Being offered the chance to have a decadent manicure worthy of Kim Kardashian in the luxurious surroundings of upmarket department store Harvey Nichols, I wasn't likely to say no.
Being a reporter does not come with a five star lifestyle, so having a slice of the Kardashian life, even for an hour was very appealing. As was the soft pink and gold hued salon on the ground floor of Harvey Nics, as people affectionately like to call it, and the glass of fizz waiting on arrival.
Create & Coat is the first ever flagship Mani Pedi Spa by The GelBottle Inc. and award-winning sister brand Peacći. From the brand I am told is loved by A-listers such as The Kardashians and professional nail techs around the globe.
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Founder Daisy Kalnina says of the new Create & Coat space: "My vision has always been to create a brand that was unrivalled in terms of offering the highest quality products and delivering incredible results for clients' nails.
"Now, six years after TGB began, the natural next step was to combine our award-winning products, my absolute love for the personal care service industry and salon life, along with my personal passion for interior design and that’s how Create & Coat was born.
"With over 15 years of industry experience, every element of the spa has been carefully considered, so in true TGB style, no detail has been left unpolished. Located in the beauty hub of Harvey Nichols, Manchester, Create & Coat provides an oasis of pampering calm and abundance of Insta-worthy interiors; it is the perfect place to unwind and prioritise your wellness."
Wowzers. Well, I certainly felt myself unwinding as my fab and friendly nail technician Chloe Mason got to work on my nails and hands as part of a VIP gel manicure priced at £70. Usually I have nails long enough to rival the singer Adele, but after one by one they started to snap recently, I had been forced to file them down to a fraction of their former glory. A cold, hard winter had left my hands feeling so dry I guessed I could at least skip a trip to the hardware store if I wanted to do some sandpapering at home.
But Chloe promised she could bring my nails back to life and set about filing, primping and painting. The choice of colours was absolutely vast. I was presented with a number of books filled with the sample nails and it seemed there wasn't a colour combination I couldn't have, with every hue under the rainbow - red and yellow and pink and blue - so I went for my predictable go-to colour.....black.
Chloe seemed approving of my choice however, agreeing it's good to stick with what you know you like, and telling me my choice of jet black was very much a Kim Kardashian colour - who knew she and I had so much in common? Chloe then set about painting my nails with minute precision, even using a teeny tiny brush to make sure the edges were sharp and clean.
After painting my nails, Chloe gave my hands some much needed attention - exfoliating them with a fresh, peach smelling Peacći scrub, dropping a fizzy bomb into a warm bowl of water and soaking my hands before covering them in Peacći lotion, wrapping them in deliciously hot towels and letting them transform from sandpaper to silky soft.
The warm soak was instantly comforting and relaxing, as was the feeling of the hot towels and the products smelled fresh and fruity. Chloe also gave my hands a relaxing massage, which after hours of battering a keyboard to produce copy to deadlines, I decided they probably really, really deserved.
I was very happy with the end result, short they may still be but shiny and shapely too. Mostly, it was nice to unwind, feel pampered and enjoy pretty surroundings and an uplifting ambience. The friendly staff were warm and welcoming and told me that while they always recommend booking in advance they do try to accommodate walk-ins if possible too.
All services are vegan and cruelty-free using The GelBottle Inc. and sister brand Peacći nail and skin products. Add-ons including nail art and removal are available with all treatments and no matter what treatment is chosen, TGB say ‘you’ll be in love at first coat’.
I left the salon with shiny nails and smooth, sweetly scented hands worthy of an A list celebrity. It was raining out on the streets of Manchester though and as I left the warm, comforting cocoon of Harvey Nichols department store there was no chauffer driven limo waiting to whisk me home - just a wet walk to the nearby metro and a damp journey home.
Still, you can't have everything (unless you actually are Kim Kardashian, in which case yes, you can have everything) and I was happy with my fun afternoon experience - Create and Coat well and truly nailed it.
Visit the website here for more information or to book: Createandcoat.com
