I never thought I&rsquod enjoy an almost 2-hour beauty session anywhere. As a child, I&rsquod peep worriedly from the corner room as my mother completed her hours-long weekend cosmetic rituals, determined to not fall into the same indulgent trap as a grown-up. It stole away precious time from the great outdoors, y&rsquoknow The Mani Pedi Spa, though, quite effortlessly whisked me away from this girlhood vow.
Tucked away in a small lane, the 1800 sq ft wellness salon is just as impressive as it contends to be. I was hit by a wall of fruit-scented air as I walked in, followed by a display of some 300 nail paints including gel, shellac and Vinylux variants. The manager offered an enticing selection of hand and feet treatments to try, such as the Full Set Gel Overlay, the Aromatique Manicure, and the excitingly-named Scentsations Pedicure however, we chose to keep things simple with a Spa Pedicure (â¹1,490) and Spa Manicure (â¹1,290). I was told that both, even if carried out simultaneously, would take their sweet time to wrap up. So, as the nail technicians began their prep, I sank into a recliner station and perused the complimentary beverage menu. My iced tea arrived soon, with a healthy side of almonds.
As the treatment finally began, it was difficult to not be lulled into submission. I kept busy by tracing the optical illusion patterns on a golden wall clock, part of the salon&rsquos warm yet sleek interior design. My technicians for the day were Sumi and Rodha, both from Darjeeling, who swiftly carried out a cuticle cleanse, followed by the usual soak-cut-file routine. Their international certification from Creative Nail Design, Inc. (CND), a California nail beauty behemoth, seemed worth its salt. So gentle were their movements that I barely noticed when they put the tools to rest. And once the &lsquospa&rsquo part of the mani-pedi arrived, I was a goner. A combination of a citrus scrub, masque, lotion and a (delightfully lengthy) massage, it does a commendable job of exfoliating and nourishing tired skin. The masque portion initially seemed a little funny, as my hands and feet were wrapped in cling film and a towel for a hammam-like soak but the big reveal ended in a squeaky-clean result, so there&rsquos no complaints there. I appreciated that the cling film was the only plastic used in the whole routine&mdasheverything else, from cuticle cleaners to callus removers, was made of sterilised, single-use biodegradable material.
300 colour options can mean hell for indecisive folks, so I stuck to a bare nails manicure made supple with cuticle oil. For the pedicure, though, curiosity crept up around the Vinylux name, which can supposedly last a week without chipping. Beating competitors like Lilac Eclipse, Pink Leggings and the lasciviously-named Bikini Kiss, I opted for a blue-purple shade named Wisteria Haze.
The Mani Pedi Spa also offers facial treatments, but it&rsquos definitely the nail services that you&rsquod keep coming back for. It may not always be affordable as a weekly affair, especially if you don&rsquot live in or around Gurugram, but the hygiene and service quality is well-worth the price tag.
Timings Open from 9am to 9pm, seven days a week
For more information, visit themanipedispa.biz