Honey Studio is a nail salon in Petone, Wellington, run by nail technicians Tandia and Elle. Between them they bring 4 and 12 years of experience to the studio, which they built on a foundation of trust, respect, and a shared vision to create more than just a salon — a space where clients feel at home, cared for, and part of a wider community they call the "Honey village."
The studio offers a full range of nail services, from acrylic and BIAB (Builder in a Bottle) extensions and backfills through to gel manicures, pedicures, custom nail art, and professional removals. Clients frequently return to the same technician over years, and reviews describe meticulous, detailed work alongside a warm, relaxed atmosphere — including a mention of a technician making a young daughter feel especially welcome during a visit.
As a small business, Honey Studio has adjusted its payment process to help manage rising costs: Eftpos is no longer offered in the studio, and online booking deposits are now paid via direct bank transfer rather than PayPal, with a bank detail text sent once a booking is accepted. The salon asks that deposits be paid within an hour of booking to secure the appointment.
Tucked into Jackson St in Petone, Honey Studio has built its name on something simple: making every client feel like part of the family. Run by nail technicians Tandia and Elle, the studio blends serious technical skill — between them, 4 and 12 years in the industry — with an atmosphere clients describe as warm, relaxed, and genuinely personal.
Honey Studio wasn't built to be just another salon. Tandia and Elle set out to create a space with rules of their own making, where clients feel cared for rather than processed through an appointment book. That philosophy shows up in the reviews — clients who've followed Elle or Tandia for five, eight, even more years, describing the salon as somewhere they feel instantly at home the moment they sit down.
The menu covers the full range of modern nail care. Acrylic nails remain a mainstay for anyone wanting length and durability, available as full extensions, backfills to refresh an existing set, or repairs. BIAB (Builder in a Bottle) offers a gentler, more flexible alternative — strengthening natural nails rather than replacing them, with its own extension, manicure, and repair options.
For a classic finish, gel manicures deliver the glossy, chip-resistant look Honey Studio is known for, and they double as the perfect base for the studio's custom nail art — everything from subtle French tips to freehand designs, gems, glitter, and 3D detailing. Pedicures round out the offering, with deluxe, express, and gel options depending on how much time (and pampering) you're after. When it's time for a change, the studio also handles acrylic, BIAB, and gel removals professionally, prioritising nail health over speed.
What comes through most in client reviews isn't just the quality of the nail work — though that's consistently praised — but the relationships built along the way. One client describes Tandia's approachable, emotionally attuned presence as "a lifeline" during a hard period in her life. Another brings her daughter along, and says Elle and Tandia always go out of their way to make the visit special for her too. It's the kind of loyalty that keeps clients coming back for years, often specifically requesting the same technician appointment after appointment.
Honey Studio has also been upfront with its community about the realities of running a small business. To help keep prices manageable, the studio no longer accepts Eftpos in person, and has moved booking deposits away from PayPal to direct bank transfer — a text with bank details goes out once a booking is confirmed, with payment expected within the hour to hold the appointment. It's a small operational shift the studio has been transparent about, framed as a way to keep costs — and prices — as fair as possible for clients.
Whether you're after a fresh set of acrylics, a low-maintenance BIAB manicure, or a full pedicure reset, Honey Studio offers the kind of considered, relationship-first nail care that's earned it a loyal following in Petone.