From the moment you arrive, our goal is to make you feel welcomed, comfortable, and well cared for. After checking in, you'll be invited to explore our beverage menu and settle in as your ritual begins.
Your technician will take the time to discuss your goals and recommend the most suitable approach for your desired result, ensuring every service is tailored to you.
Throughout your visit, we encourage you to ask questions, share your preferences, and let us know if there's anything we can do to make your experience even more enjoyable.
We hope your first visit is the beginning of a long-lasting relationship with PE.
Yes. Complimentary water, tea, coffee & our signature popcorn are available at both of our spaces. We also offer an à la carte beverage menu featuring soft drinks at both locations and alcoholic beverages at Dupont.
For your comfort, you'll also find complimentary amenities throughout your visit, including phone chargers, blankets, LED masks, and thoughtfully stocked restroom essentials - everything you need to settle in, relax, and enjoy your time with us.
Our Ossington and Dupont spaces are more like sisters than twins. Both offer the same standards of service, team philosophy, and attention to detail, while each has its own atmosphere, design, beverage menu, and unique touches.
Whichever you choose, you can expect the same exceptional care that defines every Project Essence experience. We hope you'll visit both and discover your favourite.
Please reach out to our team before booking - we'll be happy to guide you toward the service that's right for you. Selecting the correct service ensures we reserve enough time for you, as it may not always be possible to make significant changes upon arrival.
Ossington (219 Ossington Ave.)
Street parking is available on Ossington Ave and nearby streets (please check posted restrictions, especially weekdays from 4:00-6:00PM).
Dupont (408 Dupont St.)
A Tap2Park lot is located directly behind our building at 281 Howland Ave., with additional street parking available nearby.
As parking availability can vary, we recommend allowing a few extra minutes before your appointment.
To preserve the peaceful atmosphere of our spaces, we ask that only guests receiving services attend their appointments. As our spaces are designed exclusively for guest use, we aren't able to accommodate children or additional visitors. Thank you for your understanding.
For your convenience, we offer several ways to book your appointment. You can schedule your visit online, by phone, via text message, by email, through Instagram direct messages at @projectessence.inc, or in person at either of our spaces.
*Our phone numbers are used for both calls and text messages, whichever is most convenient for you.
We kindly ask that any cancellations or major appointment changes be made at least 24 hours in advance.
Appointments cancelled within 24 hours of the scheduled start time, as well as no-shows, are subject to a fee of 50% of the reserved service value. This also applies if a service is cancelled upon arrival when multiple services have been booked together.
Our cancellation policy allows us to protect our team's time while offering availability to other guests whenever possible. Thank you for your understanding.
A valid credit card is required to secure all appointments. Your card is not charged at the time of booking - we simply keep it on file for no-shows or late cancellations in accordance with our cancellation policy. For your security, we only have access to the last four digits and the expiry date.
The card on file does not have to be your method of payment. At the end of your visit, you're welcome to pay by cash, debit or credit, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or a PE gift card - or, if you prefer, we can charge the card on file.
If you're running late, please let us know as soon as possible so we can do our best to accommodate your visit.
Depending on your arrival time and the service you've booked, we may need to shorten or adjust your service to remain on schedule and respect the appointments that follow.
We recommend arriving a few minutes early so you can settle in, enjoy a beverage, and begin your ritual feeling relaxed.
A Russian dry manicure is a highly detailed manicure technique performed on dry nails using an electric file (e-file) and precision scissors or nippers. Unlike a traditional manicure, the cuticles are carefully treated without soaking the hands, allowing for exceptional precision and a clean, refined finish that lasts longer.
This technique creates a flawless foundation for polish application, resulting in a manicure that looks neater, lasts longer, and grows out more beautifully. It also allows the colour to be applied closer to the cuticle line for a seamless, freshly done appearance.
Shellac is a specific gel polish brand by CND. Unlike the modern gel systems we use at PE, it is designed to be removed by soaking in acetone, while our gels are gently removed using an e-file.
Gel polish is a thin, flexible coating that provides long-lasting colour and is best suited for naturally strong nails.
Hard gel is a stronger builder gel that adds structure and support, making it ideal for weaker nails, longer lengths, or guests who experience lifting or breakage.
Our team will be glad to recommend the product best suited to your nails, lifestyle, and desired result.
No. At Project Essence, we specialize exclusively in modern hard gel systems and do not offer acrylic or Bio Gel services.
Our hard gel systems provide the strength, structure, and durability needed for a wide range of nail types while allowing us to create a refined, natural-looking finish tailored to each guest. If you're unsure which service is right for you, our team will be happy to recommend the best option for your nails.
Yes. We offer regular polish for both manicures and pedicures using a curated selection of colours from OPI, Gelcare, and other professional brands (colour selections may vary between our two spaces).
Regular polish is offered at the same price as gel polish. Please let us know when booking or select it online so we can reserve additional drying time.
If you're booking a regular polish pedicure, we kindly ask that you arrive in open-toe shoes to help protect your freshly polished nails on your way home.
Most of our manicures are designed to last 3–4 weeks, although longevity depends on your nails, lifestyle, and home care.
To keep your nails healthy, we recommend returning every 3–4 weeks for maintenance. Waiting longer may increase the risk of lifting, breakage, or damage as your nails grow.
If you experience unexpected lifting or chipping within 5 days of your appointment, please let us know. Our 5-day service guarantee covers workmanship and material-related issues.
Several factors can affect the longevity of a manicure, including your nail condition, lifestyle, aftercare, and whether the chosen product is the best fit for your nails. For example, guests with long square-shaped nails often benefit from hard gel rather than gel polish for added strength and support.
At Project Essence, we work exclusively with professional-grade products and will always recommend the system best suited to your nails. If you experience lifting, chipping, or another technical issue within 5 days of your appointment, please let us know. Our 5-day service guarantee covers workmanship and material-related issues, and we'll be happy to assess the concern and provide a complimentary correction if needed.
To help your manicure (or pedicure!) last between rituals and keep your natural nails healthy, we recommend applying cuticle oil daily, wearing gloves when using household chemicals, avoiding using your nails as tools, and never picking or removing gel or hard gel at home.
For the best results, return every 3-4 weeks for regular maintenance. If you experience unexpected lifting, chipping, or another technical issue within 5 days of your appointment, please let us know. Our 5-day service guarantee covers workmanship and material-related issues, and we'll be happy to assess the concern and provide a complimentary correction if needed.
Brow tint typically lasts up to 7 days on the skin (depending on your skin type and skincare routine) and 4–6 weeks on the brow hairs. To help your tint last longer, avoid exfoliants, retinoids, and oil-based products around the brow area.
For consistently fresh-looking brows, we recommend returning every 3–4 weeks, often combining your tint with a brow shaping service.
A lash lift and tint typically lasts 6–8 weeks, depending on your natural lash growth cycle. For best results, avoid water, steam, eye makeup, and oil-based products around the lashes for the first 24 hours after your appointment.
To maintain a consistently lifted and defined look, we recommend booking your next appointment every 6–8 weeks.