CREW · JOURNAL

Nails Queenstown: BIAB, gel polish and manicures, what they cost and which to book

4 November 2026

Short answer: Our nails Queenstown menu is short and simple: Crew's nail technician Natasha does BIAB, gel polish and manicures upstairs at 22 The Mall. BIAB is $80 (about an hour the first time), an infill is $80, an infill with gel polish is $90, gel polish is $60 and a manicure is $30. Pick BIAB if your nails keep breaking, gel polish if you just want colour that lasts.

Updated November 2026. Service prices are from our live price list and are confirmed at your consultation.

Looking for nails in Queenstown and not sure whether you want BIAB, gel or a plain manicure? They do different jobs, and booking the wrong one is the usual reason people end up disappointed. Here's how they compare, what each one costs at Crew, and how often you'll be back.

All our nail work is done by Natasha, who looks after the nail room and front of house. She works Tuesday to Friday.

What is BIAB?

BIAB stands for Builder In A Bottle. It's a soft gel overlay painted over your own nail, not a fake tip or extension. It adds strength while your natural nail grows underneath, which is why people with thin, bendy or peeling nails tend to love it.

The other useful thing about BIAB is the infill. Instead of soaking everything off at each visit, Natasha files back the old layer, fills the gap at the cuticle as your nail grows out, and rebuilds the shape. Your nail isn't stripped back to bare every few weeks, so it gets a chance to grow.

BIAB vs gel polish: what's the difference?

Gel polish is colour. It's thinner, glossy, cured under a lamp and chip-resistant for a couple of weeks or more, but it doesn't add much strength. BIAB is structure first. You can wear it clear or nude on its own, or have gel polish over the top.

A simple way to decide: if your nails are already strong and you just want colour that lasts through a busy fortnight, book gel polish. If your nails break before they ever get any length, book BIAB.

Nails in Queenstown: prices and times

These are the nail services on our live price list. Prices are from prices, confirmed when you're in the chair.

Service	Best for	Time	Price
BIAB, first time	Nails that break or peel	1 hr	$80
BIAB infill	Keeping BIAB going as nails grow	1 hr 15 min	$80
BIAB infill with gel polish	Strength plus a colour	1 hr 15 min	$90
Gel polish	Long-lasting glossy colour	1 hr	$60
Manicure	Tidy, healthy natural nails	30 min	$30
Manicure package, 5 visits	Regular upkeep	5 x 30 min	$275
Gel removal	Taking gel off properly	30 min	$20
BIAB removal	Going back to natural nails	30 min	$30
Nail repair (add-on)	One broken nail	15 min	$15

How long does BIAB last?

The product itself stays put for weeks. What changes is the gap at the base as your nail grows. Most people come back for an infill every three to four weeks, a bit sooner if your nails grow quickly or you want it looking fresh for something.

Leave it much longer and the weight sits further out on the nail, which is when you're more likely to snag or lift an edge. If that happens, don't pick at it. Book a repair or an infill and let Natasha deal with it.

Is BIAB bad for your nails?

BIAB itself isn't what damages nails. Most of the damage people blame on it comes from peeling it off at home or from heavy filing on removal. Come in for a proper removal ($30) when you want to go back to bare nails, and keep up with cuticle oil in between.

If your nails are very damaged right now, tell Natasha when you book. Sometimes a few rounds of BIAB help them grow past the weak part. Other times a plain manicure and a break is the better call, and she'll tell you honestly which it is.

Which one should you book?

Your nails keep breaking or peeling: BIAB, first time, $80. Then infills every few weeks.

You want colour for a holiday, a wedding or a ball: gel polish, $60, booked a few days before so any tweak can still be fixed.

You already have BIAB and want colour too: BIAB infill with gel polish, $90.

You just want them tidy: a manicure, $30. If you're coming in regularly, the five-visit package is $275.

Someone else did your gel or BIAB: book the removal first so we're starting on clean nails, then the new service.

Walk-in nails in Queenstown: can you just turn up?

Walk-ins are welcome whenever Natasha has a gap, and people do get lucky. But nail appointments are an hour or more, so gaps don't come up often. If you've got a specific day in mind, especially before a wedding or a night out, book online so the time is yours.

Nails and hair on the same visit

Because nails and hair are in the same salon, it's easy to stack them. Plenty of people book a BIAB infill and a blow-dry on the same afternoon, or nails the day before their wedding hair. Tell us when you book and we'll line the times up so you're not sitting around between them.

What it costs, how long it takes and how to book

BIAB from $80 (1 hr first time), infills $80 or $90 with gel polish (1 hr 15 min), gel polish $60 (1 hr), manicure $30 (30 min). Removals are $20 for gel and $30 for BIAB. The full menu is on our nails page and the price list.

Book nails online any time, or call 03 441 8555. We're upstairs at Level 1, 22 The Mall, with the entrance off Ballarat Street. Here's how to find us, as first-timers often walk straight past the stairs.

Picking up haircare while you're in

There's no nail retail on our shelves, but if you're booked for nails and want to grab haircare at the desk, these Kérastase products are all in stock.

Kérastase Elixir Ultime L'Huile Originale 75ml, $105.00
Kérastase Genesis Defense Thermique 150ml, $70.56
Kérastase Nutritive Travel Duo 2 x 30ml, $21.95
Kérastase Gloss Absolu Travel Trio, $42.95
Kérastase Premiere Concentre Decalcifiant Ultra-Reparateur 250ml, $91.56

Why book and buy with Crew

We're Queenstown stylists, upstairs at Level 1, 22 The Mall, and the haircare we sell is genuine salon stock bought direct from the brands' New Zealand distributors. Free NZ shipping on orders over $75. Book online any time, or call 03 441 8555.

Frequently asked questions

How much are nails in Queenstown at Crew?

BIAB is $80 the first time and $80 for an infill, or $90 for an infill with gel polish. Gel polish is $60 and a manicure is $30. Gel removal is $20, BIAB removal is $30 and a single nail repair is a $15 add-on. Prices are confirmed when you're in the chair.

What are BIAB nails?

BIAB (Builder In A Bottle) is a soft gel overlay on your natural nail. It adds strength while the nail grows, and it's infilled at each visit rather than fully removed, so your own nail isn't filed back to bare every time. It suits nails that are prone to breaking.

How often do I need a BIAB infill?

Most people come back every three to four weeks. It depends on how fast your nails grow and how much regrowth at the base you're happy to see. An infill is $80, or $90 with gel polish on top, and takes about an hour and 15 minutes.

Do you do acrylic nails?

Acrylics aren't on our menu. We do BIAB, gel polish and manicures. BIAB is an overlay on your own nail rather than an extension, so it's the one to book if you want stronger natural nails rather than added length.

Can I walk in for nails?

Yes, if Natasha has a gap, so it's worth calling 03 441 8555 first. Nail appointments run an hour or more, so gaps are limited. Booking online is the surest way to get the day you want.

When should I get my nails done before a wedding or ball?

Two to three days before is the sweet spot. The colour is fresh, and there's still time to fix a chip. If you're having BIAB for the first time, try it a few weeks earlier so you know how your nails take to it.

Can I get my nails and hair done at the same appointment?

Yes, that's one of the perks of nails being inside the salon. Book both online, or call us and we'll line them up back to back. A blow-dry and a gel polish together take about two hours.