NailSpa W1

A polish that lasts for two weeks is the latest beauty buzz to hit our shores, and it’s being served up at the newest NailSpa salon. But is it too good to be true?

I don’t go for a mani-pedi all that often. I generally prefer buying my own colours and painting my nails on the sofa whilst watching the telly. I also get restless, and like changing the colour every few days, and as my nails grow pretty quick, it’s often a necessity.

But when the lovely owners of NailSpa invited me down to their brand spanking new salon off Marylebone High Street, I was hardly going to decline. A tireless cynic, I was dubious about a nail varnish brand that purports to stay strong, shiny and chip-free for two weeks, but it was surely worth a try.

NailSpa was created by best friends Farah Ahmed and Rebecca Lee in 2004, and with locations in South Kensington and Little Venice already hugely popular, it seemed the obvious step to open up shop nearer town. As the name would suggest, they specialise in nails and have built up a strong reputation by providing meticulous mani-pedi treatments in a friendly, modern environment at competitive prices.

True to form, the new salon is like a sweet shop for nail aficionados. With polishes lining the walls, flat screen TV’s playing music, and a smart and contemporary design, Ahmed and Lee have had back-to-back appointments since this new branch opened in June. There are an additional range of beauty treatments available for those with time to kill, including NaturaSun spray tans and waxing.

NailSpa was one of the first London salons to introduce us to Shellac, and it’s been received extremely well so far. Brainchild of US company Creative Nail Design, Shellac is basically a hybrid of polish and gel. The product is thin and strong enough to be applied similarly to nail polish (although has to be done in-salon by professionals), and is being tipped as the new product that can last on fingernails for two weeks…or more.

There are 12 colours in the range at the moment; with the most popular being a chic nude ‘Romantique’; a sultry rouge noir, called ‘Fedora’; and a fabulous red – which I went for – called ‘Wildfire’.

Application is quick and simple. A clear basecoat with is ‘cured’ for about 30 seconds in an ultraviolet lightbox, followed by two coats of the desired colour, and a gloss topcoat. My nails are instantly dry and so shiny I can practically see my reflection in them.

The girls say that the product has been so popular since they brought it in a few months ago they’re re-ordering  a great deal more than they originally thought. Even manufacturers, CND, say that having never anticipated such success, they are also running low on stock.

For one whole week my nails look spectacular. The shine is what really sells it. (Note to self: Shellac would be a super idea pre holiday, as the sun usually dulls conventional varnish.) However, by day eight there are two little chips. Annoying. By day 10, I’m getting antsy and want a new colour. Although no new chips have appeared, the tops of the nails are showing a bit of wear. Off they come.

Luckily, removal is equally as simple. Either at home with acetone or back at the salon. I’d love to buy into the hype and concede that Shellac has indeed nailed it, but I’m not converted yet. Shellac is not quite the ‘revolutionary’ product it’s marketed as, but perhaps I’m just a little too rough with my hands.

A Shellac manicure costs £35 at:

NailSpa
5 Paddington Street
Marylebone
W1U 5QF

www.nailspa.org

Image by Joe Shlabotnik courtesy of Flickr