I’m the first to admit that I do not like nail polish on my nails. I keep my fingernails short and I tend to use my nails a lot everyday either scraping off stuff or picking at things that having polish on them would mean ugly chipped polish in a day or two. For toenails, I have a wonderful way of stubbing my toes on nearly anything that can stub my toe on resulting in … yes… chipped polish.
However, last week, I indulged in a manicure and pedicure to keep my soon to be bridal sister company. Not quite knowing where to go, I decided to try Colour Culture the OPI Nail Bar. Colour Culture is a chain of nail bars owned by the OPI nail colour brand and I’d seen their nail bar in Bangsar Village II off and on. However, a quick phone call told me that they closed early – last appointment was 7.30pm so I opted for the one in the Pavilion that closed later.
1.5 hours and RM65 later, this was the result.
I don’t know if red is in for nails anymore, but I love red polish on my nails, the same way I love red lipstick on my lips. So, red it had to be. Unfortunately I wasn’t paying enough attention so I have no idea what the name of the polish is! haha…
Colour Culture, being run by OPI stocks only OPI polish and based on what little I know about nail polish, OPI is top of the range. I had made an appointment so by the time I got there, they were expecting me.
The salon is not very large and unlike other nail bars I’d seen, the service area is located at the back of the store. I prefer that. Its more private especially when you are doing a pedicure. The walls are lined with OPI polish and OPI products and the main wall was painted with bright stripes of colour. There is only space for 3 manicures and 3 pedicures so I can imagine it can be a bit crowded if there are lots of people.
There is a menu available where you can choose the service you want but I already knew what I wanted because I’d read the website! There was a 1st time special trial offer of RM65 for a basic manicure and pedicure (usual price RM77) and that was what I wanted.
You are asked to choose your nail colour first, before they lead you to the comfy chair and feet soak. However, as it was not very busy, they brought us the nail mock ups in the comfort of our chairs as we soaked our feet in warm water.
There was a pile of magazines in a little cubby hole next to the comfy leather chairs and there was a good mix of Chinese and English magazines. There was also a TV right in front of you showing some Chinese series. I’m not sure if you can ask them to change the channel to say… Asian Food Channel? 🙂
The girls were not super chatty but I wasn’t too fussed about that. They worked quickly on the feet but without too much rush, and did the usual cuticle trimming, moisturising and painting of the toenails. Then, your feet are placed under a nail drier which is a contraption with a fan that blows cold air – brr!
Moving onto the hands, you are first asked to clean your hands with a sanitizer while the manicurist does the same. I was impressed with the hygienic way they handled things. Unfortunately however, I found it quite uncomfortable to have the manicure with the girl sitting next to you, because one hand would always have to be in an awkward position. It would have been nicer to have them right in front of you.
In my previous manicure experience, I was asked to soak my fingers in warm water before they got to work. This time, I was not asked to do so. They just went straight into massaging in some oils into the cuticles and working on it. I’m not sure which is the right way to do it anyway.
After the usual cleaning, shaping, buffing, and painting comes the most boring part. Waiting for the polish to dry. Just like your toenails, your fingernails are placed under the same air drier that blows cold air on your nails to dry them. You are left there for about 15 minutes while the polish dries.
15 minutes! I was literally sitting there watching paint dry while my fingers froze. And it was not fun at all! This was probably one of the longest 1.5 hours of my life.
At the end of it, I was pleased to end up with pretty shiny red nails. More than 4 days later and it still hasn’t shown signs of chipping yet. Yes! Money well paid! 🙂
I’m afraid I still don’t quite like having polish on my finger nails, but I might make an exception for the toe nails. Polished toe nails make wearing sandals or slippers instantly look good!
I haven’t had much experience with nail bars, but I quite enjoyed going to the Colour Culture. I did not think their normal prices over the top. A basic pedicure costs RM45 and a basic manicure costs RM35 (I think). For OPI colours and the pampering experience, I think its a pretty decent price. The next time though, I might go to the one in Bangsar Village II instead. Its easier to find and I prefer going to Bangsar Village II over the Pavilion (parking is cheaper too 😛 )!
Colour Culture has 4 nail bars at present – The Pavilion, Bangsar Village II, Sunway Pyramid and 1 Utama. Go here for their contact numbers and addresses.
giddy tigress says
June 30, 2008 at 11:23 amI only had a manicure once in my life, and it was a French the day before my wedding. I loved it loads, but I tell u the watching nail polish dry part is also excruciating.
sesame says
June 30, 2008 at 12:25 pmThe red looks like I’m Really Not a Waitress to me.
Andie Summerkiss says
June 30, 2008 at 12:27 pmAahh sexy colour, Paris! Great choice!
ParisB says
June 30, 2008 at 12:41 pmGiddy Tigress: So boring! I don’t know if i can do it again
Sesame: I did want that colour so maybe this is it!
Andie: Yep Sexaay! 😉
Nikki says
June 30, 2008 at 1:05 pmParis you’ve got long fingers! i can’t really describe it but you’ve got lovely feet and hands!!! lol i’m not sounding weird right? but really..hahaha
YZ says
June 30, 2008 at 6:49 pmHad quite a bad experience in that very same Colour Culture Nail Bar 🙁
I dropped by Pavilion when they first opened, to take advantage of the opening specials they had. I had called earlier to make an appointment, & asked how long a French mani would take. The girl assured me that they would be done in an hour.
When I showed up the next day, there was only ONE manicurist running the entire Nail Bar by herself. Since there weren’t any other customers, I leisurely picked a nail colour & sat down at the counter for my manicure. All went well until the customers started pouring in!
I was really irked by the fact that, midway through my manicure, the girl walked out to entertain a customer who had only come in to browse! And this was before she had finished painting all my nails! I felt that it was very rude to make me, a customer with an appointment, wait while she walked out & entertained someone else who had very evidently only come in to look at all the nailpolishes lined up on the display unit! The manicurist should have at least had some courtesy to ask the other customer to have a look around while she finished working on my nails. The worst thing is, this happened twice ie. 2 customers walked in!
By the time the entire mani was done (close to 2 hours!) I was practically fuming & had it in my mind to tell her off. In the end, I decided against it & just paid & left.
Suffice to say, I’m NEVER visiting the Colour Culture Nail Bar in Pavilion again!
You might be wondering which manicurist was the culprit? To be honest, I don’t remember her name, but she was a small-built Chinese girl with delicate features & long hair.
Rant over! *phew*
~lalala~ says
July 1, 2008 at 12:53 amowh! i didnt know u can get manicure/pedicure done if u haf short nails! i avoid doing it coz i haf this bad habit of biting my fingernails… n most of the time i am not aware of it!
i really2 want to haf good nails… do u think they haf something to help my nails? coz my guy friends haf better nails than mine, n i can’t accept that! haha
Monstro says
July 1, 2008 at 11:28 amPB, your nails look divine and that red suits you! (Btw, your second toe is longer than your big toe, which means your husband will be afraid of you…so the chinese say-LOL!)
I need to warn you that I, too, had a bad experience at Colour Culture in Bangsar. At the time they had just opened and were located in BVI. My friend and I went in to do a pedicure. There was an existing caucasian customer who was also getting a pedicure at the same time. Other than treating our feet like pieces of meat, they practically ignored us. The other customer had so much attention–they offered her tea and kept checking on her, whereas my friend and I were ignored for the most part. Like YZ’s experience, they kept interupting my service by attending to people walking into the shop. So since then I haven’t bothered going back there.
There’s another nail place in BVII that’s owned by Soong Ai Ling though that I’d like to try out. I went in there to enquire and Ai Ling herself answered my questions. She was very friendly and helpful if that’s any indication of the actual service. I think the name of the shop is Nail Chic.
prettybeautiful says
July 1, 2008 at 11:39 amwow..looks so neat and pretteh. but i don’t like colors on my nails too, somehow my nails just feel suffocated
ParisB says
July 1, 2008 at 4:40 pmNikki: Not weird at all and thank you! That’s the first time anyone’s said my hands and feet are nice hehe…
YZ: Oh I think I know the girl you mean. Things were ok while we were there. There were about 3 nail artists but yes there were a few lapses. I thought it was normal 😛
lalala: You can get a manicure and pedicure with any length nails! 🙂 I actually prefer short nails and they look just as good. If you get a nice manicure then you won’t bite your nails coz polish doesn’t taste good!
Monstro: Uhoh! 2nd person to give a bad opinion of the place. Maybe we could try another one together some day! 🙂
prettybeautiful: LOL I know what you mean. I’m itching to scrape off the polish as we speak!
Indira says
July 1, 2008 at 5:39 pmI love red polish. My favorite is Get Reddy by Revlon.
And I apply it myself. Manicure is salon is toooooooo boring 😀
syafinaz says
July 2, 2008 at 11:06 ami once tried the hand and feet spa at nail parlour, OU (new wing).. heaven i tell you… they also got a lot of treatments that you can choosre from. but i also don’t like to put colours on my nails as i do a lot of housechores…
rinnah says
July 2, 2008 at 11:03 pmYou really love red, huh? *grin* But you look good with red.
The mani pricing is okay, but I think the pedi is a bit on the high side.
Zoe says
February 28, 2010 at 2:18 amfind this post^^ coz i felt like i wanna try manicure and pedicure for this moment~~~
thanks~~~
dawn says
March 15, 2010 at 3:37 pmWow..Thanks for the post. I tried manicure at snips saloon but it wasn’t great.
My sis did it in Cocoon at The Gardens but apparently not too professional.
So while googling and searching for info, stumbled upon your blog and I would have to say, great information 🙂
Thanks and nice nails 😉 Oh, btw, this is my first time visiting. I shall revisit 🙂