Marie Nails: Soho, Manhattan, NY

Harlequin Hearts for dali

design by: unknown

technician: unknown

price: $$

Studios are rated in a 1-3 star system. To learn more see our studio list.

Overall:★★

For a final price of just under $100 with tax, I was satisfied with the result. At first I was a bit surprised at the price, since Marie Nails is a classic Manhattan studio, but if it had been any more it would not have been worth it considering the quality. The design definitely resembled my inspiration photo and the overall effect was achieved, but it lacked the precision I was hoping for from such a well known studio. On the plus side, my technician was so sweet. If you are looking for a real Japanese studio, this is one is near the top of the list. Almost all of the staff speaks Japanese and they use Japan’s famous CalGel products. I would go back to Marie Nails. Despite its flaws, it is a place I trust to get a solid manicure every visit.

STUDIO: ★

Marie Nails Soho is a small space. So small, in fact, that the front desk is actually in the back of the studio. This causes the nail techs in the front to turn around constantly and address the new customers, interrupting their concentration. When the salon gets busy, as it was during my appointment, they quickly run out of space. My manicure began in a pedicure chair, with my shoes in the pedicure basin, while my nail technician filed my nails on the chair’s armrest. For whatever reason, the fixtures and furniture are a little run down. It definitely doesn’t match the mood of their Instagram, which features clean white backgrounds and Vogue covers. I’m not looking for frills, but it would be nice if they updated, especially since you’d be stuck in the space for a while if you got one of the more complicated designs they advertise on their profile. Like most Japanese salons, there is tea and water to drink. They may not offer it to you, so don’t be afraid to ask.

NAIL CARE: ★★

I did not get my previous gel removed at Marie Nails because when I called to make my appointment, they told me it was $2 per nail for removal. I thought, ‘That’s too much man!’ and got it removed at a different salon. Joke’s on me though, because they did a bad job and charged me the same amount as it would have been if I had just gotten it at Marie. So my suggestion to you is just eat the $20 and get your removal with your appointment. My technician was super gentle and considerate. She did not do a lot of nail fold cutting and only lightly pushed back my cuticle. Although my nail tech spent a lot of time filing — much like they do at Arete — the resulting shapes when compared across all my fingers were not as even as I had hoped.

ART: ★★

The art does the job. They use CalGel at Marie, so if you’re a fan then this is you’re spot. My technician was very skilled, but it was not the best hand painting I’ve seen. I can see a lot of difference between the designs on my left and right hands. I don’t know how senior my technician was, and their Instagram flaunts designs of a higher quality. However, Marie Nail’s Instagram has photos from both their LA location and their NYC location. As I was going through their feed the other day, I noticed that a lot of the complicated designs were from LA. Since both locations share the same Instagram, I assume that they know NYC customers might ask for those designs, and that their New York nail techs have the same skill. Considering how my art came out, if I wanted a really technical design I would choose a different salon, but if I wanted something simple I would go back.

LONGEVITY: ★

The salon mostly uses CalGel, the gel that is rumored to be best for nail health, but I overheard the other technicians offering a topcoat of hard gel to customers for longevity. My technician did not offer me the hard gel topcoat. At the time I didn’t notice anything wrong with my nails, but after 2 days it was clear that my nails had been weakened by the poor removal process at the other salon and needed a hard gel topcoat. The hard gel is an extra $5, which is annoying, but that’s what you get from Manhattan studios. My nails felt a lot better with the hard gel on top and they stopped bending, which was my main concern. If having flexible nails doesn’t bother you than the hard gel might not be necessary.