I rarely give poor reviews, but this place left me no choice. Let's start with the good - the salon is well-kept, clean, and spacious. Two stars for that and for my pedicurist who did fine on my toes! Now for the bad - it was extremely difficult to communicate in English with the employees. I'm from an immigrant family myself, and don't expect fluency, but there has to be some minimal level of language ability if one works in a service industry. My manicurist could not comprehend what I was saying to her whatsoever, resulting in a completely different nail shape than I requested. I immediately corrected her after she filed the first nail, only to have her do the exact same thing with the second nail, at which point I had her stop. Finally the ugly - there was zero attempt at service recovery. I was not offered a different manicurist even though there were others available, and when I asked the front desk attendant if I could speak with a store manager or owner, she refused, not seeming to understand that I was only trying to provide constructive criticism not get anyone in trouble. In the end, I left with two fingernails shaped differently and much shorter than the rest, and therefore had to reshape them plus cut and shape the others on my own. :( read more

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Came in while I was waiting for traffic to die down, and I was not disappointed. Everyone I met was friendly and welcoming. I got a quality dip-powder manicure at a great price. Natalie, my nail tech was very gentle yet thorough, and took her time to make sure my nails looked just how I wanted. Today was my first time visiting, but it certainly won't be the last :) read more

Me and my mom have been coming here for years ! We drive 20 mins to come here for the organic products and customer service !! Recently we came for my bday and had Amy & Lisa !!! They were great !! read more

I booked this place to treat my cousin as her back to school gift. She requested gel and I requested a regular manicure. I feel like because I did not get a gel manicure, the tech I had did not spend good quality time on me. The only reason I gave this place 3 stars instead of 1 is because of the nail tech that did my little cousin's gel manicure. My little cousin bites her nails, but this tech did an excellent job with cleaning her cuticles and pushing them back, which elongated their look. She took good effort to create a design my cousin saw on Pinterest. It's hard to do such a small design with gel where she constantly had to cure it. The tech was overall patient and very clean and concise with her work. My nail tech on the other hand was awful and the reason why I would not come back and why I would not recommend this place. She rushed my manicure. She clearly did not evenly put on base coat. And overall just rushed the process. I felt I had waited long enough for my nails to dry (they don't check in or give you a fan). So I went up to the front to pay and accidentally messed up both index fingers. The woman was nice and told me to go sit back down and my nail tech would fix it. I was apologetic and I did. My tech was sweeping the floor and came back and let out a huge sigh. Instead of taking off the polish on my left index finger and redoing it, she just pained over with glitter and said "good enough?" I'm not one to make a scene so I just agreed because she clearly did not want to redo it. My right index finger was fine until she was doing my top coat. She moved her hand and messed it up. She lets out a big sigh of discontent and tries to use her own finger to fix it. It was so bad. This was her fault and she did not want to fix It. She looked over it, so I just left it as is. I shouldn't have tipped her after that but I had already given the cash prior to me messing my nails up. I'll have to find another place that values their customer and the quality of care. I won't be coming back. I won't be recommending this place. read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - Gel nails with design for teen filing back to school. Color "wavy baby" - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've been coming here for 2-3 years now and it's seriously one of the best salons ever. The price is amazing. They have drinks if you need one while you relax! And the nail techs are incredibly sweet and SO good at what they do! This will forever be my go to spot! read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

Awesome vibe, super nice staff, parking was easy! Casey did an amazing job on my nails with so much attention to detail and was super open to me giving input and wanted to get shape right. She let me try a couple of colors since the one I wanted was too sheer by itself. I had been looking for a new spot and this is definitely it. Can't sing their praises enough! Will be back read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - Full set acrylic, brown orange base with irridescent top coat gels - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

I have been coming to this nail salon for years and everyone does an amazing job. The salon itself is really nice aesthetically and they provide complimentary tea or water which is really nice. I love that the space doesn't smell like chemicals and that they use natural fruits like orange and lime during pedicures. It truly feels like I'm being pampered here every time I would go. I recently moved out of the area and was sad to say goodbye to this salon as it was so wonderful, but wanted to shoutout everyone at Carmel Valley Nail Lounge for being absolutely fabulous at what they do! Thank you for taking care of me! read more

Pamper Shay Day!!! Thanks to my Yelp Elite Sista's, Zuliya K. and Diana A. for recommending this nail salon. I've had this place bookmarked for a while and reading the positive Yelp reviews and knowing a few of my girlfriends go here, I had to check it out for myself. Location/parking: Off the 56 on Carmel Mountain Road. Plenty of customer parking in a small shopping center. It is also located near residential homes so you may unknowingly pass by it. Thankfully, my GPS didn't disappoint. There are other businesses located here, but some are obviously closed due to COVID, so finding parking was stress-free. Safety: I appreciate the safety measures they are taking and ensuring customers feel safe. Masks are required for everyone inside the salon. Plexiglass barrier is placed between you and the staff. I didn't see any temperature checks though, but I did feel safe as I watched sanitary practices taking place. Customer service: Lady at the reception desk was not very welcoming nor greeted me. I asked to use the restroom and she just pointed with her head without saying a word. Ugh..not off to a good start. I had an appointment at 11am and there wasn't a wait at all which was nice. I hate when you schedule an appointment and they have you wait 15-20 minutes. What's the point in scheduling then ? Understandably, they only accept appointments and no walk-ins so it's less busy and chaotic. I didn't get any fancy work done like the deluxe pedi or citrus scrub like many others rave about. I might splurge on that next time. I just wanted a basic gel mani, which I received from Derek. He was probably the saving grace of my whole experience here. He was nice and welcoming and helped me pick a color since I'm Miss Indecisive. I'm very pleased with the color selection and appreciate how quick and meticulous he was (see pic). I've had better manicurists, but Derek did a pretty decent job. He also massaged my hand and wrist which was amazing! Wish I had that for a full hour. I am hoping my gel mani does last for a month since that's what I've heard. Fingers crossed! Derek also recommended to get the dip powder manicure instead of gel since it's healthier for your nails. They have a large wall of dip powder colors so I'll have to try that next time. I paid through Venmo (touchless payment) which is a great idea! Cost for gel mani was $42 (Eek!). I usually pay $35-$40 at other places, but times are hard right now so I assumed their prices went up. I did add a generous tip since I was pleased with the service I got from Derek. Overall, 3.5 stars, but Yelp doesn't allow half star ratings, which I think they should reconsider. My usual nail salon isn't open, so this was my next best option and overall I am happy with my beautified nails. It was in dire need of some TLC. Thanks Carmel Valley Nail Lounge!! I'll be back ! read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - Loving the color: Orchid Garden by Derek - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

Amy is awesome, very sweet and my pedicure experience was great!!! Love that os organic products.

Today's experience was horrendous. Do NOT book with Emily unless you want... - rushing the client to pick a polish color - rough treatment of your cuticles and skin - poorly done gel and attitude when a fix is requested. There are still gaps in the polish -_- - nail polish on the skin around toenails - appalling customer service I come here several times a year and always bring my friends. Typically the service is fantastic and we leave feeling refreshed and beautiful. Emily killed the whole experience of today's services. I spoke with the manager at check out and she apologized for the service and recommended that I don't book with her in the future. read more

Amazing hand/arm and foot/leg massage on top of a manicure and pedicure. Had two therapists working on me for over 1 year. Epic and will come back monthly. read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

I normally dont try new nail salons but the one I usually go to was "booked for the whole day". Sucks for them; I went to this place instead. The interior is gorgeous. It's elegantly furnished and very modern aesthetic. Theres a couple tvs. I got a gel manicure and a basic pedicure. The staff was super nice. My friend and I were offered drinks with our service. Now this may be biased but my all-time favorite nail tech (who stopped working at the other place i go to) was working here now! It was such a pleasant surprise to see her and she was actually doing my nails which I couldnt be happier about!! Her name is Tiffani and she does the best job! The place was very clean and didnt have any overwhelming chemical smell which is always a plus. Overall i am extremely pleased with my experience and how my nails turned out. The only reason I knock off a star is that its pretty expensive here compared to the other place I usually go to. Gel manicure was 38 and basic pedicure was 28. 66 total + tip. I guess I would come back if I wanted to splurge again but only for Tiffani! OH and they gave us free tubes of lotion on our way out which was so nice!! read more

Not a great experience overall. The staff were very mediocre on friendliness, the nail job was very disappointing as my pedi nail polish was messed up the next day. read more

I booked an appointment with Derek after reading all the good reviews online. It was important for my nails to look perfect for our big wedding so I went somewhere new since we are from out of town. After showing up for my appointment at 1, I wasn't helped or offered anything until 1:25. 25 mins of waiting and they weren't very busy. I specifically wanted acrylic nails for my wedding. I showed him this photo below and he told me he can try to make them look good...try...after Derek cut my nails the shortest the ever have been he even said trust the process and they will look good at the end. Also said acrylic won't look good on my hand and he will make with what he has. Throughout the process they aren't looking anything like the photo I showed him. I mentioned a handful of times I didn't like how they looked and he told me to wait until he was done. After finishing he walked away and didn't give me an opportunity to give any feedback or make changes. I sat in the chair holding back tears because they were SO ugly. Derek gave me so much attitude while I was getting them done i didn't have the patience to argue and sit there and have him redo them. I checked out at online they said they were going to be $45 for my nails...I was charged $69. I questioned it and even the manager didn't know so she gave me a $3 discount.... I was so upset I walked out of there immediately crying calling somewhere else to get them fixed. I have called MULTIPLE times to have them correct the situation or Atleast acknowledged he poor business and service. Not a single call back. So here I am writing this review to stay away from this place and DONT over pay for nails you won't get. read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - Photo I asked for my nails to look like - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

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Tony!!! Tony!! The milk and honey pedicure was ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!! Wow!! I am still seeing the results and it was a week ago. But not only do they do the milk and honey, scraping off dead skin, and hot stones...that's not it! They do a melted wax on the feet and lower legs! Then, I'm sure they used something else awesome!! Ayyayaya so glad my friend Deana gave me a referral! read more

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The best we had a lot of things to do and they did it very well and quickly. We loved it

Searching for a nail place open late on a Sunday is hard to find. Luckily, this popped up on my Yelp search and they were able to fit me and my gal pal for a pedicure and manicure. Pros: Cleanliness Exceptional attention to detail Millions of colors for polish, gel, and dip Massages on hands and feet are legit (and long) Cons: The service takes awhile, but worth it Tip: Always call for an appointment This place takes pride in their nails so all the technicians are skilled. I came in with horrific nails (from another spa) and the owner made sure my nails were up to my liking before I left. I have been here twice in 2 months and the service, cleanliness, and customer service was top notch! read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - Heart shape French tip, real nails - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

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My favorite nail technician is now at Carmel Valley nail salon. This morning I went to Cuc AKA Casey for a pedicure, her work is always meticulously well executed, for all you guys out there, don't feel weird about getting a pedicure trust me your feet will thank you. Carmel ValleyNail Lounge is very nice and a very relaxing atmosphere the location is tucked away but well worth the search, and talk about good luck the address is 5550 read more

Got a gel mani and pedi with no reservations for my daughter and I. Service was fast and efficient! Salon vibe was on point with comfortable chairs and chic decor. Relaxing and would def come again if I'm in the area. read more

If you enjoy being pampered as much as getting your nails done, this salon is for you! Love love coming here and drive out of my way for the experience they provide. read more

Made an appointment online with ease. Received a response that confirmed my appointment and everything went smoothly from there. I had a dip removal and a dip with gel french tips and it was $60. I was out in about an hour and fifteen minutes and very satisfied. There are LOTS of color choices for gel, dip and normal polish. Parking is abundant and the lounge felt clean and most team members were wearing masks for COVID precautions. read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - Dip with gel tips! - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

Please be careful when thinking about getting a pedicure here. I initially started to feel pain to my toe after getting a pedicure on 5/31 and now there's a pocket of pus. You'd think because they're located in a nice area they would be more hygienic. read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - Toe infected - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

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Such a cute and clean salon. Everyone was friendly and my nails are so cute, will come again :) read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

Husband and I got the Herbal Pedi and Tropical Pedi and it was totally worth the price tag. The pedicure made my feet look so nice and it was honestly so relaxing. We ended up accidentally keeping them past closing time (which I felt bad for) but they were super nice about it. My husband and I are sad that we found this place while out of town. If we're ever in SD again I'd definitely stop by. Also they have an insanely huge selection of nail colors :) read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - Tropical Pedicure - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

I would drive 20 minutes out of my way to go here since I thought it was solid and clean but that was just not the case my last time coming in. First, the service was awful. Came in for a gel mani pedi. The nail tech tried not to give me a singular strip of colors to choose from because she didn't feel like getting the whole thing. She then told me to choose quickly. Luckily I knew what I pretty much wanted. She then proceeded to complain about my cuticles and immediately take off so much skin I bled. She quickly tried to throw my hands in the water as if I wouldn't notice the pain. She rushed as fast as she could. Nails looked like I did them myself with an ugly scab. They chipped the next very next day. She also basically demanded I keep the same color for my toes because god forbid I spend a minute choosing that as well. The pedicure chair they sat in were broken too. Lastly, this place was filthy. She did my manicure on an embarrassingly dirty towel. I'm sure everything else is kept in similar conditions. This place is now what I thought it was. I sincerely urge everyone to go to any of the other many nail salons in the area. This place charges top dollar for 0 customer service or social awareness skills. read more

First time at this beautiful nail lounge. They require appointment for pedicure on Saturday afternoon. Beautiful relaxing environment with big windows to green patio, peaceful music and my nail lady was attentive, which i appreciate. read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - main area - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

Excellent and clean. Love the little touches like fresh sliced citrus. They use high-end more natural products for oils and lotions. Well, definitely make this my new go to for manicures and pedicures. read more

Beautiful French Ombré Dip Powder by Yen. I love it! Yen is so creative, thorough, and an excellent nail technician. I'm so glad I started seeing her for my nails. They last longer than other dip powder I've gotten. Highly recommend this nail salon. Have been to a couple others in the Del Mar area and this is the best by far in terms of consistent quality of work, cleanliness and overall atmosphere. Everyone I bring here loves it and always wants to come back for pedicures, gel, whatever. Treat yourself and I'm sure you'll love it here! read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - French Ombré Dip Powder - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

Times I have come to this salon: 24 Manicure: Kim Pedicure: Derek Times I have brought a loved one or family: 8 Times I have been disappointed: STILL zero. Still loving it at this salon. Still great service and still getting awesome nails!!! read more

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I rarely treat myself to a manicure and pedicure, so I was excited to get my nails done. I was extremely disappointed with my manicure. The lady who did my nails filed the top of my nails and didn't bother to smooth them. After that she proceeded to paint them and as a result my nails did not look smooth at all and there were bumps all in the polish. No one bothered to ask me if the nails looked good and if I was satisfied. Money down the drain. Felt like crying after I left read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

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I expected more from this place... Maybe it wasn't my day. I had made an appointment and came on time and I waited for 25 min when they will take me. The jobs was done very fast (not taking about taking off the old gel off since it had protective layer) because there was other costumer waiting. Its clean there and nice spa music. Everyone seemed friendly. read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - ‍‍ looks like I did it to myself not by pro and air/bubbles - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

My new nail salon! I love interior of the salon, very pretty, relaxing and clean. I use dip on my nails & gel on my toes. They have the largest dip powder selection I have ever seen out of salon. Kathy did my manicure and Monica did my pedicure. Kathy is meticulous to perfection. Monica gives the best massages I've ever had on my legs and feet. I had just come from a run and my legs were sore but after Monica's massage I left feeling like I was walking on air. I highly recommend this salon! read more

Got a great dip with tips + pedicure! The pedicure stations are nice and the salon is relaxing. I appreciated getting the pedicure and dip done at the same time. read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - Dip with tips - black French tips - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

First off, I walked in at about 2 PM on a Saturday without an appointment and was seen immediately. I was offered a variety of beverages including water, hot tea, and a glass of wine. The inside is very clean and they play soft calm music in the background. I came here after I finally quit biting my nails and they grew out. Sadly, they are naturally thin, bendy, and crack easily. I came in with a crack in 2 of my nails and asked for something to protect them from more damage. The woman who greeted me (didn't get her name) recommended powder dip nails and I agreed. Lucy was my tech and she did an amazing job from start to finish. She talked to me and was actually making conversation, not just talking to feign interest. She was precise and meticulous, and made sure the nails were shaped perfectly before she applied any powder. At the end of the service she noticed my hands were cold and got me a hot towel (maybe that comes with every service but it was lovely). For the luxurious treatment and amazing nails I recieved, I expected to spend way more than the $45 I was charged. The photos truly dont do my nails any justice and I'm heartbroken that I'm moving away from San Diego because this would be my forever go to spot! read more

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This place it the place for nails. They all do a fantastic job! Great customer service, clean, relaxing, and their technicians are talented. I won't go anywhere else. read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - Nails - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

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I loved this place because they are not talking with each other in Vietnamese the whole time. They work quietly and there is nice Christmas music in the background. High ceiling makes it more open. I give them 4-star because they were late taking me after my appointment time and didn't start both mani and pedi at the same time as requested. read more

I stop in here every time we're in the area now because of the decadent fresh fruit pedicures and the lovely customer service. The gel manicures I get here last almost a month with zero chipping which is saying a lot! Very clean salon that is definitely a step up as far as sanitization goes from others I've been to during COVID. read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - Mother Daughter Pampering - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

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I'm sitting here at the pedicure / massage chair and I'm so refreshed and relax I felt compelled to let everyone know: Kate is just the best! I've had injuries on my left shoulder and left meniscus, my left gastrocnemius (calf muscle) and IT band are always super tight... Kate took care and made sure I was comfortable the entire time through my super deluxe $52 massage & pedicure experience. She spent extra time and attention on the problem area on my left calf. She asked for my feedback every step of the way. I highly recommend this spa; especially Kate. Five stars and all the kudos from this tough NYC boy! read more

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I came in for a dip powder and was pleasantly surprised with the results. My nail tech was Tony. I'm not one to go to nail salons as I'm particular about how I want things. And because I'm Asian, why pay someone else when I can do it better for free?! I also got a pedi from Jenny. Having two people work on you does make for a faster visit. Overall I was in and out in 75 mins. Which is what I expected for the quality of work they put into it. I came in on a Saturday morning (made some day appt. for 11AM) and they had 3 customers. The place is nicely decorated and clean. They have a plethora of nail polish colors to choose from so eat your heart out. I brought two of my own for my pedi because again I'm (Asian and) anal about cleanliness. PROS: - Tony took his time cleaning my nails. I came in with square nails and he checked before filing to make sure that I like them square. So basic and yet really important. - He made sure to fill in the powder to the very edge of my cuticle covering the entire nail but not to the point where it adhered to the skin. - He checked (after sipping one finger) that I liked the thickness of the white tips. - He took his time polishing and smoothing the nail after the last application that any red flags I was mentally noting turned to white. -He made sure I was comfortable and placed my arm on a pillow to rest. CONS: - It's not as noticeable unless you are looking for it but I find the powder can be applied to heavily. I think I had about four (or maybe it was three) coats. - They dip your finger into the container. I saw him open one new container by breaking the seal but didn't take notice if the others also had a seal. This may be a cause for concern when it comes to sanitation. I didn't exactly wash my hands prior to dipping so I'm thinking prior customers didn't also? I'll definitely bring this up next time I come. - It can be quite pricey. I did French tips with mani and regular pedi and it came out to $79. It would not have been so bad if I skipped the pedi but just food for thought. Despite the cons, I will be coming back again. They were friendly and attentive. Just a heads up to be sure you know what you want or at least have an idea (or pictures) and not vacillate back and forth between pictures/styles after they have begun working on your nails. read more

Carmel Valley Nail Lounge - Dip powder French tips by Tony - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

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Derek nailed it (pun intended) with the almond shape I was after! This place opened up about 8 months ago and is in a residential area. I found it on yelp and decided to try it out. Very peaceful, with classical piano music in the background, modern contemporary decor, and calming wall colors to make the perfect spa day atmosphere. No chemical smells walking in, they are organized and have storage for all supplies so they are out of sight. Prices are just right at $37 for gel manicure. They even have a small patio in the back for parties! Super cute location and nice technicians. They really care about their clients well being. Make an appointment prior but plan at least an hour and a half if you are as picky with your nails as I am! Derek exceeding my expectations, try this salon out, it is worth it! read more

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