A pampering treat or tortured toes?! Your feet are too important to trust to this business, even if the price is right. Never underestimate the importance of your big toe... I had a pedicure at Hands On as a treat to myself on a Friday lunch break several weeks ago. Although at first the place seemed to have a decent, clean atmosphere and a friendly staff, the pedicure itself was not good at all. The technician working on my feet skipped several exfoliating steps that would normally be part of a spa pedicure however got very overzealous with her trimmers. She cut the edges of the nails back far into the cuticle until I asked her to stop (I was reading a magazine and not paying attention until I practically leaped from the chair in pain several times). Don't these people know that causes ingrown nails - hello? This is the first time I have ever paid for a service like this and left in pain. (think a bad dental cleaning with a crazy scraper wielding hygienist - but on your toes) Three weeks later, I am just now able to wear normal shoes and resume normal activity because of the terrible nail infection I got in my big toe after this pedicure. My advice - take the extra $10-15 dollars you'd save by going here and go to get a real treat at Spa Theology instead. It's far better than spending that $15 and then some on antibiotics and ointments. Your feet will thank you! read more

I've gone to Hands On Spa for years to get pedicures, manicures, and an occasional eyebrow wax. In the past I have had great experiences. Lately that has changed. The past few times I have gone, the employees are sitting in the massage chairs eating, there were dirty dishes and glasses sitting around on the nail stations. They didn't bother to move them when they were doing my nails. During a manicure, an employee received a phone call, put it on speaker phone and just chatted away while I sat there. Then, they sat back and texted and watched t.v. and it appeared they forgot they were working on my nails. They rushed through my manicure and did a poor job. Afterwords when I went to pay (and I was upset by their professionalism and a lackluster manicure/experience) I only tipped 10%. I usually tip 20% or more but the service was terrible. The employee then told me her tip should have been more and turned to talk to a coworker about it. I am very dissapointed in my experience. I have been to Hands On Spa many times over the years but this will be my last visit. read more

I went in this "spa" on a whim with two of my girlfriends just to have a little time together and get our nails done. I don't normally get my nails done, because "if you want something done right you have to do it yourself" they say-- and well they say that for a reason. To put it lightly I am typing through the pain of a Hands On manicure two days later, all thanks to the skilled craftsman who put an immense amount of care into his job. My nails are usually long so I can still open a can of seltzer or scratch my nose if it itches. This guy noticed I had nice nail beds and noted how they only needed minor work; he then proceeded to hack each one of my nails with a clipper with the speed of Tom Cruise in "Top Gun". Admittedly I was impressed by his speed and minor precision but it became increasingly clear that this wasn't going to be a typical nail job. At one point my ring finger cuticle got a battle wound which began to bleed and remained unattended until I grabbed the paper towel from having to wash my own hands and blotted my bloody finger. The craftsman looked irritated that I was in pain and trying to cease bleeding and finished the apparent masochistic trip I took myself on. I've seen meat in my finger tips I never wanted to see but now that meat is typing this review. All in all, next time I need to feel good about the job I do on my own nails I will come back here. This place is clean, though. read more

..... Little overzealous with the clippers in unnecessarily removing dead skin around the nails. My fingers were smarting when I left. They didn't clean under my nails. They seemed more concerned with getting you in and out quickly than actually taking care of you. Will not be returning. read more

Went in for manicure and pedicure. The young man doing the pedicure was friendly, efficient and very careful. The young girl doing the manicure (while I had the pedicure) was sweet but distracted the point that my cuticles were cut on two different fingers. I noticed the man looking alarmed and told her, I assume, since he spoke in another language, to get some disinfectant. She did. Still, the bottoms of both nails had a line of blood at the bottom. One is still noticeably cut. For the next three days the skin around the cuticle was red enough for me to think of going to the doctor, as I was worried about infection. The problem was that I left on vacation the evening of the manicure and was unable to come right back. I hope that they'll be no reason to pursue this upon my return, but I will never go back to this salon, in any case. read more

The spa at which I typically have my nails done was booked, so I saw Hands on Spa had won the "Best of WNC" and decided to book an appointment. I wanted my acrylic french manicure filled in. In the middle of my manicure, another woman who seemed to be a regular came in and the man stopped mine and started doing hers for about 10 minutes. When he got back to me, he rushed through the process. He told me that my current manicure from the other spa looked messed up and he could tell that I hadn't gotten it done there, but not to worry because he would "fix it." He then asked if I wanted square or round nails. I replied, "I want round" and he argued with me and said round nails would look ugly and that I wanted square nails. When I said I wanted to swap out the french manicure look for a "neutral" color he thought I said "natural" and before I knew it, he had slapped a coat of clear gel polish on top and was telling me I was good to go. Oh, and then squirted a ton of oil all over my hands. So, instead of getting my round french manicure filled in, I now have square clear "natural" looking nails. None of what I wanted and I left feeling insulted. read more

I've always come here and they've done a good job on my pedicures. Today, the girl was way too rough and over clipped my cuticles. She cut my toe and made me bleed and said that my toenail was in-grown. I've never had an in-grown toenail in my life! And even if I did, they aren't trained to deal with something like that...they're not podiatrists! Will never be coming back. read more

Got there for my 1 pm appointment. After 20 minutes I was told "number 7" which after a few seconds I realized was the number of a pedicure chair so I went there. I got a good pedicure but then I was escorted to the dryer. When I asked about my manicure there was a bit of a fuss; low and behold that message had not been communicated. So I was given a rushed manicure. I spent almost 2 1/2 hours there and they were neither apologetic about their oversight or polite (ever). My advice - skip this place. read more

This place used to be excellent but has lost many of its staff. Went today and the man I had was very rough and painful on foot massage, not pleasurable, and then cut my finger with the Emory board as he was do rough so I declined the manicure. My finger was bleeding. I will be switching salons which is sad as the owner , Linda is so very nice. read more

O.K. in a pinch....Those folks lack the business savyy..Then again..You can have an appointment when you need one...Nothing to brag about just SO SO seems to be the operating mode there.... read more

Gee, Briana, do you work for or own Spa Theology?!! I've been to Hands On many times and never experienced any pain whatsoever. None. They are good at what they do. read more

This place is awesome. I have never received any service that is less than perfect. Everything from pedi to mani to waxing is always great. The service is wonderful, they remember you after the first time, prices are affordable and competitive. Vicky there also does a fantastic eyebrow wax job, the best I've received in Asheville. I love, love Hands on Spa! The only thing is as a heads up, call and schedule an appointment. This place is hopping and you'll need it! read more

This is a snotty and rude salon. I have been in three times at 5 pm on every day of the week and they told me there was no one could do my nails. There were people standing around and no one was working. The last time I actually had my nails done it was a disaster. The guy was so sick that he coughed constantly and told me how sick he was while working on my nails. They looked terrible and with a French manicure everything showed up. Just do not go there. They try to shame you when you go in and beg for anything to be done. read more

Ive been going to hands on for years and have always loved their service. The massages are great and they have massaging chairs. They paint very well too! read more

Love this place. Nails are always done with care. Recently I went to another spa in the area and was greatly disappointed. Hands on spa always puts on a base and makes sure both coats are carefully done and no spots are missed and the top coat is always put all over and not just on some places. I will always choose hands on spa when I need a mani or Petty! read more

I had a manicure and pedicure with Linda and she did a great job, even better than one I had received at an expensive spa downtown where the polish peeled after two days! The atmosphere is comfortable and relaxing and the polish lasts at least a week. I recommend this place for individuals or small groups. read more

I had always heard how great this place was, but I had a negative experience, twice, and I will never go back. I went in for gel nails, and the girl was SO rough with my hands and nails. She trimmed the area around my cuticles so much (very rough also) that it made my fingers sensitive for 2 days after (I couldn't even wash dishes with warm water without my cuticle area stinging. She did a good job on the actual gel polish, but every time my nails were drying under the UV light, she was on her iPad, and the table where she was doing my nails. I felt rushed when I was there, and she started working on the next client before I had even paid for my service. I understand that they need to fit all clients in quickly, but I felt as if it was bad service to shove someone out and get the next person in so fast. I didn't even want to go back there to get the polished removed, and as I expected- when I went back, it was more sub-par service. Same girl put my hands in the bowl of remover and walked away, didn't even say anything. Three other employees came over, looked at my nails without saying anything, and walked away. Meanwhile, the girl who originally did my nails and put my nails in the remover solution was in a pedi chair, half-napping while looking on her phone. I was barely spoken to while I was there. I would never recommend this place to anyone, unfortunately, and I'm a local. The majority of the employees (when I was there on both visits) looked miserable and like they hated being there. It's not really the service you are expecting when you go to have a mani or pedi and feel pampered. Even if you offered me a free service there, I wouldn't go back. read more

I walked in for a gel polish and had a terrible experience. First the gel polish that was already on had to be removed so the first person of 4 who worked on me had me soak my hands in very strong acetone. When my fingers started burning and turning white I took them out. The technician who I think is the owner then said to me "if you do that how am I supposed to get the gel off? I told him to use foil and pads, so he called over a 2nd person to do that. She then left to work with another client and another male came to do the manicure. I told him I didn't want the gel manicure, just a regular one since I was already there an hour. He then cut the cuticles too short, I was bleeding and did not even receive an apology. He just nodded acknowledging the fact. In the middle of applying the polish, he left to see another customer and a fourth person finished. I was there for 2 hours and am still upset that I didn't walk out. read more