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Artsy Manicures: A Guide to Miami's Best Nail Art Salons

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Few feelings compare to that of walking out of the nail salon with freshly primped nails. You hold your wine glass differently. Your outfits breath new life. You feel like you can take over the world, one pretty key stroke at a time. But sometimes, much like with our outfits, the urge to switch up your nail style creeps in and for this we have a solution: nail art.

Nail art is the ideal answer to that self-expressive calling. When it’s time to toss out the typical reds and pinks, or put a twist on the ubiquitous French manicure, these nine Miami salons have you covered. From color gradients and glitter drops to hand-painted characters and stencils, these local salons take nail art to a whole other level.

[Photo: Vanity Projects]

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Sweet Life Nails and Spa

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Our northwest Miami-Dade girls don’t need to trek to the metropolitan Miami for photo-worthy nails anymore, especially when the locally-driven Sweet Life Nails & Spa is upgrading Miami Lakes and Hialeah’s nail game. A peek through its Instagram shows off neon numbers, reptilian-inspired fingers and gem stone add ons. Sweet Life also offers pretty sweet deals, including its current summer special of a $35 gel manicure with a regular pedi. [Photo]

Nails & Wine

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This PSN Town Center shop provides every woman’s ideal R&R coupling - fresh paint jobs and leisurely libations. While the shop’s website doesn’t offer up much nail inspiration, its Instagram plentifully serves up the goods. Some of our favorite recent posts include a Disney-inspired red, white, and black set and an intricate ode to peacock feathers. Prices begin at $1.50 a nail and up, in addition to the manicure or pedicure price. [Photo

Vanity Projects Miami

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Since setting roots in Little River earlier this year, this New York City transplant has quickly become a blogger and creative’s go-to thanks to its premier line-up of in-house nail artists and internationally lauded guest manicurists who can pretty much pull off anything you ask for. Want “Feelin’ Myself” inspired nails? No problem. Yearning for hand-painted portraits of Snow White and her Seven Dwarfs? Sure thing! Vanity Projects also uses products from Japan, ensuring long-wear gel designs and unbeatable quality. Keep an eye on its Instagram for events and weekly specials, like its weekly $40 gel nail art special. [Photo]

Nailbar Beauty Lounge

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NailBar Beauty Lounge elevated salon expectations across the board when it opened in Midtown Miami in 2010 because it pioneered a new wave of service-driven but stylistic (and eco-friendly) salon experiences and helped anchor the then-emerging neighborhood. Nearly five years later, NailBar is still at the nail art forefront, re-imagining trends like jeweled beds and delicate details. Prices begin at $6 per nail, but generally depend on the design and polishes used.

Marilyn Monroe Nail Boutique

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Midtown’s Marilyn Monroe Nail Lounge is the ideal spot for a girl who’s looking to keep her nails somewhat timeless but with a flirty, fresh twist. Staying true to its namesake legend, the lounge never steers too far from the classics. Think perfectly painted hearts, lips, or polka dots in signature nudes and reds.

Love Nail Salon

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You may remember Love Nails from our list of price-friendly nail salons. Along with its sister location, Em Nail Salon, this pocket-friendly South Beach outpost slays stiletto styles. The staff posts sporadically on Facebook, but we couldn’t stop staring at these Halloween-inspired digits or this military-meets-matte-meets-glittery number. Love Nail Salon asks that you call for nail art price inquiries. [Photo

Blush Nail Lounge & Boutique

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Fierce foils and daring designs reign supreme at Alton Road’s Blush Nail Lounge. The work here speaks to those who are looking to make a statement, be it with sparkling tips or bold embellishments. Blush also carries Minx products, which ups its overall ante. Nail art starts at $5 per design. [Photo]

Gloss Nail Bar

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In addition to creating its own natural, “eco-friendly” products and vitamin-infused gels, Gloss Nail Bar in the Gables also produces top notch nail artistry. Gloss guests come out flaunting everything from abstract two-tone designs to cherry-blossom red stencils. [Photo]

Sweet Life Nails and Spa

Our northwest Miami-Dade girls don’t need to trek to the metropolitan Miami for photo-worthy nails anymore, especially when the locally-driven Sweet Life Nails & Spa is upgrading Miami Lakes and Hialeah’s nail game. A peek through its Instagram shows off neon numbers, reptilian-inspired fingers and gem stone add ons. Sweet Life also offers pretty sweet deals, including its current summer special of a $35 gel manicure with a regular pedi. [Photo]

Nails & Wine

This PSN Town Center shop provides every woman’s ideal R&R coupling - fresh paint jobs and leisurely libations. While the shop’s website doesn’t offer up much nail inspiration, its Instagram plentifully serves up the goods. Some of our favorite recent posts include a Disney-inspired red, white, and black set and an intricate ode to peacock feathers. Prices begin at $1.50 a nail and up, in addition to the manicure or pedicure price. [Photo

Vanity Projects Miami

Since setting roots in Little River earlier this year, this New York City transplant has quickly become a blogger and creative’s go-to thanks to its premier line-up of in-house nail artists and internationally lauded guest manicurists who can pretty much pull off anything you ask for. Want “Feelin’ Myself” inspired nails? No problem. Yearning for hand-painted portraits of Snow White and her Seven Dwarfs? Sure thing! Vanity Projects also uses products from Japan, ensuring long-wear gel designs and unbeatable quality. Keep an eye on its Instagram for events and weekly specials, like its weekly $40 gel nail art special. [Photo]

Nailbar Beauty Lounge

NailBar Beauty Lounge elevated salon expectations across the board when it opened in Midtown Miami in 2010 because it pioneered a new wave of service-driven but stylistic (and eco-friendly) salon experiences and helped anchor the then-emerging neighborhood. Nearly five years later, NailBar is still at the nail art forefront, re-imagining trends like jeweled beds and delicate details. Prices begin at $6 per nail, but generally depend on the design and polishes used.

Marilyn Monroe Nail Boutique

Midtown’s Marilyn Monroe Nail Lounge is the ideal spot for a girl who’s looking to keep her nails somewhat timeless but with a flirty, fresh twist. Staying true to its namesake legend, the lounge never steers too far from the classics. Think perfectly painted hearts, lips, or polka dots in signature nudes and reds.

Love Nail Salon

You may remember Love Nails from our list of price-friendly nail salons. Along with its sister location, Em Nail Salon, this pocket-friendly South Beach outpost slays stiletto styles. The staff posts sporadically on Facebook, but we couldn’t stop staring at these Halloween-inspired digits or this military-meets-matte-meets-glittery number. Love Nail Salon asks that you call for nail art price inquiries. [Photo

Blush Nail Lounge & Boutique

Fierce foils and daring designs reign supreme at Alton Road’s Blush Nail Lounge. The work here speaks to those who are looking to make a statement, be it with sparkling tips or bold embellishments. Blush also carries Minx products, which ups its overall ante. Nail art starts at $5 per design. [Photo]

Gloss Nail Bar

In addition to creating its own natural, “eco-friendly” products and vitamin-infused gels, Gloss Nail Bar in the Gables also produces top notch nail artistry. Gloss guests come out flaunting everything from abstract two-tone designs to cherry-blossom red stencils. [Photo]