Hot Chilli's Nail Salon

About Hot Chilli's Nail Salon

Hot Chilli's Nail Salon sits on Old Brighton Road in Dunedin Central, run by founder and nail technician Tina, who brings many years of experience to the chair. The salon blends old-school technical precision with newer techniques like 3D nail art, chrome finishes and builder gel (BIAB), so clients get both a solid, long-lasting manicure and the latest look if they want it.

Every visit starts with a proper consultation rather than a one-size-fits-all service — Tina assesses nail type and lifestyle before recommending a treatment, whether that's a simple gel manicure or a full builder gel extension. The salon's signature strengths are structured gel manicures for strength without bulk, luxury pedicures that look after both appearance and foot health, and custom hand-painted nail art ranging from minimalist accents to more elaborate designs.

The salon also caters to children under 12 with dedicated kids' gel manicure and pedicure services, and offers an immobility access service for clients who need it. It's wheelchair accessible with free parking and wifi on site. Note that Hot Chilli's Nail Salon is cash only, and old gel colour removal or nail art are charged as extras on top of the base service price.

Hot Chilli's Nail Salon: Old-School Craft Meets Modern Nail Art in Dunedin

Tucked away on Old Brighton Road in Dunedin Central, Hot Chilli's Nail Salon has built a loyal following around one simple idea: nails should be both technically sound and beautiful. Founder Tina, a nail technician with many years in the industry, has watched trends come and go, and she brings that experience to every appointment by combining old-school technical perfection with the latest techniques in 3D art, chrome finishes and builder gel.

A Consultation-First Approach

Rather than running a one-size-fits-all service, Hot Chilli's Nail Salon starts every appointment with a proper assessment of nail type and lifestyle. That means the recommendation you get — whether it's a simple gel manicure or a full builder gel extension — is actually suited to how hard your hands and feet work day to day, not just what's trending.

As Tina puts it: "My mission has always been to bridge the gap between stunning art and meticulous nail health. After years in this industry, my greatest joy is still seeing a client walk out feeling confident and pampered."

Signature Services

The salon's core strengths are its structured gel manicures, built for strength without unnecessary bulk, and its luxury pedicures, which focus on both aesthetics and foot health rather than just polish. For clients after something more expressive, custom nail art is hand-painted to order, ranging from minimalist accents to more elaborate, avant-garde designs.

Builder gel — also known as BIAB — is a particular specialty here, offered as a standalone service or built out into short or long nail extensions, with or without nail art layered on top. It's listed as "highly recommended" on the salon's own price list, reflecting how often it's the technique staff steer clients toward for durability.

Built for Families Too

Hot Chilli's Nail Salon also runs a dedicated menu for children under 12, covering kids' gel manicures, pedicures and combo services — a detail that makes it a genuine option for a parent-and-child outing rather than an adults-only space. The salon additionally offers an immobility access service for clients who need extra support during their visit.

What to Know Before You Go

The salon operates Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and is closed on weekends. It's cash only, so come prepared, and note that old gel colour removal and nail art are charged as extras on top of the base service. The premises are wheelchair accessible, with free parking and wifi available on site.

Hot Chilli's Nail Salon also runs clear appointment policies: cancellations need at least 24 hours notice, and clients arriving more than 15 minutes late may need to reschedule. Both situations can incur a fee equal to the full cost of the booked service, so it's worth calling ahead if you're running behind.

For anyone in Dunedin Central after a nail salon that treats technique as seriously as it treats art — and that welcomes the whole family — Hot Chilli's Nail Salon is worth a look.

Signature items

• Structured Gel Manicure
• Luxury Pedicure
• Custom Nail Art
• Builder Gel (BIAB)
• Full Mani + Pedi Combo
• Kids Gel Mani + Pedi

Menu

Combos

• Full Mani + Pedi Combo — Full manicure and pedicure together
• Mini Mani + Pedi Combo — Mini manicure and pedicure together
• Kids gel mani+pedi combo — Combined gel mani and pedi for children under 12

Manicures

• Full Manicure with Gel Polish — Full set gel polish manicure service
• Mini Manicure with Gel Polish — Shorter mini gel polish manicure service
• Full manicure with nail art — Full manicure finished with nail art
• Mini manicure with nail art — Mini manicure finished with nail art
• Kids gel manicure — Gel manicure for children under 12

Pedicures

• Full Pedicure with Gel Polish — Full set gel polish pedicure service
• Mini Pedicure with Gel Polish — Shorter mini gel polish pedicure service
• Kids gel pedicure — Gel pedicure for children under 12

Special Access

• Immobility access — Additional service to support clients with mobility needs

Removal & Fixes

• Gel colour removal — Removal of gel colour to give nails a rest
• Builder gel or Acrylic or SNS removal — Removal of builder gel, acrylic or SNS
• Free nail fix within 48 hrs — Free fix for application issues only, not chipping, within 48 hours
• Gel colour fix — Per-nail gel colour fix
• Builder Gel or extension fix — Per-nail builder gel or extension fix

Nail Length Add-Ons

• Long nails — Add-on for longer nails, extra cost
• Extra long nail — Add-on for extra long nails
• Crazy long nails — Add-on for very long dramatic nails

Builder Gel & Extensions

• Builder Gel — Builder gel (BIAB) application, highly recommended
• Builder Gel with nail art — Builder gel finished with nail art
• Short extension nails — Builder gel short nail extensions
• Long extension nails — Builder gel long nail extensions
• Nails extension with nail art — Nail extensions finished with nail art

Frequently asked questions

When is Hot Chilli's Nail Salon open?

Hot Chilli's Nail Salon is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. It is closed Saturday and Sunday.

How do I book an appointment at Hot Chilli's Nail Salon?

You can book by calling +64 22 468 0345. It's best to call ahead to secure the time that suits you.

What payment methods does Hot Chilli's Nail Salon accept?

The salon is cash only, so bring cash for your appointment.

Does old gel colour removal or nail art cost extra?

Yes. Prices don't include old colour removal or nail art — these are charged as extras, so bring a little extra cash.

What is the cancellation policy?

Appointments should be cancelled at least 24 hours in advance. Missed appointments or late cancellations may incur a fee of 100% of the cost of services booked.

What happens if I arrive late?

Clients arriving more than 15 minutes late may need to reschedule and may incur a fee of 100% of the cost of services booked. Call ahead if you expect to be late.

Is Hot Chilli's Nail Salon suitable for children?

Yes, the salon offers dedicated gel manicure, pedicure and combo services for children under 12.

Tips

• {"body":"Hot Chilli's Nail Salon is cash only, and extras like old gel colour removal or nail art aren't included in listed prices — bring a bit extra.","title":"Bring cash"}
• {"body":"Appointments are booked by phone on +64 22 468 0345 — call in advance to get the time you want.","title":"Call ahead to book"}
• {"body":"Cancellations need 24 hours notice and arrivals more than 15 minutes late may be rescheduled, both with a possible full-price fee.","title":"Watch the clock"}
• {"body":"Builder gel (BIAB) is listed as highly recommended by the salon and is available as extensions too.","title":"Ask about builder gel"}
• {"body":"Kids under 12 have their own gel manicure, pedicure and combo services.","title":"Good for a parent-and-child visit"}

Good to know

• {"wifi":"Yes","family":"Child friendly, with dedicated services for under-12s","parking":"Free parking available","payments":"Cash only","accessibility":"Wheelchair accessible"}