Nail that perfect mani-pedi with SPOT.ph's list of top spots who give the best treatments for your tips and toes:
Dashing Diva
Address: Beauty Bar Powerplant Mall, Rockwell (898-2042/ 898-2043); Beauty Bar Robinsons Manila (567-2326); Beauty Bar TriNoma, Quezon City (901-5560)
Website: www.beautybar.com.ph/dashing-diva
How much to shell out: A basic Diva Manicure goes for P250, while a Pedicure will cost you P300. A full on spoil yourself All-Out Diva Manicure/Pedicure Combo amounts to P1,475.
The lowdown: Unlike other nail salons that prefer a Zen ambience, Dashing Diva's vibe radiates the hustle and bustle of city girls on the go. The space, snugly set inside Beauty Bar, houses a long couch for foot treatments, as well as a low-rise bar for hand services.
Two thumbs up for: The All-Out Diva Manicure/Pedicure Combo, an hour-long treatment—“the ultimate "facial" for your hands and feet. The session starts with a deep exfoliation treatment, followed by a soothing arm/hand and calf/foot massage. If that isn't enough to make you want to go to sleep, there's a paraffin dip that smoothens your skin (and boosts circulation in your joints). The luxurious treatment is capped off with a polish, although I opted for buffing—“which looks just like clear nail polish (without the fuss of drying).
California Nails and Day Spa
Address: 3/L Robinsons Galleria EDSA Corner Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City (638-0717); One Kennedy Place, Club Filipino Ave., North Greenhills San Juan (722-9245, 722-9275 ); SM Mall of Asia (556-2454); Lower Ground Level, Cityland 10, Salcedo St., Salcedo Village Makati City (408-2258); Festival Supermall (659-2765); Unit 5 Emmanuel Commercial Center, No. 22 J. Elizalde St., BF Homes Parañaque City (492-8238); Robinsons Midtown, Manila (385-3012); SM Hypermart, Pasig (708-1088); 3rd Level Market! Market!, Taguig (886-7400); Oakridge Plaza, Paseo de Magallanes, Magallanes Makati City (853-9210, 853-9211)
How much to shell out: A manicure and pedicures starts at P405. They also offer skincare services (facials start at P480) and massage therapy starts at P295 (30 minutes).
The Lowdown: The interiors are a strange mix of corporate meets tween's room (pink and purple couches, boxy desks, fluorescent lamps, leather swivel chairs and nail technicians dressed in flamingo pink tailored pantsuits), but all motifs aside, the hand and nail treatments are worth coming back for. Another plus are the mall locations —“you can't ask for a better place to rest your weary, shopped-out feet.
Two thumbs up for: Their very impressive nail-buffing technique. Their technicians use a small drop of gel-based solution that gets massaged into your nail bed, then each nail is meticulously burnished with a buffing tool. I've seen well-buffed nails before, but the C.A.N.S. buff leaves your nails looking wet and shiny, they look like they have a fresh coat of clear polish on them. Plus, this coat lasts for a little over two weeks.














