As a gal that loves all things beauty, nail art or funky, fresh manicures are no exception. I believe in putting your best mani forward. I follow almost no rules – toes and nails do not have to match, glitter should always be an option and YOLO. I have both an IG collection and Pinterest board titled “nailed it.” I reference this catalog of nail designs for inspiration before a manicure or pedicure appointment. And too many times, when I show my manicurist the ideas they just shrug and say they can’t do it or make their best lackluster attempt. My favorite Instagram accounts are Olive & June, Vanity Projects, and Paintbox. My college roommate lives in Brooklyn and has told me for years, “Next time you come to visit New York, we MUST get manis at Paintbox.” Y’all, the time has come! Refinery29 has been raving about this Soho nail joint since the summer of 2014.
about the best mani
Paintbox lives up to its slogan – a modern manicure studio. What sets Paintbox apart?
- Online appointment booking
- Manicure only salon – gel or regular polish
- Luxe amenities – champagne and iPhone chargers
- Photo booth to show off #paintboxmani on social media
- Lookbook of seasonal designs and suggested color combinations
- Curated nail designs provided by a celebrity and editorial manicurist, Paintbox Creative Director Julie Kandalec
May I just express the sigh of relief to walk into a luxe lobby and not see a ton of polishes lined along the wall or handed a ring of gel samples? H-E-A-V-E-N. Instead, I was handed a cute binder containing the latest lookbook to pick a look from. I was able to narrow down to two designs while I wait for my mani date to arrive.
It’s Electric, Photo courtesy of Paintbox.
Moonlight, Photo courtesy of Paintbox.
Our manicurist greeted us in the lobby and sat us at our stations. Evelyn and I each consulted about the best style suited for my nail shape and color combos. I had lusted over the ‘It’s Electric’ nail look for weeks now and ultimately, it was the best style for my nails. Allison opted for a minimalistic, 50 Shades of Grey rendition of ‘Saturday.’ The manicure procedure was pretty much the same as others until… my nails got a “car wash.” That’s the only way I can describe this genius move. After cleaning up my tragic cuticles, Evelyn took a disposable mascara wand to buff each nail clean in the gentlest possible way. As the dark wine gel color was set, she painted individual triangles on each nail with expert precision. No template or use of stickers, freehand with a gold polish. This gold polish leaves the nail a little tacky so she could apply a holographic gold foil on the triangle. I had the option of a flat gold or holographic foil. After the mani was set, I got a thorough
paintbox results
After your mani you can display it in the best fashion, there is a custom photo booth dedicated to showing off your nail art. Simply type in your email address and you’ll receive a branded image in your inbox. Be sure to use hashtag #paintboxmani to share on social media.
I am so pleased with the experience and the end result. Now, who’s going to keep up with Paintbox in South Florida? I’m looking for you!
xx,
Sassy
