The Nailist is a nail salon chain in Singapore founded by sisters, built around what they describe as a celebration of sisterhood and a warm place of relaxation without the pressure tactics common in the spa industry. With three branches across Singapore and over 150 five-star reviews, the salon offers a full range of manicure, pedicure, extension and nail art services.
The Nailist positions itself around quality products and sincere, personalized service rather than upselling or package pressure, emphasising open dialogue with clients and transparency around any additional charges. The salon has received the Gold/Silver Award for Best Manicure and Pedicure from Expat Living Singapore's Reader's Choice Awards for five consecutive years since 2019, and says it has served over 10,000 satisfied customers, both locals and tourists.
Beyond nail services, The Nailist also sells a range of nail and beauty retail products in salon and online, from cuticle oils and nail strengtheners to shampoo, eyelash serums and foot treatments.
The Nailist describes itself as a celebration of sisterhood, founded by sisters who envisioned a warm place of relaxation without the relentless pressure tactics common in the spa industry. That founding idea shows up in how the salon frames its own service philosophy: a belief in quality products and sincere service, delivered without upselling or package pressure.
With three branches across Singapore and over 150 five-star reviews, The Nailist has grown from that original vision into a salon serving what it says is over 10,000 satisfied customers, both locals and tourists. The salon has also been recognised externally, receiving the Gold/Silver Award for Best Manicure and Pedicure from Expat Living Singapore's Reader's Choice Awards for five consecutive years, since 2019.
The Nailist's core menu covers the essentials of manicure and pedicure care, alongside more specialised nail work. This includes Express Manicure and Pedicure for quicker visits, Gelish Manicure and Pedicure for long-lasting gel colour, and Classic Manicure and Pedicure for a more traditional approach. For those wanting extra length or structure, Gel Extension and Acrylic Extension services are available, alongside Nail Overlay and fully customisable Nail Art.
Among its top-selling services, the salon calls out its Gelish manicure and pedicure combination for strong, elegant nails with added length and style, Acrylic Extension for precise, polished shaping, Gel Extension for artistic designs matched to a client's style, and its Classic manicure and pedicure combination for protective care and a sleek, flawless finish.
The Nailist puts a strong emphasis on personalisation, giving customers freedom to choose their own nail designs rather than working from a fixed set of options — an approach the salon connects directly to the wider trend of nail art personalisation seen on social platforms like TikTok. The salon offers a wide range of colours, from vibrant and neon to nude and neutral, along with glittery and sparkly finishes, and says its manicure products are long-lasting and light on the nails.
The Nailist describes its service process in three stages. First, booking an appointment — while walk-ins are welcome, an appointment helps staff prepare and doesn't guarantee immediate service if earlier clients run over. Second, service suggestion and execution, where staff aim to closely match a client's vision for nail art while being upfront about any additional charges, avoiding pressure-sale upselling in favour of tailored recommendations. Third, service maintenance, with the salon noting that how long nail work lasts depends on a client's lifestyle — cooking, self-care routines, and sports can all affect longevity — and encouraging open communication so staff can advise accordingly.
The Nailist is upfront that it isn't the cheapest option in Singapore, but frames its pricing as fair, reflecting the skill and dedication of its team rather than charging exorbitant fees. The salon accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express and PayNow for payment.
Beyond services, The Nailist sells a range of nail and beauty retail products, including an Anti-Ingrown Hair Lotion, Avoplex Cuticle Oil, a tinted moisturiser with sun protection, and Footlogix foot mousse. The range extends further to haircare (Dandelion Revitalizing Shampoo and Conditioner, Small Pukong Ginger Shampoo and Hair Mask), an OPI Nail Envy Strengthener, a complete Gel Remover Kit, a Gemsho Eyelash and Brow Serum, and a Footlogix Nail Tincture Spray for fungal foot treatment.
The Nailist operates from three Singapore outlets: Raffles Holland V at 118 Holland Avenue, Orchard Road at 313@Somerset, and Holland Road Shopping Centre. The Raffles Holland and Orchard Road outlets are open daily from 10am to 9pm, while the Holland Shopping Centre outlet opens slightly earlier and closes earlier, from 9am to 8pm daily.