Amour Nails Oamaru is a professional, full-service nail salon on Thames Street, built around a simple philosophy: great nails don't happen by accident, they happen by appointment. The team offers a complete manicure and pedicure service, from full-set acrylic extension nails through to hundreds of gel polish and dipping powder colour options, along with their famous, soothing spa pedicure and foot massage experience.
Beyond acrylics, the salon offers BIAB builder gel for stronger, more resilient natural nails, dipping powder for a glossy, natural-looking finish, and classic gel or normal polish manicures finished with a hand-cream massage and cuticle oil. Design and nail art add-ons can be selected when booking online, with gallery work ranging from marble patterns and glitter accents to chrome gradients and rhinestone details.
Reviews consistently award five stars, with regulars praising nail technician Thi, the careful attention to shape, length and colour, and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere even when the salon is busy. Appointments can be made online or by phone, and walk-ins are taken subject to availability. Gift vouchers are available online and remain redeemable for 36 months from purchase.
Great nails don't happen by accident, they happen by appointment. That is the motto greeting visitors to Amour Nails Oamaru, a professional, full-service nail salon at 37 Thames Street in the heart of Oamaru. The phrase captures how the salon works: every visit is a scheduled appointment with time properly set aside, whether you are in for dramatic acrylic extensions, long-lasting builder gel or a straightforward tidy-up and polish.
The salon offers a complete manicure and pedicure service, and its reputation has been built on five-star reviews from regulars who come back month after month. Many of those reviews single out Thi, described by one long-time client as 'a fabulous nail technician' whom she sees every three to four weeks.
The centrepiece of the menu is the acrylic full-set. Clients can have acrylic applied to their natural nails, or choose to add extra length with beautifully shaped extensions, finished in the colour of their choosing. With hundreds of gel polish and dipping powder colour options on offer, the hardest part of the appointment is often settling on a shade.
For clients whose priority is natural nail health, BIAB - Builder Gel is a popular route. It is designed to deliver stronger, more resilient nails, lasts up to three weeks, and can be back-filled at follow-up appointments, making it a practical choice for growing out natural nails. Jennifer Kerr, who arrived with builder gel that had been poorly done at another salon, credits Thi with fixing it 'so well' that she left delighted.
Dipping powder offers a third way to wear colour: your nails are dipped into a pre-mixed powder and coated with an activating solution that sets them to a glossy, natural-looking finish. If you prefer to keep things simple, the Manicure Gel service is a full manicure using gel polish or normal polish on your natural nails, finished with a hand-cream massage and cuticle oil.
Not to be missed, according to the salon itself, is the famous, soothing spa pedicure and foot massage experience. This is a relaxing, full spa pedicure that includes a foot and lower leg massage before finishing with your toenails painted in the colour of your choice. It works equally well as a standalone treat or paired with a manicure for a full reset.
Nail art is a genuine strength. The salon's gallery shows long almond-shaped acrylics adorned with small rhinestones, pink and purple glitter, black-and-white marble designs, white marble with gold veining, multicoloured chrome gradients and crisp French-style tips. When you book online you select the service you need and can then choose from the Add Ons list, so any extra design and nail art is planned into your appointment from the start rather than decided at the table.
The review board reads like a thank-you file. Tammy Shepherd loves the conversation and atmosphere, 'even when they are busy'. Carmel Newall, a regular, notes the staff always make sure she is comfortable and pleased with the shape, length and colour of her nails throughout the appointment - and recommends booking in advance because the salon is usually very busy. Yvonne Jones came back after five weeks of 'life' getting in the way, expecting chipped polish, and found not a chip in sight; she has been back since and calls it great value and service.
The easiest way to make an appointment is to book online, where the full list of services and prices is displayed. You can also phone 022 503 1833, and walk-ins are taken subject to availability - though with demand this steady, booking ahead is wise.
If you are stuck for a present, Amour Nails gift vouchers can be purchased online, with any balance owing redeemable for 36 months from the date of purchase. The salon sits at 37 Thames Street, Oamaru, and shares its latest work on Facebook and Instagram - worth a scroll before you arrive to start narrowing down your colour.