First and foremost, Mina Nails is no more. The establishment is now called "Cafe Nails," under what I'm assuming must be new management. They now have a coffee bar, which I didn't partake in, but I thought it was a nice touch. I had been to Mina Nails back in 2018, and I had a pleasant experience. A decent gel manicure and regular pedicure at a pretty low price for the quality of work. But clearly, the level of service has decreased since after the height of the pandemic. And I can understand on some level--things are rough for most at the moment. But I would have appreciated any sort of effort or care. My pedicure turned out pretty well. I would have liked her to have left my toenails a bit longer; she cut them quite short and did not ask for my preference. The leg massage was quite weak and didn't do much other than rub the lotion in. The heel smoothing also was quite weak and didn't do much. The paint job was actually quite well done, nice and clean. Hopefully it lasts for a bit. She just generally seemed to not want to be there. After my service was done, the tech silently led me over to the drying station and walked away. I sat back to relax a bit, and happened to look to the front door--my nail tech was leaving for the night. I hadn't tipped her yet. Another tech had to put oil on my cuticles. It was a honestly a pretty depressing experience. I hope this isn't the norm. I won't be returning, unfortunately. read more

Mina Nails is THE best, Leahan, Rudy, and the entire staff always make you feel comfortable and have the best skills. Polish, gel, dip ... mani/ pedi everything always comes out looking bomb and on point. My nails always look good until my next appointment. Try it for yourself and you'll never go anywhere else! read more

See all

This is the best! The gel manicure was on point; she shaped my nails exactly like I wanted, and the paint is super neat. Also, the shoulder massage involves a warm, cozy wrap, as does the gel removal (wrap for your hands). So lovely inside with all the windows, and it's the perfect size - large enough that you don't feel bad talking to your friends throughout, but small enough that the service feels very personal. And they have a great selection of colors! If I didn't live in California, I'd be here every other week. read more

I love Mina and her nail salon! It's my favorite place in the area get my nails done and one of my favorite places ever! The whole place is very clean and relaxing. I have come here a countless number of times for regular manicures, regular pedicures, and gel manicures. Every service I've gotten has been clean and precise! It does get very busy here so I recommend either making your appointment a few days in advance or calling before you go to see how busy it is. Of course they always take walk ins but the wait can get long! read more

Had a great experience here. They were very friendly and the price was good! Save 5% if you pay cash and 10% if you're a student! They also guarantee their gel for 2 weeks so you can go back and they'll fix it if there's a problem read more

Mina Nails and Spa - Nail Salons Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

I had an appointment for me and 3 friends and we had such an amazing time. We felt welcome and Lisa was funny and did amazing on my nails. I will definitely come back and recommend it to anyone. read more

Beautiful view while you sit & get pampered! Wonderful job on my pedicure! Owner is friendly & informative about the specials they have. Will definitely go back!!! read more

Mina Nails and Spa - Nice natural light while you get your pedicure - Nail Salons Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

First I have to start by saying I consider myself a very patient person. I'm not the type of person to complain but my recent experience at Mina nails has truly disappointed me beyond belief and I'd like to share my experience. I have been a loyal customer and going to Mina nails for years with a friend of mine. This salon is not closeby to where I live. I've traveled over a half hour to the salon every other week for gel manicures. We always call ahead and schedule our appointments together. It's a time for us to get together, catch up, and relax. I must say after my last experience there I left more tense than I was upon arriving. We had an appointment for 10:30 which we arrived 10 minutes early for. It was busy which is understandable so we weren't seated together. Sometimes at first we aren't ( it's common there to get switched from chairs depending on who may take your gel polish off and who may actually do your nails) and then eventually as it clears we will be seated together. The owner Mina started my nails and it wasn't until after 11:00 she started to take my gel off. Each time the phone rang or a customer needed to cash out she would get up and tend to that. She complained my gel was hard to come off and was taking awhile to come off. She asked who did my nails last time which I thought was unprofessional and made me feel a little uncomfortable. I think the staff there are all very hardworking and always do a great job! Honestly what caused the process of removing my gel to take so long was every interruption during the process. During this time of sitting at Minas chair there were many walks ins and later appointments who came in and were taken care of by other workers as I sat in her chair with every interruption each time a customer needed something. This is soo unprofessioanl and unfair to a paying customer. I had a 10:30 appointment and left at 12:15. I understand if things are busy but to not even acknowledge or apologize for each interruption is not only unprofessional but rude! It wasn't until 11:30 that my gel was off and I was switched to another chair for another woman to finish my nails (or maybe I should say start... and it was the same woman who actually did my friends nails and had already finished them). I've also mentioned to the owner Mina several times in the past that we like to be seated together because it's the small amount of time we have to spend together. After being extremely disappointed with the whole experience I mentioned if we could be seated together next time (again) and I was told "We don't schedule appointments based on seating if you want to sit together you can come during the week when it's not busy" I felt like this was said with an attitude and she seemed very annoyed that I even mentioned it. We went on a Friday and we normally do go during the week. Even when it's not busy we aren't always seated together. It defeats the purpose of us trying to coordinate our schedules (which isn't easy) and make appointments ahead of time when we can't even talk and are seated across the room from one another. What's more disheartening is that there was never an apology or acknowledgement. I had somewhere to be at noon and never expected to be at a salon for almost 2 hours for a gel manicure. I've been a loyal customer for years and have always spoke so highly of this salon. I wish I said more before I left and asked for my money back. I will not be recommending this business or returning. I am truly disappointed on the experience and the way I was treated. read more

Unfortunately my work schedule doesn't not allow me to commit to scheduling nail appointments. If I have a moment during my day, I will go into Mina's as a walk in. I have never been turned away and have waited from time to time, understanding that I did not have an appointment. However, today I was turned away. I can't remember a time that a business has turned away a paying customer. So if your job is similar to mine in where you can't make appointments, I recommend you do not go here. Very unprofessional. They also asked 3 times if I could come back later, not respecting the fact that my answer was no from the beginning. read more

Do not go here with the new owner now. I walked in expecting to see Mina and I immediately realized she was not there. I began in the pedicure chair, which the woman did a good job. However, during the manicure the new male owner began by manicure by filing my nail beds. Then, he pushed down my cuticles without using any softener and did not cut my cuticles well by any means. Not to mention he completely botched the dip powder on one of my thumbs and was incredibly unprofessional when I asked if he was going to fix it. The dip manicure barely lasted 2 weeks when normally they last at least 3 weeks for me. DO NOT GO HERE!! read more

Went to Mina Nails on recommendation of a friend. They got me right in. Everyone was friendly and smiling. I loved the shop as it was in a wooded area. I was just searching for wildlife. Peter is the one who did my nails (powder dip). He listened when I told him how I wanted my nails (on the thinner side - i hate the look of fake nails when they are thick). He even helped to step out of my box of reds and nurtural colors. He engaged in conversation while doing my nails. Overall a very pleasant experience. I will be back. read more

Mina Nails and Spa - Nail Salons Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

I have been going to Mina's for years and have never had anything but exceptional service. The place is clean and comfortable, she is polite and sweet and always accommodating. She treats her staff and her customers with grace. Her staff are lovely and skilled. I've never witnessed any kind of rudeness as mentioned in these other posts. I don't--and won't--go anywhere else for my nail services. read more

I LOVE this nail salon. I have to go out of my way to come to this salon, and I am happy to do it every single time. They are located in this adorable area with a ton of windows and natural light surrounded by trees. It really feels like you're getting a pedicure in a spa. I love gel manicures, but my nails are naturally "oily" making it rare for the manicure to last the full two weeks. Every gel I've gotten at this location lasts the full two weeks, if not longer. The service is wonderful, there are no televisions blasting the local news or some stupid game show. It is a really relaxing and pleasant experience. Every single nail technician I've encountered has been wonderful. I highly recommend Mina. They are true professionals. *Also they have a policy 5% off paying with cash or check! I usually pay for this type of service with cash or check anyway, so that makes it even more exciting. read more

Horrible customer service. Mina is so beyond rude and so is her husband. Her husband had the audacity to yell at me for being late even though they were the ones running behind and better yet I had been waiting for 15 minutes prior to my appointment. The part that gets me is the tipping issue. I can chose how I want to tip and shouldn't be made to feel bad that I don't have cash. Mina stated that they didn't want to have to pay taxes on the tips. Completely unprofessional!!!!! We all have to pay taxes. I got my nails done here for a long time and I am happy to say that I will never return. Just horrible. Mina will ultimately be the demise of her entire business if she doesn't change her attitude. read more

The place is nice very busy and they expect an appointment. One has to wait a while as a walk in. Staff is very good. The only thing is the phone rings and it take time for a staff person to answer. I would not recommend for walk in service. read more

Would give zero if I could. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. Have been going here for a few months and nails always lifted after just a week, acrylics should last atleast 2 maybe 3. Real issue was the last time I went. Came in with a full set done at a different salon from home, Mina the owner, took off every single nail by peeling them, no tools or anything, and they weren't even lifted all the nails were still on. When I went to pay she charged me for a full set instead of a full and insisted she had to take them all off... even though she didn't. Just shows she will do anything to take money from a young girl. So rude and unnecessary. Never going back. read more

The one star is because you have to pick a star. Worst manicure I have ever received. I get my nails done religiously every two weeks and was in the area. I called ahead to see if they did dip powder manicures because not a lot of places do and she said yes. The manicure toook 2 and half hours, she messed up almost every nail and had to keep redoing it, after two and half hours the nails were smudged and not shiny. I told her I couldn't wait any longer. She said it would be $37, I asked for a discount because I was very disappointed and she charged me $36.16. I will never come back here. read more

Mina Nails and Spa - Nail Salons Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

I get my nails done religiously and have been to various salons in the RI/CT area. no one can compare to mina! my gel always lasts 2+ weeks without any chips. the techs always take their time and provide quality services without compromising the integrity of your nail. not to mention the great massage! yes, sometimes you have to wait even when you make an appointment, but it is WELL worth it. read more

I love this nail salon!! This was my first time coming here and it was an amazing experience. I called ahead to make an appointment and got seated right away. I got a gel manicure which lasted 6 weeks and it came out beautiful! The place is very clean and up to date. The prices are also very reasonable and I'm definitely coming back again! read more

Mina Nails and Spa - Nail Salons Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

I got my nails done here for my wedding and I'm so glad I did! They came out amazing. The massage was so strong, felt great! It was also so long and they used a heating pad. read more

This place is excellent. Was just visiting a friend this weekend and suggested we get pedicures. I am a clean freak so I made sure to read a ton of reviews before picking a place. Mina Nails is so clean and hygienic. Everyone is so nice, and they take the time to do a really great job. The interior of the place is super relaxing with a gorgeous view of the the woods. On a snowy day like today... PERFECTION! Highly recommend, and I will definitely come back next time I'm in the area! read more

I received the worst manicure of my life here. My nails are very strong and the regular polish always lasts at least a week with very minimal chipping. When I came here, the paint came off 4 of my fingers within 24 hours. When I called Mina to inform her, she was hesitant to let me reschedule to have my nails repainted and told me I should have allowed for more drying time and there are no guarantees. This was my first and last experience at Mina's. I would give them zero stars if I could. I highly recommend going somewhere else. read more

Mina Nails and Spa - Nail Salons Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

I started going to Mina Nails after the salons re-opened in June, and had nothing but good experiences for the first few months. The owner came off as super sweet in in the beginning but after a few months I started noticing her being increasingly impatient and slightly rude. In all of my years of patronizing nail salons, hair salons, and other establishments, I have never been treated so rudely when it comes to giving a gratuity. I worked in the service industry during college so I know the importance of tipping and I definitely tip fairly but to have the owners give me grief about not tipping in cash is ludicrous. This afternoon after a mani/pedi, the owners had the audacity to chastise me by saying that I need to tip in cash because they do not want to pay taxes on their employees tips. Mina went on to say that I have been coming there long enough to know to bring cash and it's okay if I do not come back. Mind you I tip well over 20% each visit. They actually had the nerve to give me grief when I know that I have been there when QU students have tipped with credit cards and nothing was said. I am not sure if it's a racial thing (and I don't like to use that card) but I must wonder. Nevertheless they have definitely lost a good customer because my plastic spends anywhere and i am sure it will be welcomed at another establishment. Good riddance Mina! Your loss. read more

Today was my first time at Mina Nails and I can't say enough good things about the salon! I had made an appointment and was seated as soon as I walked in the door. The salon is bright and clean. It smelled nice and there was instrumental music playing softly in the background. While my nails were soaking, they put a hot pack on my back and gave me a shoulder/neck massage... such a nice surprise! The color selection was great, lots to choose from. After the shellac was cured, I received a hand massage with a hot stone and lotion which felt wonderful. The atmosphere, service and treatment were wonderful. Already booked my next appointment! read more

Came here on a last minute random FB recommendation to get a pedicure with my husband. Despite covid, I was thankful they still had openings to fit us in last minute. The owner greeted us at the door while wearing proper PPE and had us use hand sanitizer upon entering. She then proceeded to take our temperature. Once we were cleared, we were directed to the pedicure stations which was divided by plastic sheeting between each station. Each technician wore a mask, face shield and gloves when appropriate the entire time. They had a great selection of nail colors to choose from and I thoroughly enjoyed my pedicure. I would have loved a deeper foot and calf massage but the technician was super sweet constantly checking in to make sure I was comfortable and did a fantastic job on my feet. I would definitely go back to the salon especially since it's so close to my mothers house. read more

I came here for the first time today after a strong recommendation from my coworker to give it a try. It's a small, cozy place and in my opinion- a hidden gem. There are a line of pedicure chairs along windows that overlook a wooded area, it's very relaxing and peaceful. I opted for the spa pedicure, they allowed me to pick from a variety of scents and I chose the rose. The scent was really nice- the spa pedicure was $50 and included hot towels, lotions with Saran Wrap, callus removal, hot stone massage and foot/leg massage. All in all the pedicure lasted about an hour and I DID NOT feel rushed- which is my problem with many other nail salons. My pedicure came out really nice, the girls were kind as well- I had Julia. I decided to get a manicure as well because it was only $10 more since I got a pedicure. I went there toward the end of the night and I couldn't help but notice that everyone was cleaning the equipment very well- pedicure stations were well cleaned, the bowls were disinfected, the floor was vacuumed, all of the stations were wiped down. It was reassuring to see cleanliness. They offer a 5% discount if you pay with cash and also have a loyalty card that after 10 visits you get $10 off. The owner was very nice and made sure when I was paying that I had a great experience. Overall, I was very impressed and will recommend this hidden gem to my friends. read more

Mina Nails and Spa - Nail Salons Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

First time there today and I enjoyed it very much! Me and my friend was greeted by Mina with her lovely personality. She was very attentive and helpful when we were trying to decide what we wanted. Great color selection and the atmosphere was amazing. So peaceful and relaxing with a great view of the backwoods through huge glass windows. The pedicure I received was beyond what I expected and the price was great. Hilda, who did my pedicure, really put a lot of work into it. read more

This is the BEST place for nails! I highly recommend it! Very high quality, friendly, consistent staff, like a family. My 3-week visits are one of my favorite activities- an hour or so being pampered while listening to beautiful relaxing music. And the setting is even beautiful- nestled in the woods with large windows and skylights. read more

My favorite nail salon ever!! So glad I found this place because I wouldn't go anywhere else! The gel manicures are very high quality and last for two weeks! If you are a Quinnipiac student she offers the gels for 27 which is very reasonable for this area. Mina and all of her workers are very friendly too! Definitely recommend this place as the best nail salon in Hamden !!! read more

I first come this salon do my nail . Do gel manicure just one week,no stay good. I'm not happy come again.

My rating is actually 4 1/2 stars. Mina Nails is a very clean, modern and organized salon which specializes in manicures and pedicures. The owner/manager Mina makes sure things run smoothly and her customers are pleased. Prices are extremely reasonable. I like being able to get an appointment with short notice rather than scheduling way in adv read more

I've been going to Mina's Nails twice a month consistently for almost a year. I always had Sarah as my technician for my UV Gel extensions. This review is not a reflection of Sarah, it is a reflection on the Owner. I got a new UV Gel set on Fri. 10/4. The next day 6 nails fell off. This was a Saturday so I wasn't working or doing anything that would result in broken nails. I called the Owner that day to explain what happened and instead of fitting me in right away, I had to wait a whole week to accommodate their schedule, which required me to take the day off of work. The results of the new full set was a "shotty" job to say the least. I feel bad for Sarah that she always has to rush because she's behind schedule due to over booking. When I got to the front desk to write a check as a tip, I was told by the Owner that I owed $50 for today's visit after paying $110 (includes tip) a week ago for broken nails. I'm in the service business and "guaranteeing your work" means re-doing the job FREE OF CHARGE in order to satisfy the customer. Her response was that Sarah has been working for her for several years and it was not Sarah's fault for my nails breaking, which meant she was putting the blame on me. I refused to pay more money outside of tipping and was told I could no longer be serviced in the future. I was a loyal customer and a generous tipper. Never complained if Sarah was running behind schedule, which she ALWAYS was when I had an appointment. I have no words -- seriously shocked by what happened today. Terrible customer service on the Owner's part. read more

Mina Nails and Spa - Day after getting a new UV Gel Fill. 6 nails fell off. - Nail Salons Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

Nothing but great gel manicure experiences here. I once got a small chip after a manicure and came in the next day where they happily fixed it! Great service and great massage with manicure! read more

First time there today and got a pedicure and a gel manicure. Awesome job! I would highly recommend this place and would go back again!

Super clean, this place even lines the pedicure water tub for each person. They took there time even though it was a bit busy and did a great job. Also there was no attempts to up sell me which I appreciate. read more

Best nail place! My gel manicure stays perfect for more than 2 weeks! The owner is so helpful! Love getting my nails done here!

Mina Nails is my favorite nail salon to go too! Their service is great. I always feel so relaxed when I get any service done there. My nails have never chipped and they take their time on all their clients. Thanks Mina! read more

I took my wife, who happens to be African American, to get our nails done. While I was treated with courtesy by the woman in charge, (she answers the phone and makes the appointments), my wife was not. The manager woman was clearly uncomfortable with my wife being there, and wouldn't even take her tip money to give to the manicurist. She made my wife walk back to her station and leave it on the table. I saw her previously take money from other patrons. While the Better Business Bureau doesn't handle discrimination cases, I will surely be telling others not to go to this salon. read more

I go to school close to Mina's and was looking for a good place to get gel tips. This place is amazing, they literally give you massages while you're getting you're nails done and everything is so clean. would definitely recommend read more

Cleanest salon around, staff does an excellent job. The owner, Mina, is extremely attentive and has very high standards of her technicians. Honestly the best gel manicures I've ever gotten. read more