How to choose a good nail salon in Vienna: what to look for

Anni Nails · 11 November 2026 · 7 min read

Workstation in the Anni Nails studio with a white table, a hand rest, a desk lamp and nail polishes, a pink neon sign on a wall of wooden slats behind it and grey chairs on either side

When you choose a nail salon in Vienna, the photos of finished nails tell you less than the way the salon treats your natural nails: whether someone looks at your nails and asks questions before the treatment, whether the cuticle is protected rather than cut, how gel is removed and whether price, duration and what is included are clear in advance. The last clue comes from your own nails, because you often only notice how gently the work was done in the days after the appointment.

What reviews and photos tell you about a nail salon

If you are looking for the best nail salon in Vienna, you will probably look at the star ratings and photos first, and the photos mainly show whether you like a salon's style. They usually show freshly done nails, and a photo like that does not reveal what the nails looked like once the coating was removed or whether the skin at the edge of the nail was sore afterwards. So even with a top-rated nail salon it is worth reading the reviews themselves, because a review that describes how the consultation and the work went says more than praise for the colour.

What a good consultation before the treatment looks like

In a good salon the manicure starts with a look at your nails and a few questions, for example whether you have worn gel before and whether your nails are splitting or have become thin. If you have ever had a rash after artificial nails, say so right at the start, because according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the professional association of dermatologists in the US, the substances in artificial nails can cause an allergic reaction in some people (the AAD on manicure and pedicure safety).

An honest consultation also means that a problem is not simply covered up, because the AAD advises against hiding nail problems under artificial nails, as this can make them worse. So if a manicurist suggests having a nail that looks unusual checked by a dermatologist first instead of putting gel over it, she is acting in your interest.

Cuticle and nail plate: no aggressive techniques

What you should watch most closely at a nail salon is how the cuticle is treated, because to prevent infection the AAD advises never cutting your cuticles and never pushing them back forcefully. In an AAD news release, dermatologist Samantha Karlin warns against the Russian manicure, in which an electric drill is used to remove the cuticle and the skin around the nail, because the cuticle is a protective barrier and removing it puts you at risk of infection from bacteria and fungi (the AAD's news release). After Russian manicures, according to Karlin, dermatologists repeatedly see paronychia, an infection in which the skin around the nail is inflamed, painful and discoloured.

A rough manicure is not harmless for the nail plate either, because according to the AAD an injury from an aggressive manicure is one of the common reasons a nail lifts off the nail bed (the AAD on nail changes). Feel free to ask before your appointment whether the cuticle will be cut, and say so if you do not want that. You can read why the cuticle protects the nail in the article Cutting your cuticles or not.

How to recognise gentle gel removal

If you wear gel, the way a salon takes it off says a lot about how it works. According to the AAD, picking or filing gel off can do considerable damage to your nails, and dermatologist Shari Lipner advises against lifting gel off with an orange stick, because this can injure the nails and cause white spots (the AAD on removing gel polish). If the colour starts to come off, the AAD also advises against helping it along with other nails or tools and recommends making an appointment to have the gel removed at the salon instead (the AAD on gel manicures).

At the salon, then, nothing should be pulled or prised off by force, and a good manicurist can explain beforehand exactly how the gel will be removed and how deep the filing will go. How to care for the nail afterwards is covered in the article Gel nail removal.

Prices, duration and what a salon does not offer

When you compare good nail salons in Vienna, check whether it is clear before the appointment what a treatment costs, how long it takes and what it includes, for example whether gel removal also includes a manicure. That way you can plan your time properly and there are no surprises when you pay.

A salon is also being honest when it says openly what it does not do and when it advises you against something now and then. One reason for this can be the condition of your nails, because the AAD does not recommend artificial nails for people with brittle nails or a tendency to fungal infections, while for healthy nails they can be fine as long as they are not worn continuously.

Hygiene at the nail salon

You can partly tell from the workstation whether a salon works cleanly, and according to the AAD you should feel free to ask how the instruments are cleaned. If a salon does not look clean, the AAD advises going to a different one. What Austrian rules require for instruments and which questions you can ask are covered in the article Manicure hygiene.

What your nails show in the days afterwards

For your nails, the best manicure in Vienna is the one after which your nails and skin feel completely normal in the days that follow. That is not always the case after gel, because according to the AAD gel manicures can make nails brittle and cause them to peel or crack. If your nails have become thin afterwards, you will need some patience, because according to Shari Lipner it takes about six months for a fingernail to grow out completely.

Have a nail checked by a dermatologist if

the skin around the nail turns red, swells, hurts or produces pus, because according to the AAD redness with swelling can be a sign of infection,
the nail lifts off the nail bed,
the nail changes colour or a new dark streak appears in it,
you get a rash after gel or artificial nails, and in that case tell the doctor which products were used, as the AAD advises.

If your nails were sensitive after your last treatment, mention it at your next appointment.

Anni Nails in Meidling: how the studio works

Anni Nails at Schönbrunner Straße 253, 1120 Vienna, is the studio of Anastasia, who has been doing manicures for more than ten years. Every treatment includes a personal consultation on caring for your nails and the skin of your hands, and the terms and conditions ask you to let the studio know about any allergies, skin conditions or health concerns before the treatment.

Anastasia works without aggressive techniques and treats the nail plate gently. "Manicure (File / Classic)" is a classic manicure with files and nail care in which the cuticle is not cut but gently smoothed and shaped. It takes about 50 minutes and costs €40.

The website describes "Gel Removal" as gentle removal: about 70 per cent of the material is taken off with the drill, but only down to the base layer, and the remaining 30 per cent or so is softened and carefully removed, after which a nourishing serum goes on the nails. Gel removal takes about an hour and costs €25, and it does not include a manicure.

What the studio does not offer is also stated on the website: Anastasia works with short nails, not long ones, and does not do extensions. Sterilising the instruments and using disposable materials are part of every treatment. You pay only after the treatment, at the prices shown when you book.

The studio is open Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 8 pm, and on Sundays on request. You will find all treatments with prices and durations under Services and prices, and you can make an appointment online under Book an appointment.