Spa spy Couture claws

A plain manicure is not going to cut it now as glam mixes with art for a result that nails it

The treatment

This is an add-on treatment that starts from £7 for a single nail, up to £40 for a full set. You can include an Express Manicure (a further £25) or a Bespoke Gel Manicure (£55).

Why go?

Forget a plain old file and polish, nail art is huge right now. Thus, Nails Inc have launched this service, with a menu of six styles. These include the Chelsea Crystal Manicure, with a band of diamanté by the cuticle, and the Mayfair Minimalist featuring a gold or silver band and a pearl on the thumb. It’s pricier than your average mani, so is the perfect treatment for brides or wedding guests.

Our spy says

Before I get to the nail bar, I’ve already decided on the design I want – the Knightsbridge Atelier.

“The most popular,” says nail technician, Katie, and I can see why. It features a nude base, then five tiny gold beads, placed on a curve at the base of the nail. From a choice of three nude shades as the undercoat, I go for the darkest – Montpelier Walk, a kind of pinky beige.

Before this goes on, Katie shapes and buffs my short talons, clips back the cuticles, then paints two coats of the colour on. The clear top coat is applied, then Katie rummages in the drawer for the tiny gold studs, which remind me of cupcake decorations.

On each nail, she dots tiny blobs of a clear fixative, then sticks five of the jewels in a curved line, picking them up with a glue stick, and securing them on firmly. There’s 50 to do, but she’s a speedy expert.

Finally, she drops a bit of oil on to my cuticles and we’re done.

Now I just have to sit still for ten minutes until they’re touch dry, or 20 if I want to be extra sure that I don’t smudge them. I am frozen, apart from gripping my glass whenever I want to sip from my champers. Still, there’s no better spot than Harvey Nichols’ beauty floor for people watching, so I spy on glam shoppers and manage the full drying time.

The results

I’ve become precious about my fancy claws, and am refusing to take my turn with the washing up. Keys and buckles have become the enemy. Also, people are getting bored of me waving my hands under their noses, saying: “Have you seen my nails yet?” I may have been low maintenance before, but a plain mani isn’t going to cut it for me, now I’ve gone couture. n