Written on Ella Aldridge Updated on 10th June 2024
Whether you’re obsessed with the latest nail art trends or simply want a traditional manicure, these are the nail bars to visit in Leeds.
Oval or almond? Acrylic or gel? French tip or ombre? The real question is, where’s the best place to get your nails done in Leeds? Luckily for you, we’ve tried and test the city’s nail bars, treating our talons and getting to know the people behind each salon, to bring you this ultimate list of where to go. Check them out.
RMUK
Credit: Bevan co*ckerill
You’ll be hard pressed to find a nail bar in Leeds with more experience than RMUK. This four-storey, family-run salon does every beauty treatment under the sun, but their nail offering is something else. Their technicians pride themselves on keeping up to date with current trends, so whether you’re in the market for rainbow tips or metallic gels, you need only say.
On the outside, it’s all Georgian charm, but don’t be fooled, this is a modern salon that’s bang on-trend with comfy chairs, industrial fittings and just a touch of period charm. Manicures, gel nails and pedicures are all on the cards, but if you want to treat yourself, go for the Aveda Manicure – it includes an exfoliation and a hand mask. After your nails have been transformed, you can head upstairs to their on-site bar and terrace to enjoy a co*cktail and grab an Insta-worthy snap of your nails with stunning city centre views. Bliss.
RMUK, 57 Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3BB. Gel manicures start from £29.
Sugar Rush Nails
Credit: Sugar Rush Studios
If you happen to find yourself walking down Burley Road, it’s hard not to notice Sugar Rush Nails. This eye-catching, hot-pink Leeds beauty salon is owned by nail artist Freya-Poppy Bowden. She believes that creating an inclusive and comfortable environment is just as important as giving you killer nails – and trust us, they’re seriously impressive.
If you’re looking for plain, Sugar Rush probably isn’t the place to go. Freya-Poppy and her four nail technicians like to think outside the box, be it Monet’s waterlilies (yes, really) or 3D snake nail art on your choice of BIAB or gel extensions. The interior of the salon will transport you back to Y2K, with neon signs, disco balls and a bathroom covered floor-to-ceiling in leopard print. Clients can even help themselves to a fully stocked snack trolley, loaded with sweets, chocolates and crisps, as well as a Red Bull fridge.
Sugar Rush Studios, 404 Burley Road, Burley, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS4 2SN. Builder gel prices depend on required nail art and technician.
SABLE
If you’ve been having your nails done in Leeds for as long as we have, you’ll likely know that SABLE is the reincarnation of popular salon, Rag Doll Nails. Their name is now a homage to Sable Starr, one of the most famous rock & roll groupies of the 1970s, and their salon is more refined version of its former self. Clean, trendy and chic, it’s more akin to Kim Kardashian’s bathroom than your average nail salon in Leeds.
SABLE take a natural approach to achieving gorgeous nails. They don’t do acrylics, but rather offer a range of naked, polished or gel manis, with a focus on nail health – shaping, cuticle work and moisturiser all come as standard. They’re famous for their nail art, which adds a hint of glamour to your look, and always go the extra mile to make you feel special. If you want to chat, they’ll chat, but if you’d prefer me time, they’ll work in silence while you relax.
SABLE, 17, Thorntons Arcade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6LQ. Gel manicures start from £33.
The Beauty Assembly
Credit: Louise Barry
As one of the only eco-conscious, cruelty-free and vegan nail bars in Leeds, The Beauty Assembly is the place to go if you want a manicure with added feel-good. Every member of the team has a minimum of three years’ industry experience, so you know that your digits are in good hands, and they pride themselves on using the very best products from The Gel Bottle. In fact, they have over 300 colours for you to choose from.
With a focus on gel, BIAB and the natural nail, their technicians offer everything from simple polish-free manicures to complex (and definitely Insta-worthy) nail art. They even have their own brand of cuticle oil in store. As a testament to the durability of their gel manicures, they offer a one week chip-free guarantee, so if you chip or break a nail in the first seven days, you can pop back for a complimentary repair.
The Beauty Assembly, 3, Waterman’s Place, Granary Wharf, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4GL. Gel manicures start from £31.50.
Mint
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Well known across the region, and with good reason, Mint has two nail bars in Leeds, one in the Corn Exchange and the other in White Rose. Whichever you choose, you can expect highly trained therapists, top-end products and all the aftercare advice you need to keep your nails in tip top condition. You can book in advance, but they also offer walk-in treatments, in case you want to change your nail art on a whim.
They do gels, extensions and manicures, but if you fancy a little pampering, we’d recommend their signature gel manicure. You’ll receive a smoothing sugar scrub as well as a moisturiser and cuticle oil treatment in addition to your chosen gels. When it comes to colour, there are over 100 to choose from, but they’re also known for their seasonal additions, so you can flaunt burgundy ovals in autumn or baby pink almonds come spring.
Mint, Leeds Corn Exchange, Call Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 7BR & Unit 68, White Rose Shopping Centre, Dewsbury Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 8LU. Gel manicures start from £29.50.
Gateway to Beauty
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Not only is Gateway to Beauty one of the best beauty salons in Leeds, but it’s also somewhere to go if you want to feel refreshed, rejuvenated and revitalised. Owners Emily Dobbie and Jo Mellor treat their clients like old friends, and they build the experience around you, so whether you want a good old gossip or an hour of comfortable silence, they’ll make sure you get it.
Plush velvet seating and floor-to-ceiling florals welcome you into a space fit for pampering. And that’s exactly what they do here. Their nail technicians specialise in no removal, Builder in a Bottle gel manicures, and they’ve converted life-long acrylic lovers to the cause – that’s how you know they’re the real deal! But of course, you don’t have to go for gels. You can have a pampering natural nail manicure or treat yourself to a nail art polish.
Gateway to Beauty, Unit 2, The Gateway West, East Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS9 8DA. Gel manicures start from £28.
Saks
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With salons all over the country and a reputation as a hair and beauty destination, it’ll come as no surprise that Saks offers some of the best nail treatments in Leeds. Since their first salon opened nearly 50 years ago, they’ve led with the notion that the client should always come first, so it’s not just about leaving with a set of killer nails, it’s about the whole experience.
They have two nail bars – one downstairs among the hairdressers and the other upstairs in the beauty salon where you can sit and chat with friends. You’ll choose from a full range of nail treatments, including BIAB or gel manicures, with French tips or bespoke nail art, and their loyalty scheme is hard to beat. Every four visits, you’ll get a free file and polish, and every eight, they’ll ping you a £25 voucher to spend on any treatment of your choice.
Saks, 109 Vicar Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PJ. Gel manicures start from £27.
self.
Brainchild of Leeds legends Buzz Club Tattoo, self. is a nail bar with a difference. As well as transforming talons, they also offer hair services, brow laminations, semi-permanent makeup and lash extensions, so if you’re in the market for a head-to-toe transformation, this is your sign to book an appointment. Of course, if it’s just gels you want, they’ll be happy to oblige.
The interior is cool and laidback, with exposed brick, hanging greenery and back-lit mirrors. And all their beauty treatments take place in the same studio, so you can go with friends and chat as you’re pampered. Nail art specialist Charlotte heads up self.’s nail offering, with everything from gel extensions to BIAB on the cards. Want to replicate the intricate nail art you’ve seen on Pinterest? Charlotte can do that and more, from silver chrome French manicures to colourful crocodile patterns.
Self, 60 Wellington Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2EE. Builder gel manicure start from £42.
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