Nails in Style in SM San Lazaro has opened last October 8, 2014 and word about it is now spreading fast. This nail salon offers services such as hand care and foot care and specializes in gel color art. Prior to coming, I visited their Facebook page and found many style inspirations done on customers. Thrilled, I decided to get my first manicure using gel polish with Nails in Style’s Glamorous design last Sunday with my mom.Β β™₯

Gel nail polish is believed to be delightfully long-lasting, making the nails completely chip-free for up to three weeks. On how different the effect will be as compared to regular nail polish? I’ll see about that later.

Aside from manicure, I also got the Regular Polish Care package for the feet. Mommy, on the other hand, was convinced to have her nails done as well. In this post, let me share with you what I think about this nail center.

Review of Nails in Style Salon (SM San Lazaro, Manila)

Ambiance: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†

Interior design is very minimal but tasteful with a good splash of colors on the background. The salon appeared very clean and neat. Upon entrance, you’ll see a collection of imported and quality nail polishes organized behind the counter. There’s a lot of spa chairs and nail stations across the room.

What’s missing here are rooms supposedly for waxing services. Since the space is relatively small to cater that, I wonder how the management intends to expand the area to build those rooms. That said, in the mean time, I think waxing services written on their flyer should be ignored.

Service: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

For nail care services, Nails in Style sets a differentiation between Signature Gel Nail Art and Nail Care Packages. To avoid confusion, here’s a rundown for your reference:

Signature Nail Art:

  • Fashionista (PhP 600) – manicure/pedicure, gel nail polish with color of customer’s choice, and nail art with LIMITED rhinestones, gems, pearls, stickers, etc.
  • Glamorous (PhP 900) – manicure/pedicure, gel nail polish with color of customer’s choice, and nail art with MORE rhinestones, gems, pearls, stickers, etc.

Nail Care Packages:

  • Classic Polish Care – manicure (PhP 230)/pedicure (PhP 250), regular nail polish with color of customer’s choice, and optional nail art with LIMITED rhinestones, gems, pearls, stickers, etc.
  • Regular Polish Care – manicure (PhP 320)/pedicure (PhP 450), spa, regular nail polish with color of customer’s choice, and optional nail art with LIMITED rhinestones, gems, pearls, stickers, etc.
  • Special Polish Care – manicure (PhP 400)/pedicure (PhP 600), spa masque, regular nail polish with color of customer’s choice, and optional nail art with LIMITED rhinestones, gems, pearls, stickers, etc.
  • Superior Polish Care – manicure (PhP 600)/pedicure (PhP 800), spa, paraffin, regular nail polish with color of customer’s choice, and optional nail art with LIMITED rhinestones, gems, pearls, stickers, etc.

Note: The nail polishes available here are the best brands: Zoya, OPI, Misa and Orly, at no additional cost.

With all these offerings, I wasn’t sure which one to get. Uh, can I call a friend? πŸ˜› Thanks to my mom and the staff’s recommendation, I ended up choosing Glamorous (hand) and Regular Polish Care (feet), as mentioned in the intro.

I browsed through an album of designs available for Glamorous and again had a hard time. Wahaha! Upfront, there were too many good ones vying for attention.

Applying the elimination method, I finally was able to select a decent and not too bold nail art with rhinestones but still girly and creative. This was in consideration of the fact that I face many vendors and clients for work every day and I didn’t want my nails to look incredibly inappropriate in a corporate setting.

After the selection, the nail technician started to achieve the Glamorous nail art.Β In two words, service was friendly and professional.

I appreciated the staffΒ taking her time to clean my nails and apply nail prep, gel bonder, base coat, and “EzFlow TruGel 100% Gel Polish Pretty Pink” nail polish (three coats) gently and carefully. She made me feel comfortable throughout the entire time. I felt genuine hospitality from my manicurist. She answered my questions regarding gel nail polish but also wasn’t overbearing with small talk while she worked.

To speed up the drying process, my hands were put into a UV nail lamp after each application. The built-in timer on the UV lamp was really cool. The device automatically turns off after 90 seconds of curing.

The next step was to stick the studs/rhinestones on each nail following my chosen design. Jopay picked up the studs and placed them on the nail with the use of a dotting tool dipped in nail glue. She was very thorough, precise, and detail-oriented. Some studs didn’t land perfectly on the right position the first time they were applied, so she had to work in lightning speed to adjust them before the glue dries up. Once done, my nails were secured with a top coat to keep the studs/rhinestones from falling off.

TA-DAH! πŸ˜†

Simultaneously, the foot spa and pedicure wereΒ being done. First, my feet were soaked in warm water for about 5-10 minutes. It was time for me to just sit back and relax. πŸ™‚ Then, she exfoliated my skin with a foot file scrubbing down the entire feet. The foot scrub blasted away dead skin easily. She also did a short, nice massage before applying lotion to moisturize my legs, ankles and feet.

For my toe nails, I chose Zoya Professional Lacquer in the shade of matte pink (see item on the left) and I absolutely loved how the color turned out. It’s not basic pink but a deep, striking magenta/fuchsia pink that’s sassy with a subtle frost. 100% girly, it quite resembled a luxurious velvet fabric.

Aside from the wonderful color, the reason why I chose Zoya was that this brand of nail polish has natural formulation and is free from toluene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalates) and camphor. It has a non-yellowing formula that’s good for those who have sensitive skin. Zoya is a company committed to bringing pretty and fun vegan nail polish to the world. I thought it’s a perfect blend of pretty and ethical beauty.

On the other side of the nail salon, I saw how Mom enjoyed her experience as well. πŸ˜›

Here’s how her nails turned out:


Price for Value: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†

It has been five days ever since the gel nail polish was applied on my nails, and my nails are still glorious and chip-free. Over 10 people had asked me where I had them done, and of course Nails in Style in SM San Lazaro has to take credit for the job well done.

I also had been getting compliments on them from a lot of other people. Thank you very much! πŸ˜€ For all that, price for value considering the quality of work and counting my good experience at this nail salon is rated as 4/5 stars.

The only thing I would advise is to call ahead of time and make an appointment. Operating hours start from 10AM and end at 9PM. The Glamorous design was done in two hours, and you can have that as point of estimation. Plan your visit accordingly, if you want to have the same experience as I did.

Nails in Style has more services than I’ve mentioned in this post. Don’t be shy to contact them via phone/email to inquire. πŸ˜‰

3/F SM San Lazaro (near cinemas), Felix Huertas Street, Corner A. H. Lacson Extension, Sta. Cruz, Manila
For inquiries, call 7346800 or email nails_instyle@yahoo.com.ph
Date Published: 11/07/2014
13 / 15 stars

About 

Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.

105 Responses

  1. Robin (Masshole Mommy)

    Look at all the polish colors. I get my nails done every 2 weeks, so I love that salon!

    Reply
  2. Fi NΓ­ NeachtΓ‘in

    What a great looking place, the decor is fab. I love all the colour and your nails look great!

    Reply
  3. Louise

    This is another new nail salon to watch out for. This is a nice, detailed post for those planning to visit the nail salon. I’ve been wanting to try the gel but since I’m too lazy and I have brittle nails, I just let me nails be. Haha!

    Btw, your mom looks very pretty and young! πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Thanks, Louise! My mom would be so happy to hear that. πŸ˜€ Try going to nail centers because they can not only make your nails look pretty but also fix them to a healthier state.

      Reply
  4. Gloria Apara

    I would love to visit that place1 Looks great. My hands and feet definitely need some care after long time on the road without taking care of them. Love decor of the place too!

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Yes, their book caused me a headache with all the beautiful nail art colors and designs. Men may also avail their services like cleaning of the nails so you could also experience the feeling of your nails being loved. πŸ˜›

      Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Thank you! Keeping the rhinestones was really quite difficult especially while taking a bath and shampooing my hair, so I had to be careful in using my fingers and nails.

      Reply
  5. Amie

    The colour you have chosen for your toenails is really beautiful. (: Btw, not meant to sound creepy or anything but you have nice feet!

    Reply
  6. Catherine S

    Sounds like a great place to get your nails done.
    They sure do have a lot color options.

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Yup! If only I could have all the colors and designs on my nails at the same time then I guess it would be heaven. πŸ˜› Hope you could visit this place!

      Reply
  7. kendall

    Looks like an awesome place – the lighting is gorgeous and your nails look great!

    Reply
  8. R U S S

    You might find this funny, but I have to say that I love the lighting at Nails in Style Salon. It’s brighter than the other nail salons, which I think is good. It gives this more fun vibe and matches their interiors. I hope they open a branch in the South so I can try it out, too.

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Despite the bright light setting of the salon, the experience was still relaxing while I was being pampered. They also play instrumental music to soothe the customers more. πŸ™‚

      Reply
  9. Ann Bacciaglia

    I used to get my nails done every month. I have gotten away from that lately. After seeing all the great nail designs i want to go get my nails done again.

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      I used to get my nails done once in a while too but got bored because I’ve already tried all the colors I wanted. But getting nail art is really fun and interesting that made me want to visit nail salons again.

      Reply
  10. Liz Mays

    It’s so relaxing to have that kind of treatment. I go for a pedicure once a month or so. I love how your nails came out.

    Reply
  11. Hazel Ann Lo

    Great review! and the fact that this nail salon is in SM San Lazaro, it’s sure to boom since of the surrounding universities in the area. I was particularly amused by the UV Nail Lamp! I want one too! πŸ™‚ Hihi! I love the art they did on you! hmmm maybe it’s just not for me coz I get easily irritated by the stones and start plucking them off in a day or two. hahaha!

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Thanks, Hazel Ann! I actually also had difficulty in taking care of the stones on my nails especially when I was washing my hair but most of them remained intact anyway. To be extra careful is definitely a must! You may try their matte nail polish if you want your nails to still look interesting even without the stones. πŸ™‚

      Reply
  12. JOhn

    I’m a guy but I must admit that the styles and designs they have are impressive. I find them all really nice.

    Reply
  13. Andrea Callahan

    Those are fun nail services! We really need to pamper ourselves sometimes.

    Reply
  14. estherjulee

    i love the designs!! πŸ™‚ i’ve done gel nails before, but i always get impatient and rip them off.. and then damage my nails. :/

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Ohh, there’s a proper procedure and products to use to remove the gel nail polish as seen in the picture above. I just tried to remove them myself last night and put on some nail solutions that I own to keep them healthy and strong.

      Reply
  15. Rebecca Swenor

    It sounds like a great place and staff indeed. I love your nails they look gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  16. Noel

    I didn’t know there is SM in San Lazaro, their salon looks neat and colorful , i like it, and its good that they have a dryer especially for those customers who’s in a hurry

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      It was also a first for me to see and try the UV nail lamp and it was really effective. But for people who like to get pampered and relax longer, I just wished there was no such dryer. Haha

      Reply
  17. Alejandra

    Im not a manicure lover, but I have to admit your nails look neat! — And they have a very convenient schedule I must say πŸ˜‰

    Reply
  18. Emilee

    What a gorgeous salon! I’m a licensed nail tech, but I don’t work in a salon anymore. I’d love to go get myself pampered, but since I am trained on how to do it myself I hard time paying someone to do it lol.

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Wow, that’s nice! You could also try doing it yourself to make the design more personalized. πŸ˜› But I guess it still feels a lot better to be served and taken care of.

      Reply
  19. Lynndee

    Lovely nails but they aren’t cheap huh? I missed having my pedi and mani every two weeks. That’s how often I had it back in my hometown. But here in the US, it’s just so expensive. I’d rather spend it on clothes or food.

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Thanks, Aiza! Oh, you’re quite the opposite of mine. Haha I actually prefer having someone to get my nails done because I’m not really good at nail art or simply coloring my nails. But to save money, I also sometimes settle on my own work. πŸ˜›

      Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Me too. I consider having my nails done as one of the best relaxing moments since I don’t have to face a computer and work or run through my social media feeds to see what’s going on. My hands are too occupied for those stuff, finally! Haha.

      Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      You’re welcome, dear Alysia! πŸ™‚ When I invited my mom to come with me, she was very happy. So I’m sure your mom will also let out a smile on her face when you treat her to this place for a mother-daughter bonding session.

      Reply
  20. jo

    The packages looks affordable to me! I also love the colors they used to decorate the salon!!! πŸ˜€

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Yeah, they’re pretty affordable as compared to other nail salons that add up the cost of applying branded and quality nail polishes on the service fees. Here you don’t need to worry about that. πŸ™‚

      Reply
  21. Melissa Smith

    That looks like a fun nail salon! I really love all the white with pops of bold, bright colors.

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      The interior design is lovely and modern. I walked in without other customers so I felt like reserving the place only to myself haha. It was a good thing that I decided to go a day after November 1 so most folks wouldn’t think of visiting a nail center. (We went to the temple early morning on the same day to visit our late relatives.)

      Reply
  22. Vanessa Ally

    What I like about this salon is that they offer a variety of choices to please every taste, whereas in my city there are not so many nail polish options in the salons. I love the neat and clean view of the place and the fact the service is excellent!

    Reply
  23. Pingerrain*Priscilla

    I’m not much of a manicure and pedicure person since I play the piano but this salon looks bright and cheery. The nail art looks painstakingly beautiful!!

    Thanks for sharing~

    Reply
  24. Eliz Frank

    This is truly the ultimate nail shop. I love the variety they offer. Something for everyone.

    Reply
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