It is not difficult to find a place in Abu Dhabi to get your nails done. Those mani-pedi lovers among us usually have three such numbers stored in our phones, knowing that we can usually get an appointment at one of them, and within the hour.
And while those places get the job done, they are also often frenzied, a little frayed around the edges and lacking a bit in personal touches.
It’s a different world at The Nail Spa, a popular Dubai chain making a major expansion to the capital. After launching last year in Al Wahda Mall, two new locations have opened in recent weeks – at the World Trade Center Mall and at the new Eastern Mangroves Promenade, behind the Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa.
While the Mangroves location is boosted by its proximity to the sea, it’s the interior that exudes orderly calm. Decorated in soothing soft purple, accented with grey and cream tones, the chairs are plush and staggered, with hanging curtains between each one creating the illusion of privacy. Smooth jazz plays over the sound system and the staff, while fun and chatty, speak in hushed tones.
I was invited to try a pedicure combined with the Minty Chocolate Sole Scrub (Dh65 for 20 minutes). The treatment incorporates an invigorating lower leg and foot massage using a peppermint foot scrub, with the usual sloughing of the heels and prepping of the toes. After that mix was all washed off, the therapist lit a chocolate candle, which did double-duty by producing a warm, fragrant oil that she deftly massaged into my feet. They were left feeling super-soft for days. The pedicure was gorgeous, with the Essie polish staying put for two weeks. While there, I also had a manicure, which lasted for five days without a chip, and added the B&N Reviver, which is a knot-removing, in-chair back, neck and head massage (Dh95 for 30 minutes). I left the calm interior after about 90 minutes feeling like a balanced new woman – with a new mani-pedi go-to.
The Nail Spa offers a full range of day spa services, including two appealing new “facials in a flash”, 20- and 30-minute peel and glow options (Dh135 to Dh220) from the New York City dermatologist Dr Dennis Gross.
• A classic mani-pedi at The Nail Spa is Dh170 and takes 50 minutes. The company’s website, www.thenailspa.com, is currently under construction. Search for The Nail Spa on Facebook or contact the individual salons for an appointment: Al Wahda Mall (02 642 3444), Eastern Mangroves Promenade (02 443 7111) or the World Trade Center Mall (02 626 1331)
amcqueen@thenational.ae
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