Pinky Nail Salon

Profile

Upper East Side girls, in particular, know they can rely on Pinky salons for a quick and easy fix in the nail and unsightly hair departments. Appointments are rare and usually not necessary at this uptown chain, so it’s an ideal place to go on a whim, after work, or in a pinch. Bright and spacious, Pinkys can easily accommodate a dozen manicures and half as many pedicures, with a few rooms in back set up for waxing services and ten- or twenty-minute, over-the-clothes massages. Basic manicures start just above $10 (French, lector, paraffin, and silk wraps run slightly more), and in colder months, the Pinky Special manicure pairs an extra moisturizing treatment with a soothing hand and arm rub. Comfy chairs, stacks of magazines, and a large screen TV make for a good place to leave bored male companions (although don’t expect to change the channel to ESPN). With its black awning, hieroglyphic-like logo, and floor-to-ceiling glass façades, Pinky also holds its own in the wacky world of modernistic decor: Red pleather lip-shaped couches flanked by odd sperm-like sculptures give clients something to ponder while their polish dries. — Sarah Walker