It depends on what your nails need. Our Signature Manicure is ideal for clients wanting detailed nail and cuticle work with a polished finish. Our Strength Manicure is best for healthy natural nails needing added durability and long wear. Builder Gel (BIAB) is better suited to nails that need more structure, support or help with growth.

If you’re unsure, book what feels closest and we’ll guide you at your appointment.

If you currently have gel, BIAB, SNS, acrylic or extensions on your nails, you may need removal added to your booking. This ensures enough time is allowed to remove product safely and complete your new service properly.

You can book your appointment as normal online or directly with the studio.

We do not take payment at the time of booking. A credit card is simply held as security in line with our booking policy.

If you’re booking online, your gift card does not need to be entered when making the booking. It can be applied in studio when you arrive for your appointment. If you have a physical gift card, please bring it with you.

If you’re unsure of your balance before your appointment, you can check it online using our gift card balance checker.

Yes. We offer both physical and digital gift cards.

Physical gift cards can be purchased in studio only.

Digital gift cards can be purchased online and scheduled to be sent directly to the recipient, making them an easy option for gifting ahead of a birthday, celebration or special occasion.

You can also check your gift card balance online here: Check gift card balance.

In most cases, yes. If you already have product on your nails, adding a removal to your booking ensures we allow enough time and avoids your service being rushed. You can add this to any service during the online booking process.

Yes, absolutely. Nail art is one of our passions at BUFF and something our team has strong experience and expertise in.

We offer different nail art tiers depending on the complexity of the design, from minimal details through to more intricate artwork. This allows us to match the time, skill and level of detail required for each look.

Nail art is available with Gel Polish, BIAB and Strength services. We do not offer nail art with our Dazzle Dry polish system.

If you have a design in mind, we recommend sharing inspiration photos and booking the appropriate nail art add-on so enough time is allowed for your appointment.

Bare is our most natural manicure. It focuses on nail shaping, detailed cuticle care and nail health, no polish is included it's intention is to let your natural nails shine.

Express is a faster manicure designed for clients wanting a tidy refresh in less time. It includes the essentials for a polished result, with a more streamlined service. No cuticle work is included.

Signature is a more detailed, refined manicure with comprehensive nail prep, cuticle care and your chosen finish. It’s ideal for clients wanting the full BUFF manicure experience.

Strength is designed for healthy natural nails that don’t need the full structure of builder gel, but do need added durability and longer wear. It provides added reinforcement with a clean, natural-looking finish. If you're looking for extended wear time without going the builder gel route, this is your pick!

BIAB is best for nails needing more support, structure or help with growth. It’s ideal for clients with weak, damaged, peeling or breakage-prone nails, or for those wanting a more structured overlay on the natural nail.

Short natural nails can suit several services. If you want a polished, low-maintenance finish, Signature may be enough. If you want more support and durability, Strength or BIAB may be a better fit depending on your nail condition.

Dazzle Dry is a high-performance nail polish system designed to deliver the look of a polished, glossy manicure with impressive wear, without the need for gel or UV curing.

Many clients enjoy at least 7 to 10 days of chip-free wear, making it a great option for those wanting something longer-lasting than traditional polish but easier to remove than gel.

It air dries in around 5 minutes, so you can walk out the door without worrying about smudging or denting your nails.

It can also be removed at home using standard nail polish remover, which makes it a low-fuss option for clients who want durability with easy upkeep. Trust us - there's no other polish out there like it!

If your nails are weak, damaged, prone to peeling or breaking, BIAB is usually the best fit. It provides more structure and support on the natural nail while you grow them out.

Yes. We can remove gel polish, BIAB, SNS, acrylic and extensions, including product applied elsewhere. Timing can vary depending on what is currently on your nails.

A Strength Manicure is a long-wear manicure designed for healthy natural nails that need added durability, without the full structure of builder gel.

It includes detailed nail and cuticle preparation, your chosen gel colour, and a strengthening layer to help reinforce the natural nail and improve wear.

It’s ideal for clients wanting a clean, natural-looking finish with more support than a regular gel manicure, but less structure than BIAB.

If you’re unsure whether to book Strength or BIAB, we generally recommend starting with Strength as the first step. It’s often the best fit for clients wanting added durability and long wear, without committing to the extra structure, mainteance and time of BIAB.

Most clients return every 3 to 4 weeks, depending on nail growth, lifestyle and how well the product is wearing.

Yes. Builder Gel (BIAB) is usually be rebalanced and infilled if the product is in good condition and the nails are suitable for ongoing maintenance. We are typically happy to infill work from other salons following a quick assessment to check that condition of the product an your nails to ensure it is safe to do so.

We use The Gel Bottle for our builder gel services. It’s a premium UK brand and the original creator of BIAB™ (Builder In A Bottle), widely recognised within the professional nail industry for its innovation, performance and builder gel expertise.

We choose it for its quality, consistency and long-wear performance, as well as the strength and finish it delivers when applied correctly by trained professionals.

For clients who have experienced sensitivities in the past, we also have HEMA-free options available. These are designed for clients with confirmed HEMA sensitivities or allergies, and can be used as part of a full HEMA-free system where appropriate.

As with any professional nail system, product choice is only one part of the result. Correct preparation, application, curing and service selection all matter, which is why we focus on recommending the right service for each client rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

Use cuticle oil regularly, avoid using your nails as tools, wear gloves for cleaning and frequent water exposure, and follow the aftercare advice from your Nail Artist. Nail health and day-to-day hand use both affect wear and no product is bulletproof!

SNS uses a dipping process, and due to the hygiene concerns associated with that method, we’ve chosen not to include it as part of our service menu.

We take pride in following hygienic, safe salon practices. All reusable metal tools go through a multi-step sterilisation process involving specialised cleaning, ultrasonic processing and autoclaving. Any items that cannot be sterilised are either disposed of or allocated for personal use only.

Yes. Our polishes are safe to use during pregnancy.

We require at least 24 hours’ notice for appointment changes or cancellations. Late cancellations may incur a fee of 50% of the appointment value, and no-shows may forfeit 100% of the booked service fee.

We offer a chip-free guarantee on selected services as part of our commitment to quality and consistency.

If your manicure chips, lifts or shows a fault within the guarantee period, please contact the studio that completed your service as soon as possible. We’ll review the issue and, where appropriate, arrange a repair.

The guarantee applies to product performance issues and does not cover general wear and tear, accidental damage, breakage, picking, or issues caused by lifestyle, work or aftercare.

Dazzle Dry / Polish services are covered for 3 days. Gel Polish services are covered for 5 days. BIAB, Strength and Extensions services are covered for 7 days.

For the fastest review, please send clear photos when getting in touch.

We require credit card details at the time of booking as a security measure in line with our booking and cancellation policy.

No charges or deposits are taken at the time of booking. Payment is made at the end of your appointment in studio.

Your card details are simply held securely to protect against late cancellations, no-shows or missed appointments in accordance with our booking terms.