Nailauri — Local services in New York

I hate being the person to chime in with a negative experience for a business that has glowing reviews but wish I had some more info before spending over $200 on a set that wasn’t even what I asked for.

Positives include a clean and bright space, a neat and precise application of gel, and meticulous nail prep. I appreciated all of these things.

Negatives include a challenging time communicating, some unprofessionalism, but the biggest negative is not getting the manicure I asked for.

I came in because I couldn’t see my regular nail tech before she went on a month long vacation. I asked for the cat eye manicure in the first photo and it’s the exact photo that I showed as well.

When removing my previous manicure, my nails got quite hot from the drilling. I asked to take a small break and Shorena’s response was to blame the work she was removing. “Whoever did this did a terrible job, I don’t know what they were thinking!” Ok but I wasn’t even complaining just asking for a small break.

I’ve been getting my nails done about once a month for close to 20 years. I’ve been getting builder gel manicures from my regular nail tech for over two years, and when she uses the same drill to remove them, they don’t hurt. When I’ve gotten a manicure from someone who isn’t my regular tech, the removal also didn’t hurt. I wasn’t even upset, I just asked to take a small break and it seemed like it landed as a criticism of her.

She kept insulting the work that she was removing in increasingly concerning ways. At one point she said “I’m sorry I have to keep moving your hands, whoever did these applied the polish right up against your skin.” Like, what? Does this mean the polish you’ll apply is going to leave a gap…? It didn’t, the polish was applied very meticulously by why keep insulting and blaming the work you’re removing instead of just…not?

When shaping, I got that kind of painful shivering feeling as the file was catching a few times. I had a few kind of slight hand twitches and this seemed to throw her off, asking me what was wrong. I explained and she did “well this is how I work, so what do you want me to do?” I explained that I was simply answering her question, not complaining, and filing in a single direction instead of sawing back and forth has helped with that but it’s not an issue I faced recently. Maybe my regular nail tech whose work she was insulting non stop has some secret shaping and filing technique..? This continued to cuticle removal at which point she snapped at me to “hold still!” I did and made sure not to fidget at all. Again, this isn’t something I usually struggle with and my previous nail techs use the same efile and cuticle remover.

I let this go and then it was time for polish. This was my first time getting a cat eye manicure and I wasn’t familiar with the process. After curing the first few nails, I noticed they weren’t really what I asked for but figured there was a process and to trust the process. After all, I showed her a photo of what I was looking for and said “I want this!” You can see there is a big difference in the dimension of the polish, which seems like it’s a function of the magnet used to lift the metal in the cat eye polish.

It was incredibly frustrating when she starting applying top coat, and I realized she had kind of put her own spin on the design I showed her. It wasn’t until this point that I realized she hadn’t taken a photo of the design I showed her or anything.

Could I have said something? Of course. Did I want to go through the removal of and correction with someone who was getting increasingly frustrated and short with me as the appointment went on? No! :) that’s a decision I take responsibility for but also……..take a picture of the design someone is asking you to replicate….?

As you can see the actual polish application and prep is very meticulous but overall I do not plan to go back. If you do, I suggest being prepare to advocate for yourself...

I visited this salon twice, and while the manicures themselves were amazing and long-lasting (seriously, impressive!), there were a few things that kept it from being a perfect experience. The good: The nail art was beautiful, and it lasted for weeks (6 weeks and counting)! I also appreciated Shorena’s clear pride in her work, her talent is undeniable. Just look at all the 5-star review photos here. The not-so-good: Both times, I had a bit of an ouch factor. The first time, a little too much enthusiasm with the nail file, and the second time, let's just say my cuticles got a bit too friendly with the clippers. My fingers were like little red exclamation points, protesting any contact with water afterwards. There were also a few communication hiccups. Shorena's conversation style could be curt at times. Imagine chatting with a friendly neighbor and then getting a surprise snap back like, "I only asked you one question!" Ouch! It definitely put a damper on the good vibes. She also seemed to bristle at some of my questions, even the simple ones. For example, after mentioning I wanted to take a break from gels, I asked about options to spruce up my bare nails. She got irritated and hit me with a "Look, I don’t have a medical license, so I can’t tell you what to put on." which was pretty confusing since I wasn't asking for any medical advice. I appreciate her cautiousness, but a friendly approach would have been way more welcome. Final verdict: a mixed bag. If you're looking for gorgeous, long-lasting nails, this salon is you go-to place! Just be prepared to communicate clearly and maybe bring some extra hand lotion for aftercare. This was my personal experience, and everyone has different preferences. I'd still recommend my friend to try Shorena out – sometimes some people just don't click, and that's okay. Pity though, I thought I finally found my...

YOUR NAILS SHOULD COUNT THEMSELVES BLESSED IF THEY EVER GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SHORENA DO THEM. I am SUPER meticulous about my nails and am therefore extremely selective about who I trust to handle them. I found Shorena after filtering through over 30 technicians in the city on Google, Instagram, Tiktok, you name it. Her Instagram showcased such impressive creativity and designs, I thought it was too good to be true. Turns out, Shorena not only met but surpassed my expectations beyond belief. I never knew a manicure of this caliber existed. Her craftsmanship is something you can only experience once you’ve been to her studio. They are immaculate. Perfection. Her level of craftsmanship is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Mind you, I am known amongst my friends as the one with the best nails. This is another level. She is efficient, kind, clean, and TALENTED. And the best part is, these manicures last 4 weeks easily. If you’re reluctant about the price, I promise you it will end up saving you money due to her level of quality nails and how longlasting they are, since she starts right at the base. As a testament, I made my mom go to Shorena and she was equally as impressed. WOW is all I have to say. RUNNNNN DONT WALK TO...