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Why Not Nails

Why Not Nails

Nail salon in Brooklyn, NY

Rated 4.9 out of 5 (640 on Google Maps) (opens in a new tab) Closed · opens at 10 AM

Why Not Nails started in August 2020 as a one-person operation working out of a home studio, then opened its main studio in January 2021. It now runs as both a salon and an academy on the third floor at 1637 E 17th St, entered from E 17th St. The salon says its clients travel from across Brooklyn and nearby areas including Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Midwood, Gravesend, Homecrest and Manhattan Beach.

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About

Why Not Nails started in August 2020 as a one-person operation working out of a home studio, then opened its main studio in January 2021. It now runs as both a salon and an academy on the third floor at 1637 E 17th St, entered from E 17th St. The salon says its clients travel from across Brooklyn and nearby areas including Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Midwood, Gravesend, Homecrest and Manhattan Beach.

Services are by appointment only, booked online through the website or by phone. Clients are asked to arrive five minutes early. The salon is open Monday through Sunday from 10 AM to 8 PM, with the last appointment at 6 PM, and appointments can be moved by calling or texting at least 24 hours ahead. Staff speak English, Russian and Spanish. The B and Q trains stop at Kings Highway, about a seven-minute walk away, and at Sheepshead Bay, about ten minutes away, and the B49 and B7 buses stop within a few blocks. Street parking is usually available on E 17th St, though posted cleaning-day signs should be checked.

The Russian manicure is a dry service that uses an e-file and scissors for detailed cuticle work. It includes a consultation and nail assessment, cuticle cleaning, nail plate preparation and an optional gel finish. Listed prices run from $50 for a hygienic version without polish, $60 without polish, $70 with regular polish, $80 with gel polish, $90 with soft gel or dip powder and $100 with hard gel. Japanese manicure is $60, men's manicure $65, and a gel manicure without cuticle work is $55. Pedicures are dry e-file pedicures offered with no polish ($70), regular polish ($75) or gel polish (starting at $85), and men's pedicure is $75. Gel-X full sets are $115 and fill-ins $110. Hard gel or polygel full sets are $130 and fill-ins $110, with top-level versions at $150 and $130. Final prices can change with nail condition, length and add-ons, and the salon confirms the price before service begins.

Nail art covers hundreds of designs, from classic French and minimalist looks to natural, graphic and textured styles. Add-ons such as hand painting, stamping, sliders, foil and rhinestones are listed at $5, cat eye at $15, and French, chrome or ombre at $20. Nail repair is $5 per nail and nail extension $10 per nail.

The academy's courses are small-group, with up to four students per class, live-model practice and individual instructor feedback. The one-day Russian manicure workshop ($250) uses self-practice on the student's own hands and counts toward the foundation course if enrolled afterward. Other options include the three-day Russian Manicure Foundation Course ($1,250), a one-day Dry Pedicure Course ($750), a one-day Gel Nail Extension Course with soft gel tips ($600, including a professional product kit listed at a retail value of $109), a one-day Dip Powder Nail Course ($600) and one-day advanced modules in speed, cuticle work, client communication and salon nail art from $300. The Advanced Nail Technician Program is a five-day program covering the foundation course, dry pedicure and soft gel tips, listed at $2,300 compared with $2,600 when booked separately. Courses are taught in English, Russian and Spanish. A non-refundable deposit of 30% of the course fee secures a place, and payment plans are available through Affirm and Klarna. Students receive a Certificate of Completion, which is a training certificate and not a state license, and they get 15% off at Nail Market USA.

The academy says it has trained more than 1,000 technicians. The salon describes itself as setting technical standards for nail care rather than following trends, and it says its gel services can last up to four weeks depending on nail condition and aftercare. Google reviews, based on 629 reviews, rate the salon Excellent.

Built on a Do No Harm principle that puts nail health and precise preparation ahead of quick results, using HEMA-free and TPO-free products and sterilized tools.

The salon describes its setting as supportive and comfortable for clients.

Services

Final prices may vary.

Dry manicures using an e-file and scissors for detailed cuticle work, in hygienic, Japanese and men's versions, with options for polish or gel finishes.

  • Structured Gel Manicure Price at booking
  • Hygienic Russian Manicure (No Polish) $60
  • Japanese Manicure $60
  • Men's Manicure $65
  • Russian Manicure + Regular Polish $70
  • Russian Manicure + Gel Polish $80
  • Russian Manicure + Soft Gel/ Dip Powder $90
  • Russian Manicure + Hard Gel $100
  • Russian Manicure Price at booking
  • Hygienic Russian Manicure (Polish Not Included) $50+
  • Russian Manicure + Soft Gel / Hard Gel / Dip Powder $80+

Gel and structured gel manicures, dip powder and SNS, and express options without cuticle work.

  • Dip Powder / SNS Manicure (No Cuticle Work) $55
  • Gel Manicure (No Cuticle Work) $55
  • Gel-X Tips (without Russian Manicure), Full Set $85
  • Express Manicure (No Cuticle Work) Price at booking
  • Classic-manicure Price at booking
  • French-manicure Price at booking
  • Gel-manicure Price at booking

Gel-X tips and hard gel or polygel extensions as full sets and fill-ins, plus length and shape correction.

  • Gel-extensions Price at booking
  • Nail-extensions Price at booking
  • Tips Price at booking

Dry e-file pedicures with no polish, regular polish or gel polish, along with men's pedicures and toes-only polish service.

  • Single Toenail Extension (for broken or missing toenails) $10
  • Nail Repair (1 toenail) $5
  • Single Toenail Extension $10
  • KART Cosmetics Treatment $20
  • Callus Treatment (extra) $25
  • Gel Polish Removal (without pedicure) $25
  • Ingrown Nail Prevention $40
  • No Polish Pedicure $70
  • Men's Pedicure $75
  • Regular Polish Pedicure $75
  • Gel Pedicure $85
  • Pedicure (Dry E-File) Price at booking
  • Classic-pedicure Price at booking
  • Spa-pedicure Price at booking

Nail repair, single toenail extension, polish and acrylic or tip removal, and pedicure treatments such as callus treatment and ingrown nail prevention.

  • Nail Repair $5
  • Nail extension $10
  • Polish Removal (removal, shaping) $25
  • Removal — acrylic, tips, or difficult removal $25
  • Removal — acrylic, tips, or difficult removal taking 30+ min $25
  • Poly/acry gel strengthening (short nails) $30

Hand painting, stamping, sliders, foil, rhinestones, dots, cat eye, French, chrome and ombre, from a range of hundreds of designs.

  • Hand painting $5
  • Stamping / Sliders / Foil / Rhinestones $5
  • Wraps (Pedicure, per nail) $5
  • Dots (all nails) $10
  • Cat eye $15
  • French / Chrome / Ombre $20
  • Wraps (Pedicure, all toenails) $25

Small-group nail technician training, from a one-day workshop to a five-day advanced program, with a Certificate of Completion.

  • Gel Nail Extension Course (Soft Gel Tips) $600
  • One-Day Russian Manicure Workshop $250
  • Advanced: Client Communication $300+
  • Advanced: Cuticle Work $300+
  • Advanced: Salon Nail Art $300+
  • Advanced: Speed $300+
  • Dip Powder Nail Course $600
  • Dry Pedicure Course $750
  • Russian Manicure Foundation Course $1,250
  • Advanced Nail Technician Program $2,600
  • On-Location Group Training Price at booking
  • Gel-X Shape / Length Correction $20
  • Gel-X Fill In $110
  • Hard Gel / Polygel Extensions Fill In $110
  • Gel-X Full Set $115
  • Hard Gel / Polygel Extensions Full Set $130
  • Dip Powder Nails in Brooklyn, NY Price at booking
  • Manicure Services (Natural Nail Care) Price at booking
  • Nail Extensions (Artificial Length) Price at booking
  • Pedicure Services (Foot Care) Price at booking
  • Polygel Nails in Brooklyn, NY Price at booking
  • Russian Manicure in Brooklyn, NY Price at booking
  • Full In (Regular) $110
  • Full In (Top) $130
  • Full Set (Hard Gel / Polygel) (Regular) $130
  • Full Set (Hard Gel / Polygel) (Top) $150
  • Dip Powder Nails Price at booking
  • Nail Art for Men Price at booking
  • Polygel Nails Price at booking
  • Dual Forms Extension Price at booking
  • Gel-X Tips with Russian Manicure Price at booking
  • Hygienic Pedicure (No Polish) Price at booking
  • Russian Manicure Dip Powder Price at booking
  • Russian Manicure Soft Gel Price at booking
  • Regular Polish (toes only) $65
  • Gel (toes only) $75

Photos

  • Five smiling staff holding Why Not Nails certificates
  • Group of nine staff with certificates in front of the school wall
  • Bright red glossy gel manicure on short nails
  • Sheer nude pink gel manicure on short nails
  • Bubblegum pink glossy square nails
  • Cherry red glossy short nails
  • Almond nails with white French tips
  • Pink base nails with white French tips
  • Soft pink nails with white French tips
  • Matte black and white two-tone almond nails
  • Grey almond nails with pink orchid decal
  • Long almond nails in glossy red

Meet the team

Team members listed on their website. Individual roles, credentials, and current employment have not been independently verified.whynotnails.us (opens in a new tab)

Highlights
  • Do No Harm principle that puts nail health ahead of quick results
  • HEMA-free and TPO-free products and systems, with hypoallergenic options
  • Metal tools sterilized in medical-grade autoclave equipment
  • Dry e-file Russian manicure with detailed cuticle work
  • Small-group courses of up to four students with live-model practice
  • On-site group training for salon teams across the US and private group bookings in any state
Good for
  • Clients who want detailed cuticle work
  • Clients who have reacted to gel products (staff will suggest an option if you say so at booking)
  • Men seeking manicure, pedicure or nail art
  • Clients wanting Gel-X or polygel extensions
  • Pedicure clients who want dry e-file foot care
  • Aspiring nail technicians
  • Salon teams needing on-site training
Treats
  • nail extensions
  • artificial length
  • nail repair
  • nail health
  • callus treatment
  • ingrown nail prevention
Techniques
  • Russian manicure
  • dry e-file cuticle work
  • Gel-X
  • hard gel
  • polygel
  • dip powder
  • SNS
  • structured gel manicure
  • soft gel tips
  • Japanese manicure

Products & treatments

  • HEMA-free and TPO-free gel systems
  • KART Cosmetics

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