The promise
A manicure-pedicure with special treatments to leave hands and feet smooth and soft.
The experience
We enter the ornate doors of Dashing Nails to find a bustling spa heaven. The name does not say it all here – all sorts of treatments are on offer, from manicures and pedicures to hair-styling, waxing, facials and massages.
We decide to try a manicure and pedicure as this seems to be the focus and, let’s face it, we need one. We try two new specials: the In Love Again Treatment for hands, and the Smores treatment for our feet, which sounds delicious.
First we have the manicure. Our technician Sherly takes great care to trim our cuticles and file our short, damaged nails.
Then Sherly begins the treatment using Aromatherapy Associates products, starting with the application of a rose-scented oil to the hands and arms. She then wraps our arms in plastic and covers them in warming gloves, for about 10 minutes. When she returns, she cleans our warm limbs and applies a fresh floral oil-based moisturiser, which leaves us with fresh, supple skin.
Dashing Nails has come up with the sweet and clever Smores treatment. It‘s got three ingredients, just like the classic American treat. It starts with the Chocoholic Shower Sherbet, a cocoa-scented scrub that sloughs off dead skin while apparently balancing your pH levels. It’s slightly rough, but our specialist Vicky is gentle with us and careful not to scrub too hard.
She washes off the scrub and then paints the toenails.
She generously applies three coats – just as Sherly did with the manicure.
When the polish is dry, the Smores treatment continues with the marshmallow foot mask. Vicky applies thick, white goop, which really does look like melted marshmallow, then wraps our feet and legs in plastic and covers them with warming boots, similar to the hand treatment. We relax for 10 minutes, trying not to fall asleep as the cosy boots warm our toes.
Vicky returns and we pep up. She removes the mask and moisturises our feet with Vanilla Purity Body Icing. Putting our shoes back on, we get up to leave, sad to say goodbye to the chair that’s been our comfy home for the past two hours.
The results
Super moisturised hands and feet and shiny, long-lasting nails. Plus we smell amazing.
The pros
The spa uses high-quality products and the staff are friendly and very professional.
The cons
The luxurious treatments take a while, so be prepared to spend a chunk of your day here.
4/5
Manicure Dhs55, Pedicure Dhs65, In Love Again hand treatment Dhs200, and Smores foot treatment Dhs100. Open Sat-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri noon-10pm, Khalifa City A (02 553 1775).
