Been coming here for years and the warmth and hospitality is always 10/10 every single time. Tommy is my nail tech and he's AMAZING at what he does. Not only do my nails always come out beautiful, but he's also so gentle and precise. My nails can be pretty sensitive to the tools, and he's always mindful and never overly aggressive like some places can be. You can tell he really cares about his work and his clients. I always leave loving my nails and feeling taken care of read more

So kind. So skilled. Clean and affordable.thanks Tommy and everyone.i will come again

Helen was very friendly and did nails very fast! Nails are high quality and very pretty. Thank you golden nails!!!

They continue to be the kindest, and best vibes nail salon in Castro Valley. I am always greeted, services come out great, and the clientele are also friendly. read more

I'm so disappointed in my first time experience of this place. I feel like I'm being generous with the 3 stars honestly. I called ahead of time to ask what time they close, in which the guy told me 10pm. I told them I'd be there at 6:45pm, and when I did get there, I patiently waited 45 mins to be seated in a chair. I asked if they could do a 3D design on my nails (which I had asked over the phone), and they said they could, but by the time I was seated, and I showed one of the techs what I wanted, she said they stop doing designs at 7pm. I was very frustrated because I could have gone somewhere else if I knew I couldn't get the birthday nails I wanted, but at that point it was too late. So I found a more simple look, in which they agreed they would do. Holly did amazing on my pedicure, but by the time they got to my manicure, I could tell they were rushing. I'm a very understanding and kind person. I honestly wish I had just canceled the manicure. They didn't even prep my nails (i.e. remove my cuticles). The cherry on top was how expensive it was for such a poor job -- $150 . I feel so taken advantage of honestly, and it's a really bad start to my birthday now. She even forgot to put a top coat on my left hand and I can tell the difference. read more

Golden Nails Castro Valley - The picture I showed as inspo - Nail Salons Near Me - Castro Valley, California

*Update (this is the next day5/12) I wanted to hear him out after seeing his response that he wanted to make things right. He did apologized and explained I can go back without charge to get my nails redone by Helen who has better experience. In the middle of my response, he cut me off and said "I don't have time, you can come back or book. Have a good day". The customer service here is so bad. The comment was just to make them look better on Yelp. Please look at other people's reviews before deciding to come here! This is the first time I'm giving 1star review. I don't normally give reviews lower than 4 stars, but I'm really disappointed since I paid $120 for a manicure and pedicure that I didn't like. The pedicure was fine since it was just plain white polish. The reason I'm upset is because the lady who worked on my manicure seemed to have an attitude after I asked her to trim the acrylic shorter. I understand misunderstandings can happen, possibly due to a language barrier, but I clearly explained at the beginning that I wanted short almond nails. As a customer, I didn't appreciate feeling like my request was an inconvenience. She even said it's harder to work on short nails. It's frustrating to pay $70 for nails that I'm planning to remove the next day and pay another salon to redo. I still tipped her though I wasn't happy. I also blame myself for not reading the reviews beforehand since there are already a good amount of negative reviews. I'm getting married on Sunday, so things have been hectic, and this was one of the only salons near me that was open late. I really wanted to like this place because the late hours are convenient. * Some nails are crooked read more

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EDIT: Downgrading from 2 stars to 1 after seeing the owner's speedy response to my review. This confirms the lack of professionalism and poor communication I described below. I had a really weird experience trying to book an appointment here. I called to ask if they offer dipping powder, and the owner initially said yes. He tried to convince me to get builder gel, but I mentioned that I prefer dipping powder because I've had better experiences with it. At that point, he started backtracking. First, he said they may refuse to remove dipping powder and that they don't do dip after 6pm because it takes too long. Then he changed his answer again and said they don't do dipping powder at all, only gel. He kept saying "have a nice day" and abruptly ended the conversation right after that. This all happened in the course of a 3-min phone call. Oh also, this spot is cash only. The inconsistent information and sudden shift in what services they offer was confusing, and the way the call was handled felt dismissive and unprofessional. If you have a specific service preference, I'd recommend confirming details carefully or considering other salons that are more transparent and accommodating. It's too bad, because I wanted to try this spot. But based on the bait and switch over the phone, I will take my business elsewhere. read more

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. read more

Golden Nails Castro Valley - $75 (now $70 with his $5 back) gel fill. Not worth the experience of being talked down to. Stay away! - Nail Salons Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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My favorite nail shop!!! Every nail tech is good And it's clean and friendly! I go to Tommy & Kathy but would trust anyone here. They have tons of options for colors and styles and I'm never disappointed! read more

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. read more

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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. read more

Golden Nails Castro Valley - Nail Salons Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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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. read more

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I had this old lady who did the best nails ever. she was so sweet and I can't wait to come 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. read more

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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.. read more

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Long time customer of this nail salon but I won't be returning after new management took over a few months ago. This is unfortunate for this business since I liked most of the nail techs. I visited this salon in Feb this year and presented an advertised yelp discount for "20% off your next service". Midway through my service, the manager claimed that it is only for new customers even though it was clearly not advertised that way. Then, he said that the advertised offer was due to "software system errors and administrator mistakes." At the end of the day, the manager made no effort to honor the advertised offer or to keep a once loyal customer. read more

Tommy good customer service beautiful nails Nice and patient did my nail how I like.Happy Customer Thank you read more

Great service! I found them on TikTok. The reviews were great location looked beautiful when I came in. I was treated kindly taken right away. Great service very happy. I recommend 100%. read more

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! read more

Golden Nails Castro Valley - Nail Salons Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Helen did an amazing job for my nails!!! I loved the design and everyone here was super nice too!! read more

Golden Nails Castro Valley - Cherry Nails - Nail Salons Near Me - Castro Valley, California

I have been a loyal customer of Golden since day one. The staff has always been amazing and consistently goes the extra mile. The shop is clean, and they offer a wide variety of colors and services. Between my family and me, we spend a few hundred dollars there every few weeks. That said, I am highly disappointed in the new owners who took over two months ago. While the shop remains clean and still offers an abundance of colors, the personal touch is significantly lacking. They no longer accept debit or credit cards as a form of payment. I rarely carry cash, and having to go to an ATM is both inconvenient and costly. When I raised this concern, they allowed me to use my debit card but charged a $3 fee. Additionally, they are no longer using their POS system, which means they do not check appointments or track customer information for rewards points. I made an appointment online, but when I arrived, I was told everyone was busy and that I would need to return in half an hour. The shop, which was once beautifully decorated, now has several posters explaining new policies and maps showing where to get cash taped to the walls with packing tape. It gives the space a cluttered, unprofessional appearance. I understand that changes often come with new ownership, and I am willing to be flexible. However, not accepting card payments and failing to honor appointments may ultimately be dealbreakers for me. read more

I've been coming to Tommy for a few times and I always leave loving my nails! This place is clean, and I never have to wait too long. Their pricing is fair, and they offer a lot of different stuff! I've been here early morning and late nights, I can always count on coming here for my nail services! read more

No more cuticle care if you ask for builder gel? Crazy pricing if they don't care for the basics of a manicure. read more

Golden Nails Castro Valley - $65 for builder gel manicure with no cuticle care. Just the removal of my old gel nails and new builder gel. - Nail Salons Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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. read more

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We have great nails set by Helen & Kent here. Highly recommended Golden nails Castro valley . read more

Golden Nails Castro Valley - Beautiful nails - Nail Salons Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Thy was especially amazing with my graduation nails! Quality was perfect, every detail done perfectly! read more

Golden Nails Castro Valley - Nail Salons Near Me - Castro Valley, California

So I have been coming here most recently and its only been a few times. But I love the service. I am making this my local spot. I love the pedicures. The massage is great. My legs and feet always feel revitalized afterward. The massage chairs are comfy. They offer complimentary beverages at the beginning of each service. Parking can be a challenge as the lot is really small and there are other businesses. But they do designate spaces which makes your odds of getting a spot much better. read more

i've been wanting to get my nails done for the longest time after transitioning out from working in healthcare (as the past 2 1/2 to 3 years so my opportunity to actually get nails done were a few to none) I wanted something simple and long lasting.wasn't really looking for a gel or regular polish - considered maybe acrylic but also worried about the harshness of the actual acrylic. so i was so stoked to find that golden nails offered gel x extensions which fits exactly what i wanted! I would say that this place is very clean and had very great attentive service. they've also provided complementary drinks or snacks available. parking is somewhat limited, but you could probably find a spot/they'll help you too. would def recommend for yall to check out their place! read more

Golden Nails Castro Valley - Nail Salons Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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This is my second time coming back to golden nails and they'll see me as a returning customer! The place was quiet and the workers were very accommodating! Vicky and Helen did my nails and they're very experienced, so call in to book with them! I also recommend calling in for an appointment but they're very accommodating to walk ins as well! If you're looking for a relaxing place while wanting to treat yourself, consider golden nails! I will say the parking is very limited but there is a parking area behind the liquor store and there's plenty of parking there. If you're unsure on where to park, I would ask the managers or the workers there. read more

Golden Nails Castro Valley - Full set, almond shaped - Nail Salons Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Iv been coming here for a couple months and I love it! Today Karen and Thy helped they were super sweet and did amazing!

Thy was amazing and took her time. Loved the design. It's great I would highly recommend her.

Friendly staff and clean place! They seem to have all the latest trendy gels, powders, and polish. Easy to get an appointment. I basically walked in the first time going here. You check in upon arriving on their tablet. They offer drinks as soon as you get seated. They have a huge tv to entertain customers. Usually some reality tv show off Netflix. They also offer a discount when paying with cash. Today I went to Kimly. She did an amazing job! She takes her time filing the shape and does it better than you expect. I showed her a design and she easily did it. read more

Golden Nails Castro Valley - Done by Kimly - Almond pointed yellow French tip with gems - Nail Salons Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Tommy is hands down the best at this salon! He is knowledgable, efficient, and always gives me exactly what I want!

So bad . Nails lasted me ONE WEEK. I usually go to moon nails in union city but I unfortunately didn't have time so had to go somewhere closer . It was almost $300 for me and my min and the job was so fucking shit . I would expect better quality and service for that price. Vine was shit too I asked for something and the lady had my nails looking like pennywise the clowns outfit . I told her that's not what I wanted and she's gonna gaslight me into saying "yes it is" she left some of my nails longer than the rest so I bang them on shit and they broke . Don't go here don't waste your time bc the work is bad and it's over priced there's a reason it's always empty . And it's not that horrible parking situation they have going on either. read more

I was treated so well here. Ken did acrylic nails and they were absolutely perfect. Id never come here before, but will definitely be coming back! read more

High quality job. Responsive to requests. Clean facility. Clear instructions on parking - since the lot is small and oversubscribed. Would definitely make this a first choice nail salon. read more

I had a regular nail polish manicure and pedicure done on Friday 8/29 evening (which was my time visiting the nail salon) and today is Sunday 8/31 and the nail polish is already chipping off my nails. I normally get regular nail polish and have experienced the nail polished from other nail salon staying on my nails for 5-7 days. Customer service was great but I noticed that they don't disinfect their tools which is not good. read more

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I was really impressed with my first visit, but my second visit was a complete 180. I went in for an acrylic fill and immediately felt dismissed for even requesting it. During the service, the technician repeatedly dug into the sides of my nail beds with a new file--it honestly felt like she was using a knife. It was extremely uncomfortable and painful. When I tried to explain how I prefer my French tips (a more traditional curved style rather than a straight line), she became visibly frustrated and ignored my preferences. On top of that, one of my nails--my thumb--felt too thin, and when she filed around the corners, it was painful. I asked if it could be built up a bit more, but that request was also ignored. At that point, I had enough and told them I was done. When it came time to pay, I mentioned a $10 discount the owner had previously given me. Another technician immediately said the owner would "never" have done that, which felt very unprofessional. They only honored the discount after I said I would not be returning. Overall, the lack of care, poor communication, and dismissive attitude were extremely disappointing. Based on this experience, I won't be coming back. read more

I came here a week ago. This is my first time at the salon and I was referred by my SIL. I was really looking forward to this place. I wished this was a good review. 1) Parking: they have a small lot which is limit of maybe 2 parking space reserved for them, but I was informed later that they have additional spaces located in the gas station. For people who didn't know, like myself, I had to drive around a few times. :-( 2) Accommodations: I didn't have an appointment, but they were able to squeeze me in for a gel manicure. :-) 3) Inside: Esthetically, the place looks cute and they offer free drinks, which includes, water, sparkling water, soda and wine. :-) 4) Cleanliness and Sanitary: I don't think they follow the Boards rules and regulations on cleaning of their tools. Most places I go, the tools are sanitized and placed into sealed bags. Unfortunately, they did not clean the tools. They used the same tools from the previous clients. The technician just moved from the next table to my with the same cart. :-( 5) Service: I was very confused as to why I had two technicians, the first technician did the preparation: cut, shaped, and file. Very disappointing, I wanted my nail shape like what I originally had them shaped (round/oval), she asked if I wanted it cut, I said please make them all the same length. Also, my left thumb was shorter than the other nails, so I thought she would keep the length all the same, but she did NOT! I asked her if the shape of my nails were almond shaped. She just started shaping them almond and I told her wait, wait, wait and she continued with the almond shape, she said this shape will look nicer! I did not like the shape, my original shape was nicer. While grinding and shaping of the nail, the other technician kept walking back and forth, I had no clue why, until the other technician was done shaping. The sad part about it is, they didn't clean off the nail dust from my fingers before the other technician started with the gel process. She kept speaking Vietnamese to all the other staff which doesn't bother me, but she could have talked to me a little at least. I couldn't even tell her about the dust on my fingers. When all was done, I could still see the nail dust on the sides of my nails. They told me that it was dry skin. I know what dust looks like. Also, they didn't use cuticle softener to remove cuticles and they didn't use any cuticle oil after the service. Just some lotion and massage and they were done. :-( 6) Quality of the product and durability: After only a week, the gel started to peel. The nail polish advertised that it's good for 28 days!! Mine was less than 7 days. :-( I wish I had good things to say about this place. So disappointing. read more

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If I could give more than 5 stars, I would! I came to this salon for the first time after my nail tech switched over from another location, and let me just say--I'm SO glad she did. This is hands down the most beautiful, cleanest nail salon I've ever stepped into. The atmosphere is welcoming and peaceful, and the aesthetic is absolutely stunning. I was greeted with warm smiles and offered a complimentary beverage (a small touch that makes a big difference!). The entire staff is incredibly kind, friendly, and professional. It's clear that customer comfort and satisfaction are a top priority here. One of the things I appreciated most? It's the only salon I've ever been to where I didn't walk out smelling like acrylic monomer and acetone. The space is fresh, clean, and well-ventilated. There's also a TV playing Food Network which I loved--It's the perfect touch that adds to the relaxing vibe. The owner is exceptionally attentive and helpful, making sure everyone feels taken care of. You can really tell they take pride in their business and the experience they offer. This place is a gem and 100% worth the visit. I honestly can't recommend enough. read more

Golden Nails Castro Valley - Nail Salons Near Me - Castro Valley, California