I got a Russian manicure at this salon a few weeks ago, and unfortunately, my experience was very disappointing. For context, I regularly get Russian manicures and they typically last 4-6 weeks with absolutely no lifting. Right from the start, I was a little thrown off when my nail tech had to call someone else for guidance on the shape I was requesting. It wasn't anything unusual--just a natural-looking rounded square shape. The person on the phone told me my nails were too short to achieve that shape, which simply wasn't true. My nails were actually quite long, and I've had the exact same shape done many times before by other nail techs without any issues. That was already a bit off-putting, especially considering I paid for a Top Master Russian Manicure. You would expect that level of service and expertise to come with confidence in basic shaping requests. I tried to move past the initial experience, but the real issue was the quality of the manicure itself. In less than a week, the gel started lifting on every finger--both around the edges and near the cuticle area. I'm not sure what caused it, but I know this is not normal based on my experience with Russian manicures. They are supposed to be long-lasting, and mine have always held up beautifully elsewhere. Not even two weeks later, I had to completely remove the gel because the lifting had become so severe. It was catching on everything and looked terrible. My nails are now back to having nothing on them because the manicure simply didn't last. Disappointed is an understatement. Given the price point and the level of service advertised, I expected much better results. read more

I booked an appt after seeing their instagram ad for $60 russian mani with their new nail artist. The ad was misleading because it said "offering russian manicure + e file pedicure for only $60" but when I inquired, it was for the manicure only. I didn't care to follow up on the pedicure because $60 for a russian mani seemed reasonable enough so I proceeded with the booking. Maya was the artist that worked on my nails. As a newer artist, I think she did a good job but I noticed there were some areas for improvement. -There were a few instances where she lost control of the e-file and ran it over/under my nail/finger. -The cuticle work could have been cleaner and more detailed. After cutting my cuticles, I thought she would e-file to smooth out the cuticle area but did not. -Gel application was not bad but I wish she could've applied the builder gel in a way that gave my nails more apex. There are some nails where the builder gel is lumpier than others. Regardless of the comments above, I would have returned because I think my nails turned out nicely but what rubbed me the wrong way was at the end of the service when it came time for payment. Maya said it was $60 but then another person chimed in and told her to charge for polish removal so my total was now $70. I had on regular polish, not gel. Nowhere was it disclosed to me that there was an upcharge for polish removal or else I would have taken it off at home before coming in. I think it's a bit ridiculous to charge $10 for regular polish removal. Somewhat more understandable if I had on gel polish. I don't think my nails are bad. These are just some of the things I took note of. I like the overall outcome of my nails. I like that the salon was bright and clean. I just did not like the upcharge. Lastly, payment is by venmo or zelle. This is something they should probably disclose at the beginning of service or at booking. Luckily, I already have both set up but others may not which could be an issue. read more

I recently tried this new nail salon after seeing an Instagram ad that highlighted identical services, competitive pricing, and free parking. I was excited to support a newer local business and to see whether they might become a long‑term option alongside my usual go-to (Level Up in Lafayette). My manicure looks amazing and I have no complaints about the shape, finish, or attention to detail. My pedicure is just okay and the quality does not match the price. The shape is nice but the polish is not fully opaque and there are visible uneven areas that should have been corrected. Under normal circumstances I would have asked for it to be fixed, but there were two clients who had already been waiting 45 minutes beyond their appointment start time and I did not want to cause further delay. It was also disappointing that my nail tech felt comfortable considering the pedicure complete in that condition. The main reason I am unsure if I will return is due to what felt like unfair and unclear business practices. When it was time to pay, staff first asked if I had Zelle. I said I did not and that I planned to pay by card, and they responded that they do not take cards. Before my appointment, I had checked both their website and Instagram for any payment/policy details, and there was no mention of being cash/Zelle/check only. They then asked if I had a check, which felt unusual given how many places do not even accept checks anymore. Regardless, I would feel uncomfortable sharing a check with a new, unfamiliar business as my account and routing numbers would be printed on the bottom. Only after I asked if they had Venmo did someone finally come over and say that paying by card would be fine, which felt confusing and awkward in front of other clients. Before I handed over my card, I asked for the total. I was first told it would be $100 for the pedicure plus $15 for polish removal, and $100 for the manicure plus $10 for polish removal. When I questioned this, another staff member recalculated and said it was $100 for the pedicure and $100 for the manicure, plus $10 for polish removal on the pedicure and $10 for removal on the manicure. The "polish removal" upcharge was never disclosed up front, and I found it frustrating because removal is already listed as a stand‑alone service. Not to mention, with hard‑gel/Russian manicures, filing the prior color off is part of the normal process. I could understand a removal fee if I were transitioning from something like acrylics, but this was essentially an even exchange of services from a previous salon. As a new business, it also seems unreasonable to penalize clients for having had their nails done elsewhere before the salon even existed. And lastly, my appointment was booked with a totally different pedicurist and changed at the last minute. This is also frustrating because I want to ensure consistency in stylist I choose to pair up with. read more

Elan Nail & Lash Studio - Hard gel Russian manicure - Nail Salons Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

I really wanted to love this salon because they specialize in Russian manicures and charge premium prices, but unfortunately my experience did not match the cost. The first time I booked an appointment, I arrived and found out I was being seen by someone on her very first day. While I understand everyone has to start somewhere, I wasn't informed beforehand. I decided to give the salon another chance and specifically booked a Master appointment because I wanted the highest level of service. About two hours before my appointment, I received a message saying the owner couldn't see me due to back pain. I asked if there was another experienced technician available, and I was told yes--someone with four years of experience. However, when I arrived, I was assigned to the same technician from my first visit. The manicure was not done to the standard I would expect for a $100 service. I later returned to have the color changed, and although they accommodated my request, the nails ended up looking very thick, and the cuticle work was still not as clean or precise as a Russian manicure should be. In total, I spent around $140, and unfortunately I don't feel the quality or consistency of the service justifies the premium price. When a salon charges luxury prices, customers naturally expect exceptional results and transparency. Sadly, that wasn't my experience. read more

I love my nails sooo much The shape, color, and design are perfect. Great service and such a relaxing experience! Also got my eyelashes done, and I'm obsessed Thank you so much for making me feel pretty with these beautiful lashes and nails read more

Elan Nail & Lash Studio - Nail Salons Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

I saw an ad on instagram so I decided to give it a try. I will preface that this was my first "Russian manicure" but I've had my nails done plenty of times, including gel x, acrylic, gel manicure etc. I got there a few minutes early from my appt time but waited 15 mins past my time for someone to start my nails. Which fine, but at least say you're running a bit behind or something. My cuticles were roughed up so much that 7/10 fingers were bleeding. No one stopped, which again fine -I could've said stop if I really didn't want to continue. The cuticle clippers were rusted and squeaking. Alcohol was just wiped over my bleeding cuticles and they continued. But tbh I have questions, if my fingers were bleeding and they just continued and used the base and top coats along with the gel -how many other people's fingers where bleeding and they used the same products? When she was done applying the gel color, she used the same alcohol wipe that she used to clean blood from my finger to "clean" the brush...?!! I couldn't imagine paying $100+ for this. I was there for 2 hours too which is wild bc when I get acrylic done, I get them long and every nail has full designs and that's 1.5-2 hours. read more

Elan Nail & Lash Studio - Nail Salons Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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I would give this place 0 stars if I could. I got a Russian manicure and an e-file pedicure, and both my manicure and pedicure came off within a week -- actually even less. That alone was disappointing, but the experience got worse when I went back to have them removed. The removal process was extremely painful because the technician was not gentle at all. On top of that, she was talking negatively about me with her coworker while working on my nails, which made me very uncomfortable and disrespected as a client in her The last time I came in, she also over-filed my nails and made them very thin by scraping them too much. She even commented that my nails were "paper thin," which was upsetting because the damage happened during the service itself. I didn't say anything at the time, but today she told me my nails would look bad, which felt unprofessional and insensitive. Overall, this was a very unpleasant experience. Between the poor quality (services not lasting even a week), the painful removal, and the disrespectful behavior, I would not recommend this salon. read more

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I always get my lashes done by Babu I love how my lashes always make my eyes look brighter and more beautiful, Thank you for always doing g.job. read more

My go to nail salon. I love Babu. She's so sweet and so talented. Her Russian manicure is the best and not many salons offer Russian manicure around here. She's professional and very clean. It's not your typical 40 min in n out mediocre mani pedi. She takes her time to make sure you will get the best results. She even bought my fav nail color just for me. Also you have to make an appointment because she's fully booked so no walk ins. read more

Elan Nail & Lash Studio - Nail Salons Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

I usually get Russian manicures and pedicures at other salons, but this place was closer to me, so I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, the experience was very uncomfortable. The nail tech was extremely aggressive the entire time, yanking on my fingers and filing so harshly that she was actually filing my skin. I could tell from the moment I sat down that she seemed annoyed, and she was complaining to another nail tech in her language throughout the service. The only reason I'm giving two stars instead of one is because my nails do look good in the end. However, due to the rough treatment and overall negative experience, I won't be returning to this salon. read more

Huge thank you to Sasha for my amazing nails! She took her time and made sure every detail was perfect. You can tell she really cares about her work--my nails came out flawless! While Sasha doesn't speak much English, don't let that stop you--she absolutely gets the job done and her work speaks for itself. Don't sleep on her--she's truly talented and worth booking! read more

Elan Nail & Lash Studio - Beautiful nails - Nail Salons Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Got a cat eye style with nail extensions, cuticles where ? Lol and Buya executed my nails wonderfully.. was super gentle and very welcoming. Recommend anyone looking for high quality pretty nails read more

Elan Nail & Lash Studio - Perfect length to grow out my natural nails too - Nail Salons Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

This salon charges luxury prices but delivers shockingly unprofessional service. The nail technician was openly rude, dismissive, and unwilling to listen to my design request. Instead of doing her job, she falsely accused me of previously leaving her a one-star review (which I had never done) and escalated the situation into a prolonged argument in front of the owner, wasting my time and creating an extremely uncomfortable environment. As if that wasn't enough, she then abandoned the appointment mid-service and handed my manicure to a student because she was running late elsewhere without apology, explanation, or basic courtesy. Luxury service requires professionalism, respect, and accountability. None were present here. read more

My experience - first visit This was my first time at this salon and, more importantly, the first time in 7 years that I've had my nails done in the U.S. (by a non-Brazilian nail tech) and left truly satisfied with the result. As a Brazilian, I'm very demanding when it comes to nails -- we value perfectly done cuticles, clean work, and flawless polish. I can confidently say that they deliver exactly what they promise. The Russian manicure technique truly provides a perfect, clean, and very well-executed result. The service is not the cheapest compared to other available options, but it is absolutely worth the price for the quality and the guarantee of the final result. You won't leave the chair frustrated for having paid for poor-quality work -- something that unfortunately happens often in many nail salons. That said, there is room for improvement in customer service. The technicians mostly talk among themselves in a language the client doesn't understand, and there isn't much effort to build a connection or customer loyalty. Small gestures, such as offering a glass of water or being more attentive, would make a difference. Still, if you're looking for technical excellence and an impeccable result, you can go without hesitation. The Russian technique here truly delivers excellence. read more

This is my favorite spot ever ! They actually care and do an amazing job! My nails always last and I do hair , so it's hard to find someone that can make that happen! 10 out of 10 ! Clean and trendy vibes read more

Great experience with Isa. Tried extension gel nails and she managed a really clean and elegant finish. Thank you

Ok, it's a NO for me. This time had a tech who spoke English. However....things went downhill afterwards. There's a "drilling" process to remove gel/polish. However there were multiple fingers with noticeable polish remaining. I asked the young lady...are we not removing it?! She said "no thats the purpose of gel, to leave some remaining" thats a new one, but keep going. She continues with the manicure, cleaning of my cuticles etc. I pick a color #8 specifically. Pause , I first said I'd like "French manicure" she said in her opinion it wouldn't look right cause my nails were "long". Never heard that before but whatever, she probably didnt know how to & thats fine. But give me the color i asked for!?!? Back to painting my nails....I noticed i could still see the remaining polish left over that she didnt drill off. She said she wasn't done...now im noticing the color being painted on is a lil darker than #8, but is camouflaging what I could see. Whatever this is not the color I asked for and you know it. Ok....now we're done she proceeds to tell me it's $90 for the manicure plus $15 for removal. BUT you didn't remove everything ANNNNND one, I would think was part of the process, jus like with any other nail service, you have to remove the polish, however it needs to be done!?!?! So yeah, no im NOT paying for that annnd again this isn't the color I asked for here's $90. BYE!! I'll be going back to SF for a real Russian Manicure read more

Very unsatisfied with the overall experience here. Came for a lash apt and prior was informed that the lash tech does not speak any English which is ok, her scheduler was going to rely the message of my lash request style. Prior to starting she never said she was not able to do a full set due to my lashes not being full. I asked for a classic, wispy. Prior to finishing she put all her lashes away and nearly cleaned up. I asked if she can make them a little more fuller or add some clusters and I was willing to pay extra and she declined. She said I need to wait for my lashes to grow and come back. I still tipped for the service and her time even tho I was not fully satisfied. A few days passed and I reached out again to see if she was able to add more and make it fuller with an actual appointment. Maybe she can fulfill my request again with her scheduler. I was declined and told that I needed to let my lashes grow. I sent her a picture just days after showing her how they were not even and they can be filled more, I asked her scheduler if I can make an appointment in two weeks. She then said ok. Two weeks have passed and I reached out requesting an appointment and I was told that the appointments are closed for three weeks for lashes. The business will be doing nail classes.?? At this point I GIVE UP on this business. Looks like their focus is on nails and not lashes?! Clearly they do not want my business!!! read more

Elan Nail & Lash Studio - Gap in the front middle and back - Nail Salons Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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So happy with my manicure Clean, neat, and exactly the design I wanted The atmosphere was relaxing and the nail tech was super friendly Definitely coming back read more

She did an amazing job! This is my third time getting a Russian manicure. These are my natural nails--not fake. Russian manicure has helped my nails grow stronger and longer. Thank you so much!" read more

Elan Nail & Lash Studio - Russian manicure - Nail Salons Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

I've had a great experience at this nail salon! The staff is always friendly and professional! . I've been coming to this salon for over a year now and I am beyond amazed! I live in Oakland and followed babu from when she used to have her studio in Alameda, have not been to a regular salon since then. The staff always does an amazing job!They are always very detailed and make sure Im happy with the result. My nails are always in tiptop shape and that's thanks to them read more

I really love her work of art! I get russian manicure here and come from Walnut creek to get it done by her.

Such a nice and clean salon with great service! The quality of their work is always top-notch, and the staff are friendly and professional. I always leave happy with my nail and lashes. Definitely one of the best salons around! Highly recommend! read more

I've always loved getting my lashes done, but they never lasted until I found Babu The quality is amazing, with high-quality materials sourced from Russia, and the prices are unbeatable. Highly recommend read more

She's the savior of my nails! She always does them so neatly and beautifully, just the way I like. The products she uses are high-quality, and the atmosphere is warm, cozy, and comfortable. Choosing her was the best decision I've made! read more

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Terrible experience. She didn't speak a word of English, didn't ask me what I wanted, didn't show any nail colors, and just chose everything herself. The nail forms were uneven and mismatched, and she rushed through the entire session like she had somewhere better to be. No care, no attention, no professionalism. I paid $100 and she didn't even bother to ask if I liked the result. Never again. Zero star read more