The Shellac manicure begins like many manicures do—but immediately there is something different. Star Nails’ meticulous technicians trim, file, and shape fingernails, tame cuticles, and apply seemingly standard polish with a remarkable attention to detail. And then something really sets it apart. Hands suddenly find themselves beneath the glow of a UV lamp, where rays typically associated with the sun and George Clooney’s blinding smile have been corralled to cure that seemingly ordinary polish into chip-resistant nail shields that last for up to two weeks. The nail experts can also trade in the Shellac for acrylics or classy French designs and rarely stop at hands—they pamper sore and tired feet with skin-softening salt scrubs, hot-towel wraps, and hot-stone massages.