeks, sometimes longer! Once I had a fluke incident where a nail broke. They squeezed me in and fixed it for no extra charge. This is the kind of service that makes me want to come back time and time again. They can do any design you show them and are highly skilled in nail art. Thank you for keeping my natural nails so healthy and beautiful! read more

Studio L - Ghost Nail Art! - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

Don't laugh at my before nails photo. I use self tanner and it's been 4 weeks since my last mani. lol Anyways, appt are made via text msg, I took a photo of my nails and gave my availability and I was able to score a 6pm appt same day. I like a natural name and this was perfect for me. This place is no frills, but the attention to detail is amazing. Give them a shot. read more

Studio L - Before. lol - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

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i've been going here for years, the women who work here are talented and listen to my ideas and help create a beautiful design

Was able to text the phone number on their site and get a same day appointment, and prep for the manicure (shaping and cleaning up nails) was well done, but those are the only positives. The polish ended up bubbling and was put on too thick as a day later it is still soft - anything I touch leaves dents in the polish. Maybe they're better for gel, but do not get a regular manicure here. Not many color choices, but at least one or two of each color family. Also there is a cat that wanders around so if you're allergic, don't go here. Plus, it all seemed clean which is very important to me for a nail place, but the cat wandering around makes me wonder now if that's sanitary. read more

Studio L - Regular manicure bubbled - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

Hidden gem in the garment center. Top notch service. These girls are highly skilled at nail art. Wakana and Manami are excellent! Their gel nails are long lasting more so than other salons I've been to. Highly recommend their service. read more

Studio L - Unicorn tie dye with glitter and gold foil. - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

UPDATE--- Came here again yesterday and tried extensions. They came out beautiful and was able to get a natural look since I asked for a short length and opal shape. The only thing I'd say I'm annoyed about is how they charge $15 just for previous gel removal, and in this case I had gel from the previous time I was at their salon! They shouldn't charge their loyal customers so much to remove the gel polish. But anyway, I ended up paying $125 for the extensions + removal+ color+ glitter. I am SO happy with my nails!!! I'm not the typical nail art fan so I came here to try it out after a friend of mine raved about it for months. The space-cute and small space, not aesthetically pretty but for the quality it's okay. As long as they sanitize their tools, I am fine! The nail tech- I did my nails with Saki, she was so amazing and attentive to detail. She did my nails pretty quickly and the nail art she did was exactly how I wanted it, I showed her a picture before and I am obsessed with my new nails!!! I LOVE them. THANK YOU SAKI! Price- pretty good, I would consider it moderate/pricey compared to other salons in the city. $50 for gel mani with nail art and $30 for regular pedicure. The pedicure looks great, but it was nothing special. Someone else did my pedicure, she was nice and made my nails look pretty. Although, she didn't really massage with the cream and exfoliate my skin underneath. Again, why I said it was nothing special. This is why I took off one star. I definitely recommend coming here, they have so many options and colors to try. Will be coming back read more

Studio L - Gel mani with nail art by Saki!! LOVE! - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

The only nail place I go to. They do a great job and their nails last. I could go 4 weeks without having to switch it up if I wanted to!

The nail salon is located in an old office building on 38th Street in NYC. An old office is used as the salon, sterile and uncomfortable. The owner, Manami has no personality and does not encourage conversation, She has a horrific text she sends to clients a day prior to the appointment threatening to use their credit card if you come late or miss the appointment. Manami is average as a Japanese nail technician. I have asked her not to build thick gel on the nails because they peel easily. She does not like clients to tell her what to do. Her shaping can be bad especially if you have long nails. She threatened to throw me out if she didn't cut my nails down each time I came to her. Today she shaped one of my nails lopsided. She refused to correct it. She demands a $20 dollar tip with no exception. I dread going to her and on this day she took my money $107 cash plus $20 dollar tip and told me to never come back because according to Manami I always complain. I was furious that she had the audacity to talk to me like this and especially after being paid. Manami, I would diagnose as a Multiple Personality; she is unpredictable as to what will tick her often, she acts inappropriately can quickly change from from normal to bizarre. She ha said some crazy things to me i.e., " You must have been beautiful when you were very young, could you bring a baby photo of yourself that I can see. " I would recommend that those contemplating using her service find another technician, one who is mentally stable, reasonable, and has the capacity to follow what client is requesting. read more

Japanese nail art in the Garment district, inside office/factory building. So I love the art work and imagination of Studio L, they really try to keep the customer (me) happy by not rushing me into a final decision and also giving me ideas along the way. I said I wanted shiny and trust me my nails were really shiny and sparkly by the time I left. I would give them 5 stars but the only thing I dislike is that they have 4 seats for manicure and they are super close together, too close for my comfort. The place is clean, but they do need some renovation to make the place more inviting. Lastly they close pretty early 6:30pm last appointment, so not so good for people like me who work late. Other than that I really like this place. I had gradation done plus a total of 40 stones which cost $99 + tip which is I believe average price for the work done. Enjoy! read more

Studio L - Graduation with four stones on each finger. Sparkly! - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

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A+ so far! The gel manicure I got at a different salon was starting to bug me after one week (it was so mediocre), and I just had to do something about it. I did a quick search in Yelp and saw that Studio L was just a 5 minute walk from my office. I called them and, although they are appointment only, one of their appointments was running late, and they were able to squeeze me in if I could get there in 15 minutes. Definitely try to schedule well in advance, though, since I was incredibly lucky to have found a last minute appointment. The building is easy to miss, so definitely leverage the photos on Yelp, which proved to be super helpful. This is a small but mighty salon. There are 4 tables, and three nail techs working when I arrived. I was happy to pay for gel removal and was pleasantly surprised with the care the nail tech took to gently remove the gel polish from my nails. She properly cleaned my cuticles and shaped my nails exactly how I wanted it. Because I theoretically did not have an appointment, there wasn't really time for me to request a more elaborate design, so I opted for a simple hand-painted design on both my ring fingers. The polish they use is pretty amazing, and feels stronger than the kind out of a bottle. My nail tech painted my nails with precision and attention to detail. She made sure to get the sides so there weren't any unpainted surfaces. As far as cost goes, I think it is extremely reasonable for the quality that you get: + gel removal + a single color gel manicure + with a simple design on two fingers = 45 minutes and $59 cash. Keep in mind that the total amount would probably be around $44 had I not had the gel removal. The ladies who work there are very sweet and social, and I wish I could have spent more time there. As much as I love my manicure, I'm looking forward to growing out my nails so I can go back! read more

Studio L was one of the better rated nail salons in the Times Square area, so I called and was able to get an appointment the very same day. Kako did a beautiful job on my nails! She made a lot of great suggestions and helped me figure out what I wanted for a design. I've never had a nail artist take their time with such precision and care. She gave me exactly what I wanted and my nails look gorgeous! Definitely will visit again when I'm in town. read more

I have been coming to Studio L for 8 years now, and I can't speak highly enough of this place. They are so nice, and extremely talented. Basically any design you can think of, they can do! Better than the other nail art studios I've been to in NYC. Highly recommend! I love STUDIO L!!! read more

Gel nails peeled off after 5 days on two nails. Called Studio L about the issue and they wanted me to "schedule" time to return ..and their availability was limited. No apologies. So I guess it's my problem and my money wasted. Lovely attitude!! (See picture) Studio L responded to this photo (which I texted to the owner) "Appears our gel does not work with your nails -sorry" Really?? Blank stare read more

Studio L - Gel polish buckled then completely peeled off with zero effort (5 days after service)..this was the 2nd nail - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

Flash forward 3+ years later, I am still obsessed with Studio L. For anyone that hasn't read my original review from 2012... I live in Maryland. NYC is a 4 hour bus ride away. Studio L is THAT good. When time permits, I go up to NYC once every 4-6 weeks and always book an appointment ahead of time. Am I a little excessive? Sure... judge away, lol. But when my nails end up looking the way they do.. it's well worth the travel time (ok... it also helps that my best friend lives in NYC). My original nail artist Maria is no longer working at Studio L (sad face), but the owner Manami has taken me in and has been doing my nails for over 2 1/2 years. I've also had Shizuka and Ayumu work on my nails - everyone is exceptional. At this point... I'm basically a veteran to nail fabulosity. The smallest details are not missed!! Sometimes I go in knowing what I want and am super descriptive about the tiniest detail. Other times I have no idea what I want and throw out basic ideas only for a theme to develop during the process. I love Manami's flexibility with my ideas! And I totally trust her judgement and opinions when I'm unsure of how something would look (sometimes my ideas are a little crazy). I usually book for 3-4 hours (depending on if I need extensions) - because of the effort I go through to get there, I might as well "go big" and bling the eff out of my nails. Plus, if I wanted just a simple gel manicure, I can go somewhere in MD for that... I'd love to describe ALL the awesome designs I've had on my nails, but instead I'll upload pictures. :) For those reviewers who mention that it takes a while for a manicure... well... would you rather them rush through? Probably not. At Studio L, they're so gentle/careful from start to finish. Gentle on your cuticles, careful not to cut you, and take the time to make sure the polish is perfect. Time (and money) well spent, IMHO. read more

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I have been looking for a good nail salon since I first moved to New York 9 months ago, and time and time again I have been overcharged and very unhappy with the quality of the manicures. I have found many places that do good pedicures, but none that have provided me with a great manicure (with the exception of Akiko Nails, but they're too far from my work and the process of getting gel extensions is too long). I have FINALLY found a nail salon that it close to work, quick, friendly and provides me with an incredible manicure. I went to this salon yesterday after reading Yelp reviews, and I'm thrilled with the result. I booked last minute and they were able to squeeze me in straight after work. I got a Cal Gel manicure for the first time, and I asked for a simple, nude color. The technician was very friendly and helpful and she took her time assisting me. Her attention to detail was fantastic and I was beyond happy with how my nails looked when she was done. The shape is neat and the colour application is flawless. This place is definitely my go to nail salon in the city. All in all it cost me about $42 dollars (excluding tip). This may seem a little pricey but it's worth it. My only concern is that Cal Gel will damage my own nails. While I have been assured that this type of gel is very gentle on the nail bed, I'm skeptical. I'll have to wait and see if there is any damage when I go back in two weeks! 18th October 2014 So I have been back to Studio L a few times since my first visit and my nails have grown more in that time that ever before. I wouldn't say the Calgel has necessarily weakened my nails anymore than they already were, but it also does not improve the strength of your nails either. This personally doesn't bother me, and it is the only place I have been to in NYC where the manicure actually lasts 2 weeks! read more

Studio L - Cal Gel manicure - Nail Polish number 46 - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

You really get what you pay for here! Although this place is the priciest gel nail salon I've been to, I don't regret it. They put a lot of effort into making sure your nails are perfect before you step out of the door. The place is a bit hard to find though because it's located on the 16th floor of a business building but once you find it, you'll be greeted by really nice Japanese ladies. I was inspired by a picture someone posted on Yelp and went with the white w/ negative space nails. The nails look simple enough but it took around 2 hours for me to finish. When I compare Studio L to the other nail salons I've gone to, this place is definitely the best. Each finger took a while as my manicurist drew each line on with precision. I can only imagine how long it would take if I requested a picture of something on my nails! I ended up really loving how well my nails turned out and if I'm feeling the occasion to splurge a little bit on myself, I will definitely be back. read more

Studio L - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

Those of you who love Japanese nail art rejoice! Two rockstars of the nail art world have opened their own place. I have been going to Manami for months and my nails have never looked this good. Calgel is more expensive than your usual manicure, but if you get a Gradation or Reverse French Manicure it will last 2 to 3 weeks. I am really tough on my nails, (read-- total clutz) and they last me 3 weeks, no chipping at all. Calgel also covers weak nails so for the first time in my life, I have long beautiful nails! PROs: Everything is new and sparkling clean. Manami is super sweet and an excellent technician. Nails last a loooong time. You can go nuts if you want and make your nails into art. CONs: You can't see the store from the street. There are no signs, just go up to the 16th floor via the elevators. You can remove the gel yourself, but I haven't been able to do it without breaking a nail. Better to have them do it and it costs extra. Prices Manicure $15 Calgel Solid color $40 French or gradation $60 and up Hand Nail art $60 and up Pedicure $30 Calgel Pedi Solid color $50 French or gradation $70 Gel Removal $15 and up Fills $5 and up read more

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I found Studio L here on Yelp one day when I was absolutely desperate for a gel mani back in early September. This was my first cal gel experience. I don't think I'll ever go back to regular gel. My manicure lasted from first week of September until I got them done again the first week of October. (They even lasted the salt waters & chlorine from my Dominican Republic vacation!) My next mani lasted exactly a month. The point being- these manicures last! I go to Ako, but all of the ladies here are so detail oriented, talented and super nice. Worth every penny! Tip- don't walk in expecting to be taken care of right away. This place books up fast! Make an appointment. read more

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Happy with the quality! It doesn't have the old school pampering services of back massages etc. - strictly nails/ nail art. But they are very good at that & mine were on for 3 weeks. Probably longer but I had them redone obviously. Just make sure to ask what they are using in case you need to go elsewhere. A lot of other nail salons may not have caught up with the latest so they may have difficulty removing. read more

This place is true to it's rating here on Yelp! If you can dream it- they can do it! The manicurists are artists in their own right whipping up designs only a Japanese teenage girl can create in her harajuku Gwen Stefani notebook or you, flipping through a magazine. However you get to your chosen design they can paint it up with CalGel on your nails. I loved their art- their customer service, their location. The privacy of a room upstairs is just refreshing from your local nail salon where (depending on where you are) you get solicitors, lots of walk ins that often causes disruptions and just the typical busy-ness of a salon. 4 stars for Studio L! Ya'll are onto something here! read more

Studio L - Very cool manicure! - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

Alrighty, so I'm a bit of an OCD nail snob so I'm giving this place 3 stars. Some positives would be a very reasonable price for nail art, wide selection of add ons (like bows, jewels, etc). It's also easier to make appointments with them. What I didn't like about the place was how long it took. I've been to a lot of different places so I know how long getting gel on and off takes, but this place was just very slow. Also, she had so much difficulty with cuticles. I'm not sure why, but it felt like she wasn't sure how to do it and just kept cutting deeper. Lastly, I felt that they were not as detail oriented as other places I've been. I definitively left with some bubbles and uneven top coats (which caused discoloration earlier than it should). Overall, I wouldn't make them a 1st choice, but I would return again if I'm in a bind. read more

Studio L - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

I really wanted to like this place. The manicurist was nice and attentive and the nail art/color selection was great. However, after 4 days, I noticed the color on one nail start to peel off. After having it fixed, another nail started to peel. All within 1 week of getting them done. Definitely disappointing considering the price. read more

Studio L - After 4 days - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

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One of the few Japanese nail art places that I have found on the east coast. If I had more time, I definitely would've done a nail art but alas, I only had an hour or so. I opted for the regular mani with French tips which was $23. Not too bad. However if you get the gel, it's automatically $40 for just a single color. Pretty pricey IMO but if I was getting nail art done then I would be okay with it. She estimated nail art to be about $80-90 total depending on the art you select. The girl who did my nail was super friendly and made sure everything was ok. I would definitely be back next time for my nail art. And also, every time you spend $20, you get this stamp which you can accumulate and ultimately get $$ off. Their floor cat also wandered in at some point which was cute. read more

I've been getting my nails done at Studio L regularly since Dec. '17, and have enjoyed every service here. Despite being able to do my own nails well, I come to this salon because it is near work, reasonably priced and I can easily wear the gel manicure for weeks without chipping, lifting or any other problems associated with overlays. When I have a broken nail, I am able to get a repair or extension that is undetectable. The quality is consistent across techs, so I am comfortable having my nails done by anyone in the salon. Tools come out of a sterile pack, except files. Even the removals are good. This is one of two salons I regularly recommend when asked. The one thing I would change is the manicure seating as I don't feel able to sit in a natural and neutral position, but I can be particular. My recommendation: Studio L has amazing nail techs who do wonderful nail art (see IG/@nailstudionyc for receipts). Customer service is amazing, though it can be a challenge to book appointments (-1), the struggle is worth it. Great prices for solid color gels ($40) and enhancements (varies), better than any I've had in NYC for similar services. Loyalty program per $20 spent (the only time you won't hit this is basic manicures and removal only services). read more

I had an ombre Calgel there and was very happy with the result. I had something specific in mind and they did exactly what I wanted :) it's a small place on the 16th floor of a building (kind of like artists' studios) The staff is Japanese and friendly enough. I especially liked the girl who did my nails. Will definitely come back for gel manicures! read more

Studio L - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

First time here. I found this place from a Google search and reviews seem better than other salons in the area. Since my office is up the street I figured I can come here during my lunch. I got a pedicure and used my own polish. I noticed their nail polish selection is on the smaller scale. The nail tech was very attentive and very detailed. I'm also 7 months pregnant and she was very gentle, kind, and made sure I was comfortable. I would come here again. read more

I have been coming to this nail salon for quite some time now. Initially a full set of gel nails was priced at $45. As of April it went up to $55 but I kept coming back because I had been coming here for so long and had been fairly satisfied. As of July, I started to see that the work had become sub par. Even if I brought a Picture in, the finished product would look like a knockoff version. In August my nails started to crack on the sides and the owner Manami blames the length but I had had longer nails and didn't have a problem. I take care of them. I think there was an issue with the gel and/or application. Most recently, I began to get frustrated with the limited colors (same ol same ol- year in and year out) and the limited skill in 3D design and artistry so I made an appointment at Marie nails but decided to keep today's appointment as my last one. Well, I went in and asked for coffin shaped nails and this is what I got. Manami cut them and them made them square oval (inconsistently at that). I expressed my discontent to which she responded "we cannot make you happy. Maybe next time you can go to another salon" I agreed, I did after all already have my appointment for Marie Nails set. I don't recommend this place at all. read more

Studio L - Not a coffin shaped nail and it is super thick. - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

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My first time at Studio L & they accidentally had me down for just a gel manicure, with no artwork. I told them I called to get artwork and showed them what I wanted. Even though it was a mix up, they were extremely accommodating. Immediately they moved around their schedules & I had two girls working on my nails. Even though they were short on time, it didn't feel rushed. My nails turned out AMAZING. Their detail & attention on each nail is unreal. I already made my second appointment to come back. Thank you girls! read more

Studio L - Great salon. Such detail & effort on each nail. - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

I am a returning client b/c they were so attentive w/ my first visit. This 2nd visit was just as good. They are gentle with your nails. They really are talented ladies working there. Two nails ended up being uneven in thickness of the gel, but when I pointed it out, she offered to fix it. I appreciated that. I declined her offer & just wanted her to make note of it for next time. She said she'll put it in my file (on the iPad w/ my information). That made me feel a lot better about returning. This appointment took a little over 1 hour. Extension appointments take at a minimum 2 hours b/c they build the nail from scratch. Not a place for a 20 minute manicure. Plan on being there a while but getting a fabulous result. read more

Studio L - Red nails w/ gold foil - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

Studio L is one of those few places that deserves all 5 stars. The staff are very friendly and professional and I walked out absolutely loving my nail art. They have a large range of designs to choose from and the nail technicians are very thorough. It does cost a pretty penny - I ended up paying $75 for Calgel and nail art on four fingers but in my opinion it was very much worth it. read more

Studio L - This is the nail art design I chose - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

I usually never get my nails done, but the weekend prior had a terrible manicure at a different nail salon where my nails were not properly cleaned and started chipping within a few days. I just got a regular manicure but the woman who did my nails were meticulous! She cleaned my nails properly and also had this electric buffering tool to get rid of additional dried skin that she didn't get with the cuticle cutters. She also fixed a broken nail that I would have been picking at if she hadn't fixed, so I'm also grateful for that. Will definitely come back here and will try out the gel nails next time when I have more time. read more

Studio L - Essie - fall in line green. Love it! - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

I've been getting my nails done for 20+ years and gel nails for six years (I think). And I've never had so many nails break, crack, and even just pop off. I had a nail pop off like it was a fake nail form the 80s, and they charged me $13 to fix it. And I have another nail that's loose and about to pop off. For their cost (and everything is an upgrade), I don't have time to go to a salon between appointments. It's time to find another salon. read more

My gels are over a month old (see pic with almost half an inch of new nail growth) and they still look perfect! They take a long time here but the results are worth it. read more

Studio L - Turquoise gels after a month. - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York

My 2nd and last time going here. I arrived on time for my appointment but she started 6 min late. I waited patiently. She stopped in between multiple times to settle payment issue with a customer whose credit card declined. There was one available technician, who did my nails and then switch back... They finished my nails over 1.5 hrs. Mind you, they never apologized for the interruptions... And chatted amongst them. It shouldn't take this long, when expected times are: gel removal (15 min) / filing (15 min) / glitter gradation (20 min) / lotion (5 min). I've been getting this done for few yrs now at different Japanese nail salons in the city and NJ. The entire process should take no longer than 1 hr. I was pissed. When I got the bill, I decided not to return. No apology nor sense of sensitivity. No courtesy discount, bottom line customer service unsatisfactory. I was going to leave without tipping, but I gave $3 for $78.50 bill. She ran out and stopped me. Asked what was wrong? I explained it to her in a calm voice. Her response was it takes that long and not acknowledging her repeated breaks in between... In the end her apology was out of obligation. There are plenty of other places who treat customers better and do not charge gel soak off to returned customers! Marie Nails, Spa Martier, and Sakura provide gel soak off at no additional charge if you got the last nail calgel there. You save $15 unlike this place. read more

Super attentive to my nails, they were destroyed by a previous salon and they're now revived and looking more beautiful than ever. Booking my follow up appt now read more

such an amazing nail salon! don't be sketched out, it's on the 16th floor in an older building, but the actual salon is super cute, neat, and clean. filled with nail inspiration on those cards of nail extensions as well as a plethora of nail magazines and fashion magazines for perusing, you'll be able to get your dream manicure here. ako did an AMAZING job on my nails (i got a negative space manicure), drawing all these straight lines on by hand, with no stencil. i was amazed! she was so sweet and funny and did the most amazing manicure i've ever had for me. and all in one hour! i was so impressed. they managed to fit me in last minute on friday, luckily due to a cancellation. they have a multitude of foils, jewels, 3D enhancements, and decorations you can use on your nails, or they can freehand a perfect design. they did mention they usually book up after work and on weekends pretty quickly, so call in advance if you can, or try your luck like i did! and SO much more affordable than Oh My Nails in the east village (sorry! i love you guys there too but $200 is just way too much for a manicure!) love it here! be back soon :) read more

Studio L - negative space white stripes manicure - Nail Salons Near Me - New York, New York