FAQ / Policies
Good to know
Policies
The essentials
Deposit Policy
A 50% deposit is required for every appointment to secure your booking.
The deposit forms part of the total service payment.
Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy
We require at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment.
Deposits are carried over to a new appointment time when rescheduled or cancelled more than 24 hours in advance.
Cancellations or rescheduling requests made with less than 24 hours' notice may result in the loss of your 50% deposit plus an additional cancellation fee, bringing the total charge to 100% of the appointment value.
A 100% no-show fee applies if you do not attend your appointment without notice.
We understand that genuine emergencies can happen — at our discretion, we may waive the fee in the case of a genuine emergency or if we are able to fill the cancelled appointment with another booking.
Removal Policy
Removal is complimentary when you maintain the same type of coating at our salon. This includes gel, BIAB, extensions, and traditional nail polish.
If your product was applied at another salon, or you are switching to bare nails or a different type of coating, a $25–$40 removal fee will be added to your manicure or pedicure, depending on the product, length, and thickness.
Traditional nail polish removal is $5 when added to a manicure or pedicure if the polish was not previously applied at KOVA or you are switching to a different coating.
We also remove SNS, acrylic, and other non-gel products.
If you only need the product removed without a manicure or pedicure, standalone removal appointments are available.
Getting Here
Location & parking
Where is KOVA Nails & Beauty located?+
KOVA Nails & Beauty is conveniently located just 1 minute (approximately 90 metres) from Crows Nest Metro Station and a 7-minute walk from St Leonards Train Station. Crows Nest Metro is only around a 5-minute ride from Sydney CBD.
Is parking available?+
Yes. Free 2-hour parking is available directly across the road at the multi-storey Hume Street Car Park, Pole Lane, Crows Nest — provided you exit before 6:00pm. The car park also has electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
Metered street parking is also available outside the salon, and is free on weekends, except Saturdays from 8:30am to 12:30pm, when parking restrictions apply.
Booking
Appointments & deposits
How do I book an appointment?+
Appointments can be booked online through our booking system. Select your desired service, choose your preferred technician if applicable, and select a suitable date and time. A 50% deposit is required to confirm every appointment — once the deposit has been paid, your booking is confirmed.
Do I need to pay a deposit?+
A 50% deposit is required for every appointment to secure your booking.
The deposit forms part of the total service payment.
What is your cancellation and rescheduling policy?+
We require at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment.
Deposits are carried over to a new appointment time when rescheduled or cancelled more than 24 hours in advance.
Cancellations or rescheduling requests made with less than 24 hours' notice may result in the loss of your 50% deposit plus an additional cancellation fee, bringing the total charge to 100% of the appointment value.
A 100% no-show fee applies if you do not attend your appointment without notice.
We understand that genuine emergencies can happen — at our discretion, we may waive the fee in the case of a genuine emergency or if we are able to fill the cancelled appointment with another booking.
Do you accept walk-ins?+
We are primarily an appointment-based salon. Walk-ins may occasionally be accommodated if we have availability, but we cannot guarantee a same-day appointment. We recommend booking in advance, particularly for Saturdays, evenings, and early morning appointments.
Nail Care
Longevity, removal & products
How long will my nails last?+
Our manicures are designed to keep your nails neat, tidy, and beautiful for 3+ weeks. Most clients return around 3–4 weeks, depending on nail growth, lifestyle, natural nail condition, and aftercare.
Proper e-file preparation and correctly structured product application help achieve strong adhesion and long-lasting results.
Do I need to add removal to my booking?+
Removal is complimentary when you maintain the same type of coating at our salon. This includes gel, BIAB, extensions, and traditional nail polish.
If your product was applied at another salon, or you are switching to bare nails or a different type of coating, a $25–$40 removal fee will be added to your manicure or pedicure, depending on the product, length, and thickness.
Traditional nail polish removal is $5 when added to a manicure or pedicure if the polish was not previously applied at KOVA or you are switching to a different coating.
We also remove SNS, acrylic, and other non-gel products.
If you only need the product removed without a manicure or pedicure, standalone removal appointments are available.
Why don't you offer SNS or acrylic?+
SNS and acrylic are older-generation nail enhancement systems that rely on different chemical formulations and application methods that are not aligned with the approach we take at KOVA.
We choose to work exclusively with modern gel systems, allowing us to create strong, lightweight and natural-looking nails while minimising unnecessary stress on the natural nail.
At KOVA, we believe in using modern techniques and products that support our focus on nail health, quality and long-lasting results.
Hygiene
Hygiene questions
How do you sterilise your tools?+
All metal instruments pass through a medical Class B autoclave between every client. Everything non-metal — gloves, masks, files, buffers, orangewood sticks — is single-use and disposed of after each appointment.
What products do you use?+
Everything non-metal (gloves, masks, files, buffers, orangewood sticks) is single-use, disposed of after every client Only professional-grade products used — never low-cost/unverified alternatives
Is the e-file technique safe for my nails?+
It's the question we hear most, and it's a fair one — a badly handled e-file absolutely can damage the nail plate.
That's precisely why training is the whole point of a specialist salon: our technicians use low speeds, light pressure, and bits matched to the job, working on dead tissue only, never the living nail bed.
Done properly, by someone trained specifically to do it, e-file is gentler than a metal cuticle cutter and more precise than prolonged soaking — which is exactly why we built the salon around it, rather than offering it as one option among many.
Loyalty
First visit, birthday, referral & points
What do I get on my first visit?+
10% off your first visit and a complimentary welcome gift pack — then $15 off your second visit, automatically.
How does the birthday discount work?+
10% off, valid the two weeks before your birthday.
How does referring a friend work?+
15% off for you, 15% off for the friend you refer — a permanent, always-on offer. Both rewards expire 60 days after they're issued. The referrer's reward is triggered only once the friend completes and pays for their first visit.
How do I redeem points?+
Redeem your points at your next visit once you've reached a threshold: 750 points for $15 off homecare, 900 points for $25 off next service, 1,500 points for $50 off a Signature service.