Top Best 10 Nail Salons in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz (part 2)

Amanda Went in for a gel mani pedi, and left with great nails, clean feet and I even got my eyebrows and legs waxed, I was wedding ready in 2 hours! It was not to bad around $140 for everything which was to be expected, and they were so nice and let me charge my phone too. Highly recommend!

Jessica Abc I paid $40+tip for a Manicure + Pedicure. I dont think it was worth with. I did not get gel but the quality nail polish in general should not be so low its chips within a day. Pedicure was okay, it included some buffing. The manicure was very rushed. She painted each nail and as soon as she got to last digit she went to the first for the second coat. The worst part that dropped the score to 2 stars was that she was rushing so much during the manicure my cuticles were being pulled off. Normal they should use the clippers, completely clip then move on. Unfortunately this person squeezed the clippers but not fully, resulting in a horrible job and painful manicure.

elesia lang UPDATE - its been a month since my pedicure and this is a full blown foot fungas. I have been treating it and its not going away. My feet are permanently scared and still breaking out. This has been the worst experience and painful process of trying to get rid of the fungus this place gave me. DO NOT GO HERE IT IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH. They arent cleaning their tools, after getting a pedicure my toes were burning and swollen for a week straight and now I have a wart (for the first time in my life) and my skin has come off. On top of the damage to my body the experience was terrible. I waited over an hour and was rushed out in 15 min. They were short staffed and very busy so I assume the didnt properly clean the tools. I plan to go back and speak to someone about the health risk this is.

Stephanie Johnson An older woman did my nails (unfortunately I did not get her name) and she did a fabulous job! I got a gel manicure. She was skilled, very gentle when filing, and the overall experience was very peaceful. Plus, I love the color! Thank you!

M C My nails stay lovely for the longest time after a gel manicure here. The employees are warm, positive, kind, patient, and professional! Go, you will not be disappointed!!!! Bring a friend.

miranda meza Ive been coming here for a couple of months and getting a Mani-Pedi with gel. Roughly $85 w/o tip. Ive only had one problem ( gel chipping within two days) with a set that is not pictured. Overall the nail techs do a good job in a timely manner.

Miracle Carr I called to inquire about a full set prior to going. I wasn’t told I needed to make an appointment. When I brought my daughter in, one of the workers (there were 4) asked me what I wanted. I told her she would be getting a full set and after I explained, I was told that they were busy today. There were only 3 customers there who were all getting pedicures. They didn’t appear busy and just seemed like they didn’t want to do my daughter’s nails for her birthday. Why ask what we were getting and then say you’re too busy for one full set of acrylics? Take your money elsewhere.

Mckenzie Gannon Friendly staff, quick service, and I’ve had on my gels for a month with no chipping, quite impressive! I will be a returning customer!!

Anna Winters Cindy is an absolute artist! I got acrylics done for the first time and they looked even better than the picture I showed her! She takes her time and does beautiful work. And the pedicure I got was by far the best pedicure I’ve had in a long time ❤️

goldhomer209 My mom is a cancer patient and I was looking for a same day appointment for her to get her nails done. After a few calls I found Diamond Nails and it was meant to be! Ellis booked us as the last appointment of the day and even spent time with us past closing. She spent a full hour taking care of my mother and picked out the perfect color for her! I cant recommend this place enough! Wonderful person, wonderful small business! And wonderful nail! Plus as a bonus Andy The Nail Salon Dog has a sweater!!!

Janet Johnson My favorite place ! Every time I vacation in Santa Cruz for summer, this is my must stop by place for pedicure! My polish looks so shiny and las along time....They use the disposable liner for pedicures which I feel safe and clean! Highly recommend!!!

Hani Sayegh I love Alice!! Ive been going to her salon for 10 years and she keeps getting better. She is a perfectionist, listens well, and offers suggestions. She gives personal care and she is a friend to most of her clientele. Easy to talk to, very stylish. has good skin products- Id never go anywhere else. 5 stars!!

Patrick Nguyen First time, everything is clean and sanitary. Alice is very friendly and professional. She did an amazing job on my manicure and pedicure. Will definitely continue to come back.

Vicki Nguyen I always get Shellac (Gel) manicure and pedicure done here. I always leave with beautiful nails. It’s last over 3 weeks. Very nice and quality excellent. Fabulous job!

K C When I first started coming here about 7 months ago, it was a nice experience. But my last 4 visits were very disappointing. The front desk employees are VERY UNFRIENDLY and act very annoyed. I realized they werent giving me the correct amount of stamps on my stamp card, it clearly states 1 stamp for every $15 or more, so for 1 pedicure ($30) I should get 2 stamps. I didnt always have a chance to double check the stamps they were giving me because I was with my friend who has dementia so I was kind of babysitting. Also, I rarely have cash so I asked if they could add a tip to my card and the front desk woman rolled her eyes and then proceeded to scold me as if I was an idiot asking her to do something unspeakable! The front desk people ARE VERY RUDE & PUSHY. We are not cattle, we are humans in need of a service, be nice! When you first walk in they ask you what you want and then tell you to go pick a color. But they say it all so unfriendly, the level of their rudness is so unnecessary. They are the first faces of the business when you walk in, so you would think the owner would want pleasant and kind employees welcoming in customers. Were there to spend our money, treat us better. I always feel pressured to tip there, which I find very rude. Im gonna be looking for a new salon to go to.

Shadaye Cruz-Nortey -“…Monopolizing, impersonal operation” I am a local Santa Cruz business owner and have been coming to Tracy’s for a couple of years, visiting at least twice a month. Unfortunately, my experience has been consistently inconsistent—very hit or miss. While Tracy initially comes across as sweet, her approach to customer service and accountability leaves much to be desired. Recently, I brought my three-year-old for their first nail salon experience. We spent over $200 as a family, including $45 for their manicure/pedicure, and I left a $15 tip for the technician. However, within an hour of leaving, their nail polish completely peeled off—not chipped, but peeled off like a sticker. When I returned to discuss a solution, the only option offered was to bring my toddler back for the nails to be redone. I suggested a fair alternative: a $25 refund for the pedicure only, allowing the business to keep the tip and payment for the pedicure, which was fine. However, Tracy refused and went so far as to blame the issue on my child. This lack of accountability and unwillingness to address a legitimate concern was incredibly disappointing. As someone who has referred many people to this salon over the years, I cannot in good conscience recommend Tracy’s anymore. This business prioritizes profit over customer satisfaction and community care. If you’re looking for a salon that values quality and customer service, I suggest exploring other options in Santa Cruz County. There are other businesses that genuinely care about their clients, unlike this monopolizing, impersonal operation.

Crystal Lane So far so good! All the girls seem to know what to do and did a great job making my loose nail art ideas work

Denise Rossi I have been coming to Tracy‘s for years. I always get my card stamped and today I used a fully punched card on a deluxe pedicure expecting to pay the difference. When I went to pay, they said the card was only good towards $20 of the $40 deluxe pedicure where if I would’ve had a regular pedicure the pedicure would’ve been free. I told the young man at the desk that it should be worth $30 and they said no that’s their policy. I really don’t think this is fair and expressed that He said “ Well, you should’ve asked!” Very poor customer service and I was quite surprised. Don’t get caught in this unfair practice. They may have unfortunately lost me as a customer over this treatment.

Janet $35 for a gel manicure. I worked with yoki which i loved her attention to detail and friendliness- she gave me a hand/arm/ upper back massage (like 2 min each massage) but it was an amazing bonus!

Andrea Aura Larasati Me and my husband stayed her for our Anniversary, we had a good time here. The service is top tier! we love the restaurant also. The only thing is the room has lots of ants which is understandable cause of the location. I spoke to the front desk lady about the issue we experienced in our room but we have not heard anything from the management. Some guy knocked our door at midnight and calling my husbands name asking if we are inside, obviously we did not open the door. Im expecting someone to call me and explain what happened that night i just wanted to make sure if something happened.

M. B. What a beautiful experience! My wife, two dogs and I stayed here for two nights and we had a wonderful time. The pool area is spectacular, the grounds are well kept and beautiful and the room was very comfortable. Since we travel with our pups, its wonderful to find a place that is truly accommodating to our furry family (our dogs felt very welcome here)! An added bonus, The View restaurant is wonderful, we enjoyed two meals...both of them were top-notch and the service was wonderful. We highly recommend the Chaminade!

Pegah Esmaili My husband and I stayed at Chaminade in October to celebrate my birthday and the exciting news of baby #3, and it was truly an unforgettable experience! From the moment we arrived, the serene setting took our breath away. The sweeping views of the Santa Cruz mountains paired with the tranquil vibe made it the perfect escape. The View Restaurant was a highlight of our trip—delicious food, impeccable service, and, of course, those incredible panoramic vistas. Dining there felt like a celebration in itself! The spa was another standout. It was exactly what I needed to unwind and recharge. The treatments were luxurious, the ambiance peaceful, and the staff warm and welcoming. Chaminade truly exceeded our expectations in every way. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just looking for a serene retreat, this is the place to be. We can’t wait to return!

Morgan Davis We LOVE this resort for a couple getaway but even more so as a family getaway. It’s secluded, serene, and beautiful. We love the pool with poolside drinks and even family movie nights. The bunk room fits our family of five comfortably which is hard to find. Amazing gym with tons of equipment. And dog friendly!

Rachel Norton June did the most amazing job on my manicure!! Best one I have ever had. It’s perfect!

zoe iyer I didn’t have an appointment and was a first time customer but Emmy (might spell her name wrong sorry) told me I could come back in less than 2 hours. That worked for me! When I cane back, Tom worked on my fill, he was very gentle, friendly, and thorough. I will definitely be back!

R. Cholakian I got an acrylic fill and and it came out to 72 dollars even when clicking the lowest tipping option. For that price I would expect very good quality. Some of the nails aren’t straight filed, different lengths and shapes, not straight across the top. Overall extremely disappointed and would not recommend. EDIT- 3 hours later and nail has already chipped. EDIT- it is not the next day and 4 of my nails are chipped.

Aaliyah P Amy and Tina are the best!!! Love this place! Call for appointments bc they are busy but can usually fit you in same day. They are always able to do any design I request. They are clean, fast and friendly.

Ike Segnitz This is the best set of acrylics I’ve ever had! Tri-color with a perfect pattern for only $65!!! This place is amazing, and Tin is amazing!!!

Mara Ruth I was tired of my manicures lasting less than a week from a different salon in town. I live close by to Tropical Nails so I decided to pop in. I got a mani/pedi. My manicure lasted beautifully for just shy of 3 weeks. Pedi still going strong. Linda did my manicure. She is an artist who works with her heart. I went back and she recommended for me to put powder under the gel manicure to help keep my nails healthy. I am in LOVE with this fresh mani and will definitely go back to Linda!

Tamara Ball We had the best experience here . Hi quality artisan work for low . So welcoming for my young girls . No wait . This is the best place we’ve been in Santa Cruz by far

Malia Nishimura Disappointed. Had an appointment at 3pm. Was not seen until 4:10pm. When I asked how much longer, the woman helping my friend ignored me. I selected the color I wanted for gel nails. The outcome was nothing like the "model" I asked if it will look like the model and the woman said yes. Halfway through when it was not looking like the model, she added another color, then the glitter back on top. Now my nails are uneven and do not look close to the same at all. In addition the gel is so thick, it looks like my thumb had an extra nail on it! asked her to fix it, she filed it a little then added more. Very upset that my nails look like this for the holidays. Will need to get them done again elsewhere tomorrow. They did not apologize and still charged my full amount. I didnt leave until 5pm for a simple service. If they werent available at the time of our appointment, dont tell us to come at 3! Also, if the models of gel nails are not going to look that way when applied(unless you use 10 coats) please dont allow me to select it!

Michelle B Wonderful staff. 4th time there. Tiffany always does a gread job. I had bows added on the first photo and the look was beautiful and polished. Very reasonable rates. Loyal customer. Five stars.

Haley Seifert Very sweet ladies! 3 of them smiled and asked how we were doing- one sweet lady handed us orange infused water! They asked about our days & made conversation instead of making you feel kinda weird like the typical nail place- was impressed for once. And they have 20% off going on! I don’t think gel was even an extra fee might be wrong but definitely try here.

Wendy Lewis Love this spot. Clean. Beautiful work. Beautiful people. So kind and so quiet there and not as crowded as other spots. LOVE Helen and Lee for sure but all are great.

Rylee Frazier Go with flexibility in your schedule. They get busy, but I notice they have techs on call to come in just in case. They have more color and design options than I’ve ever seen. Deluxe pedicure is worth it. And, I love their designs - I bring in a photo and they achieve it. Highly recommend.

eliza batsheva Old tools and mediocre service. The owner was eating smelly food and then vacuumed in front of me, during my pedicure. The only good thing about this place - always empty so you can just drop in without an appointment.

Mayra Alejandra Solano This way to take off the acrylic nails is so dumb and really painful. I have never experienced something like this. They were tear my nails and of course made my natural nails hurts. The pictures I am sending is after I had to cut all of them but you can still notice the rest of the nails how they look like

ana hunter-nickels I really enjoy magic nails. The staff is kind, professional, and funny. They do a good job and are great at explaining how I can keep my nails healthy. They upgraded their massage chairs and even rub my back. Really like this place!

Nick Wild honestly i would not recommend this place at all. i came in to get acrylics removed and instead of soaking my nails in acetone or something they ripped them off which damaged and ripped my nails underneath and even ripped my pinky nail down to the edge. they also shaped my nails weirdly and almost none of them are even. side note, when i called and asked how much it would be to remove acrylics they said $10 but when i got there a few minutes later the price had changed to $15

J. S I don’t usually write reviews but I’m doing this to let first timers know what you may be “scammed” into: 1) Requested for French nails, they glued white extensions at the nail tips (not what I’m familiar with but sure why not) but couldn’t even glue it properly (see photo). Asked the manicurist who glued it if that finger needs to be redone and she said it’ll be ok and left it as it is. 2) The manicurist was NOT gentle with my fingers especially when shaping the nails to the point the nail buffer cut into my flesh (see photo). 3) Hidden costs are only mentioned at the end of service. Requested to get almond shape instead of whatever was their standard, that’s an ADDITIONAL charge. Wanted to get cuticles cut, that’s another ADDITIONAL charge. Granted they waived these charges, usually these services are free based on my experience. But what disgusted me was they didn’t mention all those services were additional costs in the first place when I requested for them. Totally Cost: • $45 gel set • $5 white extension • $10 2 stickers for ring fingers

Emma Woods Ive been coming here for years. One of the best pedicures in town. I usually do my fingers myself because Im so particular, but decided to have them done this time. Sue did a wonderful job. Theyre so cute!

S Jessica (Jess) (one pic isnt from the shop, its just for reference of what we wanted and vs what we got and Sue killed it!) Love Sue. They can always fit us in and Ive been coming here for ages. Long enough that my daughter is now getting manis and pedis and loves this place also. They do really good full sets, dip powder, pedis, extra tootsie massages gel, etc...

Sydney Moss I cant say enough wonderful things about my experience at JC Nails, specifically Holly! Holly is absolutely amazing—her attention to detail is unmatched, and she always ensures that every nail is perfect. She stays on top of all the latest trends, so I always leave feeling fashionable and fresh. Her cat eye polish is my absolute favorite; the effect is stunning and never fails to earn compliments. I’ve been going to Holly for almost a year now and I’m so glad I found a nail tech in Santa Cruz that I want to stick with! Holly never fails me and always has great recommendations when I’m not sure about what I want.

Elizabeth Fabel 75 dollars for there to be a hair under the polish one finger (circled) and my cuticles to be absolutely destroyed. There was also multiple nails that are bleeding, puffy, and burning and when I called to ask for at least a partial refund I was told no and that I could come in for them to redo them. I wouldn’t go back here to get more infections so no I don’t want them redone.

Siya Bhadoria I visited this place with a friend to try out their service, but the experience was terrible. The staff was incredibly rude and seemed intent on overcharging us when we simply asked for a breakdown of their pricing. For a simple, one-color set that I usually pay $45 for, they charged me $65. To make matters worse, they didn’t even give me the color I requested—I asked for white and ended up with pink. I also added a single bow charm, which fell off as soon as I got home. The quality and service were both disappointing. I won’t be coming back, and I definitely wouldn’t recommend this place. My friend had an awful experience as well when she only asked to get 3 nails done on her hand they overcharged her as well and weren’t even accepting any of her requests.