Angela R.

I discovered this nail salon while searching on good old yelp and decided to give them a try. I already had dipped nails from a different salon, but I didn't like the way they removed them. I scheduled an appointment here to have them removed and re-done. The location of this salon is on a busy street, but there are a few parking spots located in the back. Sometimes it's hard to find parking, but there's a neighborhood not too far away with curbside parking. My first visit was with Jimmy and thereafter for my other appointments. I appreciate how gentle he was in removing the dip, and throughout my experience in getting my nails done. He did a great job shaping my nails and even asked me if I was satisfied with them. I appreciate that! The one con I experienced, is that the dip coating didn't last as long as other salons, and it seemed to wear off faster. I do wear gloves while doing dishes or cleaning, in order to preserve the dip coating for as long as I can. Especially since maintaining the upkeep on nails is not cheap! Hence the 4-star rating, but I would still return because I really loved how Jimmy paid attention to detail and he's good at what he does! Plus the staff here is very kind and welcoming. Overall, I was satisfied with my nails each time I had them done here and I would definitely return based on my experience.

Rosmery P.

I am VERY picky when it comes to getting my nails done. Being that hubby and I are away from home and he insisted I do self care. After looking for an entire day for the "right" salon, I found Papillon. I first went on their website to put myself on the waitlist, and then I also called them just in case they had availability for a walk in. They were able to put me in their books two hours after I called (there were only three people working there, so yea their availability is limited due to staffing). Anyway, I requested a Hard Gel fill + cuticle care & basic gel pedi. The gentleman took care of my feet, he did great. Jane did my hard gel fill + cuticle care, she did fantastic. Pays attention to detail very well. She took her time and made sure I was pleased. I LOVE my nails. This will definitely be my go to place when we come out to SB

I arrived at Papillion Nails studio on September 12 at 12:45 PM and was immediately told by Jimmy , the owner, that I was 15 minutes late for my appointment with him and that it was now "too late". I told him that I I believed myappointment was at 12:45 and that since I booked an hour and 20 minute appointment with him, I should have one hour and five minutes left even if was "late" which I don't believe that I was. I asked him if he could at least remove the nails that I currently had which he reluctantly agreed to. 1/2 hour later, with my nails removed, he told me that I was done. I asked him if he could please apply some nail polish to my now naked Nails. He said that no, he didn't have time to which I responded "you cannot have another appointment until at least 145 as I booked one hour and 20 minutes with you and even if I was late that leaves us 1/2 hour extra time" . He was not at all pleased that I pointed this out to him but told me sharply"pick your color". 1/2 hour later I left his salon with my nails looking beautiful, however 10 minutes into my drive home, all the polish was terribly smudged so not only had he told me I could leave prematurely but he did not even wait appropriate amount of time between"coats" because as you can see from the pictures even the first coat was completely ruined. I can't help but feel that this was purposeful as this man has been an owner of a Nail Salon for quite a number of years and should know better than to do this sort of amateur job. I felt dismissed disrespected and was left with nothing but a mess to remove with nail polish removerimmediately upon returning home. So very disappointing!!!! Save your money. Do not make the mistake that I made in giving this salon and this man your business.

Lainie P.

I lucked out and got an appointment to see Jade today for quite possibly the best bio gel I've ever gotten. She's amazing!

Mary R.

My previous nail salon moved to Carpintería during the pandemic so I'm very happy to have found Papillon. As others have written, Gypsy and Jimmy are pros and they carefully supervise their staff. I love their work and their selection of colors. I'm a dip nail gal as I'm too hard on my hands to keep regular polish on or avoid breaking a nail with gel polish. They have a good selection of colors and I really appreciate how careful they are with their options. They had a new line of colors in and I noticed the amount of effort her team was taking to test and organize the colors. I asked Gypsy about it and she told me a bit about what the do to test the nail finishes when the come in. The company provides pre-painted samples but they don't show how the colors look on actual nails. Some formulations are more shear than others. So, with respect to dip powder, they apply a dot on the side of the each powder formulation so you and they can evaluate how transparent the product is. Wow! They also paint new nail samples for the gel and dip options and organize by color gradient so clients so see the variations of reds or pinks etc. Another thing I notice here, they are very honest about what they think you need. They don't upsell. They don't recommend callus treatments if you don't need one. They also don't crowd your appointment. They don't do walk-ins unless they actually have time. Of course, you should also be careful to book what you want. If you want to add on a service at the last minute, they might no have time. They are very respectful of appointment times. I took some photos but please understand, I'm just a regular person so the nails are great but my hands and feet, well those are on me.

Momo H.

Best nail salon in Town！ Jimmy always did his perfect job! I love dipping powder extensions nail. Very beautiful and strong.

K K.

I took the last two years off from my last attempt at dips, as I just wasn't happy with the amount and kind of maintenance they required. This was my first visit here, highly recommended by someone with gorgeous nails with a different application I've never heard of, so I made my appointment online (super easy) and I am very happy with the results of my first bio hard/gel manicure with Jimmy. The studio/salon is bright and clean, with minimal decor cluttering up the walls. The music was both interesting and relaxing, as I don't usually listen to whatever was playing, but I enjoyed it! There is plenty of parking behind the building - follow the public alley either off N. Ontare Rd or Toyon Dr - There are no designated spots for each business, so park in an open spot and look for their sign at the back door to enter. Jimmy kindly answered all of my questions and concerns about trying this new (to me) nail application with my particular nail issues (thin, brittle, peeling and not wanting do deal with removing everything each time) and this was the best course for me and what kind of maintenance I feel I can manage. He also helped with adjusting the color I initially picked out, as the first one was too sheer, the second one (his suggestion) was perfect, just the faintest hint of blush pink with the tiniest, minuscule amount of sparkle. His attention to detail and time spent carefully cleaning up my cuticles was greatly appreciated. Never once did I flinch because something hurt - nothing hurt at all. He explained how the bio hard part works, that it's built in layers and also said that for some people, the nailbeds might feel "hot" for a couple seconds under the light and he was right - but as soon as they felt hot, it quickly dissipated. It was less to none after the first application, then felt warmer again with the gel (color) application - I'm just grateful he gave me advance notice, so there was no concern. I'm looking forward to my next appt for just a fill, while my nails continue to grow now that they're more sturdy (hopefully) with this process. I'll still keep them somewhat short, usually no longer than the finger/bed itself, which is my personal preference. I'll also be booking a regular pedicure next once I'm done with this review - as I respect their "please make an appointment" protocol, it's a win-win for everyone!

Tiphanie A.

Came in for an acrylic set with gel a few days before Christmas, and they still look beautiful and have not fallen off, 2 weeks later. This is the first full set that I haven't had pop off in a day or two after getting them. Being someone who works with their hands, it says a lot. It was a nice and relaxing atmosphere with attentive staff. Jimmy really took his time with my nails and made sure they looked stunning. Full set acrylic with gel and almond shape was 65$

Jo B.

Had my first visit here yesterday and we quite pleased! Jimmy listened and gave me the exact manicure I wanted. He didn't use the dremel tool and I greatly appreciated it. Not to mention my funky French tip turned out great in Frankenstein green! The environment was clean and calm. They have seemingly endless color choices. They also offer ApplePay for convenience. I will be back!

Alanie H.

I came last Month for a much needed pedicure (gel) after quite some time without maintenance. I had a design in mind and the staff was so diligent in making sure they found the right color for the design I wanted. The pedicure tech took her time in cleaning my nails and shaping them, there was no rush! After getting the first part of my nails done a gentleman took over and finished the creation of my nail design. I was so happy with how it turned out, and I was happy with the overall environment, clean, relaxing, and no rushing. I'm finally back after 5 weeks and again the staff is professional and courteous when it comes to helping me find the right color according to the design in the picture. I will be updating soon :) Thank you!

Hetty C.

Thank goodness for google helping me find this nail salon. Its conveniently located near Upper State Street (right next to South Coast Deli). Tip: enter through the back entrance where you can park. It's brightly lit, tastefully decorated. Great ambience and music! The chairs are comfortable divided by the cutest curtains which add a nice touch and great vibes. Grace took care of me and gave me a lovely gel pedicure. She was super gentle and took her time, I didn't feel rushed at all. Definitely appreciated the attention to detail and everyone seemed to love their nail technicians and experience too! It seems they have a great appointment process, each customer was tended to accordingly when I was there with relatively no wait. Honestly, this will be my new go-to place. Surprised they don't have more reviews so here I am showing some love!

It is not my nature to write a bad review unless absolutly necessary, this is for your safety so please read about my experience. I apologize it's long lots of important details. Everything about Papillion nail salon is great, nice owners, cute little dog, and good work, BUT when the salon owner attempted to used a nail brush saturated with black mold embedded deep within the bristles I was horrified. I pointed this out and asked him to please not use that brush on my fingers. I have no idea why no one mentioned this to him before me it was so visible, and he used this same brush on me a month prior. Several weeks later I noticed my nail was pealing away from the nail bed if gone untreated I would have lost my nail, nails actually because it spread to my other thumb-yeah it will do that so watch out. The skin under my nail turned dark from dirt getting trapped and required daily scrubbing, which does not feel so good. If you see anything off about your nails go to the doctors as soon as possible you need a prescription. I have been treating this obnoxious fungal problem for almost a year. I paint my nails all of the time (annoying) to cover up the grossness. But hey the yellow discoloration has finally gone away and I probably only have a few more months of this so that's a plus! Nail salons are not regulated by the health department or any department really. Believe because I made phone calls. It is up to the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology to make sure that no one gets hurt by the people they license. This is a job for the health department and I am not understanding why they have not stepped in to set some standards and regulations. Be aware next time you go get your nails done in any salon. Look around closely, see if it the business looks clean, and speak up if you notice a problem, because this has been hell. I have not gotten a manicure since this, wait, not true. I did try a place but only for a pedicure. When I walked into that salon the whole place smelled like a major gas leak was taking place and people were just sitting it... with the door closed not kidding!! When I pointed it out the owner said it was the odor of from her Vietnamese food lunch. I left immediately and flagged down the gas man across the street on the way to my car.

Colleen P.

Meticulous!! Amazing mani and pedi, and their attention to detail is unmatched. Super clean salon, great color selection, will definitely come back!!