GETTING a mani-pedi can be time-consuming and expensive.
That’s why when Target unveiled that it was offering 10-minute manicures for only $10, consumers like myself were excited to see what the hype was all about.
The manicures, done by an in-store robot called Clockwork, are currently offered at select locations in the states of Texas, Minnesota, and California.
As a Dallas local in desperate need of a manicure, I was excited to discover that there was a Clockwork robot at a Target nearby.
I made an appointment online and headed over to the store the next day.
When I arrived, there was a woman manning the station who asked for my name and appointment time.
She quickly checked me in and began disinfecting the machine and the table it sat on.
There were 25 colors to choose from – less than at my usual nail salon but more than what I expected from a small robot – and I went with a dark shade of red.
Although I didn’t have high expectations, I was surprised that there was no nail buffing, cutting, or filing involved.
A cart next to the machine held Q-tips, polish remover, and nail files – so I assume if you need it, you could ask – but none of that was offered to me by the woman and my nails were good enough.
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On that note, here’s my first pro tip: go with your nails cleaned, tips trimmed, and cuticles cut. The machine strictly does color.
After watching a short clip that explained how the robot works, I placed my hand on the holder and let the machine do its thing.
Thanks to an interior sensor and the digital photos that it takes, the robot scans the size and shape of your nails – one at a time – and analyzes exactly where to paint.
For my first nail, I started off on the wrong foot: Because I apparently made a slight movement with my hand, the robot didn’t accurately assess my nail size and therefore didn’t cover the whole thing with paint.
The woman paused the machine, removed the sloppy polish from my finger, and told me to try again.
I was skeptical, but this time, it got it right.
The robot arm came down, first painting the outline of my thumb’s nail and moving inward with each motion.
The woman told me that although it only paints each nail once, the machine expels enough polish for two coats.
After seeing that this first one went smoothly, I was hopeful about the rest.
12 minutes later (the extra two minutes were likely due to my initial mess-up) and my manicure was complete.
There was no topcoat involved, but the woman recommended putting one on yourself at home if you can.
I was, at first, impressed by the results.
The finish was smooth; the polish most of the nail; there was no residue on the surrounding skin; and it dried fairly quickly.
Still, I noted that someone who is particular or picky about their manicures (I am not) probably wouldn’t be all that excited, given the polish didn’t completely reach every edge of the nail.
Because it was a Friday afternoon, I thought I was at least covered for the whole weekend with a fresh mani – especially since the woman told me she’s heard people say it lasts over a week.
Unfortunately, that hope was short lived.
By Saturday, I noticed visible chipping at the top of a few nails.
By Monday, those chips had grown significantly to the point where I was desperate to take it off.
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But, I waited until Wednesday. By that point, the polish looked thin and grainy.
I happily drove to my usual nail salon and got a gel manicure.
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