Nails by Lee

Avoid this place at all costs…read more I had one of the worst pedicure experiences I've ever had here. I asked the nail technician if she could help remove an ingrown toenail. Instead of telling me if it wasn't something she could safely do, she kept digging deeper and deeper into my skin. It was extremely painful, and even after I told her it hurt, she didn't stop. She only stopped because I physically pulled my foot away. If she wasn't trained or comfortable handling an ingrown nail, she should have simply said so. I would have completely understood. To make matters worse, once she finished my pedicure, she walked away without saying a word and left me sitting in the chair. She went to help another customer put on her shoes--even though she wasn't even that customer's technician--while I had to twist around and search for my own shoes, which had been left behind my chair. It was incredibly rude and unprofessional. I brought my concerns to the owner, hoping she would take them seriously, but instead she immediately made excuses for the technician. She claimed the technician was probably waiting for my polish to dry... except I had gel polish, which doesn't need to air dry. There was no apology, no accountability, and no attempt to make things right. Customer service clearly isn't a priority here. Between the painful treatment, lack of professionalism, and the owner's unwillingness to address legitimate concerns, I won't be returning. There are plenty of nail salons that actually care about their customers. Save yourself the pain and go somewhere else.

We had the absolute best experience at Happiness Nails while celebrating my mom's 50th birthday! My…read moremom, family, and I all came in for pedicures, and from the moment we walked through the door, every single staff member treated us with the utmost kindness and respect. This was my first time visiting, but you would have never known it. They made us feel like valued, returning guests, remembered our names, and created such a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Everyone was so friendly, and we had an amazing time laughing, relaxing, and celebrating together. Located in the Equinox Plaza in Marina del Rey, Happiness Nails truly feels like a luxury spa experience without the luxury price tag. The salon is beautiful, the service is top-notch, and the pricing is incredibly reasonable for the quality you receive. If you're anywhere near Marina del Rey and looking for a place to get your nails done, this is the spot. They deserve far more than five stars! We'll absolutely be back, and I can't recommend Happiness Nails enough.

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MOI Nails Studio

4.3(915 reviews)

1.8 mi

Committed to satisfaction

Women-owned & operated

I love it here! Eric and Annie are amazing and always getting my nails together. Receive so many…read morecompliments and refer ppl here too!

Tom did a fantastic job on my nails! I pick my skin and struggle with good nail health and now I…read morefeel like a new woman! Such a cute storefront and very clean! Update ! June 28 ! Just jammed my nail in a drawer and it's STILL ON!

I'm ready for valentine

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Nails by Ray

9192 Nails

4.6(128 reviews)

1.5 mi•Venice

Boba was thoughtful with my nails, making sure I was getting what I wanted! Prices were good too…read more It was quiet and chill inside. Parked out front on the street for free.

Hidden gem in Marina Del Rey. My wife does not Yelp but I…read morehave to give credit and acknowledgment when I see service and quality. Sammy /my wife noticed 9192 while dropping off her dry cleaning just a few stores down the street. After many visits She tells me how great 9192 Nails is compared to the other nail salons in MDR. Every time she raves about the quality, cleanliness and a pedicure treatment like no other. She love the smaller salon as opposed to being lost in the frenzy shuffle of larger salons. Sammy loves 9192!

Serving pearlescent perfection from fingertips to tiptoes.

What i asked for....

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Vacation Nails! Emma outdid herself as always and it's so fun watching her create a masterpiece.

Nancy Nails

4.8(255 reviews)

2.0 mi•Del Rey

Nancy is the best of the best! I have searched for years to find someone who is so detailed and…read moreperfect in their craft. My cuticles require a lot of attention and Nancy makes them look flawless. She also shapes nails like no one else. She is truly a miracle worker and I love coming to her. I'll never go to anyone else again. Note: Nancy only takes individual appointments and only does basic mani and pedi and gel nails. No acrylic and no dip powder.

I enjoyed my service with Nancy for summer nails. It's been a while since I seen her and I am still…read morehappy with her service. :)

Nancy is amazing loving the "OPI new summer color".

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I came to Nancy for manicure the fifth time in two months, I came home very happy every time! Thank you Nancy!

12Twelve Nail Bar

4.1(377 reviews)

2.3 mi

Family-owned & operated

Walk-ins welcome

As always Helen and Tina do an amazing job Helen does an amazing job on my hands and Tina does the…read morebest pedicure in Los Angeles! I love 12Twelve Judy is always friendly and makes sure you get in and seated. The staff is always pleasant and friendly too. The best part is that the ocean views are a huge plus! If you're in the Marina Del Rey area stop in for a mani/pedi! I'll

I'll give separate reviews for the service then the facility as a whole:…read more NAIL SALON: I made an appointment a month in advance for an acrylic set with design. I was corresponding via text and was told that Rachel was my nail tech. I specifically requested her because she did a good job on my friend. My appointment was at 9:30 and when I arrived, I was waiting for 30 mins before I was approached and told my nail tech was on vacation!! I was then told that someone else can do my nails but it would be gel x (which I didn't want). I attempted to leave before they told me they would make arrangements for Tammy to service me but I had to wait an hour. This was so unprofessional and upsetting given the fact I booked a month in advance and nobody checked the appointments to call the clients to inform them their nail tech went on vacation. My service took 2.5 hours plus the hour I was waiting so I had to pay $15 for parking since the validation only covers 2 hours. I was disappointed at the fact they didn't wave my parking for the inconvenience on their behalf. The space is clean and nicely decorated, only negative is there are little to no seats for people waiting, and for them to be backed up because they failed to notify clients certain staff were not available..huge logistical issue Tammy: TAMMY IS THE GOAT. She was nice, precise, professional and on point. She was very detailed and did all my designs free hand. Tammy saved this place of a 2 star rating! I plan to book with her in the near future and spread the word!! I paid $130 plus tip All in all, I plan to give this nail salon another chance, however If they continue to conduct themselves in a manner like before, I won't come back. Time is money and I want my time to be considered as a client if I'm spending my money here.

Hearts & diamonds

Gelx design

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Teardrop nails

Marina Nails Spa

3.8(721 reviews)

1.5 mi•Venice

Jenny was so sweet and she did great on my gel pedi! The place was nice and their customer service…read morewas great.

I just love love love this place! The minute you walk in, you feel like you are in a spa with a…read more beautiful soft music. Place is super clean, it's just amazing. There is no loud speaking technicians, like in other nail shops where technicians are talking to each other in a different language and you don't know what the hell they are talking about. This place created a relaxing and friendly spa-feel environment for their clients. Saeid is very pleasant and welcoming, he offers tea and coffee while the technician is doing the service. I drive from far for personal business and always do my mani-pedi here and Summer is the best! I'm a forever client, for sure.

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Jet Nails and Spa

3.5(303 reviews)

1.7 mi•Venice

•$$$

Friendly service with gel manicures that last. It's clean and they are very efficient.read more

These are my nails one day after Phillip told me that he knew how to do ombre nails and instead…read morebought out some type of spray paint tool. He charged $90 for this. I will not be returning. The service is awful.

Nails design by Jolie and Annie

A Jet Nails perfect gel polish manicure!

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Jet Nails!

Hana Nails

3.5(647 reviews)

1.7 mi•Del Rey

I was here recently as a walk in for a trim/shiny buff. I had been here years ago & remembered it…read morebeing a good experience. Tony was able to do the trim/shiny buff before the exact opening time. He really did a great job. He was very professional & pleasant to chat with. I felt wonderful afterwards, as the hand lotion smells so fresh & clean! I'll definitely return for a future shiny buff, as it was a wonderful experience at Hana's Nails. ‍ ‍

First impression and customer service experience…read more I visited Hana Nails in Marina del Rey while checking out local nail salons. I've lived in the Marina for 15 years and am looking for a new place, so I stopped in to get a feel for the salon. What immediately turned me off was how unwelcoming the interaction felt. Before I could even finish saying I was looking for a nail salon, her demeanor made me feel like I was bothering her. It wasn't a friendly "we don't allow non-customers to use the restroom," but a dismissive, cold response with no effort to make me feel welcome or acknowledge I could be a potential customer. I understand restroom policies and am not upset about being told no--it was the way it was communicated. The interaction felt cold and judgmental. There are plenty of salons where you feel welcomed right away. I can't speak to the services, but based on this first impression, I wouldn't return.

By Chloe

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Cuccio Nails

3.9(199 reviews)

1.5 mi•Venice

the first time i came here i had a great experience. this time was absolutely awful. i had a man…read moredoing a full set who didn't even know how to do acrylic. there was acrylic EVERYWHERE it's all over my fingers and way past my cuticle . every single nail was slanted and he couldn't figure out how to file them straight. He also doesn't know how to use a drill, it was burning my nails so bad and I have a cut on my pinky from the aggressiveness. All of the acrylic is uneven and at one point half the acrylic broke off my nail and he just kept filing it more slanted. I finally asked for someone else to finish my nails and he kept grabbing my hand but the owner (i think, she did my nails the first time) finished my nails and i still hate them and Im so disappointed that i paid for them. Even as I was checking out the lady that did my toes asked me who did my nails last time and that I should request someone and apologized to me because she knew how badly the guy was doing my nails.

Had a gel manicure and pedicure. The pedicure lasted one day, very disappointing. The women were…read morenice but I will definitely not be going back.

Acrylic nails

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Ocean Nail Spa + Hair

4.2(264 reviews)

1.6 mi•Venice

I've been to Ocean Nail Spa several times now. I usually go for a gel pedicure and am always…read morepleased when I leave. They have a good selection of OPI gel colors. The only thing I wish was that the callus buff was included in service! I have done a mani/pedi once that came with full wax wrap + message. Definitely a treat!

My nails started chipping the day after and my toes too I got a mani and pedi and it was very…read moreexpensive for them to mess up the next day this is 4 days after horrible I won't show my toes but you can imagine..me and my sister paid over 400 shame on them!

BEST of Santa Monica, California Coffee near Nails by Lee

French tips and gel pedicure

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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

9 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Janice C.

0

2

0

17 years ago

I have been going to the nail shop on Main street (main attraction) and was very unhappy with their business.My friend had reccommended this place and so I looked it up on Yelp. I was kind of skeptical in going after reading some of the reviews on this, but I still went anyway. This place is great! Its hard to find a place that can do a proper full set ( making the nails not to thick and tacky). A male worker name Andy, did my nails and they came out looking gorgeous and natural! My Pedicure (done by Tony) was very needed, and it came out looking great as well. All the employees were respectful, and they all made sure I was relaxed and satisfied before leaving the shop. I'M PRETTY SURE I FOUND MY FAVORITE NAIL SALON! and I was able to fit in getting my eyebrows waxed, and it came out just the way I wanted, not too thin! read more

Denise B.

97

14

10

3 years ago

Update to my review. I have emailed them twice and called them multiple times about my injuries. I have also sent them a legal demand letter. I don't think they took me seriously, so I had no other choice but to file a lawsuit. So if you read this, please know I have tried to settle this amicably. You will be served by the Los Angeles Sheriff's department in the next few weeks if a request to appear at the Beverly Hills Superior Court on August 4th. If you need confirmation, please call the Los Angeles Superior Court regarding the case attached. See you then! read more

Jennifer N.

0

3

0

18 years ago

Nails by Lee.. now what can I say?... well to start off.. the place was very fun! the workers were very welcoming, funny, and warm. They all did a tremendous job! I was very pleased! and that was my first visit there! I have now been going there for a good 6 years! and trust me I have gotten everything done there! Mani, Pedi, Spa, Massage (mm.. a must if you go!), facial, waxing, and herbal ear cones!! I have had my husband, girlfriends, and family come to this place and they all love it! This place is definitely a keeper! read more

Lorenna T.

1

0

15 years ago

I am so thankful to finally have found a reliable and qualified techician to take care of my nails. The shop IS clean! Ms.Lee and Tony ARE very professional and patient with me because I am very particular in how I want my nails done. My tech retired and I searched for 7 mths. around Santa Monica. My search is over. The prices ARE fine. read more

Jakkia S.

705

8

47

7 years ago

Very great service! I received a manicure and pedicure. I was so last minute and I was able to call and they told me to come right in. I'm pleased with my nails and toes (White) Fast and neat !!! read more

Lauren E.

242

8

1

4 years ago

The new owners are great. The new look is so great and so much better. Amazing service! Friendly staff and my nails look great! Can't wait to go back read more

Ginger R.

0

1

0

3 years ago

If you care about your nails, your skin and your health, and want a salon that does the same....DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING TO THIS PLACE. PERIOD. read more

Shey A.

0

3

1

7 years ago

I always come here feel so welcomed and they are awesome people. Lee and Tony do flawless nails. Ask what you want and they will make it happen read more

Janet J.

0

11

0

7 years ago

Great local excellent prices and clean

Nails by Lee - othersalons - Updated September 2026

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18K Nail Boutique

4.4

(279 reviews)

They are very meticulous and did the design I wanted perfectly. They are also all very nice and…read morewelcoming

So nice toes look great! They were very helpful amd nice! Accommodating a last minute appointment.read more

Sensation Nail Spa

3.8

(359 reviews)

Stopped by this little nail salon since it was just down the street from my apartment and highly…read morerecommended by my roommate, and I definitely think this will be my go-to spot for nail services in the future! I walked in to get a gel x set removal, and they were able to get me seated and taken care of immediately on a busy Friday afternoon, which I really appreciated. The set was done somewhere else and most of the nails had fallen off, but the nail tech was still willing to take care of it, and insisted on not charging me their very reasonable $10 removal fee or accepting any tip for the service, which was so sweet and unexpected! She very gently and efficiently removed my remaining extensions, and meticulously trimmed, filed and buffed my natural nails before applying cuticle oil, and I can definitely tell that the techs are very experienced while prioritizing customer comfort. This spot is such a hidden gem (and my roommate has had good experiences with walk-in's/getting removals and gel x extensions here), and I'll definitely be back again soon to support such a sweet, Asian and woman-owned business!

Absolutely phenomenal nail salon. The only one we go to (and we tried several in and around SM!)…read more They are always fast and do excellent work. I have had a gel manicure still look great and intact 3-4 weeks after. We love all their work. Recently my daughter wanted a very intricate design for her birthday (+ a whole set of acrylics) and they did an AMAZING job!!! We had not warned them in advance and they still accommodated our schedule and got it done - better than she even imagined!!!

Santa Monica Nails

4.5

(76 reviews)

This was one of the worst experiences I've had at a nail salon…read more My manicure started peeling after just a few days, and one nail broke. I came back to have it fixed, and they actually charged me for the repair, even though the manicure had barely lasted. I don't blame the technicians--they did a good job. The problem seems to be the old or poor-quality nail polish that doesn't last. The receptionist, Sasha, also ignored the technician I booked online and assigned me to someone else without any explanation. This has happened more than once. Her customer service is rude, and appointments don't seem to matter. On top of that, they charged me an extra $2 for using a credit card without telling me beforehand, and they don't even accept Apple Pay. It's not about the $2--it's about being transparent with customers. Between the poor-quality polish, charging for repairs after only a few days, the unprofessional front desk, and the hidden credit card fee, I won't be coming back or recommending this salon

I went for the first time last Friday to Santa Monica Nails to remove an old gel set and get…read moresomething for the Halloween season. This is only my second time getting gel so it's been a fun experience trying different styles / designs. I booked an appointment with Katherine as I saw she had good reviews and had time slots available. When I came in it wasn't very busy in the main room, but it sounded like there were some people in the other rooms getting pedicures I assume. Once Katherine came over, I showed her the design I was wanting and that I wanted to keep my nail shape the way they were since they were shaped at a previous gel appointment. The original inspo was more of a natural look with ghosts, but since my previous nails were an ombre French look, I decided I wanted a bolder color as the "background" to the ghosts. Katherine was very gentle and kind. I am usually a quiet person, but I debating on if I should chat with her. Eventually, I decided against it though since she seemed very focus on the nail designs and I didn't want to distract her. Plus I was getting pulled into the Love is Blind show on the TV. In the end, I was very happy with how my nails turned out. She had suggested glossy finish for the ghosts and matte on the background color. I wasn't 100% sure about this as I was so focused on the design in the inspo and just assumed the entire nail would be glossy, but I was willing to try and trust the process. Doing the contrast in finishes was actually a nice touch and helps the ghosts pop more. I also liked that she added mouths to the ghosts. In the inspo the ghosts only have eyes, but I liked that Katherine made the design her own and gave the ghosts more personality.

Cute Nail

4.2

(109 reviews)

Bio gel, yes? Bio gel yes! Best manicure ever, yes? SO yes!…read more Briefly, a bank teller's nails were SO beautifully manicured ~ much longer than mine ~ that I had to ask, and she said, "Bio gel!" Those were actually her own nails, and she swore that it was the bio gel that helped her grow them so long and strong. SOoooo, after reading about bio gel and then looking ALL OVER yelp for a place that offered it on the Westside (for some reason, they all seem to be up in the Valley or near DTLA), I found this one place in Santa Monica. AND they could take me on a Sunday afternoon. Who knew from the plain, (very) unpretentious storefront on Lincoln that this is where I'd get the most detailed, personalized, attentive manicure of my life ~ and that includes regular, gel, and powder-dip manis in dozens of different places. The interior of the shop is, I gotta be frank, not quite your average Westside mani-and-martini kind of place. Not even close. But Anh (I hope I'm spelling it right) was the first person ever to take a close look at my nails and notice that they tend to go up a bit at the tips (so THAT's why my polish always wore off quickly at the ends!). So she got to work with the bio gel (and she had lots of colors of both the Bio Sculpture and the Bio Seaweed kinds) and meticulously, painstakingly built up my nails so that they were flat before layering on the color (you can't really tell from the picture, but it's kind of iridescent) and top coat. And all this with such a sweet, upbeat demeanor. Thank goodness it was a Sunday and all I had to do after was some grocery shopping, because the whole thing, including removing the regular gel I had on, took two and a half hours. She did say that she could work faster if I needed her to, but heck, it was Sunday and the groceries could wait a day ~ I was getting the best manicure of my life!

They did such a good job on my gel pedicure! Love this place and very convenient. Has OPI gel…read morepolish. Thank you!

Toe Heaven Spa

3.4

(367 reviews)

Lisa is great. the shop is clean & bright It's a…read moreconvenient location on Main in Santa , Monica.

I am SO happy to have stumbled upon this place. They do phenomenal work and everyone is super kind!…read moreI randomly walked just to ask questions and ended up getting serviced the same day:) it is now a week later and my mani/pedi still looks completely fresh no chips no lifting. Their prices and their service is truly unbeatable and I hope EVERYONE gives them a chance.

Spa de Rejuvenation

4.2

(138 reviews)

I've been coming here regularly for a few years. I love how clean it is and I only come for a…read morepedicure and find the service to be great and relaxing. Love the massage chairs and while yes sometimes it's annoying when they ask to move your appointment earlier or later by 15 minutes (because they're busy and trying to accommodate others) it can throw your schedule off track but I generally find this a great place to get a pedicure. I've been to other places where I found the facilities lacking or basic so coming here feels like I'm getting pampered! I also appreciate the loyalty rewards program so the more you come every so often you get a discount on your service. They offer a variety of different options and I will usually alternate between them (difference is usually leg massage time and taking care of dry cracked heels or other things). Compared to other places I've been around Santa Monica, I find this place a nice sanctuary to chill in while getting my toes polished up!

Jack, who is from Vietnam, gave me an excellent massage and a beautiful manicure, and I was very…read morehappy with his work. Unfortunately, my overall experience with the manager was very different. He initially seemed friendly, but I found him to be quite harsh with his employees. At the end, I had a conversation with him that started off well. Somehow, the conversation turned to politics, and I openly asked him whether he had voted for Trump. He told me that he had. I want to make it clear that I was not rude or disrespectful toward him, nor was it my intention to make him uncomfortable. However, he became visibly nervous and eventually angry, and walked away. Given everything that is happening in this country and around the world, I personally feel that this is information that people may want to know when deciding where to spend their money. This was my personal experience, and needless to say, I will not be returning to this salon.

Main Attraction Nail Spa

3.5

(489 reviews)

I absolutely adore my nails -- they're cute, strong, and spotless, perfectly reflecting how I feel…read moreconfident and fabulous every day. THANK YOU GIRLS

Your money counts for less and less these days. They give very fast service, skipping basic…read moremani/pedi procedures or just going through the motions with no care for any detail. This is my gel manicure only after 2 weeks and it was lifting and chipping many days prior to this also. My cuticles grew back horribly as well. I will not be coming back.

9192 Nails

4.6

(128 reviews)

Boba was thoughtful with my nails, making sure I was getting what I wanted! Prices were good too…read more It was quiet and chill inside. Parked out front on the street for free.

Hidden gem in Marina Del Rey. My wife does not Yelp but I…read morehave to give credit and acknowledgment when I see service and quality. Sammy /my wife noticed 9192 while dropping off her dry cleaning just a few stores down the street. After many visits She tells me how great 9192 Nails is compared to the other nail salons in MDR. Every time she raves about the quality, cleanliness and a pedicure treatment like no other. She love the smaller salon as opposed to being lost in the frenzy shuffle of larger salons. Sammy loves 9192!

Laura's Nails

4.0

(292 reviews)