The top nail art salons in NYC

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At this Soho nail studio created by veteran beauty editor Eleanor Langston, the experience is, well, polished. The spacious manicure spot features a beverage bar with champagne and Grady’s Cold Brew, a curated selection of 50 on-trend lacquer colors (manicures start at $35), iPhone chargers at each of its 18 stations and a seasonal menu of nail-art designs by celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec. One note: Paintbox doesn’t do pedicures, so head elsewhere to put the shine on your toes.

Though this minimalist salon has been a Clinton Hill staple for seven years, Calgel manicures ($30) are a recent addition to the lineup of services, which nail art accessoriesincludes basic manicures ($6) and pedicures ($13). Owner Jessie Lean and her team of seven friendly technicians will have your name memorized before you leave, but the staff's cheerful disposition isn't the only draw: The Calgel-based nail art, which includes glitter gradations ($40) and embellishments such as rhinestones and tiny fruit decals ($2 per nail), features some of the most understated—and affordable—options we've encountered, making this spot perfect for nail-art newbies. For those who are slightly more advanced, Pure also offers Minx prepatterned manicures for just $50.

Art curator and licensed nail technician Rita de Alencar Pinto spent years doing intricate nail art at events such as Brooklyn Museum’s Artists Ball 2014art supplies online and during a residency at MoMA PS1. She opens her first salon in a gallery-like space, featuring four manicure stations, two pedicure chairs and video-art installations projected on the walls.