Hammer und Nagel, 1st Male Manicure, Pedicure in Europe Opens in Munich

Hammer und Nagel, 1st Male Manicure, Pedicure in Europe Opens in Munich

By  Thursday, 26.3.2015, 08:23    What's Happening

Male grooming took a step forward in Germany on March 24, 2015, as the first male manicure and pedicure centre in Europe opened its doors in a plush address in Central Munich.

Hammer und Nagel (Hammer and Nail) is the brainchild of successful Munich businessman Philipp Pechstein, and he explained to Total Munich where he got the idea from: 

We were on holiday in Los Angeles last August, and I saw a similar store there. I had never seen anything like it. A couple of months later, while driving to Berlin with my wife, I suddenly realised that this would work VERY well in Munich, so we decided to open if we could find a great location.  

Things moved very quickly after that. First of course was the need to find a prime location, and Philipp managed to secure the lease on a premises on Blumenstrasse, a stone's throw from the world-famous Viktualienmarkt and Marienplatz, and next door to one of Munich's top restaurants, Zum Goldenen Kalb.  

A complete and very stylish fitting out of the space, including lots of very creative touches, such as this 'knuckle duster' clothes brush, and Hammer und Nagel was ready to open its doors just seven months after the visit to L.A. 

Although much of the interior, such as these bricks, looks dated, everything is new. In all their are four regular stations for clients, who can recline and relax in a deep armchair, as well as one VIP are at the back of the store. 

The location is important, for as well as being in the centre of town, it is also close to a sizable catchment area of single affluent men in neighbouring residential zones. As the store opened its doors for the first time, the first customer was... an Englishman! 

Pechstein is confident that the concept will catch on, and he is already planning his expansion to other parts of Germany, including Hamburg and Cologne. There are a range of manicure and pedicure services for men, starting at just 18 euro for a quick pedicure. An excellent idea, and one which will surely take off, in the same way that men visit a barber for a shave. 

Follow Hammer und Nagel on Facebook.

Blumenstraße 3
089 24206200

 

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Paul Bradbury

After 12 years living on the most gorgeous island in the world, Hvar in Dalmatia, I have begun to wonder if there is still life beyond its shores. Prior to discovering Paradise in 2002, I was a world traveller, living and working in Japan, Georgia, Somalia, Rwanda, Russia... and Munich.

After 95 countries and some 25 years have passed, the memories of my year in the hotel industry in the Bavarian capital (fired by the Sheraton for losing our pet snake, the first male chambermaid at Hotel Arabella, and a truly eye-watering introduction to five-star living in  my days as a bellboy in luxury Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten) are strong, and the call of Munich has been a constant theme over the last quarter century. 

And so here I am, answering the call some 25 years later. Twelve years of island living have changed me for sure, but also left me curious about life in a big city, and whether or not I could adapt to it after such an insular decade. 

I was surprised to see that for such a magnificent multi-cultural city, English-language blogs and regularly updated information are not that available. Static tourism information, such as that provided by the excellent tourist board website yes, but accounts of daily life delivered daily? Hard to find.

And so I have decided to take a break from my idyllic island and see if I could live in a city again. And what better way to try than to discover modern Munich in all its facets after so many years. It is a journey of discovery which I am relishing, and I hope the site proves to be of interest for Munich residents and its numerous visitors.

About Paul Bradbury

Author of Lebanese Nuns Don't Ski, Lavender, Dormice and a Donkey Named Mercedes and Hvar's first comprehensive guidebook, Hvar: An Insider's Guide to Croatia's Premier Island, as well as co-author of Split: An Insider's Guide with Mila Hvilshoj, I have lived in Dalmatia full time since 2003. In addition to running Total Munich, I also run Total Split (www.croatia-split.com), Total Hvar (www.total-hvar.com) and Total Inland Dalmatia (www.total-inland-dalmatia.com), as well as being an accredited Google News journalist for Digital Journal in Canada.

I also have various blogging clients, including the Central Dalmatia Tourist Board, European Coastal Airlines, Touristar TV and Andro Tomic Wines, and print clients include Qatar Airways inflight magazine, Out! magazine from New York, and Croatian Hotspots. 

In December 2014 I was delighted to receive the Marko Polo 2014 Award from FIJET Croatia (Federation of International Travel Writers and Journalists)  at a ceremony for the Croatian Journalists Society for the best international tourism promotion of Croatia. More here.

Ongoing writing projects:

A History of Hajduk Split, co-author with Frane Grgurevic - in 2015

Around the World in 80 Disasters - out in 2015

Total Hvar in the Media:

Interview of the Month, Croatian Embassy in Washington (May 2013)

Special Feature in Globus Magazine (May 2013)

Featured on Croatian TV show, More (2012) - watch the report here

Interviews in Slobodna Dalmacija, Dalmacijanews, Radio Split

I am available for writing services. Please contact me on [email protected] or visit my main writing website, www.bossandblogger.com 

Website: total-hvar.com Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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