Beauty
Best Manicure
Pierre Michel
131 East 57th Street
212-593-1460

Sure, there are more nail shops than newspaper stands in New York, but few have the dedicated career manicurists you'll find at Pierre Michel. After a visit to Romanian-born Mariana Diaconescu or Connie Popa, your hands are perfectly groomed, shaped, and trimmed. Just as important, the manicures ($25) have staying power: A difficult-to-obtain top coat is imported from Colombia — so chip-resistant that the results should last through the week.

Karen Wu
1377 Third Avenue, near 78th Street
212-585-2044

GREAT DEAL: For a quicker and less costly fix, the manicurists at Karen Wu do a speedy, thorough job for just $11, and you can opt for a simultaneous neck and shoulder massage at a dollar a minute.

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