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VANITY PROJECTS
VANITY PROJECTS
VANITY PROJECTS

VANITY PROJECTS New York City

Nail salon in New York, NY · 2 locations

Rated 3.8 out of 5 (221 on Google Maps) (opens in a new tab)

The business began in 2008 as a pop-up founded by independent curator Rita de Alencar Pinto, held in homes, studios and art spaces. It held a three-month pop-up at MoMA PS1 in 2013, and its first brick-and-mortar salon opened in Manhattan that July. A Miami salon followed in April 2015. In 2023 the New York salon expanded and renovated to take over the entire building at 99 Chrystie Street, which now has twenty manicure stations and three pedicure seats.

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About

The business began in 2008 as a pop-up founded by independent curator Rita de Alencar Pinto, held in homes, studios and art spaces. It held a three-month pop-up at MoMA PS1 in 2013, and its first brick-and-mortar salon opened in Manhattan that July. A Miami salon followed in April 2015. In 2023 the New York salon expanded and renovated to take over the entire building at 99 Chrystie Street, which now has twenty manicure stations and three pedicure seats.

Art runs through the salon's partnerships and programs. In 2017 it teamed up with Daata Editions, a British foundation that runs an online video art platform. Its Artist in Residence program, running since 2013, has hosted more than 100 international nail artists across its locations. Pop-up appearances have taken place at the Pulitzer Foundation, the Brooklyn Museum, the Aldrich Museum, NADA Miami Beach and the Aspen Museum of Art. According to the salon, it has been featured in over 50 publications, and Allure and New York Magazine have named it Best of New York. Its artists have also worked on runway events, both assisting and leading, at New York's Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and at Miami Swim.

Services are grouped into menus for acrylic, basic manicures, gel, pedicures, kids and extras. Gel and acrylic sets can be paired with art, and the salon prices nail art on a sliding scale based on design complexity, special pigments, stones and charms, with simple art starting at 80 dollars, a middle tier at 120 dollars and complex art at 160 dollars. Prices can shift with design detail and appointment length. Gel removal is required when a client already has gel on, and that time is added to the appointment, with services that include gel removal taking an extra thirty minutes.

The Miami salon is by appointment only, open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 8pm and Sunday from 11am to 7pm, and it has a retail boutique and outdoor space for private events. Appointments need at least 24 hours' notice for cancellations or changes, and a same-day cancellation or no-show forfeits the deposit. Clients arriving more than 15 minutes late may not receive their original service and may be downgraded or cancelled. Groups of up to five can book online, while larger groups are asked to contact the salon.

Bridal options include a consultation, a test manicure, and bridal party and bachelorette experiences in salon or on location. Corporate and private events can be booked in New York or Miami, in salon or off site, with custom designs. Kids party packages are offered for girls age five and up, for up to 25 guests, with three to five menu options chosen in advance. Private in-home appointments are available on request, with travel and gratuity fees applied and rates given by email. Gift certificates are final sale, and services are not refunded.

The salon describes its work as hand-painted nail art by its artists, offered alongside a standard nail salon menu. It says it uses the finest nail lacquers.

Specials & promotions

  • 20% off when you refer new clients

    New client must be booking their first appointment and must not already be in the system. The existing client's name must be mentioned when booking. Discount can be redeemed only after the new client's first appointment takes place. No discount if the new client cancels or doesn't show up. If an existing client brings a group of new clients, the discount can be combined.

    On their website as of Oct 29, 2026 · Where we saw it

Services

Final prices may vary.

Acrylic extensions and fills, with options to add one color gel, simple, nail or custom art. Acrylic, dip and SNS removal is also offered.

  • Acrylic/Dip/SNS Removal $3
  • Acrylic Fill $60
  • Acrylic Extensions $85
  • Acrylic Fill with One Color Gel $120
  • Acrylic Fill with Simple Art $140
  • Acrylic Extensions with One Color Gel $145
  • Acrylic Fill with Nail Art $160
  • Acrylic Extensions with Simple Art $165
  • Acrylic Extensions with Nail Art $185
  • Acrylic Fill with Custom Art $200
  • Acrylic Extensions with Custom Art $225
  • Acrylic Fill with Simple Art $140+
  • Acrylic Fill with Nail Art $160+
  • Acrylic Extensions with Simple Art $165+
  • Acrylic Extensions with Nail Art $185+
  • Acrylic Fill with Custom Art $200+
  • Acrylic Extensions with Custom Art $225+

A basic manicure, polish nail art starting at 50 dollars, and a manicure and pedicure polish combo.

  • Basic Manicure $25
  • Polish Nail Art $50
  • Manicure / Pedicure Polish Combo $75
  • Polish Nail Art $50+

Add-ons such as custom color, hard gel and matte top coats, cutdown and reshape, extra length, and removal of Apres Gel-X extensions.

  • Hard Gel / Extensions Removal $2
  • Custom Color $5
  • Cutdown and Reshape $5–$10
  • Cutdown and Reshape $5
  • Hard Gel Top Coat $5
  • Matte Top Coat $5
  • Apres Gel-X Extensions Removal $10
  • Extra Length $10
  • Extra Length $10–$25
  • Gel Removal $10
  • Non-VP Gel Removal $20

Gel fills, one color gel, gel and Apres Gel-X extension sets, and nail art add-ons, plus gel and extension removal for Vanity Projects and non-Vanity Projects products.

  • Extensions Removal $20
  • Non-VP Extension Removal $30
  • Gel Removal + Basic Manicure $45
  • Gel Fill $65
  • One Color Gel $70
  • One Color Gel Pedicure $80
  • Simple Art $80
  • Apres Gel-X Extension Set $85
  • Gel Extension Set $105
  • Nail Art $120
  • Gel Fill with One Color Gel $130
  • Gel Fill with Simple Art $145
  • Apres Gel-X Extensions with One Color Gel $150
  • Custom Complex Art $160
  • Apres Gel-X Extensions with Simple Art $165
  • Gel Extensions with One Color Gel $170
  • Gel Extensions with Simple Art $185
  • Gel Fill with Nail Art $185
  • Apres Gel-X Extensions with Nail Art $205
  • Gel Extensions with Nail Art $225
  • Gel Fill with Custom Art $225
  • Apres Gel-X Extensions with Custom Art $245
  • Gel Extensions with Custom Art $265
  • Gel Removal (Vanity Projects gel) $10–$15
  • Extensions Removal (VP acrylic, hard gel, apres) $20
  • Non-VP Gel Removal $20–$25
  • Simple Art $80+
  • Nail Art $120+
  • Gel Fill with Simple Art $145+
  • Custom Complex Art $160+
  • Apres Gel-X Extensions with Simple Art $165+
  • Gel Extensions with Simple Art $185+
  • Gel Fill with Nail Art $185+
  • Apres Gel-X Extensions with Nail Art $205+
  • Gel Extensions with Nail Art $225+
  • Gel Fill with Custom Art $225+
  • Apres Gel-X Extensions with Custom Art $245+
  • Gel Extensions with Custom Art $265+
  • Gel Removal $10–$15

Polish and gel manicures and pedicures for children, with several art options and kids party packages for girls age five and up.

  • Kids Polish Manicure $8
  • Kids Polish with Simple Art $15
  • Kids Basic Pedicure $30
  • Kids Polish with Custom Nail Art $30
  • Kids One Color Gel Manicure $40
  • Kids One Color Gel Pedicure $45
  • Kids Gel Pedicure with Nail Art $55
  • Kids Gel Manicure with Simple Art $60
  • Kids Gel Manicure with Custom Nail Art $80
  • Kids Polish with Simple Art $15+
  • Kids Polish with Custom Nail Art $30+

A basic pedicure, a one color gel pedicure, and the Smart Pedicure, a waterless option paired with a gel pedicure.

  • Basic Pedicure $50
  • Smart Pedicure $90
  • Bridal consultation and test manicure Price at booking
  • Bridal party and bachelorette experiences Price at booking

Photos

  • Storefront door with neon NAILS sign
  • Salon room with styled chairs and wall screens
  • Blue-walled lounge area with sofa and pendant lights
  • Street view of the Vanity Projects storefront
  • Bright salon with long nail stations, grey chairs and a retail shelf
  • Lounge area with curved sofas, plants and a dining table
  • Blue-walled room with glass tables, chairs and framed botanical prints
  • Workstations with white tables, colorful chairs and hexagon floor
  • Long hallway of workstations through an arch with blue walls
  • Large open studio with logo wall, retail island and projection screens
  • Large open studio with logo wall, retail island and projection screens
  • Entrance courtyard with paved walkway and business signage

Meet the team

Their website doesn't list the team, so we don't either.

Highlights
  • Hand-painted nail art by artists the salon describes as well known, with art priced by design complexity
  • Japanese gel that the salon describes as highly pigmented and soft, needing fewer layers, and as 11-free and dental grade
  • Smart Pedicure, a waterless pedicure paired with a one color gel pedicure, which the salon says softens calluses and dry skin
  • Artist in Residence program hosting over 100 international nail artists since 2013
  • Certified by the Secretary of Homeland Security to offer the Q1 Cultural Exchange Visa, as of 2025
  • Vanity Projects Institute, an online education platform with in-person nail art seminars for training nail artists
Good for
  • Nail art lovers
  • Hand-painted designs
  • Bridal parties and bachelorette groups
  • Corporate and private events
  • Kids birthday parties
  • Press-on nail buyers
  • Clients who want gel or acrylic extensions
  • Clients booking in advance, as Miami is by appointment only
Treats
  • Nail art
  • Gel manicures
  • Gel extensions
  • Acrylic fills and extensions
  • Gel removal
  • Pedicures
  • Press-on nails
Techniques
  • Hand-painted nail art
  • Simple, middle-tier and complex art
  • Custom color
  • Gel extensions
  • Apres Gel-X extensions
  • Acrylic extensions and fills
  • Dip and SNS removal
  • Hard gel and matte top coats
  • Waterless pedicure
  • UV or LED curing with a 36 watt gel lamp

Products & treatments

  • Japanese gel used in salon
  • Press On Nails VP
  • Hand-painted press-on nail tips

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