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    Golden Nails Castro Valley

    3.8 (144 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 am - 11:30 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Services - Golden Nails Castro Valley

    Manicure

    Manicure and pedicure

    Nail fill-in

    Golden Nails Castro Valley Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Golden Nails Castro Valley

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    Reviews With Photos - Golden Nails Castro Valley

    First day with the ombré pink and white. Looks like as if my nails already grew out more and dead skins.... Totally lack of details
    Lena H.

    I came here to Golden Nails the second time only because my friend wanted this place and we walked in without an appointment and we were seated at the pedi chairs right away to start service. No wait time is good. I like they offer beverages like coffee and wine while they work on the feet. Both times we did mani and pedi and both times I was disappointed and I don't think I would come back again. The first time I spent nearly $150 for both mani and pedi and they started to chip at around day 4 which was terrible. I had gels the first time. They looked so ugly after chipping away so I had to put on nail polish at home myself to cover it up, then why am I spending $150 again to last a few days?! What a waste. Second time I had the ombré pink and white for my manicure (tried something else for longer lasting since the gel from the first time didn't work well) and black gel polish on my toes. When Tommy said my nails were done, I looked at the backside of my nails and they are dirty, rough, and absolutely need more filing. So I had to ask him to continue working on them. My fingers still had the dead skin and apparently one hand is poorly polished and the powder-turn-into-hard-gel nails has large gaps as if they have grown out after days, and it is the first day!! My toes are not smoothly filed so the color looks like rough edges. The quality is just not there after spending another $130 the second time. Such poor quality and lack of details is really bothering me. I expect professional results when I pay for service, otherwise I might as well just DIY at home.

    $75 (now $70 with his $5 back) gel fill. Not worth the experience of being talked down to. Stay away!
    Sheba S.

    I have been going to golden nails for the past year, I got builder gel for the first time and politely asked a question about their pricing and details of service, the owner was extremely rude to me. He threatened to block me because I wasted three minutes of his time with my questions and then turned around and said he'd send me $10 off my next visit. I paid $75 for a gel fill. I simply was asking the details of this pricing as he said it was $55 for fill & $10 for chrome. The math didn't math. He said "you learned a life lesson for not asking beforehand" not sure why the owner feels like he needs to teach his customers life lessons. I stated over again that I'm being very polite and was just seeking information - there is no reason to be rude. He then offered me $20 on my next service and then turned around and said he refuses my service, bc just bc I paid doesn't mean I get to ask questions. I'm genuinely confused at what was so triggering to him but certainly no excuse to blow up on a customer. He sent me $5 back on Venmo, but that doesn't start to make up for how rude he was. The techs here are great at what they do, I feel bad that they have to deal with an owner that doesn't hold himself up to a higher standard of customer service, or just simply doesn't display basic human kindness. Update: after talking to others, this owner is new and other customers in addition to his own nail techs have expressed distaste in his mannerisms. This was a phone conversation politely and calmly seeking information on services. I even thanked Helen again for the nails over the phone bc I was very happy with her service. He initially told me $55 + $10 for my nails (fill + chrome), I'm happy to pay more for nails I like, however, misplaced rudeness to a customer will not be excused especially one that has been loyally returning. 2/28: The business owner keeps changing his response to this review, and now is providing lies to deflect from his very poor customer service. I would pay Helen $75+ again to do my nails, but not at a salon that has such a vile owner. Sir - a simple apology goes further than the lies you keep updating on here.

    Richa O.

    This is an overdue review, but I feel it's important to share my experience. I saw Tan several times for dip powder on my natural long nails. Each visit was for the same service -- one color dip on the same nail length -- yet the pricing was inconsistent every time. Although he never directly said it, he often seemed frustrated working on long natural nails and would cut corners during the service. He frequently suggested I switch to acrylic because it was "faster" and would make backhanded or snide comments that made the experience uncomfortable. I prefer dip on my natural nails and came in specifically for that service. He attempted to "fill" my dip powder a couple of times instead of properly removing and reapplying it. This is not proper technique for dip and can trap moisture. The last time he did this was my final visit. After that appointment, moisture became trapped and a few of my nails unfortunately developed green discoloration, which I later learned can happen when dip is not removed and reapplied correctly. There was also an uncomfortable moment where he believed I was taking a photo or video and raised his voice saying "no photo," becoming very defensive. I have taken photos of my own nails many times before without issue -- and there is nothing wrong with documenting your own service. I was not recording him, and even if I were taking a photo, it would have only been of my own nails. I have photo proof of both the service and the resulting nail discoloration. I value professionalism, consistency in pricing, respectful communication, and proper nail health practices. Unfortunately my experiences here did not reflect that, so I did not return.

    Colors galore!
    Mary A.

    Was a loyal customers since I found them a few years ago. Had my favorite people who I always book manicures and pedicures with. Since the new ownership a few months ago, my go-to people have left (or they got rid of them), payments are not efficient, and the breaking straw was during my last appointment. I requested a gel manicure (which is what I always get) and the younger, heavier set male who said he's new from Philadelphia electronically filed down all the gel and my natural nails leaving me with extremely soft, sensitive, red near-flesh fingers. It was so painful I opted to not do the gel polish. On top of that, he kept on staring at me trying to get my eye contact. Creepy! Paid and left. That's the last time they'll see me! Now I'm stuck with having to use builder gel at another nail salon to make up for the lack of nail strength I have while waiting and hoping my nails grow out strongly.

    Theresa S.

    First visit to Golden Nails Salon. Customer service A1 amazing, water offered, and my service requested outstanding. The vibe was chill comfortable and relaxing. I will be back..

    Don't even want to give one star of ranking if I can. Very disappointing experience. The technician who did my gel pedicure clearly lacked basic nail skills. The white polish was applied unevenly, several nails were not fully covered, some polish was painted outside the nail edges, and the nail shapes were not properly filed. The final result looked sloppy and unprofessional. When I pointed out that the polish was uneven and not covering the entire nail, he repeatedly asked whether I didn't like the color, completely missing the issue I was trying to explain. Instead of removing the polish and fixing the underlying problem, he simply added another thick coat on top, which did not solve the issue. In addition, I paid for a gel pedicure service that clearly included a "5-minute massage." However, there was no actual massage at all. He only applied a small amount of oil briefly, and the entire process lasted less than two minutes. This was not the service that was advertised and paid for. As the second day of my pedicure done, my right little toes nail polish already peeled off. For a professional nail salon, this level of workmanship and service is unacceptable. I am extremely disappointed with both the quality of the pedicure and the lack of professionalism. 200% I will not be returning.

    Broken nail!
    Lizbeth C.

    I had a great first experience here, but my second visit was really disappointing. I got my nails done last Wednesday, and it's barely Monday -- not even a week later -- and several of my nails have already chipped or broken. I take good care of my nails, so this was really frustrating, especially considering how nice they looked the first time. I'm not happy with the quality this time around and hope it was just an off day, but it definitely makes me think twice about coming back.

    Kent did an amazing job on my daughter's nails for graduation! I also received a pedicure from him last week, and he provided one of the best foot massages ever!

    Cherry Nails

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    Page 4 of 4

    Ask the Community - Golden Nails Castro Valley

    Review Highlights - Golden Nails Castro Valley

    Vicky and Helen did my nails and they're very experienced, so call in to book with them!

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Sydney's Esthetics

    Sydney's Esthetics

    5.0
    (42 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    Sydney is an exceptional esthetician who is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about her…read morecraft. I was a little hesitant to try sugaring after getting hard-wax Brazilians for years, but she immediately put me at ease. She thoroughly explained the entire process, the benefits of sugaring, and the importance of proper aftercare to help me get the best possible results. To my surprise, sugaring was significantly less painful than traditional waxing, and the results lasted much longer than I expected with minimal regrowth. I can confidently say I'm a client for life! Her location is conveniently located with plenty of parking. The treatment room is beautifully decorated and feels just as warm and welcoming as Sydney herself. Her website and online booking system are easy to navigate, with clear descriptions of each service, making scheduling simple and stress-free. On top of that, her pricing is very reasonable, and she frequently offers fantastic specials. I highly recommend Sydney to anyone considering sugaring or looking for a skilled, professional esthetician.

    I've been seeing Sydney for a couple years now and wouldn't want to go anywhere else! She's so…read moreknowledgeable and efficient with her work, half the time I can't believe the appointment is already over. The first time I booked with Sydney I had never had a sugaring service before. She took the time to explain each step and what she was doing, which I greatly appreciated. I also don't have the greatest pain tolerance, but I always get distracted by Sydney's funny stories. I'm lucky enough to live nearby, but would be willing to make a drive to see her if I lived out of town. That proves just how good she is and I can't recommend her enough!

    Photos
    Before and after eyebrows.
    Before and after eyebrows.
    Half done Brazilian with sugar.
    Half done Brazilian with sugar.
    Half done Brazilian with sugar.

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    Half done Brazilian with sugar.
    Studio Fourteen

    Studio Fourteen

    5.0
    (25 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    I follow Dahila wherever she goes every since she came into my life. The sweeeetest gal you will…read moreever meet plus she is extremely professional and experienced. It doesn't get better than this. Tops it off that she's beautiful inside and out, skillful, and just the absolutely best esthetician that you can find in the area. The studio itself so chic and modern, but most importantly of all, it's CLEAN. That is so important. Clean and sanitize is key here. It always smells amazing inside, not dirty not like anything burning or melting. Love her playlist because it gives you something distracting when you're getting hair ripped off your fragile body parts. You can book appointments online and see her work on her Instagram, or you can take my word for it because she's simply amazing. Hard wax gets everything done and she's so detail oriented. My wax queen, but best of all, she's the TWEEZE QUEEN. She gets all the ingrowns and the hair that breaks off. She teaches you post care and does her best to ensure that she gets all the hair. No rush at all and I never feel pain. The wax is amazing and I see a difference in how the hair grows back. She uses two different types of hard wax on me just because my hair grows differently. She applies great pressure, especially on my sensitive spots. Best of all, she always remembers you from the last session and makes a huge effort to stay consistent. I can't speak highly enough of her. She does amazing work and my Brazilians are always A1. I see her religiously every four weeks and she doesn't even try to up sell you things or make you come sooner. She really does care about her patients. Parking is easy, there's a lot right behind the building and it's easy to find. She knows when you arrive so if the shades are drawn, she's probably with another customer at the moment. But she'll pop her head out and acknowledge that you're there. She takes cash and square- but I always believe if you can cash her out do it. Got to support out go-getters and cheers to entrepreneurs.

    This place is very welcoming and clean. I have been going to Monique for waxing for over a year…read more She is judgment-free and very professional. I feel as if my comfort is her top priority. I highly recommend checking this place out and booking an appointment. They use hard wax...so none of the soft wax with cloth strips that hurts like no other on your sensitive areas. Plus side: easy access from the 580 freeway and plenty of free parking.

    Photos
    Studio Fourteen is located in Sola Salon Studios, in Castro Valley CA.
    Studio Fourteen is located in Sola Salon Studios, in Castro Valley CA.
    Brows by Monique. Instagram @browsbyaleciya $18 Service.
    Brows by Monique. Instagram @browsbyaleciya $18 Service.
    Brows by Monique $18 service.

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    Brows by Monique $18 service.

    Golden Nails Castro Valley - othersalons - Updated August 2026

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