Lavie (ig@nails_by_lavie) is the BEST nail tech I've ever had the pleasure of giving my money to. I have been hesitant to write a review, because I don't want to share her, but she deserves the recognition for her work. Every cent is worth it! She is so kind, patient, talented, and thorough. She is so incredibly talented and so underrated. She has been able to nail every design I throw at her and has been up for every challenge! I'm always looking forward to my next appointment, it's so therapeutic being in her client chair. My nails are the one thing I have been diligent on keeping up and maintaining all because I finally found the best nail tech in the Bay Area read more

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Nailbox is amazing! Love coming here for a mani/pedi. I recently got a killer set of gel extensions and now that's all I ever want on my hands. This is the best nail salon around! Pic from today's gel extension set. Nailbox goes above and beyond! read more

NailBox Studios - Hair Removal Near Me - Castro Valley, California

So my coworkers rave about this place and are regulars here. So I ,of course, had to check it out for myself. I booked an appointment, and all services are only done through appointment FYI . I booked with Katie who was my artist. I didn't know what to expect but I was excited to be pampered and fluffed and was looking forward throughout the whole week to get my nails did. The ambiance is very clean and neat. Very clutter free and simple. I really love the quaint and fancy shmancy feeling I get when serviced here. There are only 3 pedi chairs and 2 manicure tables here so the small intimate ambiance makes it feel all the more special. I didn't realize how long my nails would take to be done though. I honesty wasn't thinking personally because I ordered a 10 nail design with mani pedi in gel. So that means they had to individually paint each fingernail! #SMH at myself for not considering the time and effort that takes to do. But anyways prior to my appointment I was messaged and was asked to send ideas of what my nails would look like. I sent them some pictures of my choices and that was that. The pedi was nice. I got a nice neck warmer to relax and they offered me a drink. I was about to fall asleep while my feet were being pedicured. My hands were very time intensive and effort intensive. I didn't realize how detailed they would be and all the work that went in! I don't get manicured very often so I'm a little clueless to this fact. It took so long that it carried over into Katie's next appointment. I was happy with my result the first time around. But I left went home and was message the same day. They asked if they can REDO the manicure because they saw areas where it can be Improved. I'm like, wow I thought this was nice already but SURE! So I came in again the next day and she DID do an even better job than the first. She bought different paint and had different tools and took her time the second time around. I am happy. Granted it was an $85 dollar mani pedi (including tip) but you really do get what you pay for. This was only for a special occasion (COACHELLA weekend!!! ) so otherwise I'd normally not spend so much... At all! But, great service. read more

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This was my first time getting a Apres Gel-X manicure, and Sam did a great job! For those who have never tried Apres Gel-X before, it is similar to press-ons but much more durable and secure. The nails are pre-shaped - I chose the almond shape at a medium length. I had Sam shorten the pinky nails a bit because they were a little too long for my liking. While designs aren't her forte, she did her very best to recreate the design from the picture I brought in. The set lasted an entire week in Hawai'i - placing a heavy carry-on luggage into the overhead compartment, climbing around lava rocks, getting wiped out by large waves at the beach, and too many drinks at a wedding. Overall, I was very pleased with this set & my gel pedicure, which was done by one of the Viet ladies. I had very minor lifting in just my pointer fingers after 1.5 weeks. I did end up taking them off at home after my vacation because this length would prevent me from working efficiently at my job. Very minor damage was done to my nails, despite having weak nails from wearing gloves for 8 hours/day at work. I come from San Diego and was used to much lower prices, which often included the designs. However, since I was trying to get my nails done pretty last minute before my flight, I bit the bullet in terms of the price. I wasn't expecting the $5/nail for design. I didn't read far enough on the services menu, but Sam gave me a bit of a discount, which I greatly appreciated. The only reason I give 4 stars instead of 5 is that Sam wasn't able to give her full complete attention to me as she did my set. She is quite busy as she is also taking business calls to manage appointments, talk with sales reps for supplies, etc. I personally am really patient and understanding, but I know not everybody is, and I do think it's fair to expect your nail tech to give you their full attention when it comes to services. Nonetheless, I still recommend her and this nail salon, just something to keep in mind. I'd definitely come back because the work is great quality but a little more on the pricier side for my budget. read more

NailBox Studios - Freshly done Apres Gel-X mani - Hair Removal Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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I usually don't leave bad reviews, but after my experience at this salon today, I feel it necessary so other people can be aware.. I set up an appointment for gel-x soak off + milk & honey pedicure, and got booked with Van Luong. I don't know.. maybe my nail tech was tired or having an off day? Maybe she assumed I am someone who does not tip? Whatever the case may be, I found that there could be better intention and care in the work. I have a hectic work life and was hoping to find some relaxation coming here. Instead, I paid $100 for my appointment today for cut cuticles and subpar, mediocre work. During a gel-x soak off, the nail drill bit should never touch the natural nail. However, there are pits left in my nails from the drill bit damage. All my cuticles -- on every single nail -- are sore and stinging from the nail-tech drill-bitting and buffing my skin. Even after flinching multiple times and showing pain, the cuticle cutting continued. Traumatizing! The milk & honey signature pedicure was also pretty disappointing to say the least. The foot soak water was luke warm and I was so uncomfortable and stressed the whole time. During the massage, she focused more on my legs. I expected more attention on the feet given I booked an appointment for a pedicure. 5 minutes in, the foot soak water was already cold. The nail tech took one second on filing my toenails, and barely scrubbed my feet. She took the pumice and scantily grazed the palm of my feet. My feet are honestly not in terrible shape to begin with, but I expect them to come out smooth and soft after a "signature" pedicure that is promoted as such. Moving on to the polishing... I have had bad pedicures before, but this one is the worst. After the nail tech finished the last coat, I took a look at my toes and immediately noticed that they were extremely sloppy. When she took the toe spacers off, she must have accidentally messed up the polish. I kindly asked her to wipe off the excess polish around the cuticles and clean up the smudging. She did not argue and tried to fix right away, but ended up making it worse. She had to start all over on one of my big toes. After the second try, that toe came out looking worse than before. Then, as she tidied up the station with only one minute of my toes drying, she said I should be ok to go :-) I should have never came. I paid and left a tip. Was the nail tech mean? No. Did the job get done? Inadequately. Do I regret it? Absolutely. This was painful and stressful and not worth my day off. I don't like paying for what I could do better myself. There are only so many times I can speak up about issues until I start to feel bad like I am complaining too much. I give 2 stars because the (I'm assuming) owner was pleasant and bubbly and had r&b music playing. Nothing bad to say about the nail tech as an individual, but the service was definitely lacking. read more

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They were nice but they need to specify in their website "appointment only ". Not sure if I will have time to come back. Was in the area and wanted to get my nails done. read more

Awesome service! Not a long wait and sweet nail techs! My nails came out how I wanted! read more

NailBox Studios - Hair Removal Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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I went to get my nails done for my college graduation. After my usual spot couldn't take me in, I have decided to go to this place. Right of the bat, I had to pay for roughly 80 percent my appointment before receiving my service which honestly should have been a red flag for me. I been to 20+ salons and never had me pay first then do the service. The appointment was at 1pm and I got there early and told the lady I wanted a nice simple design. She was shocked and was unaware that I was getting a design. I didn't know I was supposed to inform her that. The design was just a skinny French tips with an additional line and nothing more. As she started to do my gel x nails, I felt her rushing on me as other women were there waiting too. On top of that she didn't buff out the gel x to make more of a natural nail effect. The nails look super bulky and off. Then, she said she might not have time to do the design and told me to come back at a later time to finish it which was around 4pm. I agreed because I wanted my nails done before the weekend. I came to her to finish up and she ended up rushing that process as well and couldn't do the nail art correctly. This nail spot is not worth the time and money because of how disorganized it is. I have never felt this horrible about how my nails look and I'm sad that I spent over 100 on them. Including I have never spent this much on nails at other locations for the same services. I don't know how to reply on this app but this is my sister. The name that was under for appointment was Joti if that helps you out but the fact you allow this to happen is ridiculous. She didn't want to set up an account for yelp so I figure I help her out. I can't believe your main issue was that the name didn't match THE record, it focus on the horrible service that was provided. (5/21/22) read more

I was really excited to try this salon because I have been looking around for places that do gel-x for months now. This salon is quite far from me but after reading all the good reviews and seeing their work on instagram, I decided to just book an appointment. However, I was really disappointed with my experience. First off, I booked online through Vagaro with Oceanna. But a couple of days before my service, I got confirmation emails/text that said my service was now with Bianca. I was kind of annoyed because I wish I was told this beforehand. I booked with Oceanna because of her good reviews and her nail art. Also, if you book through Vagaro you do have to put down a deposit. I believe mine came out to around $67-$68. I was a bit disappointed because I did try to cancel my appointment a week in advance but said that I would not be getting a refund. Anyways, I showed up to my appointment. The salon was super cute and really aesthetically pleasing! The only downside was the shopping plaza had really tight/few parking spaces. I'm not sure of the nail tech I had but she was really nice. I did feel like for the amount of money I spent, I probably would not come back. Throughout the service, I felt like I was being an inconvenience since they were super short staff which caused my appointment to feel rushed and kind of sloppy. Which kinda sucked because I was getting my nails done for my Hawaii trip. My nail tech did mention it being short staff so I understand. I was also kind of upset because the nails I had asked for did not match up with the picture I showed them. Especially the flowers. Oceanna did the flowers and I showed her my inspiration picture 3 times but it did not look even remotely close to what I asked for. I felt bad to ask her to redo them since there were a lot of customers waiting around in the shop. So i just decided to keep the design because I thought it would grow on me. After she was done, I just sat there for what seemed like 5-7 mins before I checked out. I was also disappointed because there was left over gel on my nails/skin and wasn't given any cuticle oil so I left with my fingers looking dry. Also, after a couple of days I noticed that my nails were starting to lift. Some of the nails did end up coming off halfway into my trip which was kinda embarrassing. Overall, I think I just visited on an off day. The staff was really nice and I love that they offered gel-x but I probably won't be back. It was worth a shot! read more

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5 stars for Sam & Nailbox! Sam was so personable & sweet from booking my appointment to finishing my Gel x extensions. It was like I was getting my nails done by a good friend. Comfortable & very relaxing. Can't wait to go back for my fill. read more

NailBox Studios - Full Gel X set - Hair Removal Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Its a cute hidden gem. The ambiance is really cozy and chic. Sammie and her staff really makes you feel comfortable and relaxed. I like the fact that it's a small place so you feel like you have the place to yourself to be pampered. I like that they open the sterile instruments in front of you so you know they keep the place clean and sterile. I would definitely come back and will refer friends and family there. read more

I love my nails that Jenny did. The entire experience was very relaxing and I almost fell asleep in my reclined chair. The place is decorated like a boutique with modern accents making a fashionable statement. My nails were perfectly done and has not chipped at all, even though it's been over a week later. The only weird thing about my experience is when I tried to redeem the check in offer for one free stamp. They advertise having a loyalty card where if you collect 7 stamps, you can get one free signature pedi. Jenny didn't understand what I was asking for, and said that the salon did not issue loyalty cards, that the stamp I was asking for was only a stamp design that they put on the nail. I knew this wasn't correct, so I emailed the owner Jess afterwards to inquire. Jess said I was correct in my understanding but that the loyalty program was an old program. In that case, I suggest removing this offer from the Yelp page so as to not confuse patrons. read more

Can't stop looking at my nails I just love the color! Very good job I have long time doing my nails with Penny and I just love her work I stopped doing my nails because we were so far but now I'm definitely coming back because i trust my nails under her care. It is very easy to make an appointment I did mine the same day and the result was just stunning as expected! She is very kind and the environment is so relaxing the perfect match of what a spa should be which many places doesn't have. I can't change her she is the best!!! Thank you very much for my nails!!! read more

NailBox Studios - Nails, nail box, Fremont. - Hair Removal Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Followed my girl Lavie here, she is amazing!! Love the studio. This is the only place I will get my nails done now.

I've been here a few times by now and I think this place will be my go to place. I get gel pedicures here and I love it. My toes never ever chip and when I come back to get them redone, they do such a good job of removing the gel polish without damaging my toe nails. Other places would scrap the crap out of my nails and it leaves my nails brittle :( My usual gal is Christine, she's great and makes sure I like my toes. :) I've also gotten my toes done by Bi Pan, she's friendly and was really attentive. Taking my bf here the next time I go! read more

Two days after my manicure, my nails TURNED GRAY! These were my prom nails, and now they're totally ruined. I didn't even do anything weird with them but the pink part is an uneven gray color; it looks like my fingers underneath are dead. The tips are much darker than they were before. Waste of my money. Not at ALL what I was hoping for. read more

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My first experience with gel manicure and staff explained the process along the way. Friendly service and nails looked great. This will be my go to place. read more

I was looking for good salon and found it in Fremont. Thanks Sophia for your job. Everything were good. She worked fast and professional. I will come back. read more

NailBox Studios - ManiPedi - Hair Removal Near Me - Castro Valley, California

I went to Nailbox a few weeks ago after not going for a long time (due to not living close by) I have to say it was not worth the drive nor spending my mommy alone time at all! Luckily the front door was open due to construction which the hammering nose was not pleasant at all I know it was not the Technicians fault. First we started with my many that did not include soaking my hands in warm water, the tools used were not taken out of a clean sealed package & after every 2 nails painted the Tech would have me put my hands in the UV light so this took forever... next came my pedi, I was told to sit in the middle chair which was all beaten up actually all the chairs were pealing & looked like they have been there for centuries. Sitting in the middle chair put me right in front of the door which every time a construction guy would walk by they would look in and stair, the Tech did not put any heat pack on me like they use to but not sure if this is due to Covid & she barely put any water for my feet to soak in which was not even warm. Next came time to pay I was asked by another Tech if I had gotten my nails done with them before & I said yes but long time ago so she clarified that since the nail polish on my hands & feet were not done by them they would have to charge me $10 each for removal (note this is when both my mani & pedi were already done, nothing was said to me about this before they started) so unfortunately paying over $100 made me give a smaller tip then I would normally give. Not to mention there is no COVID safety other then everyone wearing a mask. If you plan to get Cryo done by them just note that the bed and machine are right next to one of their Mani stations & the only thing giving privacy is an accordion style curtain, everything has been cramped in 2 small rooms. You would think that for the amount they charge the place would be up to date, clean, COVID ready, enough water to use & a separate room for their Cryo services! What a waist of my mommy alone time! read more

I always have struggled with having a consistent nail shop/tech, & I love coming here! Theyalways takes such good care of me and the nails always come out amazing! If you want quality nails and amazing service come here, plus they always have the throwback jams playing!! 10/10 in my book! read more

NailBox Studios - Amazing little rings! - Hair Removal Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Decided to get my nails done last min. They were able to fit me if at the time I wanted. Lovely place, lovely ladies and lovey nails read more

NailBox Studios - BIAB gel nail manicure. - Hair Removal Near Me - Castro Valley, California

I just moved in the area and was in desperate need of a new nail technician. I used to be a nail fiend and after having a baby I took them off for two years and was so nervous to get my first set done in a long time. I am so skeptical and uneasy when it comes to switching up on my nails but Oceana the acrylic nail tech there made me so happy. Not only is she one of the sweetest, most welcoming and relatable nail techs but she does absolutely amazing work. Again I'm picky I feel like and she met all of my expectations. I was just getting them done for my birthday and them take them back off but her service alone keeps drawing me back I'm addicted read more

NailBox Studios - Hair Removal Near Me - Castro Valley, California

My teenage daughter and I went here to get our nails done and had a great experience. The ladies working here are friendly, conversational, and funny! Plus our nails turned out GREAT!!! We will definitely return. read more

First time today. I booked the $65 spa mani/pedi deluxe combo with gel fingers & 2 stamps. The salon looks like any other average Fremont salon. Similarly, the language barrier is typical for Fremont. The place was pretty empty, but too difficult to have conversation with my tech, so I sat & closed my eyes. Of course staff communicated in their native language. There was a TV, but turned off with late '80's "top 40" music. Kinda boring, but I'm not rating on ambiance. For a nail salon, I could care less as long as my services are great! Pedicure stations use chairs on a platform & a water bowl (not a real pedi chair & no massager). I was disappointed in the pedi: poor pedi set up; lukewarm water; fast, weak massage; and no stamps for toes. I won't have another pedi here. The mani was better: OPI polishes with wide selection of gels to match toe lacquer; fast nail tech (Sophia); cute ideas for stamping & mix-matching nails; nice end product. I may return for the cheaper gel mani with stamps. I'd recommend gel manicures & stamps when you want a quick, nice service. I don't recommend buying any "deluxe" upgrades bc this salon just isn't equipped to offer a true spa experience. read more

NailBox Studios - Hair Removal Near Me - Castro Valley, California

First time going here yesterday and I won't be returning. I had made appointment online ahead of time. I did not realize where it was located. It's inside a building you need a code to get in. You go upstairs and than wash your hands in a bathroom used by the whole building. The bathroom was dirty and there was no paper towels. I go down the hall and there is the salon. I finally am greeted. I told them about the bathroom and she said thanks. It's the property managers job. She was busy and so was the other tech doing nails. One of the techs talked me into getting gelx instead of the tips I had scheduled my appointment for. They were running behind and didn't get to me and another girl for a very long time. The other girl even has to go back the next day to do her toes as they didn't have time. I got a mani and pedi. My pedicure was in a regular recliner chair and no tub attached. Instead they use a basin and filled it with water. The water barely covered my feet. The setup was awkward and made it so when I took my feet out of the water they had to set on a ledge and my legs shock. Instead of being relaxed and feeling pampered I couldn't wait for it to end. The other tech spent time in between clients and sometimes on her phone talking about cooking. Or letting it ring over and over and not shutting it off. Than I got get nails done. Overall they both look mostly good. My finger nails are to long and I wanted to fix some areas but I was there from 4:45 till 7:45. They apologized at first for running behind but nothing else. Also the other tech kept taking customers calls for appointments. To my surprise she put them on speaker and took a credit card. She has them on speaker phone and the clients would read off the numbers of the credit card with other clients in the room. That was very alarming! read more

NailBox Studios - Hair Removal Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Listen. It's been a long week and it's gonna be an even longer weekend. I need to just needed to unwind and get my nails done, maybe even get a little massage. Nailbox Studios helped your girl out. They helped me unwind and prepare for this weekend. Everyone was incredibly nice, so professional and sooo sweet. I love the way my nails turned out. Definitely gonna have to come back! Thanks Nailbox Studios! -Ray read more

This is my 3rd visit at this salon and I'm left again with mixed feelings. My first visit resulted in chipped nails on day 3. My second complimentary visit was great. My nails lasted about 2.5 weeks. This time however I am left with bumps on 2 of my nails as if something was left on my nail and then painted over. I'm worried this will lead to them chipping earlier than expected. My toe also has a very painful cut after the technician used the nail file on my skin repeatedly. I have attached pictures. I tried emailing them regarding the service but their email box is full. Makes me wonder if they take the time to read the emails they receive. The customer service on all 3 of my visits have been excellent. They are always kind and attentive. But the mistakes on my nails do not leave an overall good experience. read more

NailBox Studios - Cut on toe from technician using nail file repeatedly on my skin. - Hair Removal Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Updating my review because after covid i love that this salon has a more intimate setting and is very clean. Nailbox has always achieved what i wanted with my nails down to my pedicure, the staff is nice and friendly and always attentive to what i want done. Im in love with their Gel x Nail extensions, it last so much longer than acrylic and as a person in the medical field who washes her hands constantly i want something thats going to last longer than 2 weeks. I also highly recommend the paraffin wax after a pedi, it leaves my soles baby soft. read more

NailBox Studios - Gel x Nails - Hair Removal Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Cryo Slimming, Toning, and Facial - I purchased 20 sessions. She's nice and she will explain the Cryo on your consultation. I noticed a result on my first session as I lost 1-inch on my arms which is amazing. Sam will take pics and get measurements before and after! Hoping for a better result since I still have a lot of sessions to finish. Sam is nice and will advise what you need to know about Cryo. Their place looks pretty and clean! I like the ambiance and if you like to post pictures on your Instagram, the place is pretty! read more

I didn't have the best experience here. My pedicure wasn't relaxing. The woman who was doing my pedicure was ordering her DoorDash food during this time while working. It was unprofessional and made me feel like I didn't belong at her shop. The quality of work wasn't not good for a gel manicure and pedicure. I was charged $40 for both hands and feet. read more

My second time ever getting my nails done. Had such a pleasant experience with Michelle. She definitely helped me bring my envision of how I wanted my nails to be to life. She gave me some suggestions and always verified with me if I was OK with the plan prior to moving forward. She was very detail oriented and I am 110% satisfied with how my nails turned out. The decor of this place is very simple, black and white which doesnt make me feel overwhelmed. It is a very cute and chic which helps me feel more relaxed. Their reclining chairs are leather and so comfortable that I almost fell asleep with a warm shoulder pack that they put on me. Their signature manicure for gel nails are $33. They charge an additional $5 for stamps on two fingers of your choice. I am definitely coming back here to get my nails done again. read more

NailBox Studios - Gel nails with stamp. Thank you Michelle! - Hair Removal Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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My mom and I saw Sam for our pedicures and she was amazing. She was very meticulous and you can tell she is passionate about what she does. Very easy to speak to as well. We'll be back! read more

Recently moved to Fremont and came to this place on a whim. I found Nailbox studios on yelp and was really impressed with the reviews and wanted to try for myself. I called and made an appointment. I had my gel mani and pedi with Samantha. I got the BIAB manicure, something I've never heard before but she took the time to explain it to me and I must say, I really like how my gel mani came out. My nails look so much healthier and the gel isn't too thick which I like. It looks really natural. She did a really good job with my pedicure too. Also, I have to add she really took her time on me! She made sure my nails were perfect! The studio itself is super cute and clean. All staff were so nice and welcoming. They do facials as well which is my next thing I'm going to book! Definitely coming back here for my manicures and pedicures. Thanks Samantha! read more

I've been here twice and had great experience both times! Always clean, friendly workers, awesome nail work, and priced well! They do not have foot spa machines that we usually see in nail salons for pedicures. They offer a loyalty card for manicure/pedicure combos, which is great for those who frequent! read more

Nailbox is so great and such a hidden gem! The work is great, my nails are super healthy, and Samantha is a GEM! It's clean, sleek, and modern, and is a great place to unwind and get pampered! read more

I came here earlier in the year for a gel pedicure with an added service of simple nail art. I made the appointment online and the tech asked me to send pictures of what I wanted in terms of nail art a day or two before. I did so and did not hear back from the tech. I got to the appointment on time but there was only one nail tech there with another customer. I waited a half hour for the service to start and when she started, she told me she wasn't good at nail art and that she'd "try" it. Um, what? Why didn't she tell me that when contacting me? The pedicure itself was ok and she charged me less than the usual for the nail art but I waiting long after my appointment time and finding out that she wasn't going to be able to do the nail art I asked for at the studio instead of before was really disappointing . read more

I loved how much Bianca paid attention to detail! She was very gentle with me and very kind! My nails look so natural with the gel X extensions. read more

NailBox Studios - Square nails with matte tip - Hair Removal Near Me - Castro Valley, California

I highly recommend this place! Clean environment and easy location. See Oceana! She is the best!

I am obsessed with this place! Lavie is my girl, never disappointed!! A friendly and welcoming environment in general as well!

It was really great service and I had done pedicure and it was good work done along with mail art