I really like the treatment here-they spend their time carefully pampering your feet (pedicure) and hands (manicure). It is rather expensive $60.00 for the pedicure and no chip manicure. They are adequately staffed, offer comfortable seating with a back massage option, there is a Television on the wall to distract you if you want. Many choices for color options! I am usually seated immediately upon a walk in. read more

California Nails - Pedicure amongst my kitty cat scratches!!!! - Nail Salons Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A nail salon is a nail salon and no one is perfect however my experience here was so disappointing. I came in for a quick fill. The nail tech not only watched a soap opera on her phone under the table the entire time she was doing my nails, but also shaped one hand as rectangles and one hand as lopsided coffin despite my asking for corrections. When it came time to pay, the nail tech charged me $50 for a service that is posted on their wall as $25 without notifying me that she was going to do that. I expected to pay a bit extra for gel anyways, so I asked why the price was double. The nail tech said it was because my nails are "long," despite never having mentioned that or having any posted signs in the shop about that price difference. For acrylics, my nails are not long at all (in my opinion). Perhaps if my nails were remotely the same shape after she was through, I would accept that. After I paid, she vanished immediately and I couldn't have tipped her, thanked her or anything. I would not come here again and would not recommend my friends, unless they are fans of being ignored and ripped off or looking for a pedicure or shellac mani or something. All of that time and money and my nails look mediocre at best. read more

California Nails - Fill-In - Nail Salons Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I love Kimmy + Vicky! I've been going to California Nails for about 2 years now and no other salon or technician in the area can compare. They do the best job and the no-chip usually lasts me at least 3 weeks. Anyway, I was in desperate need for an appointment post covid lockdown. My big toenail broke was thus cut incredibly short a few weeks ago. It was very flat and my toes did not look cute in sandals. I called to make an appointment with Kimmy, and I learned that Kimmy and Vicky are now working out of Phenix Salon Suites at 100 E Walton St - which is still convenient and close to me as it is only 2 blocks away from their previous location. They were able to get me in the same day. I came in and voiced my concerns to Kimmy and she did an incredible job on my pedicure - added acrylic to my big toes and reshaped my toenails entirely (see uploaded photo of my before and after!). Vicky did my gel manicure simultaneously- and it's flawless! They are honestly unbeatable and I refuse to go anywhere else for my manis/pedis. Highly recommend!!!! read more

California Nails - Spa Pedicure - Nail Salons Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Literally this is my go to nail shop!!! Wonderful service and lots of pretty colors to choose from. It's in a good location right next to Tempo cafe. The pedicures are $25 and the gel manicures are $35. They are very welcoming once you arrive and the massage chairs feel great. Give it a try! read more

I liked how neat my no chip manicure and regular pedicure turned out. However, both have chipped horribly in under a week. I've never experienced this before and makes me question the quality of their products... read more

California Nails - Nail Salons Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I decided to try this nail shop in the midst of all the Gold Coast and Streeterville spas with high priced services. It's not fancy. It's small. There is not a waiting area. If you need to wait you sit in an open chair. It's inexpensive. Plenty of nail color choices. In popular time frames there is a wait (ex: "after work hours" 5p+). I paid $25 for a pedicure. She did a great job and my toes look really good. The nail techs do not do a lot of talking, they focus on getting the service done and move onto the next customer. Customer Service is not a strong point here. Which I'm okay with, I wasn't in here for "spa" service. Unlike some of the reviews posted, I had a positive nail tech experience. Though minimal conversation, they were friendly and welcoming upon entering. 3 stars as the place could be more clean and tidy. Keep in mind: cash tips only. read more

This place isn't a spa but a nail shop. The small space is entirely made up of tables and pedicure chairs. It's not well ventilated either so there's a very strong polish smell. But if you go in not expecting a fancy spa, this place gets the job done! The people are friendly and my manicure looks great. Walk ins are welcome and I waited around 20 minutes in an open chair. read more

I love this place. 4 stars because sometimes it can be a long wait. So the trick is to call before and ask the wait time.

I went in roughly a week ago for a no chip manicure. Things were went from rough to bad pretty quickly. At the beginning of the appointment I explained that I had longer nails and that I would like them trimmed but not cut as to keep the length. The nail tech basically took my nails down to the cuticles, then as I was looking at them right before she started to apply the nail polish I noticed that basically every nail was a different length, I nicely pointed it out and she did a bit more filing. I look again and they are still all different lengths, she refiled them again. At the end of the appointment she apologized and I accepted the apology and still tipped her 20% even though I was VERY unhappy with the length etc. Fast forward a week, one nail the color completely fell off and 4 other nails are chipped, I have done nothing that would warrant this happening. I am EXTREMELY displeased and will never return back. read more

So I was talking to another girl while our nails were getting dried, and she said they recently changed owners at the end of 2009 and completely remodeled. This was my first time here, so I must say, the *new* Princess Nail Lounge is definitely sanitary, sleek, and sophisticated... for a price. Pedicures will cost you $30. In my opinion, it wasn't quite worth every penny, and here is why. This is a very cramped space. Some of the pedicure stations are in the back corner and are difficult to get into, and the pedicure benches, although aesthetically pleasing, are uncomfortable! They are built-in benches along the walls, so they're not adjustable to your height. I'm 5'2", and I had to sit at the very front edge of the seat and recline my body so that my feet could reach the pedicure sinks. You'll be comfortable if you're at least 5'6". If you're short, grab a couple pillows to prop behind your back. But in general, all the employees are actually happy and friendly! However, they don't really help you get out of your pedicure chairs, carry your belongings, or give you a shoulder massage while your nails are drying. These are little things that I've gotten even at salons that charge less. So I'll probably come back for convenience, but it's not the best service I've gotten. read more

I live really close, so I really wanted this to be my new nail place because my old place doesn't have Shellac no-chip manicure... which I'm addicted to. The good : This place is gorgeous! Perfectly fit for a princess. I felt so pampered and spoiled sitting in the white leather seat surrounded by pink and chandelier I picked out my Shellac color, YAY they have it..... then for the let down.... They have the Shellac base coat, but not top coat... And the lady wanted to use Gellish... which I heard is hard to get off, so I declined and went elsewhere. Also $35 for a pedi is pretty steep, even in the gold coast... dont know if I will be back... Heavenly is better priced and a full spa, and they have Shellac read more

I've had some good experiences before, but I got my nails done the other day and it was pretty horrible. They didn't even put enough nail polish on my toes, so it was thin and didn't look like I had anything on. They made me wait for my manicure over 30 minutes and then gave me such a rushed job that they messed up the filing and ruined the shape. The nail polish also started chipping off later that day. I only gave them 2 stars because I have had good experiences before and the place looks very cute inside. read more

NEW LOCATION: 8 E Chestnut Great updated, bright look with the same consistent service. Love this little gem. No gimmicks, just great nails at a pedi price $20 less than the other 2 great salons in the area. read more

Love this place! Totally feel like a princess when I'm here. The people of princess nails are totally sweet and super professional. Their selection of nail polishes are great -- opi, essie, zoya. They're impeccably clean -- always newly packaged and ready equipment, fast service, attentive. I love the massages with the warm towel, and also love the decor! If you're downtown in the gold coast area, definitely check them out. Make an appt though -- it can get very busy around rush hour. read more

I never do Yelp reviews but Kimmy is such perfection that I have to do one for her. she does a great job every time. I've been to a lot of places and she's by far the best. read more

California Nails - Kimmy is the shit. She always knows exactly what I want and shapes my nails perfectly. - Nail Salons Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've had mixed feelings about Princess Nails since the whole revamp (almost a year ago now). I had my go-to girl before, but now she's gone, so I've still been getting a feel for the new staff. Heidi threaded my eyebrows. She was super friendly. I hadn't been in for over three months and she remembered how she did my eyebrows last time. She double checked that I was comfortable in the chair and was super nice and friendly. She even apologized when I teared up during the threading (which wasn't technically her fault - it's worth a little pain). She was considerate and asked me exactly how I wanted my eyebrows shaped and gave me a mirror after she finished one eyebrow to ask me how I liked it. The only problem is that I'm not girly enough to know, so I usually like the person doing my eyebrows to just know what's best. I love the new clean chic look, but I do miss the massage chairs and the lower prices (it seems like everything costs a few dollars more now). All in all I still had an enjoyable experience and I will definitely be back. Don't forget to bring a few bucks cash to make tipping easier. read more

Cute and small place It seems pretty clean which is important for nail salon Workers seem friendly as well. I only got manicure. They offer coupon system which give you free scrub and free manicure after 5th and 10th visit. read more

I have been a long-time client of Princess Nail Lounge and have no intention of ever leaving. They are the absolute best in downtown Chicago! Heidi, the owner, is INCREDIBLE and will go above and beyond to keep her clients happy. I once called her and asked for a huge favor, without even skipping a beat she agreed to an at-home mani/pedi for a good girlfriend who was home-bound because of hip surgery. It was her birthday and Heidi and her team ensured it would be one to remember! Princess Nails had never provided this service in the past, so the great lengths they went were truly remarkable. You can be sure you have all the latest colors/techniques to choose from if you visit Princess Nails. I am a client for life read more

My aunt-in-law recommended this place. Two of my bridesmaids and I had our nails done here, and we really enjoyed ourselves. There's a huge selection of Essie, OPI, and other (including an organic) brands. The salon is super clean, and the atmosphere cozy, and girlie chic. The staff (mostly Korean) are very nice -- we came in during their 2 year anniversary weekend, so they plied us with wine, cheese and crackers, and sushi. In terms of the quality of nail service, I'd rate it 4 stars -- great, but nothing amazing. The hot towel and complimentary back massage are nice perks. My nails looked great for my wedding, and for the price ($45 mani/pedi in downtown Chicago), I'd definitely go back! read more

I haven't posted in so long but I saw the weird reviews on here and had to. Ive been here a couple of times (each time I've seen Denny) and it's been great. He always makes sure I get the exact shape I want and pays a lot of attention to detail (e.g. making sure the acrylic wasn't too thick, making sure each shape was perfect, painting each nail very carefully and then using a small remover brush to clean up every little speck of polish out of place). I seriously appreciated it because I'm usually very particular about length, shape, thickness etc. so having someone actually listen and fix every issue I had w/o attitude was great. He also was very patient with me while I decided between 4 slightly different nudes, I never felt rushed or like I was wasting his time. Such a pet peeve when I feel like I can't have a second to choose. They also have an amazing selection of no chip colors! I was so excited. All in all for your average nail salon this place is definitely a safe bet, it's also so close to everything! If you're not trying to spent bank on getting a fill or color change, I'd say try this place 100%. read more

I moved from LA where most nail salons do your manicure and pedicure simultaneously; it saves a lot of time, so it's my preference, but I couldn't find a salon here who would do this. Although California Nails usually does them separately, when I scheduled an appointment and asked to have both done at the same time, they said no problem! The space was smaller and functional, but the location was great. Being in the Gold Coast is no doubt expensive, so they accomplish a lot in less square footage. They had great customer service and kept checking to see if I was comfortable. I tried two different colors on my nails and toenails before deciding and they were patient and accommodating. I added the extra $10 for exfoliation with my pedicure and the technician did a thorough job removing lots of callouses that other salons hadn't touched. One of the best exfoliations I've had in a nail salon. Prices were decent. I recently had a gel manicure and regular pedicure at Pinky's in Lincoln Park and it was $75. For both at California Nails it's $60. I'll be back! read more

Tammy is a good technician but I feel the management here does not care about patron's return business. I spent $75 here last week and less than a week later my nail tip fell off. They then had the gall to charge for the repair. I don't think so, plus though I had the first appt of the day last week, I waited a half hour. Tammy was quick so it worked out but still that's my half hour! Too much competition to be so careless, unless you don't care.... read more

I used to go here frequently because of the convenient location and friendly staff. Lately, I have had a few bad experiences with gel manicures chipping a day afterward! Also, compared to other salons there are not as much colors to choose from. Salon is cute but a bit cramped inside. Unfortunately, I started going to a different salon that has comparable prices, cleaner, and larger selection of polish colors. read more

This salon has NEW management now and was bought out by the California Nails Salon from the Gold Coast. I've been getting my nails done with Cali Nails for 4 years now so naturally I am coming here now - good thing they didn't move too far! They have the best service, price, & they do an amazing job with my nails. I LOVE the new location, it's bigger, brighter, & modern! Must try, you won't be disappointed! read more

I can't figure out what's not to like? (Except maybe the cheesy name) The design is cute and girly- pink wallpaper, chandeliers, etc. I had a very friendly, polite male manicurist who did a great job... I'm still enjoying my chip-free nails almost a week later! They have a really good selection of colors- OPI and Essie, mostly. The best perk was the quick and complimentary shoulder massage he gave me while I was sitting and waiting for my nails to dry. When I got up to leave, he hustled out to open the door for me. Cute! I'll definitely be back. I paid $15 for a manicure, didn't have to wait at all, and they also told me they give 10% off to students on Tuesdays. read more

Very sweet people :) Had a really nice experience here and my sister and I love our no chip manicures... That was until my polish peeled off my thumb four days later. I think that not everyone can do a no chip manicure and if you don't know the proper technique then you shouldn't charge people full price for a service that was not done properly. My sister on the other hand hasn't had any issues. She still loves her no chip manicure and it has not chipped at all and she's highly satisfied with the service. read more

California Nails - Restroom sign :) - Nail Salons Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went to this salon to have a gel manicure taken off. They used a buffer and absolutely destroyed my nails. It was painful and they made big gashes on the surface of each of my nails. I would never go back and would never recommend this salon to anyone. read more

So I decided to give this place another try after a bad first experience. I was wrong.. I should of known better!! They did my nails so sloppy!! They also get mad if you speak up! I do not recommend. read more

Was talked into trying the dip powder manicure and was assured it lasts longer than a no chip manicure. It chipped the very next day - like half of an entire nail came off in one piece. I was not doing anything crazy with my hands, just driving. While I appreciate that they quickly repaired the nail for free when I went back, I could've done without the lecture from the woman in the front about how I should be more careful. I wasn't doing anything to cause the nail to chip! That was clearly the result of a poorly done manicure. *two days later and each nail of polish is popping off one by one and it is PAINFUL. Do not go here. read more

This place is filthy... Though it is convenient I definitely won't be back. It is completely unsanitary. I had to ask the tech to clean the foot tub after the person before me for a pedicure. read more

Tonight was my second time and I'll definitely say that this experience was much better than my first. I was sat quickly for my pedicure and my nail tech did an amazing job. My only complaint is that I felt like I was there forever. I know that's an annoying this to say considering getting your nails done is a luxury but a pedicure and a gel fill took 2 hours. Needless to say, towards the end of my visit I was antsy and ready to leave. My nails looks great but I do wish it was a bit more efficient! read more

Words can't begin to express how upset I am looking at my nails as I type this review. I PRIDE myself on always having my nails done and unfortunately I was pressed for time and had to try something new. I work in the John Hancock building and needed to find a place that offered No-Chip. A co-worker suggested I take a stroll over there. The location is convenient and it is very nicely decorated, they got that right for sure. I had a great pedicure and there were a lot of polish colors to choose from. He was very attentive and thorough. It was $35 which is a little high, but like I was I was pressed for time. As for my Shellac manicure...my nails look like a child that got a hold of some polish and went to town. I've only had one no-chip before and it was so fabulous that I thought this was standard. NOT! I can see brush strokes and I think maybe the shellac is old. I paid entirely too much money to NOT be satisfied with my nails. Not to mention the woman was jerking my hands the entire time telling me to "Relax"...look lady, I'm about to leave. I wish I had better things to say. read more

Great experience! Kim fixed my pedicure from a botched job at another salon. My polish change and gel manicure were thorough and looked great. It was also super quick and service was friendly. I will definitely be returning. read more

This place is a gem! Always busy so I suggest making an appointment if you don't want to wait. Super friendly staff. Attentive to detail. My acrylics lasted over a month! Highly recommend read more

I went to this place for a mani based on friend's recommendation, and I will not be going back any time soon. First of all, the place is tiny and cramped which I would excuse if the place was at least clean. I am very particular about nail salons and their cleanliness which I am sure most of us are. I expect to see a stray finger nail or two, but this place looked like it hadn't been swept up in over a week. Also, they did not clean the foot baths between clients. They simply drained the water. After I picked my color, I sat down for my mani while my cousin got a no-chip. The woman was friendly but seemed extremely rushed. As she was filing my nails, I decided that the color I picked was a bit too neutral, and asked her to recommend a color. After she finished filing my nails, she picked a color which looked good when she tested it on one of my nails, and she proceeded to paint . As the color was going on, I noticed that the color was VERY uneven. I have seen this before, and it usually looks better after the second coat. As she started on the second coat, it was still extremely uneven, but again, I figured she would somehow correct it like I have seen other salons do in the past. However, she began putting on the topcoat, and I stopped her and asked if she could do anything about the unevenness. She started talking about me with the manicurist next to her in another dialect, and she said that it was because my nails have too many ridges which has never been an issue for in the past. If it was an issue, I wish she would have recommended a different color since she is the expert. She corrected the issue by putting on a third coat of a slightly darker shade all the while speaking with the manicurist next to her in irritated tones so I assume it was about me. She finished up and it did look much better, but she did a terrible job cleaning up my cuticles and the skin around my fingernails. I went over to the drying station and as I was sitting there I noticed that the fan felt like it was not really blowing much air. I bent over and took look underneath and there appeared to be years worth of dust accumulated under there, so much so that I couldn't feel the fan through the layers of dust. It was pretty disgusting so I just sat there while I waited for my cousin to finish up her no chip. As I looked around, I again noticed how filthy and cramped the salon is. At one point, they had a client prop her foot up on a small garbage can to work on her pedicure. That seemed unsanitary and uncomfortable. When my cousin was finished, I asked her what she thought. She said she wasn't happy with her no-chip either and wouldn't be going back. The only good thing I can say about this place is that it was only $15 for a regular manicure, but I would be willing to pay more for a cleaner salon that actually cares how their clients' manicures look when they walk out. read more

I travel the world for my job. I have had manicures/pedicures in many places. California Nails provides the most beautiful work of any place I have visited in the last 22 years. The staff is always pleasant and accommodating. I don't have a regular schedule so I am always a walk in. Most of the time I can get seated immediately. On a handful of occasions I have had to wait a short amount of time. That's totally understandable and acceptable to me. The decor is basic so if you are looking for more than that, this is not your place. But if you're looking for a beautiful manicure/pedicure with a nice hand and foot massage, this is your place. I don't have a particular person that I use every time and I have never been disappointed. Ever. There is also one gal that does eyebrow threading. They don't advertise that but she's fantastic! I enjoy my visits with the staff and I am most grateful for their service. read more

Overall my manicure looked ok. Cute place and good location. BUT.... I was dissapointed to find out there were no massage chairs. My nail lady barely put any effort in my foot and back massage, I kid you not it did not last longer than a minute. Majority of staff had their coats on and ready to go 20 minutes before closing time which made it very uncomfortable. I was not impressed. Considering the area they need to really work on their customer service and work ethic. read more

This is my fist time here last min appointment I hade Loan she was great i recommend her because she took her time and she knows what she's doing I will return back real soon thank you loan read more

I got a Groupon here for 2 pedicures and I was pretty disappointed. Each time I called to make an appointment no one on the phone understood me and had to put me on hold to pass the phone around to a manager. Then when I did get an appointment I let the woman at the front desk know I paid already through a Groupon. She was rude about it. As my luck had it she was also the one giving me the pedicure. Throughout the pedi she was rough, annoyed and got through it in 15 minutes. I will never return to this place! read more

Nails are chipping after a couple of days! I won't go there again next time I'm in town! They don't offer dipping powder just no chip polish (gel manicure) which actually chips very easily. read more