When I got married this summer, I knew exactly what I wanted my dream bridal nails to look like.
I searched for nail salons in New York City that could deliver the design well — and without turning the appointment into an all-day affair. Akiko Nails on Manhattan’s Lower East Side looked promising: polished Instagram photos, strong Google reviews and a website that seemed straightforward enough.
My plan was a hard gel manicure with understated nail art: French ombré finished with a sweep of chrome for that Hailey Bieber-inspired “glazed donut” effect. It was more elevated than a standard manicure, and for my wedding, I was prepared to pay a bit more.
Based on the salon’s online pricing, I figured $150 would be enough to cover it.
On the day of my appointment, I showed the nail technician a Pinterest photo of the look I had in mind, and she started immediately. She was pleasant but quiet, working carefully with her head down. In all, the manicure took about an hour and 20 minutes.
Everything seemed perfectly fine — until it was time to pay.
The technician turned her iPad toward me, and there it was: a $260 charge. Once tax and a 20 percent tip were added, the total came to $323.
For a moment, I honestly thought I must have misread the number.
$323?
Katrina Schollenberger went to a new nail salon in New York City to get Hailey Bieber’s ‘glazed donut’ nails
Without melting down in the shop, I paid the extortionate charge and emailed management. I felt gaslit. I went online to check if what I had paid was fair, and asked the salon to break down the itemized charges.
What they replied with left me stunned.
I paid $30 for dip powder removal, $7 for an extension, $63 for hard gel overlay on nine fingers, $65 for gel solid color, $20 for airbrush and $75 for semi-moderate art.
The salon added that my preferred design included a combination of two techniques, ombre and chrome, throwing the service into the ‘semi-moderate art’ category.
Management maintained that their pricing structure was accurately listed on their website, and said the service I had booked was different from what I asked for in the salon.
I wasn’t as convinced. And looking at other comparable salons, quickly learned I’d seemingly landed on one of the most expensive in the city.
By comparison, Kirei House Japanese manicures in New York City would cost $90 for a Japanese gel manicure, removal included, with nail art designs ranging from $10-$30 depending on complexity.
After a month of heated back and forth emails, Akiko offered me a $30 refund ‘as a gesture of good faith.’
A picture of the customer’s nails, which ended up costing a startling $323 including the tip
Outraged but confused, I took my story to Reddit to see if others agreed with me – or if I was missing something.
The hundreds of responses that came rushing in only validated by sticker shock.
‘Did the tech travel to you, like, on a flight?’ one person asked.
‘That’s my car payment for some nails. Removal at $30 is unethical, $65 for solid gel is diabolical and charging for the art and airbrush separately deserves jail time,’ another said.
All over the city, it seemed, women were walking away from nail salons feeling ripped off and gaslit.
This wasn’t my first bad experience. Recently, I paid a $30 deposit for a powder manicure appointment for 9am at a local nail place. When I arrived at the salon, it was closed. I waited 30 minutes before I left and got a call from the owner who told me she had ‘overslept.’
A colleague had an even worse story. She received a manicure from a 5 star salon that left her with a thumb infection that required antibiotics.
What everyone seems most turned off by are the hidden fees outside of the cost of the service itself.
An itemized breakdown of the customer’s charges, which included a $52 tip and a whopping $75 ‘semi-moderate art’ fee
Some salons have cancellation and no-show fees, deposits and late-arrival policies that many don’t seem to know about until it’s too late.
Akiko also demands a doctor’s note or medical letter to confirm sickness in order to waive a cancellation fee when someone’s simply not well enough to come to the salon. The cancellation fee is the entire cost of the service itself.
When it comes to service-based business in New York, legislative policies exist to keep businesses transparent while insuring customers feel seen, heard and satisfied.
Last year’s bill known as the REDUCE Act requires ‘conspicuous posting’ of salon prices, as well as any additional charges for additional services. It’s still an active bill, meaning it has not been made law yet.
Separately, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken action against hidden and misleading fees in other industries.
Its Unfair or Deceptive Fees Rule, which took effect in May 2025, applies to live-event tickets and short-term lodging – and requires covered businesses to disclose mandatory fees as part of the total advertised price.
While the rule does not apply generally to nail salons, the FTC’s guidance illustrates the broader consumer-protection principle that businesses should be truthful and transparent about the fees they charge.
And for some business owners, explicitly advertising and explaining prices is common practice.
Another New York-based salon owner suggested customers should ask for an all-in total before accepting extras
Jessica Dickson, a mobile nail technician with 30 years experience working in salons, told Our News Outlet she uses upfront pricing to build trust with her clients.
‘When it comes to nail art and designs the price can quickly add up as the time, intricacy and elements used in the art all need to be accounted for in the final price,’ Dickson said.
‘The technician should be clear about the price for each nail design so the client is not surprised at the end of the service or feel like they have been scammed,’ she added.
Meanwhile, David Han owner of Peony Nail & Day Spa in New York said the ‘best practice’ is an itemized menu disclosing individual costs.
‘Before starting, the technician should repeat the expected total,’ Han told Our News Outlet.
‘If the design changes or additional work becomes necessary, the service should pause and the revised price should be approved first.’
He added that customers should also ask for their all-in total before tip before accepting extras and for salon owners, clear pricing ‘protects’ both the customer and the staff.
As for me, the next time I book a manicure I’ll be sure to nail down a price before I sit in the chair.
Our News Outlet has reached out to Akiko Nails for a comment.
