If I could give this place a 0 star award I would. I went there with a friend for the first time and was surprised by the obvious favoritism they showed to their regulars. I spent 45 mins soaking in a tub full of cool water, and had enough, when I asked for a towel to dry my feet to leave they pretended they didn't hear my request at first. Then to add insult to injury, they made it a postively an uncomfortable situation for me to leave by arguing with me in front of a room full of people because I was 15 mins later than I had initially called in to say I was coming. I wouldn't have minded waiting that length of time if they had told me when I came in that it was going to be a while before I got seen to. Not to mention how uncomfortable the chairs and water "spa" was, seriously this place is embarrassingly archaic. read more

Will Never Come Here Again. Cathy Cut My Toe Nails Too Short. I Bled. My GF Came In For A Full We Arrived At 5:30 And We Left After 9. My Girl Like Her Nails But It Took Way Too Long. read more

Called in around 7:30pm, it was to late for an appointment but they said to just come in as walk-ins. I called again to see what time they opened. They open at 9:00am but was already booked for that time and asked if we can come in around 9:30. I have to be somewhere by 10:00am so i couldnt. They said to just come in that night. We came by and on the phone we had said 2 kids for regular hands. Came in and added 1 more gel manicure. Waited about an hour and a half untill we got seated, mind this was already 9:15pm. They sat our 2 kids but forgot about the gel and so i asked, they said sorry its to late come back tomorrow. I reminded them that i called earlier and said i couldnt make it. One of the lady that was about to leave offered to stay and do mines. ( i didnt get her name ) It was really nice of them and i felt really bad because they had to get home to there families too. She did a quick job but very nice. It was my first time and yes i will be coming back!!! read more

Wow. Am I missing something here?? I went to get a gel manicure and pedicure today. I found this place off of Yelp. I saw the great reviews so I was pretty excited! Well let me say my excitement went away quickly! So the lady starts doing my pedicure I have no idea what her problem was but she was taking it out on my feet!! She was so careless!! She was yanking my poor cuticles off it hurt so bad!! Then to top it off she kept on sighing. I was like really?! If you hate your job so much go home! At one point I guess she wanted me to put my feet up and as I was going to my foot accidentally fell in the water and she got so annoyed and stormed off! She was so rude!!! Then this other lady started doing my manicure at the same time. They had me in the craziest position and kept moving me and their utensils everywhere!!! They were so unorganized!! It was such a mess. And how dare that lady doing my pedicure get upset with me because I wasn't reading her mind!! How the heck am I supposed to know what she wanted me to do while I had to worry about making sure the water I was dipping my hands in wasnt going to fall off of my lap all while being in the oddest position trying to have both my manicure and pedicure done! Ugh I'm so disappointed with this place. So the other lady that was doing my manicure finished and I took a look and there was spots everywhere where u can clearly see the polish wasnt there since it was such a thin color the 2 coats didn't seem to be enough. Luckily she did a third coat and they looked ok. At least she didn't have an attitude when i asked her to fix them! I don't understand how everyone seems to have had a great experience here and mine was so horrible. I went with my friend and she also had a bad experience but that's a whole other story! I will stay far, far away from this place!! read more

I went in with my mom, had me waiting for 30 minutes just for a manicure (which took another 30 minutes to get done because she kept getting distracted) while my mom waited an hour and a half to get a pedicure, in which she got cut. I am never going back again, wouldn't recommend if you're looking for good customer service and nails that last longer than 3 days. read more

I usually dont write reviews until I've been significantly impacted by the experience of a certain place. This has allot to do with how my pedicure and manicure went.. after getting my nails done from other places ive never had experienced anyone hurting me soo much. I mean c'mon, getting your nails done is supposed to be therapeutic, not an hour and a half of pain. The when i was getting my cuticles removed from my feet, the lady ripped off soo much skin, i wasn't even sure why she took soo much off that it made my toe bleed, seriously my leg was twitching the whole time i really wanted to cry. I didnt want to cause a scene so i just wanted to get it over with. Even the lady that did my manicure was soo rough, i dont understand why it's soo hard to just be gentle with clients. You're spreading soo much more germs making them bleed all over the damn equipment. I'm sorry but this will be the last time I'm ever coming to this nail shop. Attached is a picture of my horrible ass looking toe now. Thanks allot!! read more

Helen's Nails - This was torture! A big piece of skin missing on big toe! - Nail Salons Near Me - Lemon Grove, California

Wait was extremely long and cut my toe nails all wrong when asked to fix seemed agitated and polish was all over toes and nails ...not coming back read more

If I could give no stars, I would! This place should be called "Hells Nails" instead of "HELen's Nails". I went in today for a gel manicure and the place was dead until the manicurist got a phone call and I could understand that she was telling someone to come in. Sure enough the person walks in with another woman, maybe her mom. This girl said, I just called...so I knew it was her on the phone. She told the girl to sit next to me and then she put one layer of primer on my left hand only and told me to place both hands under the UV light, so I did for a couple of minutes until the beep went off. The manicurist was nowhere to be found until I turned right over my shoulder and she was next to me there servicing the girl with a pedicure. As soon as I noticed her, she asked me to put my hands back in the light again. Now this is where the experience went sour! Why would I expose my skin and nails to more unnecessary UV lights when she only put one layer of primer on one hand? Here's the answer; to buy her more time as she "multitasks in between two customers performing a nasty pedicure in filthy dirty water and my manicure which was almost done". No gloves, no sanitation, no common sense. I'm sure she cheated her way through cosmetology school and failed the CA State Board of Manicuring and Cosmetology exam, a couple of times, before she got her "license". California Licensed Manicurist are only required to pass the board exam once and then pay minimal renewal fees ever other year to keep their license valid. I will going back to this nail sweatshop get her license number and report to the State of California. Helen, SHAME ON YOU! read more

I drive a long way to come see Jenny and Cathy. I love Helen as well, but Jenny and Cathy are normally the one's who address my nails and pedicure. I have been coming to Helen's nails for more than 10 years and even though I've looked for nail shops closer to home, they always disappoint. A bit of warning: they are so good, they are always always busy. So make an appointment before you come in, and come in at least 20 minutes before your appointment; expect to wait a little bit. Their workmanship is well worth the wait. Believe me, I drive about an hour to get there. read more

Id gone to Helens for over a year. The last several times they raised the prices and did terrible nails. Very dissapointing. Considering i had been a loyal customer. The wait time is rediculous even with an appointment, and for being a ghetto little place the prices are high they are not the prices they have listed on the wall. Not worth it for the poor quality. read more

I was shopping for a reasonably priced nail salon that was also close to where I live. I called Helens nail salon and asked if they had any appointments open and Helen had told me to come in and that they were ready for me. I got there 15 minutes after the call. I was greeted by everyone which was very nice and they had told me to choose a color for my nails. An HOUR later, I'm still WAITING. Ladies who had arrived after me had even left before me because they realized they weren't going to be seen anytime soon. Why did I wait an hour? Because i kept thinking okay it's my turn in 5 minutes, I desperately needed my nails done and I was already invested in the color I chose. So now an hour and a half later I'm finally being helped by Amy. When she was cutting my cuticles she cut my fresh skin off so now I have all of these little cuts along my nails that really hurt. She also painted on top of my cuticles so it looks all weird like a kid did it. I guess you really do get what you pay for because it's been one week and they're broken, chipped and lifting. I will not be returning especially after being a new customer and having to wait that amount of time. read more

I have been seeing Helen since I moved here 6years ago, a great recommendation by my cousin. I love the service and excellent quality work. Everyone is sweet and kind. Being at Helen's nails is like being at a family party. read more

I went to Helen's Nails for the first time last night and I had a FANTASTIC experience! Helen's sister gave me a pedicure and another woman gave me a gel French manicure and they did a GREAT job! my toes and fingers look AMAZING! I especially like Helen's sister, I think her name was Katy, she is so kind and friendly! =) It was my first time getting a pedicure and she was so comforting!!! I really LOVE this place and I will definitely go back again! I highly recommend it! These ladies are SUPER! read more

Helens has moved a few doors over. Nice roomy place compared to the last place. Jenny did my nails on point. Kathy did my pedicure awesome. They do get VERY busy so call ahead and make an appointment. Walk ins tend to wait a little long. Overall good service! read more

I cannot believe everyone is talking about the same Helen's I was in yesterday. By far, the WORST nail salon I've ever been in. The place was dirty, they didn't sterilize their instruments, just moved on to the next customer. The lady who did my pedicure, it was AWFUL. Toenails uneven and she kept digging into skin until it bled!! They didn't have massage chairs, just 'foot baths' that you put your feet into. Good thing the mani/pedi was only $18....I still feel like I got ripped off. read more

I'm getting my pedicure done, I have been client since 2 years ago, I hardly recommended CATHY, se is the best, always happy when I came with Her. read more

Absolutely the best mani and pedi in all of San Diego! Great price, new, larger location, and they treat the clients like family. I started coming to this place twenty years ago when I lived in east county. I moved to Clairemont quite some time ago and have tried almost every salon in a ten mile radius. None compare to Helen's Nails. Jenny is fabulous for nails. Cathy is a true master at pedicures. Both ladies are very meticulous and go the extra mile to ensure each customer leaves happy. My daughters and I keep coming back here. It's worth the drive for us to have a nice job done. Give them a try, you won't be disappointed! read more

First time...NEVER coming back. The lady butchered my cuticles, my nails look like SHIT!

worst customer service!!! came in the shop with an appointment and i was told i'd only be a few minutes...30 min passed and i started to get a little irritated as an hour passed I had to get up and walk out. never in my many years of getting my nails done have I ever had to wait longer than an hour to be seated. unless you have your whole day to waste this isn't the place to go read more