One of the first things my mother does when she comes to visit me over here in Singapore, almost as soon as the ‘unbuckle your seatbelt’ sign on the plane has been switched off by the captain, is go for a mani pedi (OK she does, just about, manage to unpack and hug me and the children first). This time I was determined to hunt out a new place for her to sample, having done the cupboard that is Elegant Nails in Tanglin Mall way too often.
So, always game, to the top floor of Far East Plaza she let herself be dragged. I had heard on good authority that there was a place somewhere here that did OPI $5 manicures. We were going to find it and I was going to have one (Mum was in full mani and full pedi mode on the basis she lives in the wilds of Scotland where they are not easily come by).
After a bit of confusion, we struck gold. The goldmine is called Cinderella and I will definitely be adding it to my Regina/Teresa Far East Plaza route when I am next back here.
It’s basic as hell, but don’t let that bother you as they paint so beautifully that my OPI polish lasted a full 6 days. For the insanely good value sum of $5 they will also shape and file but without any cuticle cutting (you just need one of those pushy-downy white plastic sticks with a red rubberized end and you can sort your own cuticles out). The express also included an OPI base and top coat which I have to say I wasn’t expecting, having wrongly assumed it’s omission would be a corner-cutting-cost-saver on their part.
Perfect painting on toes too..and for just $7…I mean, you could practically come here daily.
On close questioning, it turns out that for your own sanity you mustn’t be within a mile of this place on weekends when they are flooded by 100s of school kids all switching to next week’s latest color.
They were not at all busy when we popped by this Wednesday afternoon and I was squeezed in no problem; but if you’re hoping for their full mani pedi – costing $12 and $23 respectively, it’s still awesome value – then booking’s a good idea (Mummy dearest had to go next door for hers which, while good, was nothing to write home about).
Cinderella: #05-41 Far East Plaza T: (+65) 68362909
Open from 11am-9pm daily.
$5 Express Manicure, $12 Full Manicure; $7 Express Pedicure, $23 Full Pedicure; $3 Just Painting (no shaping or cutting)
Hand image courtesy of Through the Looking Glass
