ProfessioNAIL at Westfield Riccarton is a nail salon tucked into Shop 83 on Level 1 of the Riccarton Road shopping centre, offering manicures, pedicures, acrylic and gel nails, dip powder, waxing and eyelash services seven days a week. It's part of a global brand built on a simple promise: everyone deserves beautiful nails without the premium price tag.
The ProfessioNAIL name dates back to 1992 in New Orleans, where the founders set out to make high-quality nail care accessible at a time when such services were either overpriced or hard to find. The network launched in Australia in 2000 and has since grown to hundreds of locations across the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Northern Europe and Asia, with more than 140 stores in Australia alone. The Riccarton salon carries the same three pillars — affordable prices, strict hygiene and safety practices, and a genuine focus on customer care — with a team of nail artists who treat every client's nails as a canvas for creativity.
Sterilisation and cleanliness protocols sit at the heart of the experience, so clients can sit back knowing they'll leave with healthy as well as beautiful nails. Doors open from 9am most days, with late trading until 9pm on Thursday and Friday evenings; call (03) 343 3535 for pricing and bookings.
Step into Westfield Riccarton and, up on Level 1, you'll find ProfessioNAIL — a nail salon that has built its name on a simple promise: everyone deserves beautiful nails without the premium price tag. Whether you're after a quick polish refresh, a full set of acrylics or a pampering pedicure, the salon brings professional nail care to one of Christchurch's busiest shopping destinations.
ProfessioNAIL's story began a long way from New Zealand. The brand was founded in New Orleans in 1992 with a bold vision: to make luxury nail care accessible to everyone at a time when quality services were either overpriced or hard to find. It became one of the first brands to offer full-service, high-end nail treatments at affordable prices, and what started as a single salon quickly grew into a global movement.
After launching in Australia in 2000, the network expanded to hundreds of locations across the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Northern Europe and Asia — with well over 140 stores in Australia alone. In some markets the salons trade as Nail Studio, but wherever you find them, the ethos is the same: premium, affordable beauty delivered by nail artists who treat every client's nails as their canvas for creativity.
Three pillars anchor the ProfessioNAIL experience: affordable prices, strict hygiene and safety practices, and a genuine focus on customer care. Hygiene in particular is a priority rather than an afterthought — the brand operates strict sterilisation and cleanliness protocols so clients can relax, knowing they'll leave with healthy nails as well as beautiful ones. The team's motto says it plainly: “Our reputation is on your hands.”
The Riccarton salon offers the brand's full spread of nail and beauty treatments. A classic manicure covers cutting, filing and shaping, cuticle care, a relaxing hand massage and a polish finish in the colour of your choice. Those wanting more longevity can opt for gel nails — a hard gel product that closely resembles natural nails and cures under UV or LED light for a smooth, durable finish — or dipping powder, which the brand describes as a stronger, lighter and longer-lasting manicure that enhances your natural nails.
For length and drama, acrylic nails are sculpted from a custom blend of acrylic powder and liquid monomer to create flawless shape with minimal upkeep. Feet get the full treatment too: the spa pedicure cleanses and removes dead skin from the feet and toenails before a rejuvenating foot massage that nourishes the skin and relaxes the muscles. Rounding out the menu are waxing treatments for long-lasting smoothness and eye enhancements — lash extensions, a lift or a tint for darker, fuller lashes.
One thing worth noting: not every service is available at every ProfessioNAIL location, so it pays to check with the Riccarton team before you visit. Pricing and bookings are handled through the salon directly.
The salon keeps shopper-friendly hours: 9am to 6pm Monday through Wednesday and on Saturday, 10am to 6pm on Sunday, and late nights until 9pm on Thursday and Friday — handy for an after-work appointment. You'll find it at Shop 83 on Level 1 of Westfield Riccarton, 129 Riccarton Road, and the team can be reached on (03) 343 3535. Gift cards are also available through the brand, making an easy present for the nail lover in your life.
Whether you're a regular or a first-timer, the formula is consistent: expert care, high hygiene standards and a team that truly loves what it does — right in the middle of your shopping trip.