Never in my life have I have been treated so rudely. I've been a loyal customer with Miniluxe, particularly at this location, for the past 10 years. I am in every two weeks for a service. I arrived this morning for my scheduled appointment on time with my daughter to be told that due to an error on their part they cannot take me. I received no prior notification nor a phone call - nothing. The woman at the front desk could not have been more rude and disrespectful. To treat me that way is absolutely unacceptable. Like I said I've been a loyal customer for the past 10 years. After rudely informing me that due to an error on their part they could not see me today, there was nothing done to remedy the situation. I'm filing a formal complaint with corporate and seeing that the woman is fired effective immediately. read more

TERRIBLE, HOSTILE EXPERIENCE! ...and we didn't even make it to the manicure table! My mom called the Chestnut Hill location on Saturday to make an appointment for Sunday morning. I witnessed my mom make the call and reserve an appointment for a gel mani/regular pedi for me and a gel mani for her. At 11:30 this morning, we arrived at the Chestnut Hill location. The receptionist was busy on the phone, and we waited a full 10 minutes for her to notice us. We let her know about the appointment, and she informed us that we had made a reservation for regular manicures only, and she didn't know if the manicurists would have time to do gel. It turned out that the manicurists on duty did not do gel manicures at all, so the receptionist accused us of "reserving the wrong people..." even though we'd never been there before and hadn't asked for anyone specific. She was completely unapologetic, said they didn't have time for us, and simply told us to leave. While I'm certain that the appointment mix up was on the side of MiniLuxe, that's not what's a big deal - these things happen. What really shocked us was how unapologetic and rude this receptionist was. She did not attempt to find a solution, she did not say sorry for the confusion (isn't the customer always right?), but merely told us that we screwed up and should leave. I commented to the receptionist that we weren't going to come back, and that she should work on her manners. She told me, "I'm sorry you feel that way," without even looking up from her desk. MiniLuxe has a reputation for being a premium experience. It's not a run-of-the-mill $12/manicure salon. People go there for the experience of both luxury and sophistication, and they're willing to pay extra for it. We were deeply disappointed by how we were treated today. With so many luxury salons vying for our business, stick to the highly rated locations if you'd like to be treated with some semblance of respect. read more

Not Perfect - but professional It's a nail care desert out there with mirages at every corner. So I was relieved to find a place with at least one tech do could do proper prep at every step of my mani pedi. My feet and hands have not looked this good since I came to New England...five years ago. The only minor complaints were the lack of polish fleck clean up and abandoning me at the nail drier (I have smudged my polish so many times thinking that my nails where dry, I prefer that the tech check) But this was forgivable because he took so much time on my pedi. It is a long trip but I will return when I need my next pedi. read more

Just received the best Gel mani and performance polish pedicure from Alie at the training center. Been coming to her since she started working there, her improvement is just amazing and customer service skills is top notch she pays close attention to detail I promise that you will walk out pleased. This is her last week at the training center but she will be moving to the Miniluxe in Lynnfield, which may be out my way but she was that amazing my new favorite miniluxe tech plus the training Manager Tonya is so friendly and very hands on Training center or not she makes sure you leave with the Miniluxe experience! read more

MiniLuxe Training Studio - She did so well on the manicure i couldn't leave without pedi - Nail Salons Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Yes, FIVE stars! I don't know where some of these horrible reviews are coming from, but my recent experience at MiniLuxe Chestnut Hill was right on par with other locations and my expectations. As a past customer of MiniLuxe Newbury, I set an appointment using their website the night before a Sunday for 11:15 am. It was so easy using their booking site, I loved it! I had chosen Adrianna based on a recent fellow Yelper's review. I received a call just after 10 am the day of to inform me that unfortunately, Adrianna had called out sick, but I'd be able to keep my appointment with Nicole instead. Given that I had never used any of the ladies at this location, I was totally fine with the change and appreciated their prompt notification to me. Upon arriving, the hostess was very friendly and accommodating. I checked in, she suggested I pay first to keep my nails pretty after (thanks for the reminder!) and I was seated with Nicole within minutes. I liked Nicole right away! She was friendly and kept up conversation without being too in my face or awkward or anything. I felt like we could be friends, she was just easy to talk to and nice to be around. I appreciated that. Some technicians don't talk to you at all (which is also okay with me) but some are also too talky or sizing you up or too catty, and that totally turns me off. They were not at all here! As for size, appearance and cleanliness, the salon met my high expectations with no questions asked. That is why I love MiniLuxe and pay the extra $9 for a manicure. It is so clean, fresh looking and relaxing. Not to mention, I've never gotten a bad manicure from any ML technician AND my nails are always miraculously still healthy when the polish is removed - unlike SO (or just about every!) other salon I've ever used. You can keep your file and buffer after if you want. And the job lasts at least 5-7 days for me every time, and I'm a very active girl who uses her hands all day at work. There was literally nothing to complain about here, I'm serious. As for the service and quality issues previously reviewed, from my judgement, those must have been just angry ladies or one-off scenarios, because I speak from experience - that is not the standard at any MiniLuxe! PLUS: Free parking! Not getting that anywhere in Boston! I highly suggest using any MiniLuxe location and I have already returned for repeat service, with the same results! read more

I got the best manicure of my life here last week. I almost exclusively get my nails done at MiniLuxe, but this was my first visit to the Chestnut Hill location. I decided to try it out because there were no available appointments at the Newbury St. and Lexington locations when I tried booking the night before. This location had a number of openings. One of the biggest upsides of going here may be the big parking lot, obviously a rare commodity in the Boston area. It will be perfect after a wintertime pedicure -- you can run back to your car without having to put your boots back on. To me, that's worth the drive even though this isn't the closest MiniLuxe to my apartment. There were only two other customers there when I went on a Sunday afternoon and it was very quiet. I like being able to relax without hearing other customers sharing all their personal drama with their technicians. Like all MiniLuxe locations, the salon was bright and clean. I had Adriana, who was amazing. She was very friendly without being overly chatty, and she did the BEST job on my nails. I have never had a manicure stay looking this good for this long. Unless I can find another technician who does this kind of work at the Lexington location, I will probably continue to come here. read more

Breaks my heart to write this review! I've been going here for years and I think nothing of dropping 55 dollars for a gel manicure- that's how good of a job I think this place does. Thursday 1/9/14 I went in to have gel put back on my nails. They are very short, so I assumed this process would be about 40 minutes or less like usual. She started with my cuticles which she applied deep choppy pressure while her hands were shaking the entire time. later I noticed they are all chewed up looking. The manicurist spilled gel nail polish all over me, the table, herself, and the UV Light over and over and over again. ONE HOUR and thirty five minutes later, my hands were ready for a massage which she did with purple tinted hands from getting gel polish all over them over and over again and not being able to get the color out of her entire hand. I also had to ask more than once for nail polish remover to get the polish off the tops of my hands and fingers... Are you serious? I gave her a crappy tip and left since I worked 15 hours that day and didn't care to complain. I just called and asked for a manager and the girl asked for my name and never asked for my number then hung up.... I'll write another review on Monday if the manager ever calls me back! Do yourself a favor and drive to derby st in Hingham- the manicurists over there are way more professional and the quality is much better. :-( read more

Ummmm. I thought this was like THE PLACE TO GO for nails?! It was my first experience at a miniluxe and for the price I expected MUCH MORE. The technician (man) was very nice and honest about the Miniluxe brand not being as good as OPI or Essie. Appreciated that! The seating was a little awkward I kept slouching down and having to straighten up - and my feet rested on a cushion thing that was loose. The lady next to me actually broke her foot rest! It like fell off suddenly and she gasped. Anyway, my guy was very thorough it seemed (took an hour for regular polish), but he didn't really CLEAN under the corners of the nails - still dirt visible when I inspected at home afterwards. The polishing job was pretty bad too. He basically went way over the edges into my cuticles and then took remover on a paint brush to clean up... Seemed pretty inexperienced there... The whole place was FREEZING too. They have massive AC vents pumping right down on you. It was only 64 degrees out so that wasn't cool. I am going to stick with my cheap places - they do a much better job for half the price!!! read more

For a $44 pedicure, I expect a LOT. I don't expect that my color starts chipping on Day 3, that I can see scrappy bits of skin still around my nail bed etc I'll admit that the acid cream they put on my heels did wonders and ate away all the dead skin. I have MUCH better and cheaper pedicures at other salons nearby. The salon is very nice as far as interiors go but the therapists (and I use the term loosely) seem to be more interested in what they were going to order for lunch (shouting out to each other across the floor their orders) and cackling like a bunch of old ladies. Save yourself some $$ and go to a normal, admittedly less-trendy nail spa. read more

I was an avid Miniluxe goer at Newton and then Chestnut Hill after I moved closer.... I loved seeing Elaine for the personal touches and care she gave me as a client. I found out last week she's no longer there. This chain and place has really digressed in the past year. I spent at least 150+ before a big work event and chipped a gel polish the next day before. Likely my fault who knows, however, when I stopped by Miniluxe the woman at the front desk told me I would need to book an appt. for the nail fix and that I could be fit in two and a half hours later. With my dog in the car and niece waiting for me at home, how could I possibly wait two hours to have a large chip on one nail fixed? The woman didn't care and told me there was nothing she could do. It was upsetting after being a long time customer that no one could dump some polish on my single nail.... It's expensive, no massage chair, and the snob and lack of reality factor is simply too far gone for me to dump any more money into this place.... read more

wow, oh wow, how rude?! My mother-in-law & I walked in with gift cards at about 4:00 on a Saturday afternoon and the girl was as hostle as doberman gurading a treasure. We opened the door, she barked "Do you have an appointment?!" She got up from her desk, and came AT us as if we had done some thing offensive. She asked again in an accusitory maner, before we could even say anything. There were only two customers in the shop. I told her that we wanted a mani-pedi. "Not without an appointment!" she growls. My mother-in-law pointed to a sign on the door that said "walk-ins welcome" All the girl said was "you need an appoinment." We left. My Husband called them when we got home. he asked for the manager and told them that the girl had been rude to us. He was told that it was our fault for coming in late in the day. No appology, no offer for copensation. Nothing. RUDE. becuse we had gift cards, we went to the Brookline store the next day WITH an appoinment. I have to say, they treated us like gold in Brookline. But my mani / pedi was expensive, and not very good. Sure the atmosphere & the decore were lovely, but the final result was not worth the money, time, or effort. I'm sticking with my not-so-attractive-but-gets-the-job-done- decently nail place downtown (Jade Nails). At least they know how to treat a lady,and don't charge and arm & a leg for bad feet. read more

I used to live in Boston and was a regular client at Miniluxe Newton. I now live in the UK and was happy to find that one of THE best technicians from the original Miniluxe is working at the MiniLuxe on VFW as I was returning for a visit. Her name is ELAINE and she is a magician of the aesthetic nature! She is brilliant at all the services she offers; manis, pedis and especially waxing! Her Brazilian waxes are virtually pain free. I got a gel manicure with OPI Gel Colour and the amount of compliments I have received means it was money well spent. It looks like a manicure with standard polish not thick and clumpy like other gel manicures I've had at other salons. This salon is smaller than Miniluxe Newton but that adds to it's charm. It's modern, spotless and is generally a relaxing environment. Another bonus is that parking is free (in comparison to the new location) and you can pop into Bertucci's, CVS, the sushi restaurant. Definitely the better location in my opinion. Yes, you can get inexpensive services at other salons but I pay for the quality and sanitary standards that Miniluxe has set. read more

MiniLuxe Training Studio - A few days after my OPI Gel Colour manicure by Elaine. Colour is Thanks a WindMillion. - Nail Salons Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Adrianna is worth the 35-40 minute drive (I was living closer when I found her) and I book a few days in advance, longer in the summer. I've always gotten good pedicures from anyone else when I can't get in w her, but she is magic. I only go to ML now b/ c of their sanitation standards, quality standards and customer service standards. read more

MiniLuxe Training Studio - So good! I've been going to Adrianna for a couple years now - consistently best pedicures of all time. And she's nice to chat w. - Nail Salons Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Honestly this was my go to miniluxe location. I have had many pedicures here and they were great pedicures. But, they changed their hours to Monday-Friday 9-3. I work full time Monday-Friday so I won't be able to go to this location. This is really disappointing they changed their hours and made it really inconvenient for many of their customers. I am going to have to go to one of the other locations. read more

Didn't know the Salon was a training center. It's not indicated on the signage. Not that should matter when dealing with customers. Stopped by to inquiry about an appt. since it's close to my home. they could only fit me in for a pedicure and I came back for it. The manager/ receptionist was rude when inquiring if they could accommodate my simple manicure since no one was in the salon while I was have my pedicure being done. She should be a role model to the training technicians. I won't go back, even if it was free. On an aside, my technician explained the facility was a training center and that she was the trainer! Happy to pay full price to be treated like a customer. Lots more to say but why since there are plenty of nail salons to be treated respectfully? read more

I absolutely loved this place. Everyone that worked there was super friendly. The salon itself was very clean and their nail polish selection is vast and is even categorized by seasonal collections and brands. Kim gave me a manicure and pedicure and I couldn't be any happier. The price was just right. I will definitely be coming back here! read more

MiniLuxe Training Studio - Nail Salons Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Was about to make an appointment. The hours are 9-3 with no!! weekends. I guess they don't think women work. Not a good choice!

You can't go to a Training Studio and pay $10 for a Mani/$15 for a Pedi and expect the same results that you'd get at a full service Miniluxe. These students still do way better than some of the local, full priced nail salons but with Miniluxe service and cleanliness. From reading older reviews, it seems that they have extended their hours so you are able to come after work now. And as of a few weeks ago, you can now book appointments here thru the website. Prepare to possibly be there a little longer than you'd normally spend at Miniluxe as the trainer periodically walks around to make sure they are doing a good job and may jump in and show them a different technique. Does not bother me at all. I only have one very small complaint and that is the fact that they have all of their polishes on display but you can't choose Dazzle Dry or anything else, only the basic polishes. I don't see the point of them being up there on display then. It's misleading. Other than that, this will be my regular spot for pedicures this summer! read more

Clean, Convenient and my nail technician, Van-Nhi is superb! They have a large selection of OPI and Essie polishes along with their own brand. Also, they always lay out the "seasonal" colors so you can always look trendy. The techs definitely pamper and take care of you with their wonderful hand massages, advice on how to take care of your hands, and they are utterly neat freaks. Van-Nhi is awesome and takes her time, so the polish goes on beautiful and my cuticles are always meticulous. This miniluxe location uses social media to their advantage with monthly prizes and updates through their tweets and facebook page. read more

I like the MiniLuxe atmosphere but the whole experience doesn't equal the price. The techs here don't spend nearly enough time on your service, and the time they do spend you can feel they are just going through the motions with as little effort as possible. If I'm going to spend triple the amount you can pay at another less glitzy salon, then I expect the service to be triply as good. I really wanted to like this place but after trips and four different techs...I hope the management changes it up a little in the future. The miniluxe in Hingham would be a good model to follow. read more

Came in for a wax and a pedicure. Everyone was extremely nice but I waited 30 minutes for my appointment - whats the point of making an appointment? If Im waiting that long, I can just go to the cheap place and wait my turn. Worse, the receptionist tried to help by getting me started in the foot tub- they were dirty. ALL of them. Old towels, used tools... GROSS. I had to say something and they were like "oh, yeah - i guess they need to be cleaned- hold on". This is for a $65 pedicure? Awful. Im giving 2 stars because the eyebrow wax and the pedicure itself were both actually very good. Unfortunately I was too agitated to enjoy it. future fancy pedis will be at bliss or bella sante. read more

Went here this week to attempt to get a mani. After standing in front of the receptionist for about 5 minutes without any acknowledgement of our presence, my sister and I decided to hit the road. I've never experienced this type of service at other miniluxes, and I can promise I will not be back to this salon. read more

I had my wedding manicure and pedicure at the Miniluxe Chestnut Hill location and could not have been happier. It was a Thursday morning, the location was quiet and relaxing, the staff were courteous and attentive and they didn't even mind that I kept dozing off during both services. My mani was a gel manicure and lasted through my wedding and straight on through my honeymoon, no problem .The quality of the work was top notch. I would recommend this location any day of the week. read more

Pretty subpar gel manicure. Too many coats of polish so it's really thick at the tip of my nails my nails are short but the shape was pretty unclear and he (Loi) painted a lot of my skin... My friend and I also had to insist pretty aggressively that we wanted to sit together... Even though we booked it under one name and there was plenty of space Definitely wouldn't go here again. The one on newbury street is much better service! read more

Jane is the only reason these stars went way up! She is very good, consistent, friendly, accommodating and experienced!!!! I used to dread coming in and getting a random technician, but Jane changed that when she arrived to this location. Alleluia! I now book my appointments ahead of time to be sure to get her. read more

I have been coming here for a long time and the salon is immaculate. The best part is having Adriana give you her wonderful manicure/ pedicure. She is so professional and excellent at her job. I would not go to anyone else!!! She is a great asset to this salon... Everyone can learn from her overall leadership. read more

Absolutely terrible. I made a 9am appointment on the Saturday of my baby shower for a manicure and a pedicure. The technician didn't show up, and the only consolation the receptionist could offer was that she took the bus and might just be running late. However, her phone was off and there was no way to tell. Great. I told her the latest I could be out was 11 for my shower and she asked if I wanted to wait for another technician to come in...she started at 11. Super helpful. Did I want to drive to Newton Center to see if they had appointments? Um...no. So I left. No sorry, no make up appointment or offer to rebook. Completely shocking actually for a place that is supposed to be upscale. I drove into West Roxbury and went to Nails Maxx who had a walk in available and were incredibly clean and nice and the mani pedi were great. I suggest you do the same! read more

I went here for quite a while and loved it! However, the last two times I went for gel application, within a day it was peeling off. The first time I went back to have it fixed and was given a very rushed patch job that peeled off on the drive home. After several communications with the manager I received a refund. This last time I received a VERY fast appointment, she did not clip, file, or buff my nails (which they used to do for gel application). By the next morning the gel was peeling from the cuticle side. With showers and daily wear the polish was mostly gone within a week. Every time I touch my hair, it gets caught under the polish and peels it further. I've uploaded a photo of what my nails look like a week and a half after the application. Will not go again. read more

MiniLuxe Training Studio - See my review. My gel application after a week and a half. - Nail Salons Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This place is a bit pricey, but it's absolutely worth the money. I do a gel manicure when I go, and I have had it last longer than the typical 2 weeks a handful of times. There was also one experience I had where I chipped a nail on the way out, and they fixed it right there on the spot even though it was relatively busy. Overall, the experience is great and the atmosphere is very pleasant. read more

Meh, it's fine - although I expected more for the price. Pros: mostly friendly staff; took me right away as a walk-in; clean and well-sanitized tools; decent pedicure all in all. Cons: foot bath water was too cold (even after I asked for it to be made warmer; it was so cold that the bath soak in it didn't even dissolve); no massage chairs (not a necessity, but again, for the price, would be nice); not possible to put tip on a credit card (this is a nice convenience that I always appreciate). I might return, but probably only in a pinch. read more

This is my splurge nail salon. It's a little on the pricey side for gel manicures every couple of weeks but the quality is superb. The pedis are relaxing and I also add on the massage for the pedi/mani...it's worth the extra money. The menu of services is excellent....you can always find something for whatever you're in the mood for. The receptionist is nice. Parking lot and online scheduling is a big plus! read more

Went to mini luxe for the first time today for a pedi and gel mani. Service was great and the place was super clean. Pedi was okay, but my gel mani was the worst I've had. Old nail polish was not completely removed and could still be seen on several fingers. Nails were not completely painted. Asked for three fingers to be touched up as they were missing polish. Tech told me I should have gone with a different brand of polish. Not sure why they have polish that isn't 'good'? But paying $45 totally wasn't worth it given the quality of the manicure. Won't be going back. read more

MiniLuxe Training Studio - Old purple nail polish not removed and nails not completely painted - Nail Salons Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I don't understand how this place gets away with their overpricing. They are no cleaner or better than much more reasonable places nearby. For the $$$ I at least expect an extended massage which is another upcharge instead. In the winter, the manicure stations are frigid every time the door opens -- definitely not a warm and cozy place read more

Would not ever change!! I used to go to regular nail salons which a pedicure cost me about $20 but one day as I took a look saw that the sanitation was horrible and decided to do some research I found Mini Luxe and this one is around 10 minutes from me. Best decision I ever made Great sanitation and service I get treated by PHA she does and amazing work and very friendly also always ready when I get there, My first appointment was with her and I keep Re-booking. The pedicure costs $39 but is completely worth saving yourself a bacterial infection at other cheap place.. Their products are amazing, the lemonaide cream will make you feel in heaven, and everything they use is either sanitized after use or disposable. :) read more

Expensive for what you get. Opted for a gel mani ($45) and soothing oil hand rub ($5) and I wish I could say the experience is better than what you'd get anywhere else but it wasn't! You don't get usual nail service when you pay for a gel mani - they just cut, file and buff, and don't clean your cuticles. Hand massage is not included, which I found strange. You have to add on a short hand massage for $5, which lasted as long as any hand massage you get in other nail salons. Service is super friendly and the nail tech was really nice and conversational. But that doesn't make up for the high price tag with less service. It just doesn't make sense. I'd recommend making an appointment as it can get crowded. I went in around lunch time and luckily was able to get an appointment for an hour later (had a very long lunch break that day). The vibe of the space is great, but overall this is not a great bang for your buck. read more

Awesome experience, I went here with a girlfriend and we loved it. We both work with kids and both our manicures held up and looked brand new for over a week. Salon is clean and comfortable, prices may be above average but well worth it. My manicurist Diana was great! read more

I took my 9 yr old daughter for her first manicure to help her stop biting her nails. We each had a terrific manicure in a beautiful, light-filled, brand new, immaculate salon. The salon has large windows that fills it with light and there is no bad, toxic smell since they don't do acrylics. Maryann and Jessica were fantastic--my friend went to Nicole who is also amazing. The manicurists were friendly and helpful and did an excellent job. They were especially sweet with my daughter. I have not tried the waxing services yet, but the woman ahead of me had her brows done and they looked amazing. Yes, Miniluxe is pricier than other salons but it's completely worth it. The level of cleanliness is unsurpassed. Parking is easy (busy lot but you can find spaces) and you can book appointments online. Don't forget to bring cash for tips; unfortunately, you cannot add tips to your credit card payment. Staff are all very helpful. I will be back! read more

For the price you pay, I just received a great. Relaxing pedicure from Evelyn. The massage alone was completely worth it. Yes, the hours are not suitable for working moms but again... the price is way cheaper. read more

I book here mostly because the location is near me, and Lorena and Maisha are both excellent technicians, who are very helpful and accommodating. However, one of the biggest issues I have is with the timing- almost every appointment I've had started at least 15 minutes after scheduled. The are consistently apologetic for this; but it is still annoying. I also feel like the seating for pedicures is awkward; don't love being so close to other clients. read more

Very disappointed with my first Miniluxe experience. I know this is a training studio; honestly, in the past, I have had better experiences at training locations of larger franchises (for example, the Aveda school vs an Aveda salon) which made me excited to try this studio. In addition to the understandably slow pace (over an hour for a regular manicure) and less-than-perfect technique of my specific technician, the front desk person was chilly and told me there was no availability for me to also get a pedicure, despite the shop being fairly empty and multiple staff doing each other's nails and chatting visibly. She also seemed quite able to kindly make small talk with and take care of other customers. After 3 minutes in the hand dryer, my nails had turned a different color. I am hoping a non-training Miniluxe site is more welcoming, but I am not inspired to find out. The polish issue is concerning regardless of the lackluster customer service, and is not something I've ever experienced at other salons. read more