Top Reviews about 19 Nail Salons in San Mateo, CA

Judy Liberti Love this nail spa! Very clean, professional and friendly. My husband has thick, gnarly toenails and Chao does an amazing job on them. Shes far better than the podiatrists hes seen over the years. I highly recommend them!

Adrienne Lin I’m still confused about what happened here. The reviews are overwhelmingly positive for service and quality, but I experienced the opposite. I normally don’t bother to write reviews for bad quality or product alone, but if the service is terrible as well, I feel the need to warn others. I’ve had lot of gel manis, and despite being hard on my nails, even the worse ones lasted at least 5 days without chipping. This time, my first chip happened in 2 days, with a second in 4. Chips aside, the quality was poor - bubbles on a few nails and general unevenness. What really made my experience sour was Chau’s unwelcome attitude. She started off friendly - making small talk and saying this would be a fast job. The first warning signs came when she asked my preferred shape. I said rectangle. She said she didn’t recommend that with natural nails as it breaks easily. I acknowledged that my nails are weak and do break, but I didn’t mind because I liked the shape. She didn’t seem too happy with that. When she cut my cuticles a little far, I said I preferred for them to not be cut so much as I’ve been hurt in the past, and it also dries my skin out. Apparently my preferences bothered her somehow because she insisted that cutting them would ensure better results with the polish not peeling. I recognized her logic, and agreed that I’ve had problems with peeling on the bottoms. Rather than push back, I let her do her thing. She went a bit soap box with how she chooses to do things the right way and how other salons cut corners. She insisted that her results were better. The rest of the time, she didn’t talk to me but made a point to loudly greet her regulars and smile at them. Three days later I walked in to get my first chip fixed as she didn’t get back to me with an appointment after I tried calling in three times. I said I was very much okay with waiting. I patiently waited 30 minutes. She fixed my chip and said you’re done. I gave her a genuine thank you, and she “sure” in the most dismissive tone. I’m shocked and unclear why I got so much targeted attitude. Definitely not coming back to fix my second chip!

Tanyas Ethereal Footsteps My Mom and I took my sister here for her birthday today and she felt so special! The two women who did our mani/pedis were excellent! I highly recommend Mani-Cute, across the street from the marina.

Lisa Scaduto Always such an amazing experience at this spa. The entire spa is beautiful, great customer service, and fantastic massage therapists. Super thankful for the team for being flexible to schedule three of us to have services on the same day at the same time! That was above and beyond. Res, Emily, and Nora you were all fantastic and we look forward to coming back very soon!!

Mika Yokota Res gives the most amazing myofascial massages! I’ve been dealing with tense, pain in my calves for years now and I finally got the relief I needed. Looking forward to visiting again.

Michelle C I had a life-changing massage with Res. Perfect pressure! He made me feel comfortable to ask any questions if I had them, checked in with me a couple of times to ask if the pressure was ok and he was easy to talk to to and has mad massage skills. I will be seeing him again soon! Worth every penny!

Tami Jo Dukie Both my daughter and myself got our nails done today. My daughter had a removal of a previous set and a new set put on. I had a fill and shorten. Both of us are 100% happy with our experience here. The staff was friendly and helpful. The nail technicians are excellent at what they do! We would definitely recommend this business to anyone in the local area. We are here on vacation and we had an excellent experience. Highly recommended!

Freckles Redhead I wanted to get my nails done for a job interview the next day and this was the only place open because it was mothers day. They do incredible work here and they are friendly and good at communicating their ideas for your nails. The woman who helped me suggested I get gel nails and I really like them. And I also got the job! *The day after posting this, I messed up one nail. I returned here and they fixed it for free! I will not be going elsewhere for my nails in the future; this place is the best!!

Magda Griffin Kim is super attentive , sweet and professional. She gave me a mani/pedi before my boyfriends proposal and she did an awesome job, clean and classy perfect for the occasion I will definitely come back for my wedding nails and recommend to everyone.

Lanetta I really enjoyed the newly finished look of my gel refills each of the three times I went to this salon. But the service just doesn’t hold up past one week. I brought this to their attention and they added a third coat but still the same problem. It’s too bad because Mimi is really nice (the owner Hannah not so much). And for $45 plus $5.00 service charge if not paying with cash, I would expect my nails to last longer than 5 days, at least two weeks if not longer. Also, my cuticles get butchered and on last visit, two nails bled. No hand massage with service. Had a pedicure there also, and I was not pleased with the service. They used hot towels but massage was about 2 minutes! And the callous treatment service an extra $10 with no extended filing. Unacceptable service for the price. Unacceptable service period.

Stephanie Strozier I can’t say enough wonderful things about Huong and Hannah at 5 Star Nails in Burlingame! From the moment I walked in, they made me feel so welcome and cared for. Their attention to detail is unmatched, and their professionalism shines through in everything they do. Huong gave me the most beautiful manicure I’ve ever had. She’s meticulous, creative, and truly an artist with nail designs. She took the time to ensure every nail was perfect, and her gentle touch made the experience so relaxing. Hannah was equally incredible with my pedicure! She’s kind, attentive, and so thorough. My feet have never felt so pampered, and the massage she gave was heavenly. The salon itself is clean, inviting, and so well-organized. It’s clear the whole team takes pride in creating a luxurious and comfortable experience for their clients. If you’re looking for a nail salon that goes above and beyond, you MUST visit Huong and Hannah at 5 Star Nails. They’re truly the best in the business, and I’ll definitely be coming back again and again!

Ekaterina Ottenweller Very friendly, great service, and all covid-19 precautions are followed. My pedicure and manicure came out exactly how I wanted, love all the colors that we picked. FYI if paying in cash, you get 10% off. Love it!

Angie Egamero I use to get my nails done with Patrick and he was good but it seems like he got lazy and I stopped going but I tried again to give them the benefit of the doubt and once again he messed them I wanted short square nails and he gave me ugly duck nails. Was really rough and kept burning me with the drill. Never again.

Kristie Vieta Never again! Worst pedicure Ive ever had. Not friendly at all, dirty and my feet look dirty and rough. Dont get me started on the shape of my nails.... or lack of.

Summer Rampersad Horrible, horrible, horrible, don’t go here. They are not the only salon on the block. Dirty, rude, pricey. If you would like to sit down with mail technicians that act like they are totally unprepared for clients. Was not greeted at the door, just asked “what I want?” Lol. They directed me to sit at a table but never pointed specific table. I say inform of a tech that was clearly more interested in her phone. It took her a minute to put it down then another 5 ministers to get her tools and herself in check. I sat there growing older as I watched this unfold. I then proceeded to explain what I would like done. She looked at me with a blank stare as if I was bothering her and should not be telling her how I want MY nails. She cut them to short, when I said something about it, she responded with an attitude “ if you don’t like it you can leave”. So if you want to deal with this kind of attitude and not being able to get your nails done the way you want they go here. My finger nails have been hurting ever since she cut it. The under skin of my nails are protruding. I’m pretty sure she judged by appearance and then purposely cut then that short. Horrible, rude, don’t go here. Not sure how establishments like this survive. This looks like a front for illegal trafficking of workers. I’ll definitely be putting in a call to the Health Department your way.

Chasitie Hurst I went to a place in Pacifica and my nails were… terrible lol. This place got me in quick and fixed them a week later. Super cute and quick. Thanks so much! Found my new spot!

Sheana Nichols I went there because a different place had messed my nails up pretty bad and these ladies did a wonderful job! They were easy to make an appointment with and gave me exactly what I asked for.

Jessie Guerrero I booked three pedicures, one gel manicure, and a bikini wax. Booking was easy, and they were attentive to clarify how many people were coming and the details of the booking. The pedicure was pretty good. My feet were cleaned up nicely, and they were kind in accommodating my wish for a different color on each toe haha. The massage parts, both with stones and hands, were nothing to write home about. The part I really didnt like though was that the topcoat was applied way after the pedicure was complete. Since I got a wax and had to take my pants off, this was a logistical mess, resulting in many smudged toes. My gel manicure was super good. The polishing was immaculate. I am very picky and do not usually get my nails on my hands done because of that. But I am super pleased. Again, they also accommodated my rainbow wish, which came out beautifully IMO. The wax was also very thorough. Dont expect a luxurious spa environment, but do expect a well done wax job. They use cotton strips too, which I much prefer to that crazy peel-off wax. No pain, super friendly and competent. Unfortunately, there were not enough people on staff when we arrived to take me, my mom and my daughter all at the same time. This made my daughter, who is only 6, pretty unhappy. She was constantly wondering when it would be her turn. Since it was something we wanted to do together, this was a bummer. All in all, I would recommend and also go back. Its the best Ive had in the area so far.

Jennessy Johns Kiet is a gangsta! The way he pays attention and has an eye for detail is immaculate! No nail shop in San Mateo county can compare. I appreciate the time management system he has in the shop. I didn’t feel rushed nor ignored. All designs are unique and are never the same as someone else’s nails. This is where the hype is at!

Jerry Holland GUITAR PLAYERS in the Bay Area!!! This is the place for acrylics. Kiet will hook you up with strong acrylic nails plenty tough for steel string picking and of course nylon too. The best part is he uses products that dont harm your natural nails at all. Hes a real pro and understands that every guitarist has special needs for thickness, shaping, etc. Highly recommended.

evelyn floyd Kiet does an amazing job. He is very thorough and makes sure you are 100% satisfied before you leave. He is kind and his wife lan is so sweet. Definitely making this place my go to nail place. Thank you so much for giving me a great experience.

Sandeepa Dey I was looking for an appointment and got it promptly upon calling. I wanted a simple hair cut with no shenanigans and the stylist did that very quickly and well. Reasonably priced and good service.

Negar Harati I had color on my hair and normally my hair is so thin, I wanted have keratin treatment and have healthier hair. This is what happened to me at this salon! I was honest about history of my hair and was clear I have weak and damaged hair already! She accepted doing keratin treatment and look at the result! And because of this I received $90 discount! I paid $210 for this broken and damaged hair!

Yamilet Vega Call in for a re-fill, got last min app. Super cool!! Peter did a great job! Very fast but quality work! Very friendly and such a gentleman!! I even got a massage!! Super clean salon, very invinting!! Highly recommended!!!

Stephanie Strozier This spa is truly exceptional in both cleanliness and professionalism. It’s almost amusing to see so many businesses now advertising their commitment to hygiene—as if it’s something new. The estheticians here have been practicing the highest standards of cleanliness long before the pandemic because it’s simply the right way to operate. From the moment you walk in, everything is pristine—from the inviting exterior and welcoming interior to the bathrooms (which, in my opinion, are always a true reflection of a business’s dedication to cleanliness). Patty, the esthetician extraordinaire, is phenomenal. Her expertise and dedication to her craft immediately put you at ease. I trust her recommendations without hesitation because I know she only suggests what’s genuinely best for my skin. Patty goes above and beyond to build relationships with her clients, taking the time to understand your unique needs and tailoring treatments for the most beneficial results. Her honesty, professionalism, and skill are unmatched—I never question the value of her services because she consistently exceeds expectations. If you’re looking for a spa that values cleanliness, integrity, and expertise, look no further. Patty and the entire team have set a gold standard for what a spa experience should be.

Enela Pema There is some rude staff. Called to schedule an appointment. The receptionist got annoyed and indignant after 10 seconds of some back and forth trying to find a time, which I pointed out to her and she continued with the attitude. I repeated that her tone was rude, and she went on to hang up the phone. I had a good experience with the staff the first time I went there. But this instance was a big turn off. I am not going back, which means I am choosing to let my gift card money go to waste.

Dennis Kearney So glad I found this place!! Had a wonderful experience with Dena who was friendly, professional and knowledgeable. The space is clean, well decorated and comfortable. Definitely had the feel of a high-end spa. I will definitely be going back!

Nicole Brunicardi I called very last minute and was able to get a gel pedicure and I am so happy I did that!!! This was one of the best pedicures I have had in a long time. For someone who has had issues with ingrown toenails, they took care of me. Staying open late for those who get off work late is a BONUS! This place does not get enough credit. They keep their place very clean, efficient, and always offer water and tea. I appreciate their accommodations and look forward to my next gel pedicure!

Mercedez Perucho I came here for the first time after reading the positive reviews and had the worst nail experience that I have ever had in my life. I came in to get gel x and informed my nail tech that one of my nails was cracked and lifting and painful. She completely forgot that I had told her that and was extremely rough which made things 10x worse and then kept saying she didnt know even though I had told her at the beginning. I had told her that I wanted my nails to be square and narrow and she kept saying "coffin". I said no, just square and narrow, and she made them all so wide that every single finger nail looks like a thumb nails. Its so embarassing and looks so bad that I have been hiding my hands. On top of that, she made me hold the little machine to cure my own nails. I feel bad because she seemed friendly, but the quality of her work was truly awful and my nails look like they were done by someone whose still in nail school. I dont think this salon should allow nail techs who cant even do a simple set to take paying clients. If you dont know how to do a certain service you should just say so. Whats worse is this came out to $70! Maybe they have some good nail techs, but I would not recommend this business to anyone.

Olena Kirzhner I gave myself a few days before writing this review to see if I still feel strongly about it and yes, I do. The people are very nice and friendly, but Kim who did my manicure did a VERY bad job. She left tons of cuticle yet butchered my thumb. See picture- how is that even salon manicure? I want to say Vicki on pedicure was great.

Maria Vasina I’ve been aaaaall over Burlingame trying to find a nail salon that I like and kept striking out. The criteria was simple: 1. I want quality. A place that will just do a good job and not skip out on the details. 2. I want service. A mani pedi isn’t event that cheap these days and I’d like to feel like I’m being pampered. I’d like the experience to never be painful and to never feel like I’m being rushed out. Pretty straightforward, right? Welp no, I’ve been to salons where they cut my cuticles so bad that they bled, salons where the staff was just straight up rude and salons where they just did a crappy job. Well no more. I’ve been to Aqua a few times now and it’s officially my go to place. The ladies here are so lovely, they always make me feel well taken care of, they sweat all the little details to make sure my nails look perfect. And somehow even though they’re super careful, they manage to be quick! On top of it all they have great customer service and are just so nice to be around.

Carolina Gutierrez Ive been coming here since 2007! I wouldnt change the place for the world

Frances Collins Great place for nails. Ive been going for several years. Comfortable, friendly, clean, reasonable prices - what more could you want.

Monica Rios Services Rendered: Regular Mani and Pedi | Bikini Wax Very reasonably priced considering the fact that everything is highly expensive. I would return, I have found my new place and so close to Daly City / SF Border, right next to Starbucks and a cross the street from café. Who: Jennifer and Luna Space: Relaxing, recently renovated, music on point First time visiting, noticed no reviews, so figured I would give it a chance. As soon as I came in, I felt relaxed. Jennifer helped me pick the color I was looking for, something neutral, that wouldn’t blend with my skin, with a pink tone. Luna did great in preparing and doing mani. Jennifer was quick and great at feet, super fast. You could tell she was trying to help everyone and giving everyone attention. - Great customer service! Luna was very nice and assisted in everything to make mani easy and not ruin it. She also did the waxing, very quick and made sure comfortable. Everyone on staff pleasant. Luna did her best to perfect it, and I highly appreciate it. Highly encourage you all to go there, bc they won’t rush and they will be there for you. 5 star customer service.

viviana suarez Well I was looking for a Nail Salon in the area and I found this on yelp also a friend of mine recommended it, so without hesitation, I went to this place. The ladies were so nice, but unfortunately, the lady who was doing my manicure was rushing, making me feel anxious, she was doing it so fast, and some of my nails got bumped and got bubbles in them. The pedicure was nice and good but the quality of the nail polish is rough, or I dont know what happen but it does not look at all... I left some pics and a video.

Christina Ng Started with a call a couple weeks before, to make a reservation for a group of 5 for a bridal party. Requested Jennifer for the bride. Called a couple days before to confirm. Actual day we only had 4 of us but they didn’t blink or say anything about the change. Appreciated that there was no issues with the change. We did mani and pedi. They offer bottled water. I am very wishy washy about the nail color. Always look at others and cannot decide. I showed photos but ended up not likening the color so they tested a couple for me to make sure I was happy. Everyone was friendly some nail techs were a lot more talkative which was nice. Would definitely come back. My gel manicure lasted 2.5 weeks. It would probably last a month but it was growing off.

Sheila Janakos II highly recommend the salon. The staff are all equally competent and do an outstanding job. My manicureslast weeks and I always am very satisfied. The best part is there are no chemicals smells because they only do natural nails.

Fraser Street My wife thinks this place is the best.

S. Sullivan Great.

Finn Yalif Service was amazing. I’ve worked with Daisy three times now and every time she has done so well. The designs are stunning. I did gel x refills twice and builder gel once. Absolutely amazing.

Lizette Baltazar I had to follow my favorite pedicurist here Philip! Such a nice guy and his work is flawless. This team is so kind and easy going. The location is also lovely with places to eat before/after getting their services. Their selection of colors is every girls dream. This is premium service!

Jean Tsou The overall space need a deep cleaning. Customer service also need some improvement. I walked into the store with lots of on going staff conversation when the peaceful music is playing in the background. I couldn’t even hear the music and could not relax. The technician did my pedi was not gentle so it hurts my cuticle and skin afterwards. I don’t feel welcoming here. I will rather go other nail stores next time.

Jasmine Chand Sammy is the best to go to for any type of threading. i get my eyebrows done by her and she takes her time and has attention to detail. she is great and the other people i’ve gone to weren’t the best but sammy gets me right every single time. she is caring and does a fantastic job. my aunt and mom also go to her as well

Nidhi Nath Ive been a loyal customer of My Fair Lady for years, and I can confidently say that its more than just a salon - its a warm and welcoming community hub. Shilpi’s dedication to supporting local events and charities is truly inspiring, and her commitment to excellence shines through in every aspect of the business. But what really keeps me coming back is the incredible service, particularly from Rekha, whose hair massages are nothing short of heavenly! Her skilled hands work out every knot and kink, leaving my scalp feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. Its the perfect complement to the salons wide range of services from threading to facials to waxing. My Fair Lady is a true gem, and I feel grateful to have it in our community. If you havent already, do yourself a favor and book an appointment - your hair (and your scalp!) will thank you!" 5/5 stars

Veronica Quevedo Olvera I just felt weird because nobody spoke to me. The ladies in the entrance were just pointing to an IPad while I was saying hi and telling them that I wanted to trim my hair. No body answered, and they continued pointing to the IPad. So I registered myself and then I told them again. They moved me from one place to another and just asked me about nails or eyebrows. Again, I told them to "trim" and did some mimic with my hair and hands. I really thought that maybe they didnt know English. Finally, one lady trimmed my hair. That lady was ok. And my hair is ok. Just the welcome part. Maybe you can improve that. Thank you

Jessica Luong I recently visited Emily Nails Spa and I must say, it was an absolute delight! From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with warm smiles and impeccable service. The ambiance was so soothing and tranquil, creating the perfect atmosphere to unwind and relax. The technicians were highly skilled and paid meticulous attention to detail, leaving my nails looking flawless and beautiful. The range of services offered was impressive, and the quality of products used exceeded my expectations. I left feeling pampered, rejuvenated, and already planning my next visit. I highly recommend Emily Nail Spa to anyone looking for top-notch nail care and a truly luxurious experience! Not only was the overall experience at Emily Nail Spa exceptional, but the nail services were also outstanding! The nail technicians were incredibly talented and knowledgeable, guiding me through the process with expertise and care. Whether I wanted a classic manicure, a trendy nail art design, or a luxurious spa pedicure, they had it all covered. The attention to hygiene and cleanliness was also commendable, ensuring a safe and hygienic environment throughout my visit. My nails have never looked better, and Im already receiving compliments left and right! Thank you, Emily Nail Spa, for exceeding my expectations and providing top-notch nail services. Ill definitely be back for more!

Angela Martinez Horrible my daughter came here on an emergency because she had an event for tomorrow, and her nail lady couldn’t fit her in her schedule. To begin with my daughter already had acrylics so she asked to get them removed to get new ones. They proceeded to rip them off piece by piece and kept on dipping it and acetone when they couldn’t get certain parts which looked painful. They left monomer all over her fingers. The acrylic wasn’t laid even it was super thick. We spent like two hours there as you can see they’re very short she changed the nail color once because my daughter didn’t like the first color. I told her I would pay her extra for the inconvenience, but she was still rude about it

Tracy Crouthamel I got a pedicure, no polish "shiny buff". Very nice staff, professional kind, great with special requests. I marked it 4 stars because the footbath didnt have jets and the massage chairs are not good for anyone under 6 tall, very awkward to sit in and enjoy the chair massage (but thats 95% of massage chairs on the market) - just really wanted the footbath jets. Salons very dishevelled too and messy and one of the neon lights above buzzes, but dispute that, it was very calm feeling and there wasnt a lot of nail smell which is good too :) So 4 stars, pretty good. Might go again.

Carolyn Ross I have been going to Nails by Mia for over a month and at our 1st meeting she removed my acrylic nails and applied a Japanese gel that has strengthened my natural nails so I will never go back to acrylic. The attached photo is courtesy of Mia’s very creative mind and LOVE her beautiful nail art. Mia is a sheer genius at her craft. Her attention to detail is just amazing and she always makes sure you are extremely satisfied. Her deluxe gel pedicure is a definitely an 10 star experience. She is also so accommodating for scheduling.

Alicia M Amazing gel-x manicure! Mia was super nice and quick. I will definitely be going back. :)

Jenee Van Hofwegen Mia is extremely talented! Not only is she attentive and very fast, she can work with any nail type! As someone with shorter natural nails, the results are more beautiful than I even could’ve hoped for. Mia is so kind and her art is amazing!

Juliette My nails done at Tamika Salon and they were amazing. The technician chose to help with the acrylic nail polish color for me and making them for a long time and they still look perfect. Excellent friendly staff and amazing work. I barely started getting manicures this year and am still a little nervous when I go to new places but they are so welcoming and helpful when you come in.

Stella Morgan I always bring my friends here so they can have the best experience. My nail tech does a great job, is quick, professional and particular about their work! Had a great 1st experience at Tamika Nails My gel nails always look natural, not thick and gloppy!

angani maharaj If you book an appointment here, book it with Travis only. His work is nice. I dont recommend anyone else. This isnt the first time Brian has done my nails. He has done it several times, and from several times 3 times, there have been bubbles in my nails. And its right before Christmas, and I got chrome nails, and there are bubbles in it. The last time I had Chrome done, there were no bubbles. Paying $70 for bubbles in your nails isnt worth it. And to top it off, instead of fixing it, I was told if i want it fixed, the color would not be the same, and I would have to choose another color. The prices here are outrageous, though. Nails arent straight , from the side, you can see waves. You can see it in person, it doesnt show properly in the picture cause of the color.