Top Reviews about 16 Nail Salons in San Diego, CA (Part 2)

Liesbeth Gijsel These ladies were so friendly and patient. I went in there super nervous and came out relaxed and smiling. I will go again. Enjoyed the little foot massage, the Netflix show they put on and the friendly banter.

M Mcd *ended up with an infection* I was recommended to this place by a girl in my building at work. Her nails looked beautiful and clean. They were what I was looking at trying to get done. After how highly she spoke of them I made my appointment and even took my man with me so he could get his feet pampered. My visit ended up being bittersweet. We got the "royal spa pedicure" or something like that its was the second most expensive spa pedicure on their list. It was WONDERFUL! The technicians were a pleasure to work with and were a joy to have conversation with. Yes the conversations were short but when you bring in a man with ticklish arches and it comes to pumicing his soles...good times. My technician checked with me for every part of the treatment amongst the temperature of the products used, if anything was uncomfortable, etc. The most I can say is that my man almost fell asleep and he had smooth feet for WEEKS (he wears boots in a labor intensive job so ya Im impressed) my toes looked great and I would go back to that specific technician. My problem was with my tech for my manicure...she was..unpleasant to say the least. This was not my first manicure nor my first set of acrylics.. she kept yanking my hand and twisting my fingers. She kept stabbing me with her own nails to the point of almost bleeding. She trimmed my cuticles to the point of several fingers bleeding... please understand I was very vocal about my discomfort during this appointment. I asked for a different tech and was told no with a sneer. I tried pulling my hands away several times but she would continuously grab my forearm and yank my hand back...the poor girl working on my feet couldnt do anything about it. She tried to speak to the girl doing my nails about something and she was immediatly shut down. Long story short, I got *close* to what I asked for. Each nail was a different length, the corresponding nail on the opposite hand did not match the length of the other. Nails were crooked and slightly different shapes. And to finish with my pointer finger got infected and swelled up within 24 hours. I got antibiotics and ended up losing the entire nail within a week. I say my visits bittersweet because I would say it was just this specific tech that ruined my experience. I wish I would have remembered her name but if I go back and see her there I will update with her name. Pics attached. What I asked for vs what I got and my toes as well.

Stacy G. First visit - Went in for a gel removal on hands and feet and Jackie did a great job. I was quoted a lower price over the phone for the removal and she honored it. I will definitely go back for a pedicure. Second visit- got a gel manicure by Tram and basic pedicure by Jackie. Both did a great job.

Kylee Wilhelm My first time at Lavish Nails was great! My nail tech Nam asked many questions about my preferences and he was very meticulous with each step. Lately when I get my nails done, salons will spend 2 seconds on my cuticles but this was not the case here. This will be my new go-to salon!

Angeline Ta Love my nails! I did a hard gel overlay with almond shape. I showed them a picture of a design I saw on instagram and they were able to execute wonderfully. They were meticulous and all very friendly. So happy with my experience!

Deborah Shirley I went in to get a perfect manicure and spa pedicure, but ended up with a SHOODY WORK on my fingernails. I enjoy treating myself, so today, I had a couple hours to enjoy a relaxing time of pampering - I decided to drive over to Lavish. I had been there a few weeks back, and the nail technician was very nice and did my nails to my liking. I was very pleased the first time. I should have left a review, and then I would have remembered the lady by name and booked an appointment with her. I decided to try Lavish again because Its near where I live. I was a walk-in. Ohmy what a miserable mistake I made. I asked for the classic service. I felt it should be done correctly because its easy. Just Polish. No designs. Classic. The lady who guided me over to the spa chair started off really nice and pleasant. She began the services running water in the spa for my feet. Then she took my right foot, and used a little bitty tiny amount of nail polish remover, soon after that she started to use a nail drill on the top of my big toenail, then moved to the next toes fairly quickly and removed some of my top polish using different nail drill bits. I should have asked her immediately what happened to using only polish remover, and then I should have asked a follow-up question about the purpose of using a drill to remove nail polish. I waited because I tend to be very trusting, and I was thinking to myself shes the expert. It took me 2 more seconds of watching her filing off the blue nail polish and watching the nail dust shavings before I asked her about using a nail drill. When I did inquire, her reply was that it was $8.00 in addition to the classic pedicure service. "For what?"I kindly asked. Her reply was gel nail polish takes longer to remove. I was mildly upset. She told me sorry. I smilingly mentioned she should have told me beforehand. She then sold me on the cost of getting the gel again. I gave in to the upselling. I like how my pedicure turned out. But I should have been advised about the $8 before the service was started. I should have been advised to let me know the cost of everything up front, no surprises! I get a little annoyed with being told one thing and then get started only to find out theres additional cost for the services. The reason for this review is the way that my manicure looks. Im disappointed. The nail polish wasnt dry all the way when I was told that it was. She checked two fingers by rubbing them. Then she thanked me. So then I went to the front desk receptionist to pay. I gently pulled my car keys out of my loose fitting wide pocket light jacket, and my polish hadnt hardened, and it smudged. I showed my 5 ruined nails to the front desk. I was still standing there because I had just paid with my credit card. Btw, they charge an additional 3% to use a credit card. Bring cash. The front desk receptionist will tell you that the owner will only accept cash. To finish up my story on my experience... I was left sitting at the front door, getting my nails fixed. Whatever the polish was, it melted as soon as I stepped across the threshold. The smell of the polish is that of epoxy paint rather than nail polish. It smells bad. The strong smell gave me a headache. The nails, after just a couple of hours, have air bubbles and are shrinking away from my cuticles, and that isnt cute. Im hiding my hands in public because Im embarrassed to show my shoddy manicure. "$75!!! for that!!!"My husband said when he saw the credit card receipt and my manicure. He had initially thought that I watched a YouTube video and did the manicure myself to save money. Thats how bad it looks. See for yourself.

Danielle Polendey Finding a nail salon where you get consistently great service and quality work can be very difficult to find. Apple Nails has been my only go to nail salon for 8+ years. I am never disappointed in their services. The effort and care they all put into making sure you have the best experience and service possible in unmatched in my opinion. Henry & Mimi are my absolute favorite to have do my nails. Henry did this new cats eye color on me today and I love it! It was my first time trying cats eye and I am in love. It is stunning. The pictures don’t even do it justice. Emily always give me the best pedicures & massages, and is just the sweetest person. Everyone here is fantastic though! Very personable, always greets me by name and asks about my family. I just love this nail salon so much.

Tracey Lane Love, love my nails and design!! Henry did a great job and he is the best Nail Technician!! Nicki is also my favorite for my gel pedicure!! Apples Nails & Spa staff are very professional & courteous!!! Thank you Henry and Niki for the excellent service!!

Kinzie Lighty Walked in and immediately got serviced, she was quick and experienced. Really well done! And much cheaper price than I expected. Very affordable and friendly, I will be back for more!

Jeri Edwards This nail salon is fabulous. I’ve been coming here for years and always leave relaxed, polished & satisfied. Kim does an excellent job on designs, Lori & Mindy do outstanding pedicures, however all the technicians are professional and do a great job. I am always confident I’ll leave happy after every visit.

Elena Duke I like this place a lot - mostly because my aesthetician was so nice and funny. We were cracking up while she was doing my toes. I got the upgraded pedi and the massage and scrub was really nice. Definitely recommend this spot

Mary Lee Hernandez It was such an enjoyable appointment. Kim did my acrylic nails, and I love the way they look and feel.

Karissa Garcia I like to stop in here when I am visiting town and have always had a great experience. Last night I went in and got a gelx manicure I was not really happy with so I came back first thing in the morning and Vivian was happy to redo my nails and make sure I left satisfied! Would definitely recommend coming here for a friendly, good quality and affordable nail experience. Love my recent nails, thank you again!

Nikita Patlolla The worst gel manicure I have ever received. The sloppiest and most careless application. Entire manicure completed in less than 20 minutes. Cut my cuticles, Would not recommend to anyone

Tania Onofre I’ve been there twice. First time I went there was with my friend and my daughter. We both got gel same thing but different design. The lady did mine gel nails she didn’t know what she was doing with the magnetic design With my friend, they took their time with her and her nails were fabulous and I was the one who paid for her nails. I like to give nail places a second chance. went again on Saturday 5/11/24 same gel different design. Now this time Rush through my Nails some The nails are not paint all the way you can still see through my nails and I don’t know what kind of cheap nails they used because my thumb nail is breaking. One of my nails are crooked And I don’t appreciate that they use me as a guinea pig The nail tech even said to me I taking $10 off because I’m just doing this for fun. I paid $70 for my nails. I was not there to be somebody’s guinea For you to try new ideas. I didn’t have time to look up my nails cause I had my daughter with me and they serviced my daughter. They did a good job with her. But my experience was not that great and I don’t think I’m coming . Especially when I tip I tip $20. They are nice but they rushed my nails again and used me As a guinea pig again.

Beatriz Aguirre Absolutely terrible experience… a second time in a row. I went there for a gel removal and regular manicure. They left my nails paper thin. The lady kept passing on and on the machine file, even after there was no trace of gel. Now I can bend my nails inwards very easily. This will take at least six months to heal. Going on to the manicure, they didn’t even bother in pushing my cuticle (or cutting it), not to mention they didn’t clean the sides of the nails by removing dead layers of skin! So more than a manicure, this was a change of colour, although I paid for a regular manicure. The lady kept saying on and on how I should get a gel, and how a regular manicure chips after a few days (well… here it chips while you’re still inside the salon)! I guess gels makes their lives easier lol But the worst part, is to witness how manicurists speak in a different language and laugh between them about the clients. Completely disrespectful and very uncomfortable. They’re all about the gossip. They were rude after I asked them to repair nails they have chipped after hitting them accidentally with their own acetone cleaning pencil. Look at the picture, this is my “manicure” after a few hours. Never again! P.S. the last time I got an expensive French gel manicure and the bottom part unattached from my nail after only 3 days. Had to remove it before Christmas…

Yolandi van der Merwe Got my first manicure at Lulu this morning and am extremely happy! Tina did an amazing job with my gel manicure, and I’ll definitely be returning for follow up appointments

Molly Mullaney I went to Lulu Nail’s today for the first time for a fill. I had gotten a full set elsewhere a couple weeks ago and was not happy with the results (they were way too thick, wide and short..The shape was all wrong.) So I was nervous they weren’t going to be able to fix them. Wendy was my nail tech. I showed her a picture and explained what I wanted. I’ll be honest..anytime I show a picture, they never look like it. But this time was different. Wendy gave me EXACTLY what I asked for. I’m very picky and particular. She took her time and made sure I was happy throughout the entire process. She was so sweet and patient. Her attention to detail is amazing. I will definitely be back. Thank you so much for such a wonderful experience.

Ajanae Matthews I’ve had an outstanding experience here! Lisa and Vicky are the two who’ve done my manicures and pedicures, and I absolutely love both them and their work. The salon is clean, spacious, and even has an ATM on-site, which is super convenient for tips. My mom’s been a regular for a while, and I’m so glad I decided to come with her. My nails turned out perfect—exactly how I wanted in terms of shape—and even after two weeks, they still looked great. Honestly, I could have gone another week and a half before needing a touch-up. Next time, I’ll probably wait three weeks between appointments. I paid $120 for a gel manicure and deluxe gel pedicure, and it was totally worth it!❤️

Natalie Mercado Dip nails are my go to. Every other time I go I have a great expierence. I put dip on my natural nails which are fairly long. I had to start requesting they apply the base clear layer to help strengthen my natural nail. I didn’t have to request before. And nail tech was hesitant to apply the base for me after I explained when they don’t apply my nails break and chip within days. I’m hoping my next visit I have better results because I really loved this place and their creativity when I’m stumped on what to do next.

Megan Sanchez Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Such attention to detail. The people here are so friendly, nice, and helpful. I have a physical disability and they helped me to my chair getting in & out. The pedicure & manicure was the best I’ve ever had here.

Miaa Castine I’m not from San Diego just out visiting family & if you r like me you stick to one place that does a great job on your nails, this place stood out from all the other nail shops around no bad reviews for years, so I said why not & it was the best service I’ve had in a while. Although I didn’t get a massage when I got my feet done but I can definitely over look it, very friendly, very clean & I didn’t spend a whole lot! Amazing place definitely worth tryin

lauren cuthbert omg! my first ever set of acrylic toe nails and wow! definitely will be coming back. absolutely beautiful work and great attention to detail. everyone was so kind and sweet too. thank you guys so so much!!! i love my toes/pedicure. you guys are the best

Jannelle Mendoza Great experience with Christina! She was highly attentive, ensuring my nails were shaped and polished perfectly. The service was efficient without feeling rushed. I left with the exact nails I wanted. Highly recommend!

Ildiko Gonzales My first time there. 2 ladies worked on my nails. I got dip powder with a tip and a beautiful violet blue color. I was very impressed with their service. Will visit it again if my nails stay gorgeous for a long time.

Jessica Leplomet HEALTH HAZARD. My friend and I just left this salon and we are upset! My friend had acrylic nails and asked for a fill. The technician did not understand that she had powder on top of her acrylics , so the technician soaked them in acetone for an hour and they came off! My friend did not want the nails to come off! She repeatedly asked for a fill with powder and the tech did not understand. So, when her nails came off, my friend was upset and asked for a gel manicure instead. The technician was rude, yelled at her, and had the audacity to charge her $10 for acrylic nail removal! We tried to tell her why we were upset and that she should not charge us the $10, but she kept telling, yelling actually, us “you wanted powder but then you changed to gel”. They also need to update the numbers on their nail polishes. Had a hard time matching regular colors with gel and they got frustrated with us and made us change colors several times. Never coming back here again! Last thing, when my friend came home , the nail polish on her toes rubbed right off!!

Guy Y I am an elderly gentleman and only started getting pedicures. I tried Uptown Nail Salon on November 5,2024 for the first and last time. The technician was not very good. Trimming my big toe, she cut into the flesh and I bled for 15 minutes in the salon. The toe was painful all night. To her credit she was very concerned and attentive to the toe after the accident. The massage chair did not work properly and there was no sign that the technician had clean tools. Unfortunately, the place is dangerous and I have only ½ foot clipped (badly).

Phedra Sleman Uh-mazing! They are phenomenal at nail design. I bring in pictures and my nails look perfect. Great pedicures, friendly nail techs - doesnt get much better than that! Im very picky about my nails and this is definitely my new salon.

Calliope Susan This is the best nail salon I have been to!. Everything is non-toxic and the prices are affordable. The decor is simple and refined with no loud noise. Everything is clean and sanitary. They give you a good service and work quickly.

lisa buckman Wonderful experience. Im not from here but visit family regularly and had the best manicure Ive ever had a couple years ago. Yesterday was no different and I really appreciate how thorough and precise the technician was. My dip manicure looks super clean with great coverage and she did a good job clipping away dry skin and cuticles. I get the iNailology manicure and pedicure that includes salt scrub, lotion and oil massage and warm paraffin. I very much appreciate the lovely arm, hand and calf massages that are so relaxing. Ill always come back here when Im in SD

Callie Warner I dont leave reviews, ever... When I do, they are either really good or really bad. This place is amazing! Ive been to so many random nail salons throughout the years and Ive finally found a place that I would drive out of my SD pocket to go to. Never before... I get so many compliments from the work they do here. I see many women just watching my hands because of how pretty my nails look. Plus their prices are extremely competitive compared to others. MAKE THE DRIVE OUT HERE!

Karen P These are my favorite nails ever. They are so pretty and the price was very reasonable. I very much recommend going here!

J. S. Really wish I had a more positive review to leave- I can tell the technicians are actually talented and do great work. However, the service was terrible and they ended up rushing my fill after double booking my appointment slot. Everything started out great, then about 20min in I noticed he was really rushing through and layering on the powder very unevenly. When I tried to point it out he said he would file it later, but he rushed through that too and left the nails looking uneven and thick in spots. Then I was told someone else would be taking over because he had another customer waiting. I had to wait about 10min for another tech to attend to me because she had been finishing up an intricate design on another customer’s nails. When she finally got around to me, she aggressively rushed the polish so that she could go back to her other customer and photograph the work she had done for her. The photo of my nails is only one day after getting them done. The polish is clearly uneven, and the edges and cuticles are messy. As soon as she was done she rushed off to attend to someone else. I never even had the chance to show her the dips and gaps in the polish. I just paid and left, knowing I wouldn’t come back.

Hannah Clitheroe I’ve been to multiple salons here in San Diego and got annoyed at my nails either chipping or not looking how I wanted. Seaport Nails is the ONLY salon that makes my nails look how I want them too and they last 4+ weeks without chips! The salon is gorgeous inside, clean, and the workers are all amazing and nice! The pricing is really good too, $55 for dip nails is much better than $60+ at most salons I’ve been too!

Miller Tami (fs2n) “I had my nails and toes done by Kelly and Tiffany, and it was an amazing experience! They were both so professional, attentive, and detail-oriented. My hands and feet look absolutely stunning! The quality of their work is top-notch, and I couldn’t be happier. Highly recommend!”

Tuana Nihan Aydın Tracy did a terrific job, i am very amazed that she did exactly what i showed her. I was just visiting the area and wanted to give it a try but i am very glad that i give it a try, it was a little bit pricy but i love my nails! Thanks again!

Ian Duarte Me and my wife are visiting from out of town and I got a Pedicure and massage and it was worth it. My wife was so happy with the pedicure, nails and eyebrow wax. Great service, clean and professional , Lauren and team did amazing. Highly recommended. Thank you Lauren.

Priya K Patel Visiting San Diego for a wedding and my friend and I decided get our nails done here. Had a great time and Cindy and Nancy did a great job with my acrylic nails and pedicure.

Juliana Cristina Van is an excellent professional manicurist! I recently got a dip powder manicure, and the results were amazing She is meticulous, ensuring every nail looks perfect, and the finish is smooth and long-lasting. Highly recommend Van for a flawless manicure!

Caroline Nalezny Garcia My first time trying InStyle Nails and I cant believe I havent been there sooner! Lora did a fantastic job on my nails! It was my first time trying builder gel. She talked me through it and listened to what I requested and matched exactly the shape, length, and colors that I requested. We had a wonderful chat while she worked on my nails. 2 weeks later and theyve grown out beautifully. I will definitely be coming back to see Lora. :) The shop is clean and welcoming. Highly recommend!

ali Perez Im not one to write reviews but Ive been coming to Mindy consistently for a couple months now and always leave so pleased with her work! I get the builder gel, which has kept my nails so strong and healthy and always receive compliments. Staff is always friendly and very efficient!

Hailee French I was looking for a new nail tech and came across this place. All of the staff were so kind and these are the cute acrylics I got for my 21st birthday party! I highly recommend !!

Kirsten A. Got a gel manicure as my first service here and I am so pleased! They were able to get me in quickly, offered me a drink (I opted for a tea), & I was in and out within the hour. Special thanks to Hannah for her great service & attention to detail with my nails. She’s so quick! Great conversation as well. Overall clean & pleasant place to get your nails done at. Will be returning. Parking can be tough so be sure to arrive earlier than your appointment time. The metered parking spots on the street go for $1.25/hr.

Mikaela Salamat Jaslyn is so detail oriented and always makes sure that I love my nails before I leave the salon. I always enjoy my time here and leave with the cutest nails. I definitely recommend this place to fam & friends!

French Nails The salon is clean and relaxing! Staffs are friendly and willing to change the TV/music to your reference upon requested [I’m impresses]. Thanks a lot for designs my nail and being patience with me. The full set looks very natural and lasts very long time for me.

Victoria Palomera I’ve been going to Emily for 3 years now and she never lets me down! My friends go to her too :) I’ve gotten gel x and structured gel, you can show her any picture and she’ll do even better

Valeria Coronado I give 2 stars because the person who did my pedi was very nice and kind and my nails looked nice. I wanted to love this place and be my regular salon but nope. I did my nails on a Friday by Sunday one of my nail broke a little bit out of nowhere I was out of town for a weeding so I wasn’t doing any housekeeping or anything that could accidentally brake my nail. On Friday when I arrived I asked for acrílico with gel on top, I needed something mucha stronger than gel because I was having this issue with other salon. One lady told me she could do powder nails since it was stronger and they will last, well 2 days later… here I am in the same annoying situation. I called on Sunday and see if they could fix it and they just say that they didn’t have a spot to attend me. I feel like if you want to give a good customer service you could try your best to fix a job you did wrong in the first place. I don’t think it takes too long to fix a nail. Maybe some people don’t care about it, but others (like me) do.

Tiara Daniel Finding a nail salon when you move to a different state is so tough, but I took a chance here and I love my nails. Very neat and precise just like I like it. They prefer cash, however I wasn’t aware so zelle for a tip and Apple Pay to pay. Also, be mindful of parking, street parking using an app to pay. Also, the wax lady is not present everyday, so I wasn’t able to get my brows done. Next time.