Green and yellow paisley prints against a red background. Candy stripes in white and red. A sprinkling of diamante across deep blue. A smattering of hearts to mark St. Valentine’s martyrdom. Neon. Aquamarine. Fuchsia. Buttercup yellow.
Welcome to the world of trendy nails at Nina Bual’s nail bar Chamki, which offers a little something for nearly everyone. “Indian women celebrate life with colour and we love matching everything. We match our clothes to accessories, slippers, jewellery and bindis. So I thought, why not nail polish?” says Nina, a UK-born entrepreneur who has been part of the spa industry for over seven years now.
According to Nina, the luxury hospitality and spa industry predominantly catered to men. Though women now have a disposable income they still don’t have disposable time, hence spending three hours in a spa is not a luxury the modern Indian woman can afford.
That is where the idea of an express nail bar hit her, despite it being a relatively new concept in India.
The bar is located in the hub of the city — Garuda Mall, and offers a range of products and services that include 70 shades, an interactive nail bar offering manicures, acrylics and exclusive nail art, as well as an interaction with a professional nail technician who examines your nail’s health and offers advice on nail upkeep.
Nina’s insistence on the brand being all-Indian has lead to the products having quirky, desi-inspired names like Jamuni, Shaadi, Jhataak and Sindoori .
Even the name of the brand is decidedly Indian, “The word Chamki had an Indian feel to it, inspires happiness, and lightens you up,” says Nina.
For appointments call 8147228367/9663872502. Log into www.chamkinails.com.
