STOCKSY

While we love an at-home manicure, we always enjoy going to a salon for a professional nail service. Now, if you live in NYC, you have more than a handful of options at your disposal; it’s just about finding the perfect place for you. At Byrdie HQ, we know a thing or two about what makes a nail salon great and have diligently combed through some of the buzziest places in New York City to find the best ones. Needless to say, we’ve found the gems of the gems.

Below, find the 21 best nail salons in New York City. We factored in the service of the staff, the vibe of the salons, the designs they offer, and other extra elements, such as membership options. Scroll on for the best NYC nail salons to book an appointment ASAP.

01

of 21

Paintbox

@PAINTBOXNAILS / INSTAGRAM

Fact: Ask a group of it-girls what their favorite salon is, and I guarantee one of them will say Paintbox. The salon has an entire book full of one-of-a-kind designs that are so memorable we can spot a Paintbox mani the second we see one. Even better? You’re never without a glass of champagne while enjoying your mani. 

Location: 20 East 69th St., New York City 

02

of 21

The Laq Lab

@THELAQLAB / INSTAGRAM

The Laq Lab is a Black-owned luxury nail salon located in Park Slope. The posh salon specializes in intricate manicures, pedicures, and press-on nails. The Laq Lab also offers its own lineup of polishes and nail accessories.

Location: 41 5th Ave, Brooklyn

03

of 21

Primp & Polish

@PRIMPNPOLISH / INSTAGRAM

Primp & Polish is one of Brooklyn’s most beloved salon franchises. Their services include regular and gel manicures, of course. And all of the salon’s pedicures include a custom foot bath infused with sea salt and an essential oil of your choice.

Locations:

89 Grand St., New York City

845 Manhattan Ave., New York City

172 Bedford Ave., New York City

205 N. Ninth St., New York City

586 Grand St., New York City

04

of 21

Vanity Projects

@VANITYPROJECTS / INSTAGRAM

Want nail art that’ll automatically earn you compliments? Vanity Projects is the spot. Its bold and original designs are not for the faint of heart—you’ll seriously stand out with these innovative paint jobs done by some of the most sought-after nail artists. If you want to have more fun with your nails, this place is for you. 

Location: 99 Chrystie St., 2nd floor, New York City

05

of 21

Glosslab

@GLOSSLAB / INSTAGRAM

Another salon known for its insanely good nail art (and in-tune, modern approach to the nail salon experience), Glosslab is everyone’s favorite. Real talk: The salon features an array of designs that’ll speak to whichever mood you’re in. What’s more, they’re a waterless salon, meaning they’ve ditched the use of water completely and get brownie points for being hygienic and sustainable.

Locations:

1 Jane St., New York City

68 Bleecker St., New York City

27 W 20th St., New York City

180 W Broadway, New York City

1206 Third Ave., New York City

860 7th Ave, New York City

1165 Broadway, New York City

06

of 21

Chillhouse

@CHILLHOUSE / INSTAGRAM

Think chill vibes for the ultimate cool person. Enjoy the low-key comfort of Chillhouse by indulging in one of the brand’s signature manicures over a delicious matcha or wine. It’s essentially a haven, decked out with a café, nail salon, and massage rooms. 

Location: 75 Varick St., New York City 

07

of 21

Jinsoon Hand and Foot Spa

@JINSOON / INSTAGRAM

Loved by celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker, this upscale nail salon, created by the one and only Jin Soon Choi, is incredible. Its fresh and airy space will immediately relax you. Not to mention, you’ll only find quality polishes that ensure a top-notch paint job. 

Locations:

37 Walker St., New York City

56 E. Fourth St., New York City

23 Jones St., New York City

421 E. 73rd St., New York City

08

of 21

Sundays Nail Studio

@SUNDAYS_STUDIO / INSTAGRAM

Yes, the salon’s service is impeccable, but we can’t get over the genius concept of Sundays Nail Studio. It doubles as a wellness center, offering space to hold events and focus groups. Plus, the décor is unmatched—you’ll feel like you escaped into a land of zen. You just have to see it for yourself. 

Locations:

51 E. 25th St., New York City

30 Hudson Yards, New York City

1481 Third Ave., New York City

71 4th Ave., New York City

09

of 21

Akiko Nails

@AKIKONAILS_NYC / INSTAGRAM

Akiko Nails doesn’t feature just any nail art; it specializes in Japanese design techniques. The artists are trained to make your wildest dreams come true when it comes to your nails. It must be the neon pink sign that just screams cool.

Location: 135 Eldridge St., New York City

10

of 21

Bisou

@BISOU.NY / INSTAGRAM

We’ll admit it: Décor matters when it comes to good nail salons. If the place doesn’t look chic, we don’t trust it with our nails. Bisou is the cream of the crop when it comes to its interior, and its nail designs do not disappoint. What’s even cooler about this space is it’s so intimate—it only has four stations, so you’ll pretty much feel like a VIP. 

Location: 6 Spring St., New York City 

11

of 21

Tenoverten

@TENOVERTEN / INSTAGRAM

Ask a group of editors what their favorite nail salon is, and I guarantee you’ll hear Tenoverten. Free of the traditional toxins most nail polishes contain, you won’t have to worry about unsafe ingredients. Every time you visit, you can always bet on receiving an A1 manicure here. 

Location: 121 Fulton St., New York City

12

of 21

Hortūs Nailworks

@HORTUSNEWYORK / INSTAGRAM

Hortūs Nail Shop prioritizes conscious products that are all certified organic. The relaxing vibes of this Lower East Side treasure will win you over. Plus, their Instagram is a major source of eye candy.

Location: 210 Forsyth St., New York City

13

of 21

Local Honey

@LOCALHONEYBK / INSTAGRAM

Bushwick’s Local Honey does it all—waxing, massage, and nails—and manages to produce its own product line as well. Get a normal mani-pedi or go for extravagant extensions from one of the in-house artists. Pick up a candle or some palo santo while you’re there, too.

Location: 1546 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn

14

of 21

Haven Spa

@HAVENSPANYC / INSTAGRAM

Haven Spa believes that hand pampering is just as important as foot pampering, which is why the Haven Hand and Haven Foot Renaissance upgrades are a must to accompany your usual mani-pedi. The best part? Services don’t cost an arm and a leg.

Location: 250 Mercer St., New York City

15

of 21

Jenny Bui

@NAILSON7TH / INSTAGRAM

Okay, so admittedly, Jenny Bui isn’t a salon—she’s a person who owns and operates two salons. But she’s Cardi B’s now-legendary nail tech, and we would be remiss to make this list and not include her. Both salons are fairly similar, and you can usually find Bui doing nails at the Bronx studio—if she’s not across the world working on a famous client, of course. Her motto? “Never too much bling.”

Locations:

Jenny’s Spa, 305 E Fordham Road, Bronx

Nails On 7th Ave, 2449 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd, New York City

16

of 21

Paintbucket

@PAINTBUCKETNAILS / INSTAGRAM

Williamsburg-based Paintbucket is exactly what you expect out of a Williamsburg-based nail salon: indie polish brands, free prosecco, and nail art inspired by crystals, animals, and southwestern patterns. Go with friends on a sunny day and soak in the millennial pink décor before taking a walk to the nearby Williamsburg waterfront.

Location: 204 Wythe Ave., Brooklyn

17

of 21

pH7

@PH7BEAUTY / INSTAGRAM

PH7 is another boutique that specializes in natural beauty, specifically 10-free nail polish and sugaring services. Unlike many other natural-only and non-toxic places, however, they have non-toxic gels as well. We know that a polish that lasts more than a week and doesn’t kill your nails sounds too good to be true, but you’ll just have to check it out for yourself.

Locations:

227 Grand St., Brooklyn

106 S Oxford St., Brooklyn

374 Court St., Brooklyn

128 Third Ave., New York City

18

of 21

Yukie Natori New York

@YUKIBEAUTYSPA / INSTAGRAM

Located two blocks off Central Park, the most stressful experience you’ll have at this salon will probably be shuffling your feet behind tourists while you try to get to the front door. Inside, you’ll find a luxurious and thoroughly modern salon and spa complete with massage rooms, a bar, and some of the best nail techs in the city.

Location: 39 W 56th St., New York City

19

of 21

Marie Nails

@MARIENAILS / INSTAGRAM

At first glance, Marie Nails might look like any other bi-coastally beloved salon—until you realize they have a location in Hawaii, two in Los Angeles, and eight in Japan, too. It turns out that Marie Nails isn’t just a salon; it’s an empire with its own professional nail school to boot. No matter what nail style you’re looking for, you can find someone to do it perfectly at Marie Nails.

Location: 155 Prince St., New York City

20

of 21

Oh, My Nails!

@OHMYNAILSNYC / INSTAGRAM

If the cute designs and easy-to-get-to location don’t hook you on this salon, maybe the fact that owner MoMo works with Karlie Kloss, Ashley Graham, and Beyoncé will. No matter your preferred nail style—from simplistic to statement-making—rest assured you’ll walk out of Oh, My Nails! a satisfied client.

Location: 273 East 10th St., New York City

21

of 21

Delacqua Salon

@DELACQUASALON / INSTAGRAM

Delacqua, with its exposed brick and ornate mirrors, feels as much like a movie set as it does a salon. However, they mean business—whether it be hair or nails. The Italian-inspired décor, luxe accommodations, and stellar service will have you feeling like a Renaissance queen.