Called ahead to see if they had any availability for a regular pedi and gel mani. I was able to get in and be seen within 25 minutes. I was looking to try gel x but after talking with Tiffany she recommend hard gel to keep my regular nail and build from there. It was perfect because I didn't need the additional length. I typically do square but a nail had broken and she asked if it would be okay to reshape. I'm so happy that we did that. This shape feels more natural than the square. I also saw the artwork she had up at her station and asked if she could do a Valentine's design. I think she did a great job and I would be happy to come in again! I had another shop I was loyal to but the quality had been declining and I decided to try out AO Nails. I'm so happy that I decided to give this shop a try. I've found my new go to nail spot. This place is clean, bright and airy and the decor is too cute. Definitely check them out for quality nail care. read more

AO Nails - Poway - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

I was excited to try out this new local nail spot in Poway based on the reviews, and the fact that they advertise as being able to do hard gel nails. First, the positives, I was able to make an appointment the day before, and was seen a few minutes after my appointment time. The color options are phenomenal and there's a lot to choose from. Unfortunately, my nails did not look great after my service. They were uneven and had multiple, small air bubbles throughout. Immediately after my service I was asked by a friend if I had done my nail's myself. For $65, I would prefer my nails to look professionally done. Particularly jarring, as my service ended I lifted up my arm to see a toenail sized finger nail belonging to someone else attached and embedded into my forearm. One, it's pretty gross to have another persons nail stuck to you for an hour, and two, it genuinely made me question the sanitation in place. This was not a small nail, and a quick wipe down between customers would have taken care of the issue-- so what other corners are being cut? Within a few days each nail had chipped at the tips, with my pointer finger having a small corner of the nail itself come off completely. I left for a vacation the day after my service and did receive a text a few days after (unprompted) letting me know I was still within my 7 days policy of getting the nails fixed, but at that point I was out of the country. I'm not sure if this is just an industry standard in 2026, but there isn't really a "manicure" aspect here either-- no cuticle care, or real foundational nail care before or after applying polish. Just a very rough removal of the previous layers and a new coat of hard gel/polish. For the price, I would have liked to receive a fundamental manicure prior to polish. But, on this point, I will do my due diligence to inquire what's included in the service before booking future nail appointments elsewhere. My final point of contention is that my nail tech inquired about my personal life (totally fine, and encouraged! I love to chat), but then made an unwarranted and rude comment in response to my answer. I hesitated to include this part of my review because sometimes misunderstandings happen--but it didn't really feel like a conversation and more like a size up of a stranger that left me feeling uncomfortable. I don't typically leave reviews, unless I can support and encourage a small business, but between the stray nail, the conversation, and the longevity/quality of the work done, this moment has been sitting on my mind in the almost two weeks since my appointment. read more

Good: very clean, good service Not so good: prices have increased significantly! I used to pay about $32 for a basic mani pedi. Now the price is about $47. That's a significant increase. I find the prices too high to have these procedures done regularly at this location. I did see that the place was almost empty - it used to always be active even during traditionally slow times. Perhaps others also find A O Nails too expensive!! read more

I absolutely love my nails! Aria did an amazing job at making sure they looked perfect and was very precise. I highly recommend this place they are great every time! read more

AO Nails - Poway - Nails - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

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While my nails were done very well. The pressure to pay in cash was obnoxious. I went with my daughters and they did not like the service. This place is also expensive. Has a sweat shop vibe. read more

I called the place with no appointment and they were able to squeeze me in 30 minutes later. I needed a removal and new set, which they kindly said they could do for me. I'm not sure the name of the person who did my nails but it was a guy and he was super informative and friendly when I had questions for him. These are my real nails and I normally get gel x overlay on top of my real nails, but he advised hard gel and it was the best decision! I love the way my nails came out and how strong they feel now, since I have pretty weak nails. The inside was super clean and I honestly lovee how sterile they clean their equipment. They had all the correct machines to ensure no cross contamination was made when doing clients' nails. I guess the only downside is that they don't have a lot of color choices for gel x. But other than that, everything else was amazing! They also offered so many different services, which I would love to come back and do. At the end, my nails came tech offered me a massage and hand massage which was super nice of them. Definitely will come back again for my nails and other services I need! read more

AO Nails - Poway - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

Our experience at AO nail salon was unbelievable! The hospitality and kindness shown to us by the staff was out of this world. The owner was so kind and introduced herself as well as joined in celebrating our girls night! They offered sparkling wine, coconut water and a variety of other options. They had plenty of colors to choose from and different package options. The pedicures were high quality! They ended the service with a brief shoulder massage, which was such a nice touch. My friends and I are so grateful of the care provided and want to highlight what an exceptional salon this is! We will be coming back in the future, thank you!! read more

AO Nails - Poway - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

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Salon was nice and clean with plenty of parking, but I would not drive out of my way from 4S ranch for this ok mani. nothing special. Regular gel mani is $40, but if you want ombre nails you have to pay $50 extra for that ombre design!! say what??? That's craziness. Upside is that it is next to Home Goods If you are willing pay upwards of $150 for a mani, you can get really pretty designs! I was not impressed, so my search for another go to nail salon continues... read more

AO Nails - Poway - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

This was my first time in this nail salon. I was a walk in and when I entered I was helped the minute I walk in, while I waited to get seated i noticed the place was super cute,clean and welcoming, I had questions since it was my first time getting gel X .Kelly along with the young girl in the front desk answered all my questions and were very kind. From start to finish Kelly made sure I was okay (gave me beverage) and even after applying the color she asked if I was absolutely sure about my color choice.For my first time I personally really liked the end result. I will definitely be going back read more

AO Nails - Poway - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

Called about 20 minutes before I walked in and they accommodated me with my request for a mani pedi with nail art on my hands. Joy did my pedicure and was very sweet and friendly. Aria took a complicated reference picture and recreated it so well! I'm beyond happy and the place is very bright, clean, and large. Will be coming back whenever i get my nails done again! read more

AO Nails - Poway - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

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Highly recommended! Clean manicure and relaxing pedicure. Shout out to Linc and Aria! I'll definitely come back. read more

AO Nails - Poway - Gel manicure - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

I made an appointment online for a fill but decided to also get some nail design done as well. The woman at the front desk was super nice and flexible. The place was very clean and serene. The devices used for the gel manicure use special technology to only target your nails instead of your whole hand. Tiffany was amazing. I showed her an inspo pic of matcha latte nails and because the pic was a little grainy, she freestyle painted each white line of marbling. 10/10 worth the price! read more

AO Nails - Poway - Matcha latte nails - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

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I haven't had a amazing pedicure in a very long time. And I can't rave enough how amazing this place is. They have a huge menu of services. Ling was above and beyond amazing. He was pure magic. The best pedicure I've gotten in Cali. I got the Royal pedicure and the name speaks for itself. I'm pregnant and very close to delivery. I felt as if I was in a 5 star spa. The quality and treatment were beyond my expectations. 10/10 recommend this place and Ling. Hopefully I can come back one more time before baby arrives. read more

Updating my review, owner reached out and made things right. The experience was night and day from my last experience. Helen was my nail tech and did a wonderful job with a gel Mani. Everything was very clean and staff was very friendly (offered water and was very friendly). Great friendly service and staff. read more

AO Nails - Poway - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

This is my update after my earlier one. They deserve credit following up and standing behind their service and doing their best to resolve the issue read more

AO Nails - Poway - This is the service I am used to getting from them - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

I've been going here for the past several months as I needed to find a nail place open in the evenings (so many places close by 6pm). Every design I've asked for they do a fantastic job! Very happy that I found this nail salon! read more

AO Nails - Poway - Black lace nail design - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

Haven't been here yet but I requested a quote. At first they asked when I wanted to schedule an appointment. When I explained I'm only looking for a quote and if they take walk ins they sent me the list and let me know they did accept walk ins. I also messaged other businesses at the same time and this was the only one to actually get back to me with prices, so I'll be going here when I'm ready. read more

This review is well over due. Tiffany is AMAZING, I had never done a GelX set before (10 years as an acrylic girlie) and she explained the process perfectly. And her attention to detail is PHENOMINAL. Every set I have had done by her so far has just exceeded my expectations. I applaud anyone who handles a pedicure and Angela was just as amazing, again, great attention to detail and so sweet. The aesthetic inside is clean and comforting and all around a happy and enjoyable environment. read more

AO Nails - Poway - Silver cateye with a blue/purple color shifting cateye gel coat on top -- GelX, almond shape - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

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One of the best pedicures I've had in a while! This salon is so clean, nicely organized, staff is an absolute delight and their prices are very reasonable for the top notch products and service they provide. My pedi came with a complimentary shoulder massage and my friend and I left feeling so relaxed, we will definitely be coming back!! read more

I'm obsessed with my nails! The rose design is stunning and perfectly matches the vibe I wanted. Great attention to detail and excellent service. read more

AO Nails - Poway - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

Great service. My mani/pedi was very relaxing! My mom fell asleep during her service. I will definitely return.

Clean, relaxing, affordable. Very happy with my pedicure. I need to make this a regular thing for myself :)

First time visiting the AO Nails & Lashes, since Aloha nails sold their business. The salon has been remodeled with top of the the line furniture, fixtures and services. It is gorgeous and has a luxurious feel to it. Linc was my nail technician and was very professional, polite and patient with me! He transformed my short un-pretty nails into a beautiful set of gel extensions. I appreciate his attention to detail and was very careful and methodical to make sure I was happy with the everything, through the gels to the pedicure. I already booked my next appointment with Linc for next month! Very happy today with the service at the new salon, everyone on the staff is warm and friendly, too. I highly recommend making an appointment to get beautified! read more

AO Nails - Poway - Gel extensions, neutral pink with hand-painted floral ring fingers, design by Linc at AO nails & lashes - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

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We loved this place, its so cute and the employees are very nice and sweet. I got my gel x tips with pink cat eye and my daughter got red nails. I will definitely be back! read more

AO Nails - Poway - Pink cat eye - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

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They were great! I had a cup of complimentary coconut water while I got my pedicure. Everyone there were friendly and helpful. I'll definitely go back. read more

I have been waiting to come back here since it changed from Aloha Spa to A O. They have done a beautiful job on the remodel. Seems bigger and brighter. Very clean. My nail tech was Tiffany and she was great. I would definitely recommend her and will book her for myself next time. The new owners were very generous and offered a discount for our first time here. Glad to have such a beautiful place to come for some pampering. read more

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I rarely leave negative reviews, but I felt compelled to share my recent experience. I came in for a gel manicure (specifically a cat eye design), and unfortunately, it was disappointing from start to finish. First, the technician had a very difficult time removing the Gel-X from my previous set. They aggressively filed down my nails to the point where it became painful, yet they kept blaming me for the condition of my nails, which felt both unprofessional and unfair. I had requested a cat eye design, but it was immediately clear the technician didn't know how to do it. Another staff member had to step in and try to guide them, but throughout the process, the technician kept asking me how to proceed. I came in trusting their professional knowledge and instead felt extremely uncomfortable and unsure of the outcome. Just a week later, several of my nails began chipping. See pictures... For a gel manicure that cost over $70, I expected much better quality and service. read more

AO Nails - Poway - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

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The care and quality is outstanding. Wendy and Linc took the time to provide great pedicures for my husband and I. Linc is very meticulous with his process of dip nails. Highly recommend!!! read more

Tiffany did my wedding nails, and they were the best I've ever had! She took my inspo to another level by adding personal touches and attention to detail. I received so many compliments, and this will definitely be my go-to nail spot from now on. read more

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I went for my second visit to the new salon and was extremely pleased. I like that many of the previous staff are still working there. I consulted and trusted their advice to trust dipping powder and was very pleased. Tiffany is great at her art. I have been able to bring in photos and she translates them to nail art. The staff is fun, professional, and talented. read more

AO Nails - Poway - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

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The salon is nice and staff is super friendly and welcoming. But their technique is too bad, I truly suggest that the staff should not take a special design nails job if they are not capable, and should just refuse to do the complicated ones. If you said you can do it, you should be able to complete it. I will not come back here again. read more

In my opinion this is the best nail salon in SD. Girls at front desk helped me out quickly and my tech gave me the best pedicure I've ever had (wish I got her name). Super friendly staff and clean salon. Love it here. read more

First of all I came here as a walk in and because I needed to fix my nails from previous nail salon that I went to, they were HORRIFIC! The manager was so nice to squeeze me in and Linc was my nail tech and was so respectful and took his time to do my nails, to be honest I have never had my nails so nicely done like he did, we was talkative and asking me questions which I liked, he kept a conversation because I don't shut up haha I get bored easily and he knew how to handle me well in that sense too. Everyone is so sweet and friendly and the atmosphere was relaxing. I loved that they do offer like a warranty for a week if something happens which it did (I'm a dental assistant and always using my nails so it was my fault). I came once again as a walk in person and so nicely they fixed it. I'll be going again, and once again thank you for rescuing my nails read more

Came in on Mothers Day pretty late (about an hour and a half before they closed) and they graciously took me in with no complaints. I have had my pedicure now for 2 months and it's still holding on strong. I've actually gotten compliments at the beach with them. They're grown out but with French tip, you really can't tell. Their vibe is really cute and the ambiance is great! Will definitely be back for my pedis! read more

Services were mediocre and didn't last The timer on massage time in front of you is not relaxing at all read more

Amazing Experience! Highly Recommend! Location, staff, and nail salon and experience top notch! They just opened and are so friendly! They did an amazing job and cater to all my needs. They also have amazing discounts on everything since they just opened! I went to mani pedi salon in poway and got a waxed and literally ripped my skin off! Dont wax from them! This new salon is amazing and they did such an amazing job on my lashes! I can't recommend enough! You will love them!!! read more

Just had my nails done today, I was pretty content with the final result. I used to go there all the time when it was ALOHA and I will continue going. Welcome to Poway! read more

This salon was great. Location was in a busy lot, but finding parking was easy. This lot is a bit dangerous though because it includes five below, home goods, AND Trader Joe's! I was immediately greeted when I walked in. There are so many colors to choose, and this salon has a wide variety of jelly polishes and offers cat-eye looks!! Wendy did my nails so well, I am so happy with them! I requested a full set of French Gel-X nails (pointy almond) with a little design sticker. I expressed that in the past I've received French and left the salon with my nails having this white opaque look which I didn't like. I wanted a base pink that wasn't sheer. They knew exactly what to do. What really helped this salon stick out for me was the included cuticle work. Wendy took her time to make sure the gel-X tips fit the bed of my nails. Once the nails were placed, she took an extra step and blotted a base beige color to my nails. My guess was this helped the base pink appear more solid since the gel-x nails were clear. This was cherry on top for me. Really goes to show they take the extra mile. From there, Wendy took her time with applying the white polish to complete my look. After the stickers were applied, I placed my hands into the lamp one last time to cure. Wendy then gave me a shoulder massage for 5 minutes. Unexpected but really enjoyable!! She finished off with a short arm massage with lotion and did one last check on my nails, filing off any impurities. My social battery was low, so to be honest our appointment was quiet, but I really appreciated it. I wasn't pressured to add anything on which was really nice too. All in all I left the salon a happy woman and am excited to go back! read more

AO Nails - Poway - Nail Salons Near Me - Poway, California

I called this morning to ask if they could accommodate a walk-in for a mani/pedi and lashes. No problem!! Noon it was! My technician, Wendy, was just so meticulous! Since I am a potter, it is INCREDIBLY rare to get my nails done. But I'm heading out for an anniversary trip & had to make an exception! Wendy did such a beautiful job, I will definitely be back & ask for her. Oh - and the new decor is so fresh, so clean! Love it! read more

Clean great and special care. They take their time and pay attention to detail. I love the vibe of this place and attitudes. I have lashes and nails done read more