The best nail salons for nail art in Melbourne and Sydney

IMAGE VIA @TROPHYWIFENAILART/INSTAGRAM

WORDS BY MAEVE KERR-CROWLEY

For designer digits.

Getting your nails done is a borderline holy experience – part paint job, part self-care and part creative outlet. From the compliments you’re showered in when you’re sporting a fresh set to the satisfying tippy-tap of acrylics or extensions on your phone screen, a trip to the nail salon can leave you feeling like a whole new person.

Painting your nails at home is a fun and relaxing downtime activity, but sometimes you have to turn to the professionals. After all, wonky French tips and the classic ‘different colour on every nail’ look don't always cut it in the golden age of nail art we find ourselves living in.

Scrolling through Instagram, it's hard not to be blown away by the creativity and talent local nail artists possess. Nail trends come and go, but there's always someone clever on our feeds making our jaws drop and our wallets cry out for a bit of exercise.

Whether you’ve got a big event coming up or you’re just due for a self-care day, here are some of our favourite nail art salons across Melbourne and Sydney.

Horni Nails

A post shared by HORNI NAILS (@horninails)

Delivering on its tagline ‘horni nails for horni humans’, this private Abbotsford studio creates highly textural, totally out-there nail designs for the creative crowd. You’ve got the choice between gel extensions and custom press-ons, all with a focus on unexpected colour combos and 3D design elements. Appointments can be booked via Instagram DMs.

@horninails

Lili Taylor Nails

A post shared by 💅🏽𝗟𝗶𝗹𝗶 (🗣- Lee-lee) (@lilitaylornails)

Locking down the signature style of Lili Taylor Nails is a tricky thing, with so many eye-catching and drastically different designs littering the studio's IG page. The common thread is colour, creativity and a level of skill that boggles the mind. In fact, you might remember the amazing lava lamp mani that brought widespread attention to the Richmond nail tech a few years ago. When booking for gel polish, extensions and ‘Builder In A Bottle’ manicures, you can tack on between 20 and 120 minutes of nail art to realise your wildest creative visions.

@lilitaylornails

Naya's Beauty Bar

A post shared by Naya's Beauty Bar (@nayas.beauty.bar)

The nail art offering at Naya's Beauty Bar covers everything from French tips and chrome finishes to hour-long ‘advanced’ sessions for big-brain creative ideas and ‘surprise’ appointments for the chronically indecisive among us. The Windsor salon also caters to go-getting nail artists in training with one-on-one masterclasses that cover everything you need to know about getting a start in the industry.

@nayas.beauty.bar

Peachi Nail Bar

A post shared by 🍑 PEACHI NAIL BAR 🍑 (@peachi_nail_bar)

For full-on wearable masterpieces, hit up Peachi Nail Bar. We’re talking hand-painted character portraits, 3D psychedelic patterns and intricate, tattoo-like designs on your nails. The salon uses Gel X to create its mind-blowing sets and doesn't shy away from big ideas or fun pop culture references.

@peachi_nail_bar

Trophy Wife Nail Art

A post shared by Trophy Wife Nail Art (@trophywifenailart)

Whether you’re looking for cutesy summer florals, bold geometry, dreamy aura nails or something classic and understated, the team at Trophy Wife is ready to make it work. The Richmond salon artfully blends the latest trends with original ideas. It's based in Richmond but if you’re not a local, don't give up hope. Pop-up nail bars are regularly hosted in cities across Australia.

trophywife.com.au

10110.com Nail Studio

A post shared by 10110.com Nail Studio (@10110.c0m)

Fully embracing the ‘wearable art’ label, Brunswick salon 10110.com creates unexpected, borderline-alien gel nail sets with a weird and deliciously whacky aesthetic. Expect a lot of metallic touches, piercings, charms, 3D elements and repurposed materials. As well as nail services, the studio sells a range of press-on nails that can be ordered via Instagram DMs.

@10110.c0m

Buff Nail Studios

A post shared by Buff Nail Studios (@buff__studios)

Buff is the nail salon reinventing our collective standards for nail care. Focusing on memorable, educational experiences, every customer leaves the salon with a great set of nails and the knowledge needed to keep their hands looking their best. Staff are consistently upskilled so they can stay ahead of the curve, allowing them to bring cutting-edge designs to life with expert precision. Visit the Camberwell or Brighton locations.

buffnailstudios.com

Sass Nail Artistry

A post shared by Nail Artist – Viki (@sassnailartistry)

Sass nail artist Viki knows how to make colours sing, whether working with timeless pastels or clashing neon hues. The Essendon-based studio offers its nail art service on a pay-per-five-minutes model, allowing you to ask for something as understated or extreme as your heart desires. If you’re looking to learn the basics yourself, Sass also regularly hosts workshops where you can soak up Viki's hard-earned expertise.

@sassnailartistry

Beauty Biatchee Nails

A post shared by Beauty Biatchee Nails (@beautybiatcheenails)

Beauty Biatchee is a Brunswick East gel-based home studio with a huge range of styles in its arsenal. From understated French tips to bold neon prints to 3D bling explosions, this is the place to realise your next nail vision. To book, just slide into the salon's DMs.

@beautybiatcheenails

Miss Jay's Nails and Beauty

A post shared by Miss Jays Nails and Beauty (@missjaysnailsandbeauty)

Based in Thornbury, Miss Jay's Nails and Beauty is a queer-friendly, inclusive, accessible space designed to be safe, welcoming and free of gendered services. The pink-walled salon is all about colourful claws, with a range of nail services on offer and a super-talented team ready to make your hands a masterpiece.

missjaysnailsandbeauty.com

Missy Lui

A post shared by Missy Lui Non-Toxic Nail Spa (@missy_lui)

If you tend to steer clear of getting your nails done due to the nasty chemicals that can be involved, Missy Lui is the salon for you. The dedicated non-toxic nail spa uses organic, non-toxic products to achieve the elegant manicures they specialise in.

missylui.com.au

Monstera Nails & Spa

A post shared by Monstera Nails & Spa (@monsteranailsandspa)

A one-stop beauty shop, St Kilda's Monstera Nails & Spa offers lash, waxing and nail services in their leafy little space. Whether you like your nails short and simple or prefer a statement set, the team will make leave you admiring their handiwork (pun intended).

@monsteranailsandspa

Mannequin Hands

A post shared by Victoria Houllis (@mannequin.hands)

Run by renowned nail artist Victoria Houllis, Newtown-based nail studio Mannequin Hands is the kind of place that's thrillingly hard to get an appointment at. Victoria has, after all, made a name for herself doing the nails of celebs like Dua Lipa and M.I.A. If you’re looking to enjoy one of her technicolour, incredibly artistic nail sets yourself, we suggest habitually stalking her Instagram until the books open up or buying a set of press-ons from the Mannequin Hands online store.

mannequin-hands.com

Shura Beauty

A post shared by SHURA BEAUTY GLEBE (@beauty_shura)

Shura Beauty is a gel-only Glebe salon specialising in beautiful colours and eye-catching designs, from classic checkerboards to graphic motifs like flowers and flames. If you can't decide, get a touch of everything for a colour-coordinated mix-and-match effect. While you’re in the salon, you can go full pamper mode and book a facial and some eyelash extensions, too.

@beauty_shura

Slower Hands

A post shared by Slower Hands (@slower.hands)

Slower Hands might not be a salon or in-person studio but when the nails are this good, we can't leave them off the list. The brand makes custom press-on sets in a variety of lengths, shapes and crazy cool designs that are available to order via Instagram DMs. You can also grab a pre-made set at Fitzroy North's Error404 store if you’re in the neighbourhood. There's also a promise of nail services coming sometime this year, so keep an eye out for that.

@slower.hands

For more nail art inspiration, head here.

Road Test: I tried 9 different spot treatments to see what actually works

A cosmetic doctor's guide to incorporating vitamin C into your skincare routine

A cosmetic dentist explains what to expect when getting veneers

WIN: A best of Bioderma skincare gift pack, worth over $500

Is the manicure dead? Why bare nails are trending

I tried a Brazilian lymphatic drainage massage to get rid of bloating

Road Test: I trialled an entirely new skincare routine from vegan Australian skincare brand, Urban Jungle