Croatian Women Reveal Nail Prices That Make Their Heads Spin: Many Are Quitting Salons as a ‘Waste of Time and Money’

A Croatian Reddit discussion about nail prices has exposed a growing divide between women who say salon services have become unaffordable and those who argue that skilled technicians deserve to be paid properly.

The debate began in the popular “kokeRECENZIRAJU” group with a question about monthly spending on nails and the choice between permanent polish and gel. More than 170 comments followed, revealing sharp differences depending on the city, service and salon. In larger cities such as Zagreb, users described €25 to €40 for gel nails as an average range.

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I decided it was a waste of time and money.

Other experiences were considerably more expensive. One woman said she stopped going to salons after paying €95 for a pedicure, permanent polish on her toes and gel on her hands. “I decided it was a waste of time and money,” she wrote. Another said her Zagreb salon raised its price from €40 to more than €70 in a single year, forcing her to look for a cheaper option.

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I stopped getting my nails done, the price has gone through the roof.

Prices in smaller towns and neighboring countries appeared lower. Some users in Serbia reported paying €14 or €22. For several Croatian women, however, even regular local prices have become too much. “I stopped getting my nails done, the price has gone through the roof,” one wrote. Another said she had decided to order a permanent-polish kit because €25 was too much when the result often did not last two weeks.

Not everyone agreed that the services were overpriced. One commenter stressed the difference between saying “it’s too expensive for me” and saying “it isn’t worth that much.” The price, she argued, also covers the technician’s knowledge, experience, training, equipment, sterilization, premises, bills and taxes. “Nails are a luxury,” she concluded, comparing a manicure with professional makeup for one evening, which can cost up to €100. If well-made nails last three or four weeks and make someone feel better every day, she said, €50 may be worth more to her than €100 spent on a Saturday night.

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Nails are a luxury.