Manicurists Work to Perfection at Kay Nails

Having driven by more than a dozen times, I couldn't see the appeal of the salon, mainly because of the strangely designed parking lot of the plaza and because, let's face it, pretty much anything on Route 23 can be a pain to get to, depending on the time of the day.

But I was very happy I stopped there and think I may have found my new favorite spot.

Let me begin this review by sharing a few factors that led me to Kay on this particular day. First, as I mentioned when , I am a recovering nail biter, and just like the chances with any other bad habit, I came close to relapsing last week! Perhaps it was wedding planning, or just simple stress, but I found myself biting off more than I could chew...of my nails that is.

I knew the only way to stop myself was to pay for my nails to be painted. And so, I set out for a manicure...the same day as

First, I went to my usual spot, which I will not disclose as I am trying to be open and experience every nail salon the tri-boro has to offer with an open mind. They told me I should come back in an hour. Then, I went to another nail salon around the corner. They flat out told me "no."

So then I went to Kay, thinking, "Okay, this is the last stop you are making before you give up and just paint them at home."

When I walked in and asked if they had time for a manicure, despite the prom appointments, without hesitation they said "yes."

The following is my review of Kay Nails:

Quality of Manicure: As dazzled by Dr.Phil on the television as I was at the salon, I did notice my manicure took a longer amount of time than usual. But the reason was simply because my manicurist took her time to inspect each nail after each task (filing, buffing, etc.) to make sure they came out perfect. This is not something to complain about, so I am not, but instead, I was happy that despite having a busy day in the salon, I was still a valued customer. Now, I did notice that once all the other manicurists were taken, some other customers grew angry at having to wait a long time, but this would happen in any salon.

I went with Essie's Fuji (a mix between white and pink) and while I think the manicurist did a fine job of applying the color, it did start to chip away nearly a day later.

Quality of Service: I was very pleased with the service, and, in fact, decided to stay even longer this time for a pedicure (which I will not be reviewing as it is not a manicure). A customer came in who needed a waxing, and my manicurist was the girl who needed to do the service, however, I did not mind waiting because I knew she would give me extra care when she retuned.

Overall Impression of Facility: I thought the facility appeared very clean and organized. It was rather loud because of all the people in the salon that day, but I still enjoyed watching television while having my manicure.

Special Touches: While the manicurist did not give me a back massage as my nails dried, she did spend extra time massaging my arms and hands with warm lotion. I thought this was nice, particularly because I do not ordinarily have my hands massaged.

Conclusion: I would give this manicure a 3.5 out of 5. I liked how the manicurist wanted to make sure each nail was filed to perfection before painting them.

Manicure Tried: Friday, June 3
Cost of Manicure: $10 before tip