Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
My Little Black Book of the Best Nail Salon
18
items Let’s be completely real, getting your nails done while traveling can be a massive gamble. There is nothing worse than paying $100+ for a manicure only to leave with flooded cuticles, crooked extensions, or a salon that smells overwhelmingly like har...
Map
Sections
5
Minimalist Vibe & Clean Girl Cuticles
Insane Hand-Painted Nail Art & 3D Charms
Luxury Spa Experiences For Jet Lag Recovery
Japanese Gel & Flawless Gel-X Extensions
Eco-Friendly & Totally Non-Toxic Havens
Minimalist Vibe & Clean Girl Cuticles
If you are obsessed with perfectly pushed-back cuticles, sheer neutral tones, and that ultra-glossy "old money" aesthetic, these spots are your holy grail. They specialize in precise, waterless manicures that make your natural nails look impossibly h...
This isn't just a nail salon; it's an entire vibe. Whenever I land in NYC, I book an appointment here because you can get an oat milk matcha latte while they do your nails. Their minimalist waves and micro-french designs are literally the most pinned...
Chillhouse Soho
Skipping the water soak sounded crazy to me at first, but my polish legitimately lasted a full week longer! The vibe inside is so chic and bright. It’s my absolute go-to when I'm on the East Coast and need my nails to survive a two-week trip without ...
Varnish Lane
You probably know their famous at-home polish kits, but visiting their actual flagship salon in LA is a dream. The aesthetic is so light and airy, and they give the most incredible hand massages. It’s the perfect place to treat yourself to a classic,...
About Olive & June
If you are a germaphobe like me, you will love Glosslab. Everything is wildly clean, and the aesthetic is very sleek and modern. They are incredibly efficient, so if I have a tight travel itinerary and just need a perfect, quick polish change, I run ...
Glosslab
Insane Hand-Painted Nail Art & 3D Charms
Forget basic stickers. These are the studios where the nail techs are literal fine artists. If you want aura nails, chrome powders, hand-painted anime characters, or those viral Korean/Japanese 3D jelly charms, you have to book here.
This place is legendary in the nail world. They literally project video art on the walls while you get your nails done. I once showed my tech a picture of an intricate vintage porcelain plate, and she hand-painted the exact pattern onto my nails. It ...
Vanity Projects
I love Paintbox because it takes away the decision fatigue. You look through their seasonal "menu" of designs, and every single one is chic and editorial. Plus, they have this adorable little photo box with perfect lighting so you can take profession...
Paintbox
Every major celebrity in LA goes here for a reason. When I wanted that super extravagant, heavily jeweled K-pop idol nail look, ES Nail delivered. The artists are so incredibly fast and precise with placing tiny rhinestones. My nails caught the light...
Es Nail Studio
If you want that viral, futuristic "cyber dot" or chrome aura look that's all over TikTok, Nail Swag is the blueprint. The studio is so cool and creative. They introduced me to Japanese potted gels, which are so much more pigmented than regular polis...
Nail Swag
Luxury Spa Experiences For Jet Lag Recovery
Sometimes you don't just want your nails done; you want a nap, a glass of champagne, and a 20-minute calf massage. These salons focus heavily on the sensory, spa-like experience to help you completely decompress.
The sensory overload in NYC can be a lot. Coming here, putting on their meditation headphones, and getting a gorgeous, non-toxic pedicure is my ultimate travel reset. It legitimately feels like a mental health break disguised as a manicure.
Sundays
I fell asleep in their pedicure chair the last time I went, and I have zero regrets. You sink into these massive, cloud-like chairs. Their "Minty Cool" pedicure is an absolute lifesaver for swollen feet after walking around theme parks or shopping al...
Bella Cures
If your nail beds are totally ruined from peeling off old gel (guilty!), Tenoverten will nurse them back to health. The vibe feels like hanging out in a very wealthy friend's luxurious apartment. It’s so quiet, refined, and deeply relaxing.
Ten Over Ten
I absolutely adore the interior design here—it’s very dark, moody, and chic, unlike the usual bright white salons. The smells of their custom essential oil scrubs are heavenly. It’s the perfect place to unwind with a friend and catch up over a flawle...
Base Coat Nail Salon
Japanese Gel & Flawless Gel-X Extensions
If you are still getting thick, damaging acrylics that hurt your natural nail bed, it is time to upgrade. These salons are masters of Aprés Gel-X (the flawless, clear gel tips) and high-end Japanese soft gels that leave your nails super strong but na...
The precision at Akiko is unmatched. Japanese gel is so much more flexible than traditional gel polish, meaning it never chips or cracks on me. I got the most flawless sheer pink gradient here, and it lasted beautifully for four weeks.
Aki Ko Nails
Marie Nails is a classic for a reason. When my natural nails keep breaking while I'm traveling, I go here to get Calgel overlays. It creates this protective, flexible shield over your nail that feels totally weightless. Plus, their location in Koreat...
Marie Nails
Gel-X absolutely changed my life, and Color Camp applies them flawlessly. They never look bulky or thick near the cuticle. I love that you can customize exactly what shape and length you want, and they always have the coolest trending colors in stock...
Color Camp
Eco-Friendly & Totally Non-Toxic Havens
You shouldn't get a headache from breathing in fumes just to get cute nails. These salons have completely banned harsh chemicals, acrylic dust, and toxic polishes, offering the cleanest, safest manicures in the country.
This is the standard every salon should be held to! You can actually see them sterilizing the tools in the clean lab. There are zero chemical smells when you walk in. I always grab a few bottles of their pure, vegan polish to take home with me, too.
Miniluxe
If you are traveling through the Midwest, this is the spot. The copper pedicure bowls are such a gorgeous, thoughtful touch for hygiene. The whole vibe is very welcoming and warm, and their house-made sugar scrubs make your legs feel like literal sil...
The W Nail Bar
When I’m road-tripping or visiting a smaller US city and don't know where to go, finding a Frenchies is like a sigh of relief. You know exactly what you are going to get: a beautifully clean space, zero toxic fumes, and super friendly, consistent ser...
Frenchies Nails