A new hands-on studio called Equoriel lets you play nail technician for two hours and walk away with a custom set of press-ons you made yourself. It sits in Queensway Shopping Centre, unit #02-17B, and first-timers currently pay just $19.90 per session, down from the usual $39.90 — a fraction of what a salon manicure costs in Singapore.
The session starts with a 10-minute early arrival for nail sizing and fitting, so choose your shape and length before the clock starts. Owner Jane then runs a 15-minute tour of the tools and demonstrates the basics, including how to manipulate cat-eye gel polishes. After that, you pick your colours from shelves of gel and pat gel polishes — swatches are framed for reference, and you're advised to hold a maximum of three at a time, swapping as you go.
Designing is where the fun kicks in. Each of the seven stations has its own full kit, so nothing gets shared. The polishes are self-levelling and the brushes easy to grip, which helps if your hands aren't steady. A charm and sticker bar offers everything from glitter and Sanrio characters to seasonal picks — gingerbread men, gold stars and Christmas tree stickers for the holidays — with no extra charge, even for premium charms in display cases. You can bring your own charms too. Jane finishes each set herself, applying and curing the top coat and filing imperfections before packing your nails with an application kit.
Hygiene gets real attention: nitrile gloves, surgical masks, sanitised goggles, single-use hand files, and sanitised tools between sessions. The gel polishes are salon-quality and free of harsh chemicals, and you can still use your phone with the gloves on. Once done, there's a digital-camera-style mirror for selfies plus a pink-and-silver photo corner with a mini Christmas tree for the 'gram.
Getting there is simple: take the East-West Line to Queenstown MRT, exit B or C, then hop on Bus 51 or 195 to Opp Queensway Shopping Centre (5-10 minutes), or just walk 10-15 minutes. Only seven seats exist, so booking ahead is strongly recommended. Groups are welcome, and Jane saves your nail sizes for return visits.
Why should a traveller care? If you've burned through cafe-hopping and outlet malls, this is a rainy-afternoon activity with a tangible souvenir — wearable art you made, for under $20. It works for solo travellers, bestie matching sets, or a low-stakes nail art competition with friends, and no prior artistic skill is needed.
