Navratri hands work hard. They hold the aarti thali, clap through the garba, grip dandiya sticks for hours and get photographed at every step. Chipped polish shows up in all of it.
Most people do not want to repaint every night, and do not need to. A bit of planning gives you nails that suit the whole festival.
Matching nails to the nine colours
| Day | Outfit colour | Nail shade that works |
|---|---|---|
| 1, Sun 11 Oct | Orange | Coral, or a warm nude |
| 2, Mon 12 Oct | White | Soft pink or a clear gloss |
| 3, Tue 13 Oct | Red | Classic red, or nude so the outfit leads |
| 4, Wed 14 Oct | Royal blue | Berry, wine or a silver shimmer |
| 5, Thu 15 Oct | Yellow | Peach or a pale gold |
| 6, Fri 16 Oct | Green | Rose, copper or nude |
| 7, Sat 17 Oct | Grey | Mauve, or a deep wine for contrast |
| 8, Sun 18 Oct | Purple | Lilac or a soft mauve |
| 9, Mon 19 Oct | Peacock green | Deep rose, gold or teal |
The easier way: three shades for nine nights
Repainting every evening is tiring and hard on nails. Most people pick a few shades that bridge several days instead:
- A warm nude or rose. Sits with orange, white, yellow, green and peacock green. This one shade covers most of the festival.
- A berry or wine. Works with red, royal blue and grey nights.
- A soft mauve or lilac. For the purple and grey days if you want a closer match.
When to book, and in what order
- Manicure before Day 1Shaping, cuticle care and colour the day before Navratri starts, so nails are neat from the first evening.
- Mehndi after the manicureIf you want mehndi, do it after nail work, not before. Wet hands and a mehndi stain do not mix with fresh polish.
- A polish change mid-wayA nail cut, file and polish is quick and enough to switch shades for the second half.
- A pedicure if you are in open sandalsFeet are on show at garba too. The manicure and pedicure combo covers both in one visit.
Keeping polish intact through garba
- Let polish dry fully before you hold dandiya sticks. Fresh polish dents and smudges easily.
- Wear gloves for cooking and washing up during the festival. Hot water and detergent lift polish quickly.
- Carry a clear top coat for a quick touch-up on a chipped tip.
- Keep nails a sensible length. Long nails catch on dupattas and break against dandiya sticks.
What it costs
| Service | Menu price | Navratri price (10% off) |
|---|---|---|
| Nail Cut, File & Polish | ₹149 | ₹134 |
| Manicure (basic) | ₹349 | ₹314 |
| De Tan Manicure | ₹549 | ₹494 |
| Manicure + Pedicure Combo | ₹699 | ₹629 |
Tell us which nights you are going to garba and your outfit colours. We will suggest shades and book the manicure before Day 1.
Common questions
Which nail colour suits all nine days of Navratri?
A warm nude or soft rose works with most of the nine colours. Add a berry or wine for the red, royal blue and grey days if you want a closer match.
When should I get a manicure for Navratri?
The day before Navratri starts, so nails are neat from the first evening, with one quick polish change around Day 5 if you want a new shade.
Should I do mehndi or a manicure first?
The manicure first. Mehndi needs dry hands for hours afterwards and does not mix with fresh polish.
How much is a manicure at home in Jaipur during Navratri?
A basic manicure is ₹349 on the menu, ₹314 with the Navratri 10% offer for appointments from 11 to 19 October 2026. A nail cut, file and polish is ₹149.
How do I stop polish chipping during dandiya?
Let it dry fully before holding the sticks, keep nails a sensible length, and wear gloves for cooking and washing up.
Book what this guide covers
Full price lists and details for the services discussed here.
