Nail Salons 15 Reviews in Santa Monica, CA (Part 3)

daeraeceo Impromptu surprise for my wife, while in the area celebrating our anniversary! They took GREAT care of her, and laid these AMAZING cat eyes on her nails! When back in the area, we will definitely come back!

Lily C. Huber Pleasant service provided by Kathylynn for a gel manicure. The ambiance isnt as relaxing, but if you dont mind there may be availability to just walk-in for a last minute service if you are in the neighborhood. Im rating for the service provided and nail product, not the salon ambiance.

Ann Epifanio While the lady helping me did help remove soft gel on my hands, the final product was not good. Gel polish on one nail came off within 3 hours of leaving the salon (and another one fell off this morning and can feel two others peeling already). The drying machine was terrible and did not work. I sat there for 3 rounds of drying (it was an old/cheap "Thermal Nail" drying machine, Ive never seen a machine like this before) and ultimately had to leave for a meeting. ALSO, one of the other women who works there was using an electronic file/nail drill to get rid of her own dry skin on her feet/calluses throughout the duration of my appointment...DISGUSTING! Major cringe/very unprofessional. Will not be going back.

Jill Meryl I loved the Russian manicure..however I didnt get the design I wanted...and the tech seemed rushed near the end..the gel started coming off one nail...I paid $200 for a mani & regular pedi to b disappointed..I. glad I tried the russian manicure..however I will b going back to my regular manicurist

M N They did an amazing job and we’re very accommodating when I had a book an earlier spot through ClassPass, but couldn’t make it until an hour later. Very sweet and clean facilities as well!

Poppy Farsijani Elegant Nails and Lyly is everything you can ask for! I got my nails done for the first time with them and let me tell you, it was excellent, Attentive, consistent, clean and very pleasant. My gel manicure and pedicure are very pretty and ready for the New Year. She and her sister are highly skilled, always professional, personable and delightful.A 5 star rating is just not enough. I highly recommend her to anyone who is looking for a personal one on one experience with a dedicated professional.

Taranjit kaur Raina Lily is very detail oriented and helps me with color selection every time. She is always so sweet to ask me about my well being and while doing so I get a quick neck and shoulder massage. She is very fair priced and also quick in their services. They work as a team and help me with quick appointments every time.

Kennadi Davis I’d suggest calling before arriving for a quote! The website isn’t great but the people here are so nice and communicative, with great pricing. There’s some metered street parking available and an ATM inside. They accept tap /Apple pay as well! I only took of a star because the technician was a little touch filling my hard gel.

Katerina Kalamatianos This place is literally crazy. My friend and i came in for a full set of acrylics, and they took us right away so we were happy, but we soon found out that they take everybody that walks in and tells them "15 minute wait." They even lied about the wait time to people who made appointments and told them to come back later because they kept were overbooked. Rightfully so, those people were mad. I don’t even think they write their reservations down because they seemed confused every time someone said they made an appointment. The front desk lady was simultaneously doing my nails and massaging someones feet. Also, they completely rushed my nails because my nail technician was the only one of two nail techs who could do acrylics and someone had an appointment they did not allocate time for. My own nail tech argued with me about what shape and colors I said when I had a photo of exactly what I wanted up, and was extremely rude to me throughout the whole process. The pictures are my nails directly after getting them done. I’ve gotten my nails done dozens of times and they were rushing the process the whole time. Sloppy lines, left my hands gross at the end, and told me they’d give me a discount next time if i left a 5 star review, but I want to warn anyone who wants to come here, save your time and money.

Poppy Farsijani Elegant Nails and Lyly is everything you can ask for! I got my nails done for the first time with them and let me tell you, it was excellent, Attentive, consistent, clean and very pleasant. My gel manicure and pedicure are very pretty and ready for the New Year. She and her sister are highly skilled, always professional, personable and delightful.A 5 star rating is just not enough. I highly recommend her to anyone who is looking for a personal one on one experience with a dedicated professional.

Stephanie Willsey I love this salon. It’s always so clean and peaceful here and the staff is so friendly and talented. The owner, Moon, Is a fantastic business woman who cares deeply about customer service not to mention an incredible nail artist in her own right. I’ve been coming to this place since they opened and I’m always so grateful that I found someplace that takes such good care of my nail health. I get hard gel or gel extensions here and they take such care to protect your nailbeds and even help you grow out your natural nails. I’ve been to a lot of other nail salons in Santa Monica and this is absolutely by far the best if you want long nails with beautiful nail art that doesn’t destroy your natural nail. I would always recommend getting gel over regular polish. I feel like regular polish has had a lot of formula changes in the last decade and it just doesn’t stay no matter where you go. The gel polish I get here lasts beautifully, longer even than the recommended three-four weeks. so glad i found this place!!

Natalie Baron ASK FOR ANGIE! She is incredibly talented, kind, and takes her time. These are the best nails Ive ever had, I was so impressed I couldnt believe my eyes. She did exactly what I asked for from my reference picture and made sure each nail was shaped perfectly. We did builder gel and an airbrush aura design. I will definitely be coming back because Angie slayed!! Thanks girl!

Sydney Marion Obsessed with this place! I used to go to Violet at her last shop and so happy she’s teamed up with some awesome people at this shop now. They have the best pedicure chairs with massagers / jets. Violet and Moon and the team are all amazing and I won’t go anywhere else!

Emily Hsiung I live in Santa Monica and this is my go to nail salon! I’ve gotten a variety of pedicures and manicures and love the attention to detail that Angie has. My nails last for weeks and I come back about once a month for more builder gel/gel x, which helps me grow out my natural nails. Very high quality work!

Cori McGinn Recent discovery for me but super impressed so far. I just tried gelx extensions and both times they have been so sturdy and it’s great knowing the salon has a warranty period. Everything is clean and scheduling is easy. Kevin did an amazing job with my recent nails and all freehand. Will be back many more times!

Amanda Paiva Everyone at Blossom Nails is amazing! They are so kind and attentive and their service is top tier. The environment is clean and pretty. Ive been coming for almost three years and refuse to go anywhere else. My toes and fingers always look amazing when I leave, and I get tons of compliments! They just remodeled their pedicure area and Im obsessed. Love this place!

stephanie Henschel Quality and kindness in a calm spot. I never have a problem getting an appointment, the employees are attentive and great at their jobs, and there’s so many colors to choose from! I always feel refreshed and revived after a Blossom Nail appointment!

Giuliana S Best nail salon in la!! I have been coming to blossom for over 3 years and I’m obsessed. They do a perfect job every single time and my nails always look exactly how I want. Everyone is so friendly, the shop is so cute/comfy/clean and I truly can’t recommend it enough.

e l Mallory is a talented nail artist who knows her stuff and really loves her craft! Plus she’s a cool person to chat with and get to know :-) you can rest assured you’ll be super happy with your nails after she’s done.

Christine Liu I own 3 sets of custom press-on nails and will continue to be a loyal client. I’ve gotten so many compliments on each set. Mallory’s designs are unique and and quality is top notch. They are a lifesaver when I don’t have time to run to the nail salon and especially if I want to add a little oomph to each outfit. On top of press-ons Mallory also takes on clients for manicures! When she visited NY, she was able to fit me and gave me a fabulous manicure! I’m so thrilled with her work and can’t wait to call on her when I visit LA.

Jae Lam Mal is the absolute best! She brought my eggy nail dreams to life for my birthday. I couldn’t be happier with them! I always get structured nails with Mal using luminary. Mal has a huge selection of non-toxic polish. She is very educational in her process and always listens to what I want to achieve. If you’re looking for someone to take care of your nail health, Mal is your girl. She’s also a fantastic artist so you’ll come out with the cutest nails!

Michelle LeDonne I’ve been looking for the services provided by MKM Nails for quite some time without any luck until I found Mallory at MKM nails. I wanted to find a CLEAN space to have my manicures (I’m really bad at doing my own nails).My nails have special needs- they are thin and brittle and they cannot handle the rough tools used at all of the other salons I had visited in the past. Mallory takes her time to make sure you get the cleanest and most precise manicure. I just love my nails, I can’t tell you enough. I do the dazzle dry manicure. This polish can be removed easily with nail polish remover (no soaking drills etc). It dries very quickly after it is applied so no wait time and it lasts way longer than a traditional manicure without the damage caused by gel polish. If you have sensitized, brittle, thin, delicate, problematic nail beds then Mallory at MKM Nails is a must see. You can easily book online on her website. I promise you will be glad that you booked!

Michael Linda Im a nail biter and decided to get acrylics to help me to quit. I scheduled an appointment and the lady I saw was very gentle with my nails. Theyve lasted me 3 weeks so far. Im definitely coming back.

Lynn Chan Darren did these gorgeous gel-x nails so fast. Hes efficient and fun to talk to. Executed exactly what I wanted from the inspo pic and it came out even better. The studio is clear and well lit. If I lived closer, ld come here more often.

Caroline When I visited CA 3 years ago, I went to Tips Toes on a whim and Darren gave me beautiful nails! This time around, I got a manicure from another place in my hometown before traveling to CA for my sister’s wedding. Well, I absolutely hated the nails I got!! Super bulky and misshapen. I remembered how beautiful my nails were last time I went to Tips Toes and called Darren hoping that he had last minute availability. He took me in right away and as expected, gave me a fresh set of GORGEOUS nails!! The designs came out exactlyyy like my reference photos. He does amazing work and is very kind and charismatic. I wish I lived in CA so I could go to him every single time! These nails are wedding ready :))

Alan Gibson As a longtime customer, I can say with confidence this place. it is one of the best salons i Their service has never left me wanting more, and they always listen to any concerns I have regarding my requests to make sure I never leave unsatisfied. Don’t hesitate to call and book an appointment for the most incredible manicure you’ve ever had!

Ricky Murphy The two technicians who did my nails are so sweet. They were so enthusiastic and did a great job. The technician is very careful and attentive. She even tried drawing a tiny flower a few times before I was satisfied. I am really happy.

Charmaine Cole I’ve been coming here for 2 years. I can’t believe I haven’t written a review of praise for this faithful nail salon. I love this place for my gel needs! I even tried the dipping powder because of all the gorgeous colors. Either one I get it always lasts long. They take care of your nails and always do a great job. Special thanks to Kenny and Ni!

Grace Chan Ng Ugly thick nails and overall sloppy. The nail tech trimmed my nails wayy too short and made them all different lengths after growing them out :( Unfriendly service as well. I spoke to Kyle at the front desk about my chipped index finger, bleeding nail, and glue everywhere, to which he responded was normal, and proceeded to challenge if Id ever gotten dip before. Zero accommodation and very unfriendly service. Seems like they prioritize efficiency and high paying customers with designs. Disappointed

Leyla Wiek The owner here actually cares about your experience and that shows in everything they do. I got a gel mani and lovely lavender spa pedi service and 3 weeks later theyre still perfect (no chipping or anything). Def recommend 18K Nail Boutique - I will be coming back!

Anitha Kerst Best nail place in Santa Monica! Ive tried others, but now will never leave 18K Nails. The salon is clean, nicely designed and everyone is knowledgeable about the products and nail colors! I can say "I want a color like this" and they know what number Im referring it--its amazing! Nhi takes care of my nails so well--she does a perfect job on shape and design. I cant recommend this place enough!

Guisou Akhavan UPDATE: I went with my partner when I got this service, it was at your salon. Do Not try and deflect and say it must have been another place. My nail beds are damaged now because of your services. I’ve been here before for a regular gel mani and was fine with the service but this time I came in for a gel x fill and ended up with very thick and painful nails. The nail tech also filed my nails to the point I felt heat and pain but was told I was being “too stiff”. Additionally it was a bit of a sloppy job and my nails are so thick and he over filed the edges so my natural nail bed is exposed. Furthermore he used the drill bit and I’m pretty sure I now have the ring of fire around the base of my nails. Very disappointing, given that the service left my nails in worse condition than when I came in.

Maya Martin HORRIBLE, PLEASE AVOID. Four nails came off within a week of getting them done! Just two days after getting Gel X done at this place, the nails began to come off! The nail tech “Olivia Dang” did a terrible job. As with the pictures shown, around my cuticles, the gel seemed to be lifting and are so messy looking. She rushed through the process, didn’t prep my nails well, and it truly shows. Within the first couple of days after my appointment, I itched my head and a nail popped off, two days later I itched my arm, and another nail popped off and ripped my natural nail off from my nail bed. She did my sister’s nails the same day at the same time, going back and forth between doing our nails, because Olivia was the only nail tech there. My sister’s nail popped off as well, a day after. She also cut my sister and made her bleed, but Olivia tried to deny that and claimed it was a hang nail. ALSO, she kept demanding we look away from our hands as she did our nails. Why? She didn’t want to see what a terrible job she was doing? She was busy talking to her sisters when she was doing our nails, and they’d laugh whenever she’d get annoyed and tell us to look away. I went back two days after the first nail popped off and asked for them to be removed, as well as asked for a refund. She kept refusing to give me a refund she claimed it was against policy to refund, I told her to show me this policy – she said it was on the website, but when I checked her site there was no such policy at the time. Then when I pressed her further, she told me she couldn’t afford to refund me. After having insisted, she finally refunded me, but only $65 of the $140 I paid. She proceeded to tell me that she lost money from other clients because she turned away other clients to do me and my sister’s nails!? Excuse me? How am I responsible for how you manage your clients? I made an appointment for two people, she was aware of that, I didn’t just walk in! We showed up for our appointment on time. This lady, Olivia, is not running an honest business.

Dominique Dungca Olivia is great and is one of few nail techs on the West Side that can do nails like this. She’s meticulous, thoughtful, and is such a great person to talk to. She makes you feel the most welcome. She’s SO good. I will never go to anyone else. She gives premium service at a fair price point. Huy did an excellent job on the application as well. This used to be Heather’s Nails but now has new ownership under Olivia. She will make sure you leave with beautiful nails that last a long time!

Ariana La France Olivia is the best! She is a powerhouse, one woman show of tremendous strength during these difficult times for small businesses in LA! She is incredibly kind and considerate of her clients and truly values her work!

Tanya Noronha Olivia is incredibly skilled and pays great attention to detail. My nails turned out perfectly—exactly what I wanted! The service was professional and I felt so relaxed. I’ll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend!

Briana McKellery Love love love my nails! This place is great and Olivia and Rose took great care of me i got a Gel pedicure and acrylic fill-in with gel + chrome. They took me just 30 mins before close and she took her time and was such a gem. I’ll be back but definitely check out.

Lu Z Loved this experience. First time getting Gel X nails, and the owner is incredibly patient with my indecisiveness. The place is very comfy and the technicians are great. They have this cute little rescue dog named Lucky who barks to greet customers as they come in. I was a little taken aback at first but he’s a really good boy. Definitely will come again to support the small local business.

Jasmine Retuta Chris did a phenomenal job with my manicure. I just showed him a picture of the French I wanted and he went over and beyond. Love this place... its clean...affordable and they go over and beyond. Artists... definitely Artists. Ask for Chris... he is a genius

Courtney Cremmen My nails are exactly what I was wanting. I highly recommend Tina! She is so kind and thourough and will make you feel beautiful!

Ashley Bragg The people working there were nice so I feel bad for posting a bad review but it’s probably one of the worst manicures I’ve had. 7/10 of my fingers are bleeding and in pain. My hands and clothes were covered in the only nail polish I had removed when she said she was done with the manicure. On top of the pain and bad experience the dip polish is too thick and weirdly round. I got a manicure from them before and it was cheaper and better than this time. But really don’t want to go back and have my cuticles bleed again. I’d skip this place if I were you.

Lisa Hong My boyfriend and I went over the holiday weekend after calling to make a last-minute appointment. They were kind enough to squeeze us in before closing and did such a great job! I brought in reference photos of what I wanted done, which included nail art. All of the ladies doing services were very sweet and patient despite my indecisiveness in choosing colors (lol) and Tom (I believe the owner?) gave his recommendations based on his expertise then meticulously drew the art himself while sharing funny stories with us. They are cash only but i think as a result the services were cheaper than most other locations in this area. I’ll definitely be back and highly recommend!

Steph Goraieb Tremendous experience! I had a gel pedicure with Julia and lash tinting + brow shaping with Angie. Both technicians were AMAZING - very detail-oriented, thorough, and kind. I am beyond happy with the results. My feet look amazing and I’ve genuinely never had a better brow appointment in my life!! 10/10 thank you!!

Taylor Mickelson First time going to Rich Angel and I loved my experience. I got a gel pedicure with Polina and let me tell ya my toes and feet have never felt so loved. It was a dry pedicure meaning you don’t have to place your feet in water and they had the most comfortable recliners to sit in. I had a Russian gel x manicure done by Julia and the results were perfect. It was my first time to get gel x and they turned out fabulous. Will definitely be coming back.

Ekaterina Lukoyanova Wow wow wow! I came in with two badly broken nails and Angelina was able not to only repair it well but also did such a beautiful neat job! So happy I found this place so close to my house! Polina did a pedi very good as well! Definitely my to go spot now!

Анжелика Линская Ive just discovered an amazing salon for flawless nail coatings and nail extensions. Ive been here multiple times and always leave satisfied. The service is exceptional - the receptionist even offers drinks, including champagne! And I watched a movie Ive been wanting to see for a while. I will definitely be returning. Thank you for your excellent work! ❤️

Elise Piatkowski The best mani/pedi in Santa Monica! I tried many different nail salons when I moved here 4 years ago and once I found Tina & Donna at Lily’s nails I never went anywhere else. They pay so much attention to detail and my mani/pedis are always super long lasting. The salon is always very clean and the pedi chairs are comfy. This is a female and family run business that deserves all the praise and support. They work SO incredibly hard and their service is top notch. Tina’s manicures are the best I’ve ever had.

Naomi Jewel Flanigan All of the ladies that work here are very nice, they did a really good job on my manicure paying attention to detail and listening to my wants. Love it here !

Serena Civardi One of the best pedicures ever! I didn’t catch the name of the lady who did my service but she was so thorough and took her time making sure my pedicure looked good and that I was relaxed. The massage and scrub at the end was so good I could fall asleep! Next time I’m in town I will be back!

Caroline Therrien went with my two friends, I had a pedicure and they both got manicures. The employees did amazing acrylic and gel nails, the cuticles looked great. The employees were super skilled and friendly :)

Lisbeth Talavera Excellent service, quiet and not noisy place. The people who do the manicure and pedicure are very delicate in their treatment and provide you with a very relaxing hand and foot massage.

Amanda Karakoudas I finally found a nail salon in Venice that I love! Vivian does a great job and has made me feel comfortable getting gel again after having it removed incorrectly somewhere else before, which left my nails damaged. But Vivian is really careful with the prepping and removal process, and makes my natural nails look amazing!

Melissa S I had the best experience with Lina! She did an incredible job on my gel x nails—they look absolutely stunning and flawless. Her attention to detail and precision are unmatched, and she made sure every nail was perfect. Lina was also so friendly, professional, and attentive throughout the entire appointment. I couldn’t be happier with the results, and I’ve already received so many compliments on my nails. I’ll definitely be coming back to her for my next set. Highly recommend!

Emily Binder Han at Pinkies does the most incredible job on my nails every single time. She NEVER disappoints! Any time I show her a picture of what I want she nails it. Best nail tech I’ve ever had. Love everyone else there as well!

Arden Malsin Pinkies is my go to nail salon. Everyone that works there is so kind and professional. I appreciate how much care they put into giving you exactly what you want. Cindy is incredibly meticulous and i always love what I leave with!

Kaitlyn Probasco Jessica is THE best!! I have had my nails done by multiple salons in LA and I can say I have FINALLY found my west coast nail person! ❤️ This gel X manicure is my favorite I have ever had. I highly recommend this salon!

Tune in Meditation Drop everything you are doing and run to get your nails done here! The place is clean, relaxing and the girls are incredibly detailed and professional. My nails have never looked so good, they last so long and look perfection every time. Oksana is my artist and she rocks! Thank you so much

EMMIE HEAD I had a great experience here! Lena is very detail oriented and did great work on my manicure. My pedicure was also super thorough. I’d definitely come back

Ashleigh Paige This salon is always spotless, with excellent customer service and highly skilled manicurists who pay great attention to detail. I love getting my nails done by Anastasia—she expertly shapes my hard gel to create a more elegant, slimmer nail bed, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. Helen is also fantastic—friendly, meticulous, and a pleasure to visit. Their Russian manicures are top-tier, delivering a flawless finish every time. The pedicures are just as amazing, and I personally love having Anna take care of mine. Highly recommend this place for anyone looking for quality, precision, and friendly service!

Crystal Newberry I love love love this place. I’ve literally tried every nail place in Santa Monica and I’ve finally found the one. The chairs are comfy, always get to pick out what I want to watch but best of all, my nails are perfect. My skin is incredibly sensitive, which I always mention coming in and they make sure to go easy and I never feel any pain. I love all the colors they offer to. Seriously with price. Oh and get the Russian manicure, it’s worth it. The detail work that’s done is incredible.

Anastasia Shirokova I’ve been a loyal client of this nail salon for about a year now, and I can’t say enough about the incredible experience I’ve had each time. Irina, in particular, is a true top master—she absolutely deserves that title. Every appointment with her is above and beyond, and her attention to detail and artistry are unmatched. All the other technicians are also amazing, each bringing absolute expertise and care to their work. While Irina was my first love here and remains my go-to, the entire team is talented and creates such a welcoming environment. Not only is the nail service exceptional, but the studio offers a range of other beauty treatments that make it a one-stop-shop for self-care. The atmosphere is welcoming and relaxing, and the team here goes out of their way to make every visit feel special. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for top-notch beauty services!

Olga Cross I love to do my nails at the Secretive nail bar. They are really good. Do the best job and your nails are always look great. Definitely recommend you to treat yourself here. Maria is really amazing master. She is very nice, kind and knowledgeable. She can always give you good recommendation on the color.

Victoria Saldina Anzhelika is the best nail artist I have ever met. She is very attentive and gentle. Nails after her touch are nothing but pure perfection. Very neat work, great chat. I leave being uplifted and feeling beautiful each time I visit her. Highly recommending Anzhelika if you appreciate luxurious quality of your nails and warm connection. Besides Anzhelika’s work the place itself is beautiful and clean.

Stesha Moore-Pavich Secretive nail bar is the best! I’ve had a few different nail technicians and they’ve all done amazing work! My gel manicure lasts much longer than other places I’ve been as well! Do yourself a favor and come today!

Elena Nikeshin Secretive Nail Bar is amazing! The salon is beautiful, the staff is talented, and the service is top-notch. My nails always look flawless and last so long. They make every visit feel special. Highly recommend!

Sunny Hess This place is definitely my go to! Everyone is always so friendly and Tammy is the best! She is quick yet so efficient. I’m a nurse so I destroy my nails often and need 1-2 nails of acrylic. I get dip and sometimes acrylic yet I’m usually in and out within 30 minutes! And she is the queen of color matching. You show her a picture and boom, she knows exactly which nail color to grab. Def check this spot out if you need a new nail girl!

Emily Roche Such a beautiful experience 10/20 everyone! I love my gals, they always squeeze me in even if it’s super busy. My gel polish lasts longer than anywhere I’ve ever gone! If I ever chip or break a nail they are so helpful and fix so quickly! Cannot recommend this cute little nail spot enough! It’s my go-to, and I wouldn’t go anywhere else! Also bring cash :)

Kira Drayton I absolutely love this salon. I have been going here for about a year now and they never fail. Everyone is always kind and friendly and welcoming. Tiffany has helped my nails grow so long and healthy. I’ve never maintained my nails before I started coming here. SOOOO grateful for main attraction spa. Update 10/17/24 Tiffany has done it again with my halloween nails!!! My absolute favorite of this year so far. Please if you’ve never been here, add this spa to your routine. I can never go anywhere else.

emily andrews I’ve been in LA for about four years and this is the best nail salon I’ve ever been to. Hana Kills any French tip. They’re all so nice and make me feel so welcomed, unlike some nail salons. And they do all the needed prep for your nails to make you have a good manicure. They always take their time and they’re all Perfectionists.

Mai Perches I’ve been coming here for years. Tammy is great! She’s who I go to for all things gel, gel x, and have also done dip but everyone there is nice and they are a great spot for drop ins too but I recommend making an appointment in advance if you want to see a specific person.