There's one on almost every corner in New York. And while this side of the Atlantic was initially slow to catch on to the latest beauty trend, London is teeming with dedicated nail salons. Now Dublin is set to get its very first unisex nail bar. Former model and managing director of 1st Option model agency, Julian Fallon, and fashion stylist/consultant Sonja Mohlich have teamed up to open Ireland's first manicure venue.

Located above Paul Dromgoole's Zeba Hairdressing at 60 South William Street, The Nail Room has just opened. The duo hopes to change the habits of a nation. The Nail Room will be a franchise operation and Julian Fallon plans to open branches in Cork, Limerick and Galway in the spring.

He then intends to go international with the chain, with St Tropez in the south of France and Marbella in Spain are potential locations. on the agenda.

Until now, you could only get a manicure in Ireland in a beauty salon which, with a few exceptions, have catered mostly to a female market.

Nails have become big business. New Yorkers take nailcare seriously; there are some 300 dedicated manicure bars in the downtown area. It's a concept that has found great popularity with women and men. The walk-in parlours of New York are renowned for their speedy and inexpensive service with prices starting at around $10 for a basic manicure. London was quick to embrace the concept and make its mark by adding the ultra-trendy edge. The first dedicated nail bar opened in London over a year and a half ago, and since then competition has become intense.

There are four main manicure chains operating independent operations and concession outlets in larger stores. Nail Heaven is the resident nail bar at Top Shop's Oxford Circus branch; then there's what was formerly known as The Nail Bar chain, now relaunched as Scarlet. The New York Nail Company and Nail Inc. are the other two big players.

While the New York parlours are run by white-coated women sitting at work stations that they rent by the week or month, the London market has given the service a more image-conscious packaging, from which the Dublin chain will take its cue.

Manicures are still viewed as a luxury service here in Ireland, unlike New York, where both men and women will have anything from nails polished to exotic art work painted on. Dublin consumers have become much more image conscious over the last few years and Julian Fallon is very confident that The Nail Room will be a big hit.

The beauty industry in Ireland has grown by 10 per cent this year and Irish women now spend in excess of £100 million per annum on beauty products.

The Nail Room has been designed by the Morrison Hotel architect Hugh Wallace in a very modern and minimalist style.

Prices will range from £4 to £60 and there is an extensive menu of services on offer, from a basic manicure to aromatherapy hand massage to nail sculpture and accessories.

Julian Fallon plans to open a second Dublin venue on the northside of the city soon.