About the studio

Alena Goncharova, Nail Master

I work alone, by appointment, in a studio at Av. de Federico Soto, 20, 03001 Alicante in the centre of Alicante. There is no reception, no waiting area and no second chair, because there is never a second client in the room.

That is a deliberate choice rather than a limitation of scale. In a shared salon a technician typically manages two or three clients in parallel — colour curing on one set while another is being filed. It is an efficient model and it keeps prices down, but it puts a hard ceiling on how much attention any single appointment can receive. Preparation gets compressed first, because it is the invisible part, and preparation is exactly what determines whether a manicure lasts three weeks or six days.

Working one-to-one removes that pressure. If a set of nails needs an extra fifteen minutes at the cuticle to be done properly, it gets them, and nobody is waiting. It is also why a manicure with coating is booked for two hours here rather than forty-five minutes.

How I work

Technique

Combined manicure — an electric file for the nail plate and cuticle area, finished with hand instruments where more control is needed. For pedicure, hardware technique on dry skin rather than soaking and blades. Both give a cleaner and longer-lasting result than the older methods when used correctly.

A fully manual manicure is available for anyone who prefers it, or whose skin is too thin or damaged for the e-file. Ask when you book.

Honest limits

Cosmetic nail care is not medical treatment, and I am careful about the boundary. Suspected fungal infection, an infected or inflamed ingrown nail, diabetic foot concerns and open wounds all need a podiatrist or doctor first. If you describe something when booking that falls outside what I should be treating, I will tell you so and suggest where to go instead. Taking a booking I should not take helps nobody.

Languages and who comes here

Appointments run in English or Russian, and WhatsApp messages in either are fine. The client base reflects Alicante reasonably accurately — Spanish residents, a substantial English-speaking community across the Costa Blanca, Russian and Ukrainian speakers who have settled in the city, and visitors staying long enough to want somewhere reliable rather than whatever is nearest to their apartment.

The studio suits people who value an unhurried, predictable appointment. It is honestly not the right fit if you need a same-day walk-in or the cheapest set in the city — a larger salon will serve you better on both counts.

Finding the studio

Av. de Federico Soto, 20, 03001 Alicante. City centre, a few minutes on foot from Mercado Central and the Rambla de Méndez Núñez, and walkable from most of the centre. The exact door and floor are sent by WhatsApp once your appointment is confirmed — the studio is not a shopfront, so this matters.

Services and prices

Frequently asked questions