FAQ

What is a dry manicure?

A modern technique using an e-file. A dry manicure does not use any water or moisture. Soaking the nails in water causes them to expand, so when they shrink gel can shrink, lift and peel off easily. For this reason, a dry manicure also has better retention than a normal salon manicure!

Benefits of dry manicure?

No risk of waterborne pathogens passing between clients.
Allows nail tech to accurately asses nail health and tailor treatment accordingly.
Saves water per client.
Better retention of your enhancements.
Premium elevated long lasting look.

What is Japanese Gel?

Japanese gel is a premium professional soak off cosmetic grade formula in small pots and jars and is applied using a special brush. It is highly pigment and gives a single coat coverage. Its unique viscosity makes it perfect for solid color and/or art. It is created in small batches with meticulous inspections. They are non-toxic, 10 free, cosmetic grade , hypoallergenic and suited to most natural nails. Its unique formula gives maximum adhesion, strength and high shine manicures!

If you are looking for healthy, less harsh, sensitive friendly product for your nails, look no further!

What is Japanese Gel Overlay

Curated soft gel application depending on individual clients’ nail health, nail length, lifestyle and goals. The overlay is mapped giving each nail a structured apex for enhanced strength and beauty.

Why is this a healthier approach to nails?

With Japanese soft gel, there is no need for aggressive buffing and filing off your natural nails. A gentle prep work is key for this elevated manicure service. There is no use of primer that dehydrates your nails and causes permanent damage to its health.

What you put in and, on your body, can impact your health and well-being. Not only are you breathing in the toxins from your polish when getting your manicure, you are also exposed to them when you rub your eyes or use your fingers for day-to-day life activities.

Japanese soft potted gel is 10-free meaning it does not contain

Formaldehyde- common irritant to our system and can trigger asthma. Also known human carcinogen, a factor directly involved in causing cancer.
Toluene- is toxic to the nervous system, impairs breathing, can cause nausea and developmental damage to the fetus
Dibutyl Phthalate DBP- is an endocrine disruptor and respiratory irritant that has been linked to cancer.
Camphor- Camphor can cause seizures, liver damage, and disorientation if used in large doses. This chemical acts as a cover on your nails, depriving them of nutrient and causing yellow staining on your nails.
Formaldehyde Resin- is a skin allergen known to cause dermatitis .
Xylene- Xylene is irritating to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. It can cause systemic toxicity by ingestion or inhalation as well as nervous system depression and headaches.
Parabens- common preservative that have been linked to breast cancer and are a suspected endocrine disruptor.

Our aim is to provide you with clean, mistake-proof and results driven beauty. You should be able to trust your nail polish to be safe for you in the inside and beautiful on the outside.

Why don’t you offer regular gel manicure?

The Nailvault is a premium, non-toxic Japanese soft gel nail salon. We only use premium Japanese and Korean soft gel. We offer gel manicures which are applied in a unique fashion to provide you with long lasting beautiful and healthy nails.

How do I know the health status of my nails?

Nails offer a very unique pathway that reflects the general health of the entire body! Some conditions are easily treated; hangnails, for instance. Others are infection and cannot be treated at the Nailvault. If you have any open cuts, unusual discoloration, fungal infection please be informed that we will not be able to service you as it its outside the scope of our work.

Why do you charge for removals?

Removals are a very important part of nail care and successive manicures. Imagine not having a good foundation for your makeup. You will never have a flawless look! We take our time and use our best learnt skills to safely and efficiently remove your enhancements without busting your nails. We charge for our time and our skill and your invaluable nail health.

What are Soft Gel Extensions?

Soft gel extensions are enhancements made out of pure soft gel to provide instant length to short nails. The Nailvault specializes in Apres Gel X and carries custom sizes, shapes and length for you to choose from.

Are Tips different from Soft Gel Extensions?

The short answer is Yes. Tips are made of plastic, which is not durable and is well plastic so will inevitably crack and not bend and/or blend with the natural nails. Soft gel extensions on the other hand are made of 100% pure soft gel, which is malleable and will bend and/or blend with the natural nails. It is more flexible and gives a more natural look to the manicure. It is way more durable and safer for the nails.

What is IBX Nail Treatment?

IBX is a professional two-step intense treatment used to improve nail plate integrity under any polish application. It is also used to target natural nail imperfections and weaknesses that prevent natural nails from growing long. We highly recommend this treatment for clients with beaten up nails due to improper removals. Clients who are shifting from acrylic and hard gel are strongly advised for this treatment.

How is Japanese Soft Gel different from Acrylic?

Japanese soft gel provides strength and durability to natural nails while keeping the integrity of your nails intact. No heavy-handed filing and buffing is needed to apply Japanese soft gel. Japanese gels are hypoallergenic and are non-toxic and suited for almost everybody. It can be removed easily with gentle care and doesn’t harm the nails and is one of the most premium safest products in the market. If you are looking for natural-looking, soft, elegant, safe and durable manicures soft gel is a safer choice. Acrylic nails ca pose a serious risk for infection if incorrectly applied that can lead to permanent damage to the natural nail bed. There is <1% risk of infections with Japanese soft gel.

Why do you NOT offer acrylic removals?

The Nailvault true to its motto is a space for allergy sensitive people. It is a premium, non-toxic studio that does not play with any fumes that may come with acrylic removals as that can cause irritation and allergy. Sometimes clients think it is acrylic that they have on their nails but it is MMA which is an FDA banned acrylic that causes irreparable damage to nails. It is a poisonous substance and we do not treat and/or handle it in our studio.

What is a Spa service?

We offer organic, vegan, non-toxic spa to elevate your manicure experience. It involves an organic scrub followed by a masque and a massage finished with a hot towel. This service enhances and relaxes the hand and provides a holistic nail + hand care routine to clients. Hands are the most exposed and used part of our bodies and it is often the most neglected. The spa service here is designed to target the much-neglected hard working hands and inject much-needed tender love and care to it.

What is Rebalance?

Rebalance as the name suggests is rebalancing your overlays and readjusting the apex keeping the growth of your nails in mind. Your two-week appointment is the perfect time for us to gently file down the product, reapply the soft gel forming a new apex which will provide strength and durability. If you miss your regular upkeep of manicures, the apex will shift creating stress zones on your nail plate and your nails will break with unequal distribution of weight and subsequent pressure. It is imperative for you to book your 2 weekly (max 3 weekly) appointment with your nail stylist.

How do I know if my nail art qualifies for Tier 1, 2 or 3 ?

Here at the Nailvault we decide the tier depending upon the difficulty level and time taken. Whenever in doubt please DM us on our Instagram with your inspo picture OR upload picture when asked for before appointment confirmation and we will breakdown the tier for you.