Are you obsessed with the best manicures in town? Always on the hunt for the next best nail art trend? I went in to review Tinted to see if it met my perfectionist expectations (spoiler alert: it did)
Everyone has their thing when it comes to self-care and me-time. Perhaps you love an amazing massage every few weeks, or maybe a trip to one of the best hair salons in Hong Kong on the regular makes you swoon. For regular readers, you will know that manicures–and nail art in-particular–is what feeds my soul, and I’m always on the hunt for the coolest nail salons in Hong Kong. Tinted in CWB definitely makes the list for their commitment to elevating the role of the nail artist to a proper art form (which it is!) and to also creating a holistic and zen-like space for everybody to enjoy. Check out my review of Tinted.
Why is Tinted in Causeway Bay so different?
It’s really all about ethos here, as this permeates every decision made at the salon. Carroll and Carmen had known each other for years and came from very different backgrounds (interior design and luxury hospitality) but they shared a passion for nails and chatted over the fact they couldn’t find anywhere they loved going to have their own manicures done.
The twosome then decided to make something happen about this and searched for locations, finding their perfect spot in the heart of Causeway Bay (after missing out on their original favourite next door!)
Stepping into the salon, you know you are somewhere special and my interior design fuzzies were immediately happy as I noticed the neon Emily Eldridge art work that graced the wall. A beautiful terracotta colourway is used throughout the main room with a perfectly aligned price list that wouldn’t look out of place in a cafe.
To the right, a dedicated pedicure section is painted a shade of minty green and is home to comfortable chairs surrounded by photography by digital content masterminds Victor Cheng (@veeceecheng) and Samantha Wong (@samishome) of The APT Studios Print Shop. There’s even a lash section where you can get a beautiful set of classic or volume lashes done with their lash artist.
The aim was to create a space that anybody could walk into and feel comfortable, whether you’re getting some epic long falseys or just a standard Shanghai pedicure, and the Tinted crew has nailed this – #SorryNotSorryForThePunnies. There’s even a sound system from Sonos playing the nicest music at a level that feels very soothing.
What about the manicure itself?
I’d shared an image of a neon marble masterpiece with the team in advance of my appointment and was excited to have it done. If you’re not sure about what you want, however, they have a changing menu of fun designs for you to choose from.
When I sat down, I was offered tea from the Hong Kong company Lify who make amazing blends and whose packaging looks like it was designed to fit the salon’s unique interiors.
Viyan, my nail artist, worked on the manicure part first, preparing my nail bed with meticulous care. Then came the fun part. We chatted colours and came up with a pink, yellow, and teal scheme that I knew was going to look divine.
What I love about the Japanese Magelic polishes they use is the fact that the pigments are true to the bottle so they actually come out as vibrant as suggested, that’s such a dream for a colour purist like me.
As she worked, Viyan was telling me about her journey into nails and why she finds her job so satisfying. She’s a gifted artist for sure, and I was thrilled with my results. After a photo-shoot on the salon’s balcony, I went on my merry way to see how the nails would stand up in real life.
The ultimate test
Looking fab in the salon is one thing, but we all know that the real test is how they react with things like typing, untying shoelaces, cooking etc. I’m happy to say that it’s been just shy of three weeks and I’m still getting compliments. There’s not a single chip on these puppies, and I’m flawed because usually the index finger on my right hand starts to fall off after two weeks (I must do a lot of vigorous pointing?), but my summer lewk is still fresh.
Definitely make yourself an appointment at Tinted and experience the love they give you; it’s totally worth it.
Tinted, 5/F, 20 Pak Sha Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, p. 6012 6444 or book directly through Instagram
