GLOSSLAB is the new “it” spot for manicures and any celebrity sightings." "Rachel Glass also favors quick drying polishes - her salons around N.Y.C. are stocked with a variety of colors that are dry before you're out the door."

Much like at restaurants and hair salons, the industry standard for tipping at the nail salon ranges around 15 to 20 percent, and it is generally recommended that if you've received extra services or specialty designs, a minimum of 20 percent is appreciated.

If the total for your manicure was $50, tipping $10 is a good tip since it's 20% of the total.

The typical cost of a manicure in the city helps explain the abysmal pay. A survey of more than 105 Manhattan salons by The Times found an average price of about $10.50. The countrywide average is almost double that, according to a 2014 survey by Nails Magazine, an industry publication.