The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

It may not look like much
from the outside, but Tarek Nail Care Center is a discreet shop below street
level next to Costa Coffee on Maadi’s Road Nine that delivers the best manicures and
pedicures in Cairo, hands down. 

Although its basic decor may
suggest otherwise, Tarek Nails is a highly professional enterprise that stocks
the latest Dr. Scholls and Goody products along with makeup, jewellery and nail
polish in all colours of the rainbow for your casual shopping enjoyment. 

The shop, which also has
locations in Dokki and the North Coast, is staffed by expert, if nonchalant
male and female technicians who deliver quality, long-lasting nail treatments.
Full manicures cost 50LE, pedicures 60LE, and colour-only 20LE. The shop also
offers waxing (starting at 20LE) and threading (starting at 15LE). For those
looking for longer-lasting nail solutions Tarek Nails also offers acrylic nails
starting at 250LE. While the ladies who do threading are expert, the cramped
treatment area makes waxing a bit uncomfortable. 

Visitors should always call
ahead for an appointment to avoid being turned away. Although male employees
are on hand to execute pedicures, ladies who’d rather stick to an all-female
team need only to ask to have this request granted. For those who opt for a new
experience, the male pedicurists are both skilled and very respectful of their
clients.

Iman is a particularly expert
manicurist, applying paint jobs that last the entire week without a trace of
chipping. French manicures (at no extra charge) are a flawlessly executed
specialty here. 

Treatments are delivered in
comfortable massage chairs, and all tools come in sterilised plastic wrapping.
The foot baths are cleaned with Dettol before each use, so you can rest
assured that your treatments will be executed in a hygienic fashion. 

The nail polish selection at
Tarek Nails is both diverse and on-trend. Choose anything from a classic pink
or red, to a trendy grey or blue hue from overflowing baskets sorted by colour.
If you colour of choice is running low or its consistency gluey from age, the
staff will happily oblige you by opening a new bottle. Similarly, if you
accidentally smudge your paint job while it’s drying, they are nice about fixing
it.  

If you’re looking for a
clean and professional shop to get a quality manicure or pedicure that will
withstand the tests of time and Cairo grime, look no further than Tarek Nail
Care Center.