Where to get a quick mani/pedi in Singapore for busy mamas

There is very little on earth that can make you feel human quite as quickly as a manicure or a pedicure. Whether you’ve had a sleepless night with a newborn or been dealing with a screaming toddler all day, a slick of shiny bright polish is inexplicably good for the soul. A highly justifiable beauty-must (if for no other reason than we seem to spend more time with our shoes off than on), here’s our top picks of speedy mani/pedi places we revisit time and time again.

 

Elegant Nails

They may not be new but boy do they deliver, Elegant Nails in trusty old Tanglin Mall is a must visit for a quick mani/pedi. Omi is a polish demon and such a good painter, we request her in advance every time we book. With a great choice of OPI colours and their very good pre-polish prep work, they are also beautifully central for the great prices they charge (go for the ‘basic’ option — say no to the foot soak — which is excellent value at $20 for a mani and $35 for a pedi, plus it’s not at all basic). It’s also worth noting that these guys haven’t up’d their prices in five years!

#01-34 Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247933
Tel: (+65) 6235 8235

Flair Nails

Although they’ve been around for a while, Flair Nails has recently relocated to the new and much improved The Grandstand (Turf City) thus making them very well placed for Bukit Timah school mamas (it’s choc full just before school pick up time every day so you’ll need to book ahead!). With very professional staff and a lovely peaceful location they’ll store and keep any implements you want to buy from them, including their excellent foot files. They are also home to the fastest-drying top coat known to man, but if you have a little extra time up your sleeve, you can always opt for a 30 minute leg and foot reflexology massage — all you need to do is ask! A full manicure and pedicure costs $66, while reflexology is charged at $10 for 10 minutes.

#01-35B The Grandstand, 200 Turf Club Road, Singapore 287994
Tel: (+65) 6468 3989

 

Cinderella Nails

A bit of a find, these guys are nestled away on the very top floor of the goldmine that is Far East Plaza. They do a great value OPI express manicure for the princely sum of $5 (yup and that includes an OPI base and top coat)!  Perfect for a colour change between your full mani/pedi appointments, the price for an express pedicure is a fraction higher at only $7. Amazing, we know! They also do full mani/pedis at a snip ($12/$23). In case you’re a hygiene freak, it’s worth to bring along your own implements (but we never bother). Should you just want a polish without any nail filing or cutting, a paint-only job will set you back a mere $3.

#05-41 Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Road, Singapore 228213
Tel: (+65) 6836 2909

Manicurious

Manicurious is not only a great name but a great concept too, especially if you want a bit of a catch up with a friend in a nurturing, interesting environment. This nail bar-cum-café-cum-shop lets you do all three things under one roof (oh how we love a multi-tasker!). Think pampering pedi in a beautiful vintage armchair with the finest espressos bought to you as you sit there, (complimentary of course, it’s just that kinda place) where afterwards (if you’ve got time) you can browse the shop for pretty trinkets and goodies; the Italian handbags are seriously tempting – you’ve be warned mama!

A classic mani/pedi will set you back $66 but here you get more bang for your buck as your drinks are free!

41 Beach Road, Singapore 189680
Tel: (+65) 6333 9096 

 

Snails

As you may or may not have guessed mamas, Snails stands for ‘Singapore Nails’. There is nothing sluggish or slow about these guys however and they are extremely efficient (and even won an award a few years back for being one of the best nail spas in Singers!). The Rolls Royce of nail bars, this is where to go for a luxurious, spoil-yourself-silly experience. A full manicure will set you back $30, while a pedicure will set you back $45. The express mani/pedi is only $17/$22 – watch out though as there’s GST added on top of those prices.

#03-01 Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Road, Singapore 238880
Tel: (+65) 6738 0100

 

 

This article was written by Changmoh, the girl behind the Singapore life and style blog www.changmoh.com – the daily musings of an English girl in Singapore who thinks she’s local.