"Nail design" covers a huge range in the industry — anything from a single accent nail to hand-painted 3D work. Here's specifically what that means when you book with us, with real examples from real appointments.
It's an add-on, not a separate service
Nail art at AK.LUX.NAILS is booked as an add-on to a manicure — Russian Gel-Overlay, Gel Nail Extension, or any of our other gel services — not a standalone appointment. When you book, you'll see two design options:
- Design — a defined pattern, accent detail, or hand-painted element on one or more nails.
- Ombre (design) — a gradient/blended color effect, either on its own or as the base for further detail.
Only one of these applies per set (they're grouped as a single choice at booking), so the simplest way to get exactly what you want is to describe the look when you book, or bring a reference photo to your appointment — a minimalist single dot pattern and a full hand-painted floral set both fall under "Design," but they take very different amounts of chair time.
See the range
Everything below is a real set from a real appointment, photos and process/result video both — not a catalog of options we don't actually do.
Simple and minimal reads just as intentional as intricate — a couple of accent dots or a fine line on an otherwise clean gel set is one of our most-booked looks precisely because it doesn't compete with everything else you're wearing that day. Full hand-painted sets like the daisy or zebra-print accents above take longer, which is exactly why timing matters (more on that below).
Getting the timing right
Because design work is priced and timed as an add-on, tell us what you're picturing when you book (not after you're already in the chair) — it's the difference between an appointment that runs on schedule and one where a same-day design change pushes into someone else's booking. If you're not sure exactly what you want yet, a rough description ("simple accent nail," "something seasonal," "hand-painted") is enough for us to plan the right amount of time.
Every gel set — with or without design — is backed by the same 2-week guarantee: if something about the finish isn't right, we fix it free.
Ready to book your manicure with a design add-on?