:10 Minute Manicure

Thanks to my frequent Toronto trips, I walk by this multi-​chaired, oft-​empty kiosk often. But it wasn’t until I had 30 minutes to spare — and polish so chipped I was embarrassed to even show the nail tech — that I splurged on a 20 minute travel manicure. $ 29 gets you a shape, buff, cuticle trimming, hot towel soak and polish. There is an abbreviated version as well, for those truly strapped for time, that doesn’t include the cuticle trimming. I should note, I’m not a frequent manicure customer, but I was pretty impressed with the quality in such a transient locale. Atmosphere wise, it’s pretty sterile, with only people watching to keep you entertained.
My nail tech had a gentle touch, a professional demeanor and took great care in ensuring her implements were clean. She told me that she’d been at this location for 5 years and through her polish techniques it showed. The brands of polishes were unfamiliar to me, and the colours were basic, but I’m two days in with no chips and no peeling and that is saying a lot — I’m truly brutal to my hands (type, type, type).