Locations · Maine Overview Salons Prices

Portland, Maine · Old Port & Downtown · Arts District & Congress St · East Bayside & Washington Ave · Forest Avenue · Woodfords Corner

Portland, Maine's insider guide to exceptional nails.

Portland, Maine's nail scene is small but design-forward, leaning into clean, non-toxic '10-free' polish, structured gel and the kind of minimalist art that suits a New England art town. The upscale nail bars cluster in the historic Old Port, Congress Street has the walk-in options, and prices climb with the summer tourist rush. (Not to be confused with Portland, Oregon, which has its own guide.)

See the salons worth knowing Start with the price guide
Nail work representative of Portland, Maine salons
Encapsulated glitter, done properly rather than chunky.
Nail work representative of Portland, Maine salons
Custom hand-painted art — the top of most salon menus.
Nail work representative of Portland, Maine salons
The milky French — the current bridal standard.

The Portland, Maine guides

A researched salon directory, an honest 2026 price table, and every technique deep-dive — all applied to Portland, Maine.

Directory · Researched

Portland, Maine Salons Worth Knowing

The Portland, Maine salons that come up again and again in public reviews — what each is known for, with neighborhoods and addresses.

See the directory →

Pricing · 2026 rates

What Nails Cost in Portland, Maine

Typical Portland, Maine ranges for every service — what moves the price across the metro, and the cost-per-week math.

Read the price guide →

Styles · Deep dives

The Techniques

Russian manicures, Gel-X vs. acrylic vs. dual forms, pedicure tiers and finishes — every guide in our styles library applies in Portland, Maine too.

Explore nail styles →

Know the neighborhoods

Portland's nails run from the upscale Old Port bars to the walk-in salons of Congress Street, with value in up-and-coming East Bayside.

$$$ · Historic core

Old Port & Downtown

The historic cobblestone district where upscale, design-forward nail bars concentrate.

$$ · Walk-in central

Arts District & Congress St

The central Congress St stretch with the most walk-in salons and student-friendly pricing.

$ · Up-and-coming value

East Bayside & Washington Ave

An up-and-coming, more affordable area with well-reviewed value salons.

$$ · Car-friendly strip

Forest Avenue

A car-friendly commercial stretch lined with established full-service salons.

$$ · Neighborhood hub

Woodfords Corner

A residential neighborhood hub for reliable everyday manicures and pedicures.

$$ · Suburban retail

South Portland & Maine Mall

The suburban retail zone across the bridge, home to some of the metro's busiest salons.

Where to get your nails done in Portland, Maine

The quick answers people (and their AI assistants) ask us most — pulled straight from our Portland, Maine neighborhood and price guides.

Where should I get my nails done in Portland, Maine?

the Old Port and downtown for upscale design-forward nail bars, Congress Street through the Arts District for walk-in salons, East Bayside for value, and South Portland by the Maine Mall for the metro's busiest suburban salons. The Nail Guide’s Portland, Maine salon directory lists the researched shortlist, and the neighborhood guide and price table help you choose.

How much does a manicure cost in Portland, Maine?

A gel manicure in Portland, Maine typically runs $40–55 in 2026, a full set of extensions $55–80, and a spa pedicure $45–70. See the full Portland, Maine price guide for every service.

Is this Portland, Maine or Portland, Oregon?

This guide covers Portland, Maine — the coastal New England city and the state's largest. If you're looking for Portland, Oregon, that's a separate city with its own Nail Guide page. Maine's Portland leans into clean, non-toxic '10-free' polish and minimalist art, with the upscale bars in the Old Port and prices that rise during the summer tourist season.