1. Nails By Kathy

1. Nails By Kathy

0

Santa Clara, CA

Cancel

Open app

Search

Nails By Kathy

3.8 (31 reviews)
PriceyNail Salons

Services - Nails By Kathy

Manicure

Manicure and pedicure

Nail fill-in

Nails By Kathy Photos

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Nails By Kathy

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Always amazing! Acrylic gel with decals
Kimbra O.

I love coming to Kathy for my nails. Kathy is super quick and does a great job. I've been going to her for a few months and have never had a chipped or broken nail (and she doesn't do my nails super thick) and her polish selection is fantastic!

Nails by Kathy

I have been looking for a nail place that does a beautiful job and where the nails look natural and they are not too thick. I use my hands in water all the time and not once has a nail came off. She does a spectacular job and I highly recommend her. I had previously tried other nail places and nooone compares to the service I receive here. Thank you Kathy

Excellent manicure. Simple as that. :) recommend going here to the younger lady :)
Jacklyn C.

Five star and 2 star makes a three star. The younger lady did an excellent job on my moms pedicure and manicure. Massage and all. Cuticle clipping, gorgeous color choices, the whole 9. Excellent job. The older lady however, she did a pretty and nice design set on my nails, and okay acrylic too, but ONLY on the nail. The hands and fingers as a whol e, NOT GOOD! She did not clip my cuticles or do any oil or any thing at all really to my nails!! and that really really bothered me . She didn't clean underneath my nails clip cuticles. SHE DIDN'T FILe or anything., or lotion or ANYTHING. All she really did was a sloppy job. And now my hands are dry and feeling really gross and uncomfortable..... and now, 15 minutes after leaving, the design is already wiping off. I'm really upset. 45 dollar manicure..... I wouldn't return .... :(

Angie L.

Great first time visit... very professional family owned, sister-run establishment... clean work and friendly. My auntie is a regular there and introduced me to the place. Super location, easy to find. I absolutely loved the finished product. They are very busy so its best to set an appointment.

Izabella G.

I love Kathy. She is amazing. She loves to talk to you and get to know you. She will make time for you. Im really bad at making appointments so i just walk in randomly. But she will call other clients to ask them to come 15 minutes later or something. Her clientele is super sweet, very outgoing, they love to talk. Some of her clients have seen her kids grow up, she has seen some of her clients kids grow up. She is truly a warming person. Usually i go toward solid color nails but this time we did a pink ombre and it looks amazing! I couldnt be happier. Im excited to see what other designs we will do!

Lysa H.

I have been going to Kathy for a few months now and she is amazing. Not only does she do a phenomenal job on my nails but she also recommended some facial products for me to used that works wonder on acne skin. Spacious cozy salon, flexible schedule and lots of parking. She's very honest and attentive to my needs and wants. Thank you Kathy! I highly recommend Kathy to everyone who's looking for a great nail tech or estithician.

Nails by Kathy

I have been going to Kathy and Ann for years and I always get the best results. They are so nice and make sure I am comfortable and relaxed. Great location too! Give them a try :)

See all

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Kimbra O.
269
42
19

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

12 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of C. R.
35
28
0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Lysa H.
102
20
20

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Mishal S.
5
47
417

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of K V.
57
6
0

9 years ago

Kathy always does a great job on my eyebrows. Kathy is friendly and always manages to take care of me even when I don't have an appointment.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Mary S.
63
37
0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

12 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

12 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Ask the Community - Nails By Kathy

Anybody knows what time it opens?

Opens by appointment. If you call, Kathy will work with you on the time.

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

Review Highlights - Nails By Kathy

Even though I was a walk in they were able to take me right away for a pedicure and full set.

Mentioned in 6 reviews

Read more highlights

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Nail Salons 12,807 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Q Nails

Q Nails

3.5
(137 reviews)
2.0 mi
$$

I've been going to ThatMan at Q Nails for over 15 years, and he is the only nail tech I truly…read moretrust. I've tried many other places over the past 20+ years, but no one has ever come close to his level of skill, precision, and consistency. Not only is his work exceptional, but his professionalism truly sets him apart. He is always focused, detail-oriented, and dedicated to delivering quality every single time. Over the years, ThatMan has become more than just my nail tech--he's someone I genuinely respect and look up to as a true example of what it means to be a professional. If you're looking for the best, you won't find anyone better.

I have been to Q Nails several times, and unfortunately, my experience has gotten worse with each…read morevisit. Sometimes there is a barking dog in the salon, and most of the time the place feels dirty and not particularly well-maintained. My most recent visit will definitely be my last. I stopped in for a walk-in pedicure and asked the man at the front if they had time. He said yes and directed me to a chair. After I sat down and he started filling the foot bath, two customers with appointments walked in. Shortly after that, another walk-in came in, and he turned her away. It was obvious he was annoyed that he had accepted me before realizing his scheduled clients had arrived. He rushed through my pedicure from start to finish. I actually don't mind a shorter massage, so that wasn't my main concern. What bothered me was the quality of the service. He applied only one coat of polish--no base coat and no top coat--and then immediately moved on to the next customer. Once my nails were dry, they told me I was ready to leave and charged me full price for what felt like a rushed, incomplete pedicure. I paid full price, but definitely did not receive a full service. I won't be returning, and based on my experiences, I can't recommend Q Nails.

Photos
Nail done by Jennie
Nail done by Jennie
Acrylics by Kim
Acrylics by Kim
Nail set by Jenni

See all

Nail set by Jenni
Amy's Nail Lounge

Amy's Nail Lounge

4.5
(320 reviews)
2.7 mi
$$$

Walked in for a pedicure and Amy was so nice! She did a simple French tip but it came out so good!…read moreWill definitely be back!!

TL;DR: My big toes were messed up 3x and instead of taking accountability, the owner blamed me for…read morechoosing regular polish--a service she provides. No refund, no solution, and deeply unprofessional behavior. *~~ Service Overview & Pricing I booked a same-day appointment that the owner accepted. I requested: * #108 Gelixir purple gel polish + acrylic fill manicure * #108 Gelixir purple regular polish + basic pedicure The owner upsold heavily throughout. I even let her do extra work on my pinkies to build rapport. Total: $81 Tip: $15 (tipped before the service was completed) She opened the shop ~5 min late despite accepting my 9:30 AM appointment, & complained aloud, setting the tone for our session. *~~ Where Everything Went Wrong 1. First Mistake Toe spacers were applied after polishing but before the paint was dry, immediately smudging the big toe. 2. Second Attempt They only partially removed the polish to "fix" it. Because the initial coats weren't fully removed, the application was thick and uneven. After 40 minutes of "drying," the nail dented and the texture caught the lip of my shoe, scratching again. I told them I still had time if they wanted to properly redo it. 3. Third Attempt A kind staff member accidentally damaged the other big toe while helping me into disposable sandals. At this point, my toes had been ruined three separate times--all due to staff actions. *~~ The Owner's Response When I asked if they could use gel on the big toes (since the mistakes were theirs), the owner refused and claimed: 1. The colors "wouldn't match." 2. Gel and regular polish can't match--despite the Gelixir palette offering both and my manicure proving otherwise. 3. That because I chose regular polish, the outcome was my fault. She repeated this many times. 4. That regular polish takes "hours to dry in cold weather," something she never mentioned and is simply not true. By then I had been there from 9:30 AM to 12:20 PM, and the pedicure was the first service we started. *~~ Escalation & Unprofessional Conduct When I calmly asked for a reasonable fix (or at least accountability for my time), the owner became rude, defensive, and dismissive. She offered: * No refund * No partial refund * No refund of my tip * No solution She repeatedly told me I could "leave if I didn't like it" while her staff was trying to help me with bare toes. Instead of accountability, she lectured me with constant "you" statements and kept shifting blame. I stayed polite and attempted to de-escalate, but she kept escalating. My friend who was with me also felt the owner was short, judgmental, and rude from the beginning. As a Filipina, I'm familiar with cultural bluntness--this wasn't bluntness. This was aggressiveness and unprofessionalism. *~~ Service Quality & Safety Concerns * They used a pumice scrubber on my inner ankle bone, leaving raw skin and micro-cuts. * The owner drilled harshly on the sides and cuticle area during my fill, causing irritation and cuts. When I said "ow," she told me I "needed lotion." (I regularly moisturize; the issue was her technique.) * During upselling for designs/gems, she asked about two fingers. When I agreed, she worked on the wrong fingers, insisted I said "all," and did the same thing to my friend. * Despite her picking my friend's shade, she acted annoyed when we asked to see it on one toe. Odd behavior throughout--there's truly no winning with her. *~~ Final Thoughts Based on quality alone, this could have been a 2-star experience. But the owner's behavior makes it a 0-star experience. Earlier, she told me her business struggles with retention but has some regulars. Now I understand why. The recurring reviews about poor customer service suddenly make complete sense. Even her responses to negative reviews show the same pattern--confrontational, defensive, and unwilling to take responsibility. It's impossible to relax when the owner is hostile, unaccountable, and provides no customer care. This was my first time going (only to accommodate my friend's work schedule) because in theory the 9:30 AM start time is competitive. But honestly, you're better off walking one minute over to Winchester Nails, which is actually my regular spot. I'll never cheat on them again.

Photos
Amy's Nail Lounge
Amy's Nail Lounge
Amy's Nail Lounge

See all

Nails Haven

Nails Haven

4.5
(284 reviews)
2.7 mi
$$

This is THE pedicure spot in my humble opinion. I always get the deluxe and not many places will do…read morehot stone massage with every pedicure package, but this place does that. My deluxe also comes with paraffin wax & massage. They even serve complimentary beverages like tea, coffee, water, and sparkling water. The workers don't have ful blown conversations in their native language like many other places, which I appreciate (I'm Vietnamese, so I understand it all, but I'm just speaking up for my other girlies). So this is definitely a relaxing vibe kind of place. It's usually very quiet when I go even with the salon chairs all filled. If you do come here please say hi to Julie the manager there, she's the best!

been coming here for a loooong time and have just recently stopped because they totally went…read moredownhill. When i first started coming here a year ago, they charged $40 for a full set with designs and I thought it was amazing.. fast forward to now- HORRIBLE! they try and up-charge you for every little thing.. the little pamphlet in the front said a fill would be $35 but when i sat in the chair somehow they were trying to charge me $75 for a fill with a simple french design and the lady said that pamphlet is old with "old prices on it"??? then maybe change it to the updated prices?? their loyalty program is also trash- every 8 points you get is 5% off but they refuse to even give that to you.. one last thing- I brought my best friend with me to get our nails done and she speaks fluent vietnamese and she was horrified to find out all of the ladies talk very poorly about the customers in their native tongue. It's absolutely disheartening and gross to hear the things they say about you right in front of you! long story short, i used to love the place down and put 10+ of my friends on to this place but the vibes are horrible now and it's safe to say none of us will be returning here!

Photos
Acrylic nails
Acrylic nails
My recent nails set
My recent nails set
Black + Chrome

See all

Black + Chrome

Nails By Kathy - othersalons - Updated July 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...