Not the place for me. The pedicure was rushed, everything felt like an upcharge (polish removal for toes and hands), and my gel mani was chipping within 3 days. I also have a ton of cuticles that have dried out and are bleeding -- not something I've ever experienced in my 15 years of monthly manucures. Very, very expensive and not worth it. read more

I went to buff and file for a pedicure after friend recommended it. The service and technician were great. The salon is neat and nicely decorated. Unfortunately after 2 days my left big toe swelled to twice its size. I went to urgent care and was diagnosed with a staff infection! This required a topical analgesic and an oral antibiotic. I left a message for the salon but received zero follow up. Beware they clearly are not properly sterilizing equipment between uses. read more

Great service. Real clean place and fun staff. Massive selection of nail polishes- with really engaged manicurists- Good music playing. Lauren was Super Sweet and totally meticulous about her work on my Pride Pedi. read more

NEVER, NEVEDR, Ever go here. Pretentious Stuck-Up Bitches. 00:07 minutes late......Voicemail... "you should be here or reschedule.' Scheduled a Mani/Pedi. Hiked for weeks in Acadia and Mt Washington.. Miles, Miles, Miles on the sore puppies. Made "Leslie.' uncomfoprtable, as I expressed my Gratitude for her service. Gave a Generous tip. Tried to schedule again. Was met with the Owner... walked me Outside....and tried to hand me a Portsmouth, NH, Police Dept. NOTICE OF, 'YOU ARE BANNED FOR 1 YEAR." NEVER, EVER, AGAIKN. -Chad read more

Felicia- Is The Best. Super attentive and wonderful attention to details. She was more than happy to support me in my decision to 'go Proud Rainbow.' Buff and File storefront has a wonderful natural light streaming through the entire store. So nice, clean, and professional. Come Here! Get your nails done. Let you Freak Flag Fly! Go Portsmouth Proud! read more

Buff & File Nail Bar - Lovely, Supportive Felicia - Nail Salons Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

I went visited the Green location. I had a pedi and added on a foot massage/ hot towel experience. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed. The chairs weren't massage chairs and you just put your feet into a plastic bucket. The "massage" was horrible. You can go to a much cheaper salon and get way better service for $60 vs $80. I will say the pedicurist was very nice. read more

Amazing - Ethan is great and always provides interesting conversation. The salon is inviting and beautiful.

Lafayette Rd desk staff very rude and the business is very focused on its business versus customers. Services I had were mediocre. Disappointing on so many levels. read more

It's "cute" but not upscale in any way. Tight crowded space. I requested provider wear a mask via phone in advance (extra precautions pre-event) and was told it wouldn't be a problem. Provider didn't have one. I didn't bring an extra mask since they said no problem when making appt. Seemed like request was a big inconveniece to the front desk attendant. I decided not to stay but was billed for the appointment. No apologies made. read more

I really like Buff & File Nail Bar. The ability to make a real appointment is the first thing I appreciate . Some of the slightly less expensive places say you have an appt. and when you get there you still sign in and wait bc they keep taking customers and don't reserve your time! Next, the staff are all professional and caring and friendly. I find their accommodations clean and comfortable . They offer a wide range of devices and prices. I typically have pedicures and they do a great job with nail care. I love supporting local businesses and the Buff & File Nail Bar must be loved by many bc now they have 2 locations ! read more

Wonderful relaxing deluxe pedicure with Felicia! I enjoy the overall experience of going to Buff and File at Portsmouth-Green.

I had a great experience. I got a gel-x manicure.l by Ethan and he did a great job. He was a great person to also talk too. I also got a gel mani by Shannon; she also did a great job and was also a lovely person to talk too. I defiantly would go here again and would recommend to people. The atmosphere was great. I will say I went to their downtown place and the only thing that kind of stinks is you have to pay for parking unless you find a free parking place that had opens and it would be a little bit of a walk. But I know they can't help that part. read more

Buff & File Nail Bar - Gel-X extension Mani. - Nail Salons Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

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Do not go here. I was charged $50 for a pedicure I did not receive. Due to car breaking down I was unable to make appointment and called in advance - yet still got charged with zero empathy and no alternative solution. I can understand blatant no shows being charged - but a situation out of one's control deserves a different approach. I just noticed another review with a woman who went into an emergency c-section who faced the same fate. WOW. In addition to this experience, I received a DazzleDry manicure a few months back and the polish lifted the very next day. When I called I was told that they do not guarantee this type of manicure - as an exception they did agree to allow me to come in. Surprised that this was an exception and that they don't stand behind their work. I should have known based on that experience that this salon is not at all customer focused and only cares about its own money making ability. Worst experience I have ever had with any salon of any type. read more

I paid $94 for a pedicure and gel manicure (without a hand massage) and it was one of the worst I ever received. First off, how can people justify paying that much? Insane. I'm two days into my vacation and three of my toes polish have already peeled off. I have never had this happen before and I won't be returning to this salon to just listen to the tech bitch about how she couldn't go out and party because her friends bailed on her the night before. Don't hire young girls that vent to your customers about their life, we don't want to hear it. read more

They do an awesome job! Love the vibe and the people who work there. They're my go to place in Portsmouth.

Emily is lifesaver! Two days before my wedding, my usual salon totally botched my gel manicure. In a panic, my bridesmaid started to look around for me and found Buff and File. Emily went above and beyond and did the most beautiful job. My nails still look fabulous and I have gotten a few compliments out and about! I may just have to treat myself again! read more

Buff & File Nail Bar - Bridal nails :) Thank you, Emily! - Nail Salons Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

The staff here is plain rude - the online booking system is a mess and will put the wrong date on your reservation. I was completely put off by the attitude of the woman checking people in when I arrived for the time I'd signed up for. I left wondering if I was just dumb, only to get a walk in at another salon and find out that the woman sitting next to me had the same problem!! I tried to give them another shot but again the people working the phones on the day of my appointment were so off putting that I just decided to have them charge my card to skip my appointment. I can't speak to how great their manicures are, but with bedside manner like this I'd rather not find out. read more

This is my favorite nail salon in the area! It's a little more pricey and you should always make an appointment but the quality and staff is worth it! My only complaint is parking. If you're coming to the downtown location, then give yourself at least 15 minutes to navigate the parking situation. They have a second location that is much easier to get to and park in my opinion. They only do natural nails-no acrylic. They do gel- no dip. They have a ton of OPI which is my favorite. The best part- if you get the full manicure you get a free 10 day chip repair! This is a lifesaver in my opinion! read more

This was the first time I have had a gel manicure that chipped after one day! In addition, the staff was rude and belittling to the party I was there with for my wedding and offered "express" services but charged me the full prices. I was also told we would be provided with a pitcher of mimosas when I made my reservation, but that didn't happen. Definitely wont be back. read more

Buff & File Nail Bar - One day after my gel manicure my nails looked like this! Such a terrible place to get my wedding manicure! - Nail Salons Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

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I used to absolutely love going here, even had my nails done for my wedding here. The quality was always so good and worth the high price. But recently I have not been happy with my last 3 experiences. To spend $110 on a mani/pedi and get barely any attention to detail or anything is crazy. My nails chipped a week later (one day past the time they could be fixed of course). My pedicure was rushed and I even think she used the callous remover (if she did it was for 2 seconds) and the polish wasn't even all the way to my cuticles so they immediately looked grown out. Last time I had my nails done they also chipped less than a week later and I had to bring my toddler in to get them fixed. Just super disappointing when you're a mom who never spends time or money on yourself and it feels like the time you finally spend is way overpriced and going to just be ruined in a week anyways. Definitely will be finding a new place next time I decide to spend the money because it's just not what it used to be it seems. read more

If this nail spa was open in May 2012, we would have had my friend's bridal party here. My girlfriend and I took a day off from life and drove up to Kittery for a big of spring shopping and decided to get a little spa treatment to start our trip. We found this joint online and made reservations! It's a really cute and simple space with great service. We both had pedicures, the one with massage and extras. They have cool buffing machines for callouses (no need for razors) and my callouses were definitely softer. We liked it so much that we plan to make this a periodic little getaway stop. Of note, they advertise that they use nontoxic products and that is pretty evident when you enter the store. It's nice to not feel the slight headache one gets from the fumes of a nail salon. read more

I'm visiting Portsmouth and wanted to get my brows done. I was able to make a next day appointment with Charlene (I think that was her name). She was very friendly, explained everything she was doing, and checked in with me to make sure I liked her progress. My brows turned out great, the place was clean, and the price reasonable. I would recommend! read more

I had an express pedi and sports mani. The pedi was ok, but not as good as I've had in the past at Buff and File. The mani was completely unacceptable. I selected buff and shine. I get this frequently, but It was the first time I did this at Buff and File. Basically there was minimal cuticle care and nail shaping, no buff and no shine. I had to go home and finish the job. I am very disappointed. I had this done for a trip and it was absolutely pathetic. read more

If I could give zero stars I would.. my wife and I had an appointment at 11am on Sunday 2/13. I was looking forward to this appointment as I was pregnant and due for a schedule c-section on 2/16. I went into labor on 2/13 and it turned into an emergency c-section. Once we got out of the OR, my wife called to cancel our appointment, the time was then 11:15am. In turn she received the rudest person on the other line, saying they get all kinds of excuses and my having a life or death emergency c-section was apparently one of those every day excuses. It was totally uncalled for, they told us we should of cancelled two hours before and they wanted us to pay the full fee. Although I was excited to get my nails done, I'm 100% okay never visiting this salon. I still can't believe she had the audacity to say her employee's Commission was more important than my families health. Also we aren't against paying for cancellation fees, but yelling at my wife for so called "excuses" is uncalled for! So if you're pregnant and think you might go into labor.. which could be anytime when you're pregnant, definitely don't go here because you will be called rude for canceling during labor.. how dare we! read more

Great quality pedi (express) at really reasonable price. Chair was brutally uncomfortable though- just a hard wooden chair at a weird angle with a throw pillow. I have been more comfortable in the middle seat on an airplane. Don't know if I can come back for that reason alone, which is too bad because otherwise the service was great. But if you can't be physically comfortable and relax, nothing else really matters. Invest in quality chairs for your services- massage chairs would be a big plus! read more

Staff is incredibly rude! And the quality of the pedicure was very disappointing. Don't waste your money!!

Have gone here a couple of times. And I always have outstanding service and nails. Even when removing my dip nails, they did and excellent service. Highly recommend! read more

Great service, great atmosphere, great selection of colors anywhere!! Super gentle and attention to detail. Would defiantly recommend.

I've been here many times and the experience is always the same...fantastic. Highly recommend Buff & File for all your nail care needs. Clean, comfortable and cute place downtown. Try the dazzle dry polish! read more

I've never left a yelp review before, but I feel like I have had the best pedicure ever with Gabe at buff and file Portsmouth Green location. I do not have pretty feet! But after the pedicure Gabe gave me, I actually think my toes are worth being seen. I highly recommend a pedicure with him, and will be back for many more. Thanks Gabe! read more

I've been searching for a good pedi place since I moved up here last year. I was hoping this would be it... and I tried this place a few times to give it a fair shot, but overall not super impressed for the price. First, the shop is clean and airy and decorated nicely. I love the online appt system and the nail techs are super friendly. Now the bad (or maybe just not so good): The pedi setup is weird. Chairs and foot baths are not really made for pedi's (or so it seemed). The chairs are low to the ground and the foot bath is at the same height as where you sit so you have extend your legs at a weird angle, esp when they are not in the bath. Both times I felt like I had to hold my leg up (vs resting it comfortably) when it was out of the water... hard to explain, but if you go, you will see. Also, the last time I went, it was cool out and I had yoga pants on (loose ones) - when my toes were drying, I rolled my pants down and the backs ended up hanging into the water basin (the half that wasn't covered). Wet pants... awesome. Additionally there is no massage option on the chairs. The foot baths are just bins that hold water - no drains, no massage jets. The ladies have to carry them out to a sink, dump them out, fill them and bring them back. It was awkward to watch and kind of disappointing to not get some massage jets. Paid $60 for the pedi and it was pretty good itself. Not the best and prob not worth the high price but decent. They were running late though so I missed my meter by a few minutes and got a ticket which is a bummer as my not super impressive pedi that cost $60 now turned into $75 + tip. I wanted to love this place and the people who work there are so darn friendly but I think I'm throwing in the towel and moving on to try somewhere else next. read more

Just moved to the area and have been searching for a new salon. This place is FANTASTIC! The ladies who works there are so friendly. I called about 15 min prior to coming in to see if they had any appointments for a mani available. They were able to take me right away. Upon walking again I was offered a cup of hot tea. I hadn't had my nails done in a while and they made them look great. Can't wait to try a pedi next time I come. read more

This is not the place to go if you want to get a gel manicure with gel tips / extensions on your nails. They also trap you into paying for a full service if you're unhappy with the appointment. they're also very rude! DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE! read more

First time here and really loved it! I had the Deluxe pedicure with Erin and it was definitely deluxe. She did a great job and I really got my money's worth. The foot filing and scrub really left my feet baby smooth and the massage was amazing. Comfy chairs and perfect temperature water - I almost fell asleep! The pricey salon I had been going to had been doing a rush job and I left with uneven looking toenails and rough spots on my heels. Not today! I'll definitely be back. Thank you Erin! read more

Buff & File Nail Bar - Part of the nail bar - Nail Salons Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Taylor at the Lafayette location just did my nails and toes and she was incredible! She was so friendly, super helpful w picking out my colors (I did a different color on every nail!) and was so thorough. She made my experience awesome! I would highly recco her! Ask for Taylor- she was great!! read more

I went to Buff & File with several members of my bridal party the day before my wedding. They took incredible care of us! The new space is gorgeous and very clean. Every technician we worked with was kind and engaging. I especially appreciated mine as I was incredibly indecisive on color. My gel mani and pedi lasted weeks and weeks. I can't recommend enough! read more

One of the best pedicures I had in 10 years. I was visiting for an overnight trip in Portsmouth and passed this place in my walk about around the town. I popped in to see the availability for a pedicure. The team there was welcoming and found a way to get me in. Service was excellent. I feel like I have new toes. Thank you. read more

Horrible job. My technician was using gel polish that was way too old and just kept using thinner. Turned into a horribly lumpy manicure that was way overpriced. Spoke to my friend about it. She did her and other experienced bad service here too. read more

I love the location and the clean, modern evironment. Staff is friendly and seem capable. I've come twice: first time for a gel manicure; second time for a gel mani plus pedi. The first gel mani started peeling around the edges after 8 or 9 days. The second one peeled after only 7 days. The prices are a bit on the high side - my mani pedi totalled $100 - which I'd be fine to pay if I felt like I got a great quality product. I've been getting regular gel manicures (at another salon) for about 10 years and they regularly last 2 weeks, rarely peeling at all. I'd love this to be my salon of choice but I'm afraid I have to find another. read more

Went here with my bridesmaids for a gel manicure before my wedding. It's been over two weeks and my nails haven't chipped, which is saying a lot for me because my nails usually chip in a week or so (even with a gel manicure). The staff are so friendly; very happy with how my nails turned out read more

Buff & File Nail Bar - Nail Salons Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire