Beauty, in your hands.

What is PARSO NAILS?

PARSO NAILS is a nail and beauty studio for women that brings nails, hands and feet, brows, skin, waxing and sugaring together under one roof in Nasr City, Cairo.

What is the difference between gel and hard gel?

Gel is a coloured coat that is painted onto your natural nails. Hard gel is a building gel that gives the nail real structure. Gel usually lasts two to three weeks and suits nails that are already the length you like; hard gel can reinforce thin or weak nails or lengthen short ones into the shape you want.

How do I choose my nail shape?

Match the shape to your hands and your days: for short nails or busy hands, round or soft square keep their shape and are the least likely to chip. With short fingers or wide nail beds, oval and almond make the hand look slimmer and longer, while square, coffin and stiletto show off long, slim fingers. Not sure? Start with a soft square or an oval; both are easy to change at your next visit.

Can I show the studio a design I like?

Yes: show the studio the design you have in mind when you book, or decide it with your artist. Save a look from the lookbook and choose it when you book, or bring a picture of the design you love; hand-painted nail art can be added to any gel set.

Can I book more than one service in one visit?

Yes: you can take more than one service in a single visit, with up to 10 services in one booking request.

How fast do nails grow?

Fingernails grow about 3.5 mm a month and toenails about 1.6 mm, according to a 2010 study of 22 healthy young adults in the United States, published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. That growth is why gel and hard gel grow out with your nails, and why a refill every two to three weeks keeps the shape balanced.

According to Yaemsiri and colleagues (Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2010), “Average fingernail growth rate was faster than that of toenails (3.47 vs. 1.62 mm/month, P < 0.01).”

Source: Yaemsiri S, Hou N, Slining MM, He K. Growth rate of human fingernails and toenails in healthy American young adults. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2010;24(4):420-3

Why shouldn’t I peel off my gel?

Peeling or picking gel off can damage your natural nail, and a fingernail takes about six months to grow out completely, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Book a gel removal instead: the studio takes gel off carefully, never peeled or forced off.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), “Picking and scraping off the polish can damage your nails.”

“It takes about six months to grow out your fingernails. Toenails need 12 to 18 months to grow out,” said board-certified dermatologist Shari Lipner, MD, PhD, FAAD, as quoted by the AAD.

Source: AAD, Dermatologist's secret for removing gel nail polish at home

Should I shave my legs before a pedicure?

No: shave your lower legs after your pedicure, not in the 24 hours before it, as the American Academy of Dermatology advises.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), “Shave your lower legs after getting a pedicure, not before. That means not shaving your lower legs for at least 24 hours before you get a pedicure.”

Source: AAD, Manicure and pedicure safety

Does water really weaken nails?

Yes: too much water exposure can weaken nails, so wear gloves for washing up and moisturise after washing your hands.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), “Too much water exposure can weaken your nails, causing them to split, peel, or break. To prevent this, wear gloves when cleaning or washing dishes, and make sure to moisturize after hand washing.”

Source: AAD, 11 dermatologists' tips for healthy nails

How common are brittle nails?

About 20% of people have brittle nails, and women twice as often as men, according to a 2005 review in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Brittle nail syndrome is a common condition that makes nails fragile. A drop of cuticle oil massaged into the base of each nail keeps the nail flexible.

According to van de Kerkhof and colleagues (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2005), “Brittle nails affect about 20% of the population and women are affected twice as frequently as men.”

Source: van de Kerkhof PC, Pasch MC, Scher RK, et al. Brittle nail syndrome: a pathogenesis-based approach with a proposed grading system. J Am Acad Dermatol 2005;53(4):644-51