Manicure in the City

[BlingLoving]

I usually go for manicures near home, but with DS, a full time job and all the other bits and pieces of life, I haven't managed it in ages. So my new plan is to slip out at lunch time and get it done.

I work near Bank/Liverpool Street Station and want a "proper" manicure, New York style. ie not a posh salon where they charge you £25 to wash your hands, file your nails and put on a lick of paint.

Any and all suggestions please!

Beauty box in the little arcade near liverpool street station is pretty good. They use OPI varnishes. Also do speedy waxing with generally accomplished therapists.

I think tyey're overpriced for what they are personally. Looking for something a little less upmarket!

Doubt you're going to find anything cheap in the City TBH. It's all £25 jobs.

I know cheapy places in Baker Street if that's of any help whatsoever?

Thanks Abs, but no.

I know cheapie places near home too. Not only are they cheaper, but the manicure is inevitably better that's what frustrates me. You'd think the City would be like New York with a random nail bar on every street corner?!

TELL me about it. My theory is, the prices have gone down everywhere else - you can get a decent manicure in bakers street for around £14, but the City remains expensive.

There's someone who comes into our office and does them, I can PM you the details if you want?

Come to think of it, there's someone who comes into our office too... but she's quite pricy so I assumed she's not good. Sadly, I've got to that point - I equate expensive manicure with bad manicure.

yes, please pm me. And you've made me think I should check out our office person too.

Oh, and yes, I get a mani/pedi together for £25 near home. And it's pretty good. £12 for just Mani or £15 for just pedi.

I want to know too! I work in the same part of town and like cheap, scruffy nail places staffed by small fierce Vietnamese women. There are lots in Hackney but I haven't been able to find any quite near enough to go in a lunch hour though.

We should do team scouting. I'm thinking maybe I need to go further afield - head down beyond spitalfields perhaps? or a little bit further north on Bishopsgate. I might make this my mission for next week. And will report back!

I think you are missing a business opportunity and should start what you're looking for!

Fluffi - you know, I've often said that. I'm always amazed at how hard it is to get decent beauty treatments in the City. And also the timings - I'd open a salon on a shift basis so lots of people around between say 7-9:30, then skeleton staff then heavily staffed up from 11:30 - 14:30 say then skeleton again and then heavily staffed from 17:00 - 21:00. I'd hire lots of people who want flexible/short hours so they could come in for a four hour shift a day either morning, lunch or evening depending on their home situation - children/studying/other. The salon would be nice, but basic so you could keep costs down. Because every now and again, you do find somewhere, but they can only give you an appointment in two weeks and frankly, I want to be able to book the day before or even on the day.

And then once I was established, I'd add on some kind of maternity wear/baby store next door. Because when I was pregnant the only place I could get mat clothes in the City was New Look on Bishopsgate and as for baby clothes or items...! Haha. There's that one BabyGap, also on bishopsgate or the Monsoon across the street for girls (but I don't buy DS Gap or Monsoon - I buy that stuff as gifts, not for my everyday needs) or the Next on Moorgate has a decent selection. And that's it. I had to order some babygros from M&S the other day and then go pick them up in store.

Don't give away all your good ideas! What about early morning/post work blow dries too? It's ages since I've been in the City but I often think if I've got a pitch or similar to go to a quick blow dry would be useful

Actually, on hair, I think that's well covered. There are a couple of places that stay open relatively late every day or a couple of times a week. I know of at least two within spitting distance of my office and one is where I go for all my hair appointments.