Clockwork
- Startups are creating robots that promise quick and reliable manicures, The New York Times reported.
- Some TikTokers and YouTubers say robots can't replace the joy of a salon or doing nails yourself.
- Nail robots aren't widely available yet and don't do key services, like trimming or shaping nails.
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This manicurist is reliable, with no need to tip or make small talk, and you're in and out within 10 minutes.
If that sounds ideal, a growing number of startups are trying to make it a reality by developing robots that can paint your nails and even print nail art, The New York Times reported.
One San Francisco company called Clockwork offers a full manicure, done entirely by robots, that takes only 10 minutes and costs only $8 (the average manicure done by a human costs around $22 and takes about 30 minutes). The company advertises "no slip ups, no slow downs, no small talk."
However, some on social media are against the idea, worrying that it could take jobs from human nail technicians and extolling the joys of the salon experience and painting your own nails.
A TikToker under the username elissamaercklein went to Clockwork's robot salon, and got a coat of red polish on her nails during the minutes-long appointment. "For $8 I'm happy to have a robot do a much better job than I could do," she said.
"That said, I don't think this will replace the artistry of nail technicians, but I do think for professionals and working people it's a great option to still get your nails done," she said.
Other TikTokers were less impressed, with some accusing the company of taking jobs away from working-class people.
However, Renuka Apte, a founder of Clockwork, told The New York Times that the company doesn't anticipate any job losses at salons as a result of the machine.
One critical difference between salons and the nail robots are that the machines don't provide full manicures, which usually include trimming and shaping nails, taking care of cuticles, and extra amenities like hand massages.
With the nail care market at around $10 billion and projected to reach as much as $11.6 billion, startups offering robot manicurists have a large market available to them.
Robots also might not be as effective at doing nail art as humans are. Cristine Rotenberg, who runs the popular Simply Nailogical channel on Youtube, tested a nail art printing robot and found that the nail art wasn't as sharp as she had hoped and the manicure looked fuzzy and pixelated.
"I think people could tell the difference between painted nail art and printed nail art," she said. "There's still something people enjoy about actually doing the nail art that this machine cannot replace. You cannot replace me, bitch."