WORST MANICURE OF MY LIFE!!! This place is a scam. I ordered a classic mani-pedi. Instead of giving me that they started adding on extra service and charging me for it. When it was time to pay they told me it was $60 instead of the avetised $48. This is for just paint on real fingernails. They then informed me that they wouldn't take credit cards and that they are CASH ONLY?!? I explained that I booked the appointment online with a credit card. They eventually accepted the card, but got pissy afterwards and half assedly did the manicure after insisted on a $10 tip for themselves, of course. They have NO NAIL DRYERS and sent me out less then 10 minutes after they finished. As I walked out a bum approached me in the entrance. They pretended not to see him as he tried to get money off of me. The nails budged before I could get home. I finally gave up, went to CVS,, bought the bottle of polish and am now doing my own nails less than 1 hour after leaving this DUMP. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND DON"T EVER COME HERE! read more

Cha Spa - Nail Salons Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Worst basic manicure. GREAT foot massage. I usually go to Mignone on Ocean Park, which is only $25 and FAR better... it was on my way on Montana to meet a friend and have really short nails and I even brought in my own polish! $29 and really not so great however the foot massage here is amazing, I can definitely attest to that! I went about a year ago -and it was wonderful... read more

Worse spa I have ever been to. They didn't mention they don't accept credit card. He forced me to withdraw in his ATM while I could see his credit card machine on the desk. So I withdraw in their ATM charging 3 dollars and I decided to leave 15 % tip instead of 20% tip. He started insulting me and yelling at me. Don't go there, it's not worth it. read more

I wanted to update my previous review, because they really went above and beyond to remedy the situation. The owner reached out to me personally and sincerely apologized for the over charge and asked if I could contact her for a refund of the amount we were overcharged for. I got in touch with her and not only did she refund the overcharge, but also the tip (which wasn't necessary). It says a lot about a business that is willing to own up to their mistakes and actually do something about it. Good customer service goes a long way. I will definitely give this place another chance. read more

This is officially my favorite nail salon in Santa Monica. I have been here several times and was waiting to write a review if I could say they are consistent. They are. It is on flourishing and fun Montana Ave. A great stroll for boutiques and so many good restaurants. And Cha Spa! They do massages as well ... not as an after thought as most nail places do where they may do an extended leg or neck rub while your nails are drying. No, this is a serious massage place with a separate large room, curtained private spaces, spa music and good deep rubs. I had Bill. My friend loved Anna. And they have an outdoor area for nails and massages, as well during Covid, it seems. On a lazy Sunday I took full advantage with a friend to do both. Tip: do the massage 1st, so your fresh polish or gel is not ruined It's as clean & beautiful & serene as it looks on the pictures. I'm usually super picky about the hygiene of a spa and this place definitely meets the bar and goes above & beyond to ensure a nice ambiance. The decor is gold and white. Like the other locations but I like the hood! Technicians are great. I have tried a few and I adore Rose - high skills, the products they use are very high quality a wide selection of colors including the latest holiday specials, and they also carry my favorite Gel X polishes!!! Rose did my pedi and leg scrub -- what a goddess! Theresa did my manicure. She is so sweet and patient. A hot towel treatment is included in the manicure, as well as a gentle massage as you're waiting for the nails to dry -- taking that into account, the price is reasonable. Receptionist was nice & friendly. BTW, they have there own parking lot, but on weekends, it gets jammed. On 12th there is street parking. I thing 2 hours. Meters on Montana. Honestly, I hesitated to write this review because then everyone will find out about them and I won't be able to book an appointment as easily. LOL ... but this place is worth a shoutout. Photo of Summer Nail Studio - New York, NY, United States read more

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Great massage by Eric. It's a group settting so little privacy. The place is odd. You can only pay by cash or a personal Venmo. And they raised prices again. read more

This place used to be my favorite place to get massages at. I have been going here since high school, which was over 6 years ago. I loved this place; it made me feel calm, relaxed, and happy. After today's experience, I'm sad to say that I will not be going back again. As a woman, I am way more comfortable with a fellow woman massaging me, however, I was given a male masseuse, which is fine and not that big of a deal. The man was sick. He was wearing a mask, thankfully, but he coughed multiple times while massaging me and made either burping or gagging sounds after coughing. I felt really uncomfortable and wasn't enjoying the experience anymore. At a point, he was going to remove the pillow from under me but my necklace got stuck on the fabric, and I told him, "one moment" for him to give me a second to fix it to prevent my necklace from getting ripped off. He might've not understood my message and after I said "one moment," he snatched the pillow from under me while my necklace was stuck. Thaaaankfully, my necklace didn't break, though I was really worried that it might have been. The massage was subpar. At the end, he walked me to the cashier stand and told me I had to tip him 20% for whatever the price was of my service. I got bothered by hearing that, due to the concept of tipping (out of gratuity and not mandatory). I would have tipped him 20% if none of the negative things had happened, but I was leaving there uncomfortable and not as happy as I should have been. I was about to not give him a tip, but mostly out of feeling bad, I tipped him on venmo 10%. I was about to leave the premises right after, but he tried to say something to me that I didn't understand, so the cashier girl told me he had to take a picture of the transaction to show his manager. I had a feeling that he just wanted to look at the transaction and make sure I had tipped him 20/20+% gratuity. I showed him the transaction receipt. He put his head so far into my phone that he must have been 4 inches away from it to see how much. When he saw that it was 10% tip, he started reacting so upsetting and disappointingly and almost like getting mad at me and kept trying to tell me that I was / I am supposed to tip him 20%. He kept reacting and not taking the picture, so I told them I had to go, and walked out of the store. He followed me, saying "lady, lady, lady!! Picture, picture!!!" I was like okayy, i hope he takes a picture now so I can leave. I went back and showed him my phone again so he could take a picture, but he kept saying the same things and reacting disappointingly. I asked him twice if he was going to take a picture, because I'm not there to stand around listening to him, I had to go! He said yes and very quickly he made it seem like he was gonna take a picture, but I don't even know if he did. He kept talking the same way, and I told him he coughed a lot during our session and then I walked out of the store because I couldn't deal with his behavior anymore. So disappointing, discomforting and annoying. read more

Came for a pedicure with some friends. The staff was nice and walk ins were welcome. No specific parking that I saw. There was a decent array of colors to choose from and the decor was nice. The things that weren't so optimal included the fact that the couch was not as comfortable as massage chairs found at other places, the staff did not understand what I had asked for, and they were inconsistent with sanitizing the tubs where the pedicure was done... read more

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This place is hit or miss. It's good as you can usually walk in and get a polish change or massage (on Montana Ave). I have had a good massage and a bad massage. The bad one was awkward as the woman was massaging me had no idea of what she was doing and it was uncomfortable, and not relaxing in the least. I have had a back massage by a guy (usually this guy is not there) that was excellent. They also only accept cash or Venmo but prefer cash. But who walks around with $100+ of cash on them. Also when you pay they get mad unless you tip very generously (20%+). This is very strange and awkward too. I have been told the total was more than it actually was (wrong) and said you did not tip enough. I have been to many salons and spas and never experienced this before. read more

I was just here and received an hour massage. Massage wasn't great.. the guy clearly didn't know what he was doing. Lots of just pounding on my back and I had to ask him to soften his touch a few times. I gave him his tip and started to leave. He then stopped me and asked for more money. I completely understand we all have to make a living but I tip based on the service I was provided. I didn't give him the best tip (15%) but a tip no less. I said I tip based on service. He said a one hour massage people usually tip 20%. The entire exchange made me so uncomfortable. While I understand he was disappointed I wish it was handled differently. read more

When I called to book an appointment for my wife and I, I was told that cash was "preferred". Apparently preferred means no other options, as I tried to pay with a credit card and leave a tip in cash which is what I usually do but I was told it's cash only. They should make that clear from the start. Overall, the massage was decent but there are other places that are better, read more

They only take cash or Venmo and don't tell you plus when the did a scrub during my pedicure... it was an additional $12!!! And didn't tell me. Not a fan and the money goes to some guys Venmo account.I feel for the women working there-it seemed a bit of a scam. read more

Went in for a massage yesterday for my birthday. Since I had just gone to CHA in Brentwood, I thought Santa Monica would be as nice. It was really dingy and dirty feeling. I felt like the therapists didn't wash their hands. They talk to one another and leave the area quite a few times during the massage. I ended up with a rash on my chest from whatever I was laying on I couldn't wait to get home and shower and wash my clothes. It was really really dirty. we paid for two massages. I don't think I'll ever go back there again. They need a thorough cleaning gross. read more

WORST PEDICURE I'VE EVER GOTTEN! My feet were in the water for all of 2 seconds before she took them out and gave me a half ass pedicure and then painted them as good as a second grader. When I mentioned how horribly they were painted, she proceeded to Unpaint my nails and tell me to go home and paint them myself. Someone else at the salon volunteered to paint them but at that point I was over it and left. They also charged me $20 for this lovely experience even after knowing what a horrible experience this was. I was a loyal cha spa customer but I will never return and would not recommend this place to anyone. If you want a decent nail painting I'd stay away. read more

Cha Spa - Horribly done pedicure with Knick on my second toe - Nail Salons Near Me - Santa Monica, California

The foot reflexology massage that I booked was simply a mediocre / bad foot massage, not reflexology at all. Frustrating to think you are booking something to help you and then you waste money on something that you didn't even book. read more

Great experience. My husband apprised me with a massage today! The front room was very clean, the receptionist was very nice. We got a 60 min feet & body massage. $60. I think a dollar/ minute is a good price. Especially for Montana st. State of on my back with feet in warm water. She started on my forehead, which i like, helps me relax & forget about the day. Then she went on to the sides of my neck. Very relaxing too. There is a waterfall in the background & relaxing music. She never asked how the pressure was but didn't need to, it was great! After, I went to the bathroom it was clean too. When we came in, there was no one getting their nails done. Whet we left it was full! We didn't have an appointment but they took us right away. I felt so relaxed after. Thank you! read more

Cha Spa - Front entrance - Nail Salons Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Fav place to get a massage! They are easy to book with & great service & great location!

First and last time I will ever go to this place! I called in advance for a mani-pedi and they said it was cash only, no credit cards. I have natural, long nails and wanted them cut a bit shorter. I was seated on a kind of uncomfortable bench and my feet soaked in a bowl of the size of a bathroom sink, meaning they could not lay flat. Weird. I told the woman who started to do my manicure straight up that I did not want my cuticles cut. If any of you don't know, it is against California law to cut cuticles. We have cuticles for a reason - they should only be pushed back and never cut. She asked me two more times about cutting my cuticles. But much worse is the way she cut my nails. She started using the type of device that cuts cuticles or hangnails and was cutting in to my skin as she trimmed the sides of my fingernails. I told her to stop and she used a regular nail clipper. The result: I walked out of there with all of my nails different lengths when they had all been the same length minus one that was chipped a little bit. It was unbelievable. Who can botch cutting nails that badly? I told the front desk receptionist and she gave me a five dollar discount. I still left a tip which hopefully went to the other woman who did my pedicure and did cut the nails evenly on my toes. Meanwhile, I'm waiting for my nails on my hands to grow out. I'll have to wait for the left one to catch up with the right so that they can be even again. What a disaster this place. read more

I don't like to write bad reviews, and i like this place a lot, i will honestly still probably come here. However, i am sitting waiting for my pedi to dry and wondering if my nail esthetician is going to come back to help me put my sandals back on. Actually, if she is going to come back to help me find the other shoe she picked up and put somewhere and forgot to put on my foot.... i wish i was kidding She was nice, however, she tried to up-sell me the the whole time, she rushed through my mani pedi leaving crooked nails, cuticles untamed and uneven polish. As soon as i paid, she ran away without evening helping me put my wet toes into my flip flops again, literally just picking up a shoe and putting it somewhere i cannot even see. Last but not least, she pulled my pants back down my leg, right over the heaps of lotion she didn't care to rub into my skin nor wipe off. I hate to do this but I'm honestly extremely upset with my experience today. I really didn't want to tip well but I just couldn't be that mean. Just plain careless. Update, she never came back and i had to ask another woman to help me put my shoes back on ... read more

Great for a quick walk in massage/ pedicure. no frill, expedient, meticulous.

Helen is my favorite when it comes to mani + pedis. I frequent this business often for my nails as it's nearby by. I'm always watching guests come from the back after their massages + the relaxation that's brewing in their face. Finally decided to get one today and I will say that you definitely get what you pay for. The beds aren't very comfortable, and the blanket you receive seems more like a picnic blanket than a spa one. I wasn't expecting Burke Williams, but man I don't like when a business tries to get over on you. When I arrived for my massage the woman at the front asked if I wanted 90 minute of a full body for $95, or $75 to do 60 min full body with 30 min foot. I expressed I only wanted full body. This man still gave me the foot reflexology massage along with the full body. Spent 15 minutes on each foot. It didn't seem necessary to say anything and I figured I would just mention I got the different massage when I got to the front for the price difference. Of course - she tells me "no, you got the full body" I expressed that my masseuse spent an extensive amount of time on each foot (literally 15 min - I'm laying in a bed - I have nothing but time to count) and they spoke to each other back and forth. I'm not tripping about it -- I honestly just thought maybe he forgot and did the other one. After speaking with my masseuse, the woman shares, "he only spent 15 min". I replied - yes, on each foot. They speak again in their language. She turns to me again. "Oh ok, he spent 10 min" I said again, yes, on each foot. It was the combo massage he did. He spent at least 30 min just on my feet. They speak again. She turns to me again and shares "he spent 7 min on each foot" And this point it was silly to argue. Take the money y'all. Hell. Take the 25% tip. I'm nice like that. But I also won't be back. That 30 minutes on my feet would have been much more helpful on my lower back but the masseuse never got to it, I wish he did as that's my problem area. Would I recommend it? Honestly...had the experience above not happened, yes -- because it's a good price + like I said, you get what you pay for. But it's a whole other story when a business tries to cheat you. That I cannot recommend. read more

Came in with the worst back pain. Bill hooked it up as usual. Leaving a brand new woman. read more

Cha Spa - Ahhhh relaxation - Nail Salons Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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I just got back from a massage at Cha Spa. As the other reviewers mentioned, the place is small and easy to walk right past. I went with my boyfriend earlier in the evening, and since it's a Saturday, they didn't have immediate availability. We made appointments for a few hours later and just came back. I've tried several foot massage places in San Gabriel, none of which I was a big fan of, so I was hoping this could change things. We both got the 60 minute foot massage. My boyfriend's masseuse asked him what he wanted, and listed some options (head, face, back, feet). He just wanted head and feet. Once she started, she checked in with him about the pressure several times throughout the session. My masseur hardly interacted with me at all. I wasn't given any of those options, or any opportunity to adjust my pressure (without interrupting)! The thing that I don't like about foot massage places here is that the foot massage usually focuses on the feet way too little, and doesn't even do a good job in that time. Usually the rest of the massage is just so-so as well. I'm looking for a massage like I would get in Taiwan or China, where if I walk into a foot massage establishment, it's just the reflexology after the initial scalp/shoulder massage during the foot soak. The massage I received at Cha Spa started off similarly, about a 10 minute head/face massage while my feet soaked. Then he started on my feet, which I had high hopes for, but turned out to be a little disappointing. While he did focus a decent amount of time on my feet (maybe 30-40 minutes), it felt like he was just rubbing lotion on my feet and calves. At this point my eyes were covered with the eye mask, so I couldn't see if my boyfriend was getting the same massage techniques. The pressure was pretty weak and he didn't hit any of the reflexology pressure points. It was just lotion and knuckle scraping.The other thing that was irking was that he had at least a 10-minute conversation with the masseuse who was working on my boyfriend, and during this time, we could both tell that the attention just wasn't on us, and it felt like they were just going through random movements with no purpose. I'm used to the masseurs talking to each other briefly in passing, but it's very distracting when they hold a prolonged conversation, especially because I can understand Chinese so I can pick up bits and pieces of the conversation. It would be slightly less distracting if it was in a language I could not understand. The last ~10 minutes of my massage was focused on my back. This was probably the part my masseur was best at, because he did put more pressure into it. After it was over, I was a little disappointed that I hadn't found what I was looking for, but assumed that it's just because the massages here are what I got. The guy at the counter asked how it was when I paid, which I responded that it was good because I thought that I had received their standard routine and I just wasn't a huge fan. There wasn't really anything wrong with it, so if that was the case then there would be nothing to complain about. BUT while we were walking to our car, I talked to my boyfriend about his massage. He has gone with me in Taiwan to get foot massages and loved it. He told me that his masseuse was good and really dug into all the pressure points on his feet, in the way that it hurts a lot during the massage but feels good afterwards. I felt gypped because I didn't enjoy any of the painful massage techniques that I love. It was one of those massages that was relaxing enough while I was there, but that I wouldn't leave with many benefits. Some additional things I would suggest are a larger waiting room and maybe a less tranquil feel (if the workers want to talk to each other anyway, this would make it less bothersome). What I love in Asia is the feeling of walking into a foot massage place, being rushed away to the foot bath area and then finally being seated in upright chairs after the feet are clean. I love drinking tea (I get so thirsty during these lay still massages), reading, or watching TV during my foot massages. I'm not there to take a nap, and since I like painful massages, I'm not going to feel relaxed anyway, so I would like to be able to chat or watch TV during my massage. Something that looks more like a pedicure place where I can do as I please while someone pampers my feet is ideal. Because of the very differing experiences, I'm torn about what rating to give it. It would be nice to see more consistent experiences between the different masseurs, with at least a couple pressure level checks during the hour. It's not a bad place, so I may give it another try sometime in the future, but I'm not rushing to make an appointment anytime soon. Seriously though, if anyone knows of a place that does reflexology like they do in Asia, please let me know! I'm tired of "foot massages" that are really mediocre body massages. read more

This was my first time at Cha Spa. I called and they were able to take me in right away, Melissa did such an amazing job with this custom nail art design and she's really funny. I recommend her! read more

Cha Spa - Custom nail art - Nail Salons Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Absolutely love this nail salon! The ladies are very nice, it is affordable, clean , and always professional job! With all the colors and more (I always do gel manicure) What I love most is they can do massage at the same time! Highly recommend to anyone :) enjoy read more

I like this spot- it's convenient, has parking in the back, usually is not terribly busy, tons of colors and is clean, first and foremost. I've called and asked for an appointment 15 minute prior to my arrival and they've been able to fit me in. I've also done walk in. They do have gel as an option if that's your preference. They offer massage at a $1 per minute rate and they have a private area in the back for full body massages/privacy. I've never opted for a massage but I wouldn't hesitate to, it' looks like your typical strip mall style Thai massage. It's a no frills kind of spot which keeps their prices down but they do a really thorough job. I've asked them at times to take extra care with one thing or another and they're always receptive. The girls are really appreciative of the tips for the work they do, deserve it. I like coming here- it's a fast appointment but I'm not typically one who wants to linger for my nail appointments. This is a great spot that suits my life. read more

The location on Wilshire Avenue (with Helen) is still my #1, but Montana is alright too! My gel manicure is a bit uneven and sharp in some corners, but it still looks beautiful. The level of detail wasn't quite as high, but hey - this is a manicure, not a physics dissertation on dark matter. My favorite thing about Cha? Their jujube tea! read more

Cha Spa - My classic color, Mod About You. - Nail Salons Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I don't usually review, but had such a bad experience here. I asked for callous remover, they didn't do it, giving me the same pedicure as my friend who didn't want it, and then charged me $12 for it. My pedicure looks and feels like I did it myself at home and my heels are actually worse off. read more

Cha Spa - Nail Salons Near Me - Santa Monica, California

This is the only nail salon I've gone to since moving to Santa Monica three years ago. Today I made an appointment online and arrived at the time of my appointment at 10:45 am on a Sunday. When I arrived they told me they couldn't take me and to "come back later," literally turning me away. They were very rude. (They had taken a walk-in rather than honoring the appointment.) I won't be returning to this location. read more

This is a weird place for being located on Montana Avenue. The staff is incredibly rude. The masseuse had long fingernails which is obviously unacceptable and extremely uncomfortable when getting a massage. The masseuse seemed very bitter with horribly negative energy. The Foot massage was fine but overall the place was extremely unwelcoming and I'm perplexed at how a business makes zero effort to show appreciation for the customers who keep them in business. read more

Absolutely the worst nail salon in all of Santa Monica. They don't deserve even one star. If you have an appointment do not expect to be taken on time. They're always late. You will be waiting 30 minutes or more. Even at opening. They have zero regards to appointments or the customer time. read more

Cha Spa - Salon supposed to be open at 10. Apt was for 10. It's 10:10 they aren't even open. - Nail Salons Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Meh. Been here a couple of times. Pedicure was fine. Pretty standard. They have good selection of colors and I haven't experienced any shit talking amongst workers. Got a gel mani yesterday and it was very meh. It was $35, but quality felt more like a $25 gel mani. Edges are a big uneven with gel, which I'll have to file down and color isn't even. Some of it is a little close to my cuticle so once my bills start growing I can already tell my hair is going to get under them and they'll start lifting. Probably won't come here for a gel mani again, but if I need a regular mani/pedi It'll do since it's close read more

Cha Spa - Nail Salons Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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I heard about their amazing massages from a coworker so I decided to treat myself. OMG it was so relaxing and my body feels great! I did the 60 minute swedish massage and couldn't be happier. The pressure was great & he focused extra on my shoulders per my requests. I think I found my go to spot. I will definitely try a mani/ pedi here next time. Glad I tried this place! read more

My daughter and I regularly come to Cha Spa. Sophia is my favorite therapist of all time! My daughter feels the same way about Anna. Thank you Cha Spa Montana for offering such a special experience. read more

I went in for the $35 mani pedi. The whole thing felt so rushed. The woman doing my nails did not take her time at all it felt like she was racing against the clock even though there were only 3 other people in there and it was 7 pm. The woman doing my pedicure was a little better, taking the time to shape my nails and pay attention while the manicurist just clipped and buffed really quick before starting to apply the polish in uneven strokes. Attached photos of my nails. Looks like I dId it myself. Inconsistent and uneven, nail polish on sides and in cuticles. The two were talking in another language then laughing making me feel like they were talking shit about my nails/toes. Not worth the $35. I was out the door in 25 minutes when other reviews said they took their time and lasted an hoe or so. Parking lot was full so I found a meter spot across the street. The other nail techs seemed more friendly than the ones I had who acted as if they didn't wanT to be there. I wish I got their names. read more

Cha Spa - Uneven nail paint job... - Nail Salons Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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I've had no issues at this salon until a recent visit. A boyfriend and I went together, the up-selling was aggressive. They asked multiple times if I wanted to add a sea salt scrub? paraffin wrap? callous removal? I don't know how many times a person can say no. Also, my boyfriend was not hip to mani/pedis so they just gave him these without even asking. His tech took advantage of the language barrier and his lack of knowledge of what was included. I had to firmly tell her no more add-ons for either of us. It made it uncomfortable, and I didn't trust the technicians we had. They were trying to get us to spend as much as possible. I'm from New York and I found this beyond up-selling. Felt like they were conning us. read more

Amazing service and perfect place for group manicures. Went here with mom and sisters before my wedding and they honored our reservations and took such good care of us! Will definitely be coming back here read more

Cha Spa - Nail Salons Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Today was my first time here and I am so glad I tried this place out. I had full body massage and Tom was amazing. My back was hurting so much lately and I feel thousand times better now. I will definitely go back to this place! Thank you Tom! read more

Mary was absolutely wonderful!! Definitely coming again soon. I got the cbd massage highly recommend.

Love Cha Spa. The massages are AMAZING! Go to Richard or Bill. I love this salon so much so am apprehensive to write this review about the nails ---- Mind you I don't get gels so this is about regular manis only -- I am a huge stickler for nail polish on the cuticles. Which is why I choose to get my nails done. The last few times I have left with my nails looking as such (see photo attached). I truly believe the only reason this happened is because Cha Spa is becoming soooo popular (rightfully so) and they are hands down THE BEST. So balancing quality with volume can become a challenge. Other than that, this is hands down the best salon. I love the owner (she is present and always soliciting feedback). I LOVE the staff. And regardless of the cuticle polish issue I will 100% continue to support Cha Spa because they're the best in the neighborhood / City!!! read more

Cha Spa - Nail Salons Near Me - Santa Monica, California