Hello, this is Kathleen.

People often ask me, “Kath, why can manicure prices in Bali be so different?”

Honestly, it is a question I love. One salon may charge Rp 70,000. At Hanarei, our price is Rp 325,000. That is a big difference, isn't it?

“What's the difference? It is just nail colour, right?”

Well, after spending five years as a Beauty Product Consultant in the United States, I can tell you: the difference is a lot. And often, that difference is hidden from you.

Today I want to unpack a little of it. These are five things you are actually paying for (or not paying for) during a manicure.

1. “Clean” versus “Sterile.” They are not the same.

This is my biggest red flag, and I will never forget it. I once sat in a fancy salon in Kuta while the chair was still warm from the previous client. On the table, I saw a small piece of dry cuticle. Whose was that?

On another occasion, a sharp piece of nail extension poked into me while I was sitting in the chair. It was awful.

Nail infections are real. Tools that are only washed and dried? That is not enough. Washing does not eliminate every fungal spore.

“Clean” as seen by the eye is not the same as “sterile.” That is why we do not compromise at Hanarei. We insist on cleaning tools with hot water, disinfecting them, and using a UV steriliser. Self-care should calm you, not make you worry.

2. “Japanese” concept, but local products?

I love Japanese Gel. The standard is different. But I have seen a lot of disappointment.

In Denpasar, I once showed a photo of a pearly, flawless glazed-donut design. The salon said, “We can do that.” What I received looked strangely patchy and was not chrome at all. Completely different.

I suspect they did not have the right chrome powder but tried to create the look with what they had. That is not honest.

Genuine premium Japanese Gel, such as KOKOIST or Bella Forma, has a thicker, pigmented texture, a wide range of colours, and a much longer-lasting result. Personally, I have worn it for six weeks and it still looked great. Regular Gel? It can chip at the edge in ten days.

3. Different hands, different results (the precision standard)

Ugh. This is my biggest frustration. I paid premium prices at a hype salon in Seminyak and expected a top result. What I got was uneven nails and uneven Gel.

When I raised the issue gently, the nailist said that my cuticles were “difficult.” Excuse me?

The colour also touched my skin, and it became extremely hot under the lamp. That is not precise work. A professional nailist earns their fee through detail. They should carefully remove the remaining Gel from under the nail, something many salons skip. At Hanarei, our training standard is precision. Period.

4. The industry's “sin”: surprise add-ons at checkout

We have all been there. The treatment feels wonderfully zen, you walk to the counter, and then... chaos.

The menu price is Rp 150,000, but the bill is Rp 280,000.

“Sorry, there was an additional charge for the pearls.” “There is also cuticle vitamin.”

Wait, what? Vitamin that I did not request? A ritual that should be relaxing becomes tense and awkward at the payment step. That is not fair to the customer.

This is why Hanarei has the Price-Before-Touch (PBT) promise. The price you approve at the beginning is the final price at the counter. Honest is the new luxury.

5. Wanting to relax but feeling stressed? It is about the atmosphere

I once tried a private salon in Canggu. I expected quiet. Nope.

The nailist beside me was watching TikTok at full volume. My nailist would not stop asking, “Where do you live?” “Are you married?” “What is your job?” I wanted me-time and quiet time, not an interrogation.

In a mall, it can be noisy, crowded, and distracting.

Self-care is a ritual. The place, the scent, and the music should support your calm. That is why I designed Hanarei as a sanctuary: private, cosy, calm music, and a pleasant scent. Our technicians are professionals who respect your personal space. They work quietly unless you invite conversation.

So, what does “expensive” really mean?

Let us return to the original question.

An Rp 70,000 manicure may only pay for coloured nails. Without always realising it, you may be giving up hygiene, product quality, precision, price transparency, and, most importantly, your own peace of mind.

To me, Hanarei's premium price is an investment. It is my personal promise to you: healthy, honest, precise, and calm.

As I always say, a customer should be pampered, not just painted.

Stay refined,

—Kathleen (Hanarei Founder)