Summer clothing and accessories reveal
all. It doesn’t matter how expensive those gilded gladiator sandals
are, or how chic the label is on the perfectly faded tank top,
if your toenails are battered and your fingernails are gruesomely
bitten to the quick.
Boerum Hill’s fuschia-colored Dashing Diva, which is rapidly
approaching its first birthday, offers a comparatively quick
solution for nails in need of an extreme makeover. While their
Tailor Fit Nails and Tip Toe Nails ($10-$15) already come in
a variety of sizes and designs – ranging from French to disco
ball sparkle – their Virtual Nails ($25) are completely transparent
and are available in even more sizes. Combine the Virtuals with
the Basic Diva Manicure ($12) for nail shaping, massage and "Flash
Dry" finish.
Like those retro hits, Lee Press On Nails, the Virtual Nails
are full coverage – glued right on top of your existing nail.
But Virtuals are practically a custom fit. (The staff sizes you
up and records your stats on your first visit, so future applications
are even faster.)
During my service, Maria, who’s worked at Jisoo and Gina Sun’s
Dashing Diva since it opened, shaped my existing nails, sized
me up, easily applied the nails, wrapped my hands in moist, hot
towels and loosened my computer-stiffened hands with a massage.
When I hesitated over selecting a polish color, Gina combined
two to get the matches-everything-ballerina-pink I was looking
for – at no extra charge.
After two weeks, the staff can remove the Virtual Nails for you
with a soak ($10) that dissolves the adhesive – leaving your
own nails unharmed and ready for another round. Need a break
between sets? The soak is available for purchase at the shop
and you can remove at home. But why do that when free Cosmopolitans
are to be had with any service on Thursdays and Fridays, from
5 to 9 pm? Not surprisingly, reservations are recommended.
For more information about Dashing Diva (129 Smith St. at Dean
Street in Boerum Hill), call (718) 875-1210 or visit the Web
site www.dashingdiva.com.
