The Calgel Wars are ON!
VS
After being a VERY loyal customer to
Sakura Nail & Spa, I had my first visit to
Marie Nails NYC on Saturday. I thought it would be prudent to do a diligent compare/contrast between the 2 NYC nail spots.
Sorry in advance if this is tedious, but I just wanted to be as thorough as possible.
LOCATIONS:
- SAKURA: With 2 locations (one on the UES, one on the LES), you can definitely have your pick. In my experience, the UES location tends to have the more experienced nail technicians, but they rotate between the 2 locations, so I suggest “dating” your fave nail stylist.
- MARIE NAILS: One NYC location in Soho. This location only has 2 pedicure stations and 3 nail stations.
AMBIENCE:
- SAKURA: very “green” ambience. Both their salons are very tastefully decorated and furnished with a nod to the “asian” aesthetic — quite zen! They also tout a very “natural/healthy” vibe about them.
- MARIE NAILS: VERY bare minimum. Truthfully, it looked like they were in a rush to get that place open. No A/C yet, no wall decor. The interior has very little decor (if any at all).
SERVICE:
- SAKURA: I think the best differentiating factor would be to compare a “Spa” vs. a “Clinic”. Sakura is a nail spa. When you walk in, they ask you if you’d like some green tea. They offer comfortable seating while your nails dry. They use cuticle oils with essential oils, they give you a hand massage after your service is done.
- MARIE NAILS: For right now (and maybe this is because they just opened), this is very much a “get your service and roll out” kinda place. No tea, no scented cuticle oil, no hand massage with your service.
PRICING:
REMOVAL
- MARIE NAILS: removal FREE (if done at Marie Nails)
SINGLE-COLOR CALGEL:
DEEP FRENCH:
GRADATION:
NAIL ART
(note: nail art at both places really depends on how intricate the design is, so these are general prices):
- SAKURA: Flat art starts at $1.50/nail, 3D art starts at $3/nail
- MARIE NAILS: Flat art starts at $3/nail, 3D art starts at $5/nail
RHINESTONES:
- SAKURA: depends on size of stone: $0.50/$0.70/$1.00
- MARIE NAILS: 5 rhinestones for $3
** ANOTHER DIFFERENCE
When I have a Calgel design, I usually prefer to have a Biogel base coat because I’ve noticed that it prevents my designs from lifting. (I must be extra-rough on my hands!). But Marie Nails only has Calgel, so no Biogel base coat available. I’ll see how my recent Marie Nails design holds up…fingers crossed!
CONCLUSION
If you are debating between the two Calgel Nail Art spots — much like everything else in life — it really depends on what you’re looking for. I have really enjoyed my visits to Sakura, and I’ve found that as long as I make an appointment with someone whose handiwork I KNOW and TRUST, I am always super-happy there.
Now that I’ve been to Marie Nails also, I can also appreciate the fact that Sakura offers the full “experience”, with the hand massage, the aromatherapy cuticle oils, the tea…it’s truly the little things that all add up, especially when you can spend 2-3 hours for a single nail visit.
I DO love the fact that Marie Nails is SUPER-DUPER fast with their application (my last design only took 1.5 hours!!). While I haven’t been there enough to speak about the rest of their technicians, Sayo (the manager) is unbelievably experienced, fast and her work is impeccable (no bubbles, no heaviness).
OVERALL, Marie Nails is a little cheaper than Sakura. But if you’re going to get super fancy with crazy Flat or 3D Nail Art…it can actually be a little more expensive, depending on what you get. So if you’re going to be a standard “glitter gradation” or one-color calgel type of gal — Marie Nails will be the better bargain. But if you ARE going to get crazy with the art, Sakura might end up being a little cheaper.
Hope this post was somewhat helpful — and if there’s anything else you want to add & share…please do!! 
www.nailspasakura.com
www.marienails.com
←hotness, no?
