Welcoming, Attention to detail and a must if your coming to Santa Cruz. This is unassuming salon is easy to miss but not easy to forget. I come here every time I fly in from Missouri. My occupation and rural lifestyle in Missouri leaves my feet and hands calloused to say the least. Quite frankly a farrier would be daunted by the task. This is always my first appointment when I come home to visit and embrace my Santa Cruz roots. I leave with soft skin, beautiful nails, completely relaxed muscles from the foot and hand massage feeling completely renewed and feminine again. The cost is less than an adequate experience back home. Try them and you will leave feeling rejuvenated. read more

This is my boyfriends account. The polish has had issues two times. First, they did not have proper color as selected by their system. Second time, the polish although what should have been dry over 2 hours- was still wet- which tells me they may have used gel instead of laquer. Really frustrating to have to go back again for a fix. The first time when color was wrong, I let it go-- this time, the nails are a mess and my date night - well my toes look terrible. Dissappointed. read more

Mission Nail Spa - messed up nails and polish - Waxing Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I confess I was a little dubious. When I phoned in advance I wasn't sure I would be able to communicate adequately with the women who work here, and I was a little worried because I could not make a precise appointment in advance, and had to wait when I arrived. But was it worth the wait! I had an organic mani-pedi that cost only a little more than my usual pedicure in my home town. It was expert and thorough! Not only that, but the service included a lovely massage of legs and feet, arms and hands, and even much of my back. There was no smell of chemicals, only of nice products--moisturizers, exfoliants, and paraffin. I never expected on top of all that attention to my nails and cuticles to receive a hot stone massage of my extremities. Best of all, my dried-out cuticles and callused feet look as good as new again. The owner is warm and attentive iand gave me good advice about nail health. Both she and one of her employees worked assiduously for--oh, maybe close to two hours? I recommend enthusiastically--and make sure you plan to spend some time. read more

I've gone in for manicure and pedicures. I'm very happy with the results. I've become a regular customer. The staff are friendly and polite. Prices are very reasonable. Give 'um a try. read more

Amazing service for affordable price!! The ladies were so kind and skilled, highly recommend!! read more

Mission Nail Spa - Waxing Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Gel Polish: 10/10 ( because I pay attention and communicate how I want it, a lot mistakes but fixed as I pointed it out ) Customer Services: 7/10 ( if you don't know Vietnamese ) 0/10 ( if you do ) - apparently, if you pay attention towards the details and how you want your nails to be done, do expect some harsh comments. TLDR: i wish i didn't know Vietnamese tbh. Come here if u just want the job done the way they like it. read more

Takes over a hr for a soak off and cut off my long natural nails without asking! Multiple workers traded shifts on me I just felt like my nails became so damaged read more

Very good service, quiet ambiance but very peaceful. Service went above and beyond for a VERY good and reasonable price. Will be returning...Don't forget to tip! read more

This was the best pedicure I've received anywhere at any time. I highly recommend this business. Everyone was so competent and all worked hard to give great service. read more

Just had a relaxing experience and my nails look brilliant. Super clean establishment and staff were very friendly. I definitely recommend this spot for great nail service. read more

Listen... I am not one to leave negative reviews. I actually don't think I ever have gone out of my way to leave a review before. But unfortunately I needed to for this one. I came in at 6:00 to get my acrylic nails taken off (no manicure or anything just removal). I didn't leave the salon until 7:30! Getting nails removed should be 15 minutes and you're out. The towel they put my hands on had other people's nail clippings on them... and the woman helping me was swapping between giving a pedicure to another customer and working on my nails without washing her hands in between!!! I left the salon feeling like my time was wasted and that I'll get a weird fungus from a stranger's foot. Pros was that the ladies working were very kind! Just not up to my cleanliness and time standards. read more

I had an appointment for a gel manicure and pedicure, and it still took 3 hours and 45 minutes. The main issue seems to be that even with scheduled appointments, they continue to take walk-ins and stretch their staff too thin. Like other reviews mention, multiple people worked on my nails, which made the process feel disjointed and dragged out. The gel color I chose wasn't the one I received. After sitting there for hours, I didn't have the energy to correct it once I saw the first nail. It seems like the samples and the actual polishes aren't labeled properly, they just guess based on what you point to. I had a small split in one nail that the tech said would be fine to glue. Two days later, that nail completely broke. The pedicure chairs are not comfortable after long periods of time. To top it off, something genuinely bizarre happened at the end of the appointment: the technician walked around behind me, took the clip out of my hair without a word, and just walked off with it. At checkout, I didn't realize you need to add the tip before running your card. When I noticed and said something, the man at the counter asked, "Is this your first time here?" It wasn't, I'd been in once months ago, but you should tell your customer how things work rather than letting them guess. I ended up running my card again just to leave a tip. Even with an appointment, the whole experience felt disorganized and odd. read more

No complaints. Been going there for a year now. Cindy is very good. In fact, last visit she removed a thorn from my foot.

So, I was visiting Santa Cruz from SF/Oakland Bay Area and needed my gel nails done badly. This place had the best reviews near the boardwalk. The pros: hands down the best hand and foot massages I've ever experienced during a mani/pedi. Like, other level, so-so good. Amen; My nails turned out pretty good in terms of quality, neatness - attention to detail at this place was A+, no sloppy polish application. I prefer a more pointed shape on my hands but my bad for not speaking-up about that. Overall, they are pretty and I am happy with results and price. The cons: OH MY DEAR GOD, I have NEVER spent this much time getting my nails done. EVER. Ever, ever, ever. 3 hours from start to finish. And that was with 1 nail tech working on me the entire time - no "pick your color" and wait 30 minutes: 3 HOURS STRAIGHT. I was late for another appointment because at home, I can expect no more than 1.5 hours. I feel like I spent too much time under the UV lamp: she would paint 1 nail on right hand - put it under the light & switch to 1 nail on left hand - repeat: 10 times - 3 coats. Yikes! Would I go back?: Only if I had half a day to waste, a full stomach, & my UV protection gloves. read more

Mission Nail Spa - Gel Manicure - Waxing Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

See all

Told me I'd have to wait until four to get a broken nail fixed. Usual place would be able to have someone fix quickly.

I went in to relax and get a mani and pedi, but it turned out to be my worst nail salon experience. There was no air or AC running, the water they served was warm, and the employees didn't seem to understand my service requests. They couldn't find the color I wanted, and while I was visibly frustrated and overheated, two employees just kept laughing, which made me feel even more uncomfortable. The only positive part was the woman who did my pedicure--she was patient and kind, so I made sure to tip her. Unfortunately, the pedicure itself wasn't even finished. They kept walking away, left my nails half-done with tools sitting there, and the service overall was just awful. I told the manager I would only pay for the pedi, but I walked out frustrated instead of relaxed. Definitely not the experience I was hoping for. read more

I went with my daughter to get a gel manicure and she was getting a pedicure. My hands look very nice but we were being upsold. The tech kept telling me I had powder on my nails and I do not. The prices were not posted and they were insulted that we were not using cash, even though it is posted that they accept credit. My daughter waited so long for her pedicure that the water soak turned cold and she had to skip getting color because we were out of time. I would not return here. read more

I haven't had a pedicure in 4 months and finally decided to treat myself. Boy did I come to the right place! "T" at Mission Nail Spa gave me the best pedicure everrrr. She took her time and provided the best treatment when trimming my nails, exfoliating my legs, and massaging my feet and legs. Wow. This was such a relaxing and luxurious experience for a very practical price. Highly recommend T!! read more

I recently moved to the Santa Cruz area and I am in search of a good nail salon. Here's are the pros and cons of the salon and you can decide if this is the salon for you. Pros: -The prices are very reasonable. I paid 35 dollars for a gel manicure and coming from the Bay Area that is very cheap. -Overall the manicure was painted well, no clumps or bumps on the nail. Cons: -While I was there I had 3 different people do my nails. I didn't get anything unusual done, just a gel manicure, but they switched 3 times and the first person I had really was not being careful around my cuticles. I had to stop her a few times and I'm not one to typically do that. - I let the nail technician know what color I want and then the color was not the same once she started painting, maybe a miscommunication? I had to awkwardly stop her halfway through and tell her to pick a different color. -The third nail technician commented multiple times on how short my nails are and that I need to come back when they are longer. She also commented on another's nails saying they were too thin. It felt a little rude to me. - The actual space felt very bare and uncomfortable. No music or TV. - They don't offer any nail art services. I asked for a chrome dust and they said they didn't have the service even though it's a pretty standard thing in most salons. -Lastly, it took them an hour and a half to just do a gel manicure. Overall it wasn't the worst manicure and it did turn out okay, but I'm not so sure I'll be coming back based on the service. read more

Mission Nail Spa - Waxing Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I literally just asked them to cut my toenails shorter and they said NO. Since when did I lose control over my toenails. The is a definite maybe. read more

Best massage I've ever had during a pedicure!! Reasonable prices and friendly staff. Can't wait to go back!

Visiting from out of town and desperately needed a mani-pedi. Picked this because close by. One of the best mani-pedi experiences ever! Not just expertly done pedi @ gel mani - it included paraffin on my feet, 2 foot massages & one leg w hot stones, shoulder/upper back massage w hot stones. Slightly more than I typically pay for a very basic hour long mani pedi, it took 2 1/2 hours. read more

My pedicure was great. My husband and I went together, but got started at different times. My girl tried to get us on the same timing by taking a break from me while my feet soaked in paraffin, but ended up getting us out of sync again. She made it up to me with extra massage. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time for a manicure after this, but she replaced my disheveled clear nail polish with a new clear polish. All-in-all, I will definitely go back. read more

I am so torn on how to rate this place! As others have said the amount of time appointments take is INSANE. I waited a half hour after my scheduled appointment and soaked an additional 20 minutes. I was at 2 hours for a gel mani pedi when I was finally transferred to the table to have my fingers painted and then set one by one going into the heater. 2 and three quarter hours in total! Honestly it starts creating anxiety and doing your head in after being there so long. That said they're very nice, extremely detailed, you get a killer massage and nearly 2 weeks later both my hands and feet still look excellent. I'll try again earlier in the day and see if that helps but I do wish they could cut an hour off the appointment time :/ read more

Best quality in town. They are NOT fast, they don't rush and always do a great job. They care about your nail's health and will steer you away if they think you're doing yourself disservice by getting Gel, or something like that. They've taught me the benefits of not getting color so my nails can breathe. I always receive a wonderful massage with my pedicure, it's also my favorite part of a pedi! They aren't at all focused on upselling you. Every person, especially the owner is kind and welcoming. They prefer cash, but Debit is accepted. Cash ONLY for tips, no adding to card charge. I will come back the next day if they are busy for a walk-in rather than going somewhere else. Rarely is a trip there less than 5 stars. Highly recommend. read more

Came here once and never have u felt so cared for before. I've been to many mail spots ( ik from sj ) and the amount of care they have for their costumers is amazing . This place doesn't have a lot of staff so there is a wait and better to call to make sure they have time. I got a pedicure here and they really took their time and effort to make sure everyone left happy . I got a pedicure here I believe it was 50 or 55 for the hugest option with gel polish . And they cleaned out my cuticles and were verry precise with their application the owner would coke around to make sure each guest services was up to her expectations. Verry kind people here and I would def come again and recommend read more

Love Love Love how welcoming, professional and great job they did! It was my first time EVER getting a pedicure somewhere other than my local hometown shop. The ladies are amazing, definitely recommend!!! read more

They double book, customer service sucks. They scheduled an appt at 3 and 4 comes around and still waiting. Cleanliness is sub. Time wasted. read more

Wouldn't recommend this shop to anyone. Worst experience i've ever had at a nail salon. It took 3.5 hours for a short almond set and the nail tech looked like it was her first time doing nails ever. Do not come here. If I could give zero starts I would. read more

I rarely write reviews, but had too! The staff was friendly and provided me an amazing pedicure! Only $35 for a sugar scrub message, pretty long lotion massage *and* hot stone message! I was so pleased with the spa experience I almost forgot they were going to paint my nails at the end! Can't wait to return. And the color I chose was great too ;) read more

Mission Nail Spa - Waxing Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I tend to get pedicures every month and decided to try a new place based on the good reviews online. The experience was unexpected -- I set up an appointment and once I got there, it was chaotic. It was unclear if I should wait for someone to help me or sit down in a pedicure chair or what. Once I was seated, I learned the massage chair was not working -- this is one of the reasons I go to get these services so this was a disappointment. My pedicure attendant only spoke Vietnamese so communication was a challenge - much more than typical places because she did not have any English for the bare basics. When I indicated she was hurting me with her rough touch, for instance, she did not understand. It took time to get someone else to translate so she would stop hurting me. Overall, I could not recommend this place, despite the good reviews other have left. I've gone to several places in Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley - this was my worst experience to date. read more

HIGHLY reccomend this place for a pedicure. We went with the deluxe pedicure. Not only were they extremely thorough, but they took their time with each service that came in the package. For the luxury treatment you get, this place is such a great value. read more

Mission Nail Spa - Enjoying the deluxe pedicure - Waxing Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

They do a good job but switch techs too much to take car of other people will not be back. I literally lost track of how many people worked on me. I was there for over three hours way too long for a pedicure and a fill. Not everyone has all day to spend at a nail salon. I was hoping to go in before work and ended up being very late for work. read more

I've been trying out nail salons in Santa Cruz hoping to find one as good as my "old" salon on Southern California. Finally found it at Mission Nail Spa! While the appointment process could use some improvement, overall I had a very pleasant experience at Mission Nail Spa. Ti gave me a meticulous mani-pedi and a wonderful massage. Even though it's a cross-town drive for me, I will be back! read more

It's hard to find a good nail place in Santa Cruz. I've tried many and have never found one I like. Mission Nails is amazing they do such a good job and are extremely detail oriented. They take their time with everything and you leave feeling truly pampered. Highly recommend! read more

I don't usually write reviews, but this place was amazing! I'm on a trip in this area and was looking for a place to have a pedicure done. The ladies were very sweet and the person who did my pedicure was amazing. She really took her time and went above and beyond, truly the best pedicure I've ever had, worth every penny! The only thing is that they don't accept apply pay so just remember that. Highly recommend :) read more

Either they need to update their prices online or they need math lesson. I got a set of what was supposed to be gel nails but she did acrylic instead and my daughter got a basic manicure which should have totalled $55 but instead cost me $90. I asked for square nails but she insisted on making them round. They did get us in right away which was great and they did good for what they did but they did not do what I requested. And I know that the acrylic nails she did will not even last a week. read more

I had an excellent pedicure experience at Mission Nails. The facility is clean, parking is not hard to find, the staff is friendly and great at what they do. They are proactive about mask wearing and require all customers wear masks also. I had the gel pedicure with hot stone massage and paraffin wax treatment done. It felt so good on my tired legs. I also had waxing done for hair removal. The staff said they will use customer provided tools if customers prefer to use their own tools for the mail services - the tools must be in good working condition and have no damage. My nails turned out great and my skin feels really nice. I'm very happy with the service and will be returning again in the future. read more

Mission Nail Spa - Front of Services List - Waxing Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

See all

I came here to get a gel manicure and a regular pedicure. The nail tech I had is Pauline, she did a great job and is the sweetest person. Pauline took her time doing my pedicure and my manicure. She is the best ! I highly recommend this place (: Thank you, Pauline ! read more

The women here are really nice, they took me on last minute. I just wanted a pedicure, but decided to get a gel mani as well. I waited for my gel mani as they were super booked on their first day. I will definitely be back, the customer service was great! read more