1. Pearl Nails & Spa

    1. Pearl Nails & Spa

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    Carlsbad, CA

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    Pearl Nails & Spa

    3.7 (735 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

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    Response time

    10 minutes

    Response rate

    50%

    Services - Pearl Nails & Spa

    Manicure

    Manicure and pedicure

    Nail fill-in

    Pearl Nails & Spa Photos

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    Reviews With Photos

    The Gel X set that was separating

    TLDR: Pricey nails that don't last more than a day without being an issue. Don't come here if you like having a set that won't snap in half because they're so thin the day after you got them, or cause bacterial growth from improper application. I've been going to this place for years, but recently the service is really lacking and it's unacceptable. I paid about $200 for a gel ex set and gel pedicure, which is a pretty penny, but wouldn't be a problem if the service provided was equivalent to that amount. Unfortunately, the day after I had my gel ex set done my nails started separating from the faux nail, which has never happened before. So I called to have them fixed, and brace yourself for what comes next. I sit in the lobby and felt a bit nervous because normally I'm not the kind of person to go back and complain about an error, but this was an actual hazard because of the nail separating which can cause fungus growth on my nail bed. When it's my turn to sit at a desk I show one of the techs my nails, and she tries to fix my nail separation by putting glue in-between the gap. GIRL. So now on top of having separated nails, now the gunk stuck under my nail from improper application is now being cemented in there like an artifact, and yet the gap was still there. Obviously I was upset with this because the issue wasn't fixed, and now there's nail glue all over my finger tips touching my skin. I said this won't do, they need to come off and the nail tech (Diemlly) was willing to give me an acrylic set free of charge. After this I felt like they redeemed themselves and decided to give them another chance. Bad decision. I went to get a fill about a week and a half after the re-do set had grown out and decided to keep the same shape, just do a different color, nothing crazy. I paid about $55 for the fill, and was pleased with how they turned out. This didn't last for long. Imagine my reaction when my nail breaks in half because of how thin the acrylic was applied during the fill while I'm literally drying off with a towel after the shower. If I was gardening or doing something that compromised my nails and it broke I wouldn't be as upset, but that wasn't the case. This kind of service is absolutely unacceptable considering the economic climate. Paying $55 for the nails to not even last day, and having to go back because they weren't even applied right is egregious. Don't waste your time and money like I did!

    This takes the cake for the worst manicure I've ever gotten. I went with a friend and long time client of the salon. I asked for a gel mani / pedi, and immediately was told I needed to add tips to my nails because they were too short and I wanted builder gel. (Never has any other salon refused to do builder gel on me due to my nails being too short) Reluctantly, I said yes... Worst mistake ever! The photos say enough... The pedicure was alright but this place is WAY overpriced for subpar work. 67 dollar gel pedicure and 75 dollar "manicure," if you can even call it that. Overall, it felt rushed and there is obviously little care for the quality of work. I will not be back! Note: It was almost obligatory to tip; I had finished and paid for my services and was then met with one of my technicians shoving her phone in my lap with her Venmo code...

    What is this?

    Absolutely baffled. Asked for first picture as reference and this is what I got. Nail tech stated she didn't have brown AFTER the service was half way done and the base was set (which by the way was not the same base at all). Then tried to do gold chrome and then pink chrome on the tip. This is the WORST experience I have ever had at a nail salon by far ever... OHHHHH and the service took an hour and a half.. came in at 3:50 left at 5:25!.. OHHH AND got charged 78$..??

    Tara J.

    I sit here in the parking lot furious at the lack of customer service I just received. My daughter and I came on Thursday to get our nails done by Tammy (the cuticle cutting queen). Fast forward to Friday and half the color is gone from my daughter's nails. I come back today to tell them what happened. Mimi tells me to take a seat, I wait 10 minutes with not only my daughter but 3 year old son and no one helps us (there's even a lady who's just messing around on her phone). No one bothers to help us and it's not only when i get up to leave that Tammy comes running out saying she'll fix my daughter's nails. Ma'am you're the one who messed them up in the first place. This place has gone downhill and needless to say I won't be back. If you value your nails (and cuticles!) find a place that values your nails

    Had to chop and fill my set from my last coffins because my work demands short Mimi was perfect and fast as usual
    Jocelyn P.

    Favorite place to get my nails done All the girls are always On it and my special occasion nails always look absolutely fabulous

    This is the place, if you are anywhere near Carlsbad, CA. Been a happy customer for years and always refer family and friends.
    Lynn J.

    I've been getting pedicures and manicures at Pearl for many years. Another Oceanside local recommended them and I've never had any reason to leave. I get powder dip manis and regular pedis. The service and quality has been consistent over all the years, which is very rare to find. Most often, once a business has you in their "chair" for a few times, they start to "phone it in", and the quality diminishes over time. Not here. The owner, Mimi, runs a beautiful business where there is harmony and warmth, which is always a bonus. p.s. I just tried the Chrome add-on to my powder dip mani for the first time and I'm obsessed!!! Photos don't do it justice. It's a must-do!!

    Amy Z.

    I come back here every few years because it's conveniently located for me and am reminded why I haven't gone back each time. I have been wanting to start having my nails done again regularly and I'm attending a wedding this weekend so it was the perfect excuse. I honestly feel like the images speak for themself but I want to mention a few key things. I went in Tuesday for a full set and pedi. The pedicure done by Michael was $90 and my full set of acrylics with a design and special cat eye polish done by a woman whose name I can't remember (Trudy?) was $95. I tipped $15 to each of my technicians. I specified to the woman doing my full set that my middle fingernails often end up looking crooked so please take extra notice. That being said I still needed to point out a couple nails and ask her to reshape them. I still left with slightly crooked middle, index and thumb nails. To be fair I was reaching across my body in a pedicure chair so she was working at an angle. Could I have asked for her to reshape them a third time, yes? Is that really awkward and almost as uncomfortable as sitting with your body twisted for an hour and a half, also yes. I chose not to ask again. I selected the first pedi on their menu, the most expensive one. I always feel disappointed by pedicure massages so I wouldn't normally take "points" off for an unenthusiastic service but it was literally 18 minutes of him just applying lotion to my feet and legs, I wouldn't even consider it a massage. When I got home I noticed that my right big toe had a small spot that was not completely with the UV light so it wiped off in the shower. I had to return today to have it fixed. It's really lucky that I actually had time to do come back before the wedding (which isn't their problem) which made having to return to the shop extra frustrating. I was then asked to wait 15 minutes so Michael could do the correction himself instead of any free technician. When I couldn't hide my disappointed facial reaction, he had me come sit over in a chair across from the customer he was currently working on and he rushed through trying to correct it. First he buffed the surface with a file and tried to paint over it without wiping/brushing off the nail dust so the texture was insane. Like sand paper. I couldn't believe anyone who's ever painted a nail would think that would work?? Thankfully he realized that wasn't working and used the little drill thing to remove most of the polish from the nail and totally repaint it. He rushed through the process and the nail now has rough edges that are going to peel quickly and an uneven/incomplete clear topcoat. I'm giving 2 stars because I could tell that the woman who did my acrylics genuinely wanted me to be happy with them. ***Mimi, the manager, messaged me and offered to fix my nails at no change. Unfortunately due to my schedule I need to find a salon with more consistent quality, but I really appreciate the offer.***

    Once Mimi fixed my nails
    Megan H.

    Pearl Nails is right next to my gym, so when my acrylic girl left my salon in Vista I came here. I got a removal and full set and a gel pedi from two separate employees. My pedicure was done by Lindsay and she really dug out my toenails and did a great job on cuticles. It's very clean. My gel on my big toe rippled a bit later but I'm indifferent to it. It was $52 for a gel pedicure and totally worth it for her to dig into my borderline ingrowns. Lindsay was soooo sweet! My manicure (not done by Lindsay) was $90 and a disaster. I had an inspo photo of a french manicure with a few little hearts for Valentine's Day. What I got is pictured below which is some mix of chrome and red-orange something. They were uneven and too thick and the design looked like a joke. I called the salon the next day and the owner Mimi answered. I let her know about my issues with the manicure and asked if she'd be able to fix them herself. She scheduled me to come back in for the next day (I called in the afternoon and she was booked out). When I went back in I felt so awkward but she was so kind and thanked me for calling to let her fix it. She totally removed the set and re-did it in under an hour. I wouldn't recommend walking in for any sort of design, but I would HIGHLY recommend seeing Mimi for anything! She is genuinely skilled, such a kind person, and a great business owner.

    $20 manicure

    This is a $50 mani pedi at Pearl Nails & Spa. Yes, I was actually charged $50 for this not including tip. When I asked the nail tech who was ringing me up why the price had increased significantly she got angry and began slamming the menu pamphlet on the counter and the sticky note and called someone else to speak with me. They said the reason why it was so expensive was because a flower comes included (we did not get a flower) and because the price of everything has gone up. I have been coming to this salon for YEARS and have never paid more than $15 for my child's mani pedi. To go from $15 to $50????? And in the end the original nail tech who was ringing me up overcharged me by $5. During my manicure and pedicure the nail tech I got was really rough and when I asked to change the color of my pedicure when they had barely painted the first couple of toes and i realized the color was wrong she was really annoyed and told me "well that's what you chose" and they refused to change it. Lastly they did not use what appeared to be clean/sanitized tools. Everything they pulled was just from their cart. I have been coming here for years and remember they used to use tools that were sealed. This place has gone downhill. The $50 Kids mani pedi was the last straw. I'll be looking for a new nail salon to get mani pedis at with my child.

    Jessica C.

    I've been a customer of Pearl Nails since the week they opened their doors almost 10 years ago and have been a recurring customer since. They are always professional and very clean. Today I had an appointment for my upcoming wedding in Mexico and as always, I am leaving feeling beautiful and pampered! Kim did an incredible job on my gel pedicure and Mimi was spectacular with my French dip manicure. I also got my eyebrows waxed and they came out great! I am ready for my big day thanks to the amazing ladies at Pearl Nails. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

    Amanda J.

    I have only been here a couple of times. I really like the tech I first saw. Maybe it was the owner, Mimi? Anyways she aslways seems busy and if I do return I will try to schedule with her, only! I really wanted to treat myself and walked in because I couldn't remember the name or find anything online. I was relieved there was no wait. The two times I have been here before, it has seemed very busy. I explained to the tech-Tammy what I wanted and she immediately asked if I wanted a pedi too. If I wanted a pedi, I would've asked for that too Everything was fine until she attacked my cuticles in a fast manner. I have had bad experiences with my cuticles and get nervous since I have been cut before. Tammy was too rough and I think one cuticle was bleeding which I wish I realized when I was there. I would have left a smaller tip. I was also annoyed she kept asking if I wanted a design. Again, if I wanted that, I would've asked for it. Finally, I asked does she love to do designs or something. She snapped something like look on your phone and she will do it. When I checked out, I was VERY upset that she charged me $3 extra to shape my nails. I do love the shape she did, but would have liked to be informed first. I probably would've skipped it since I am on a tight budget and cannot afford to get my nails done often! The location is great and very close to me, but after this, I might return to my last salon!

    Ombré powder dip
    Janet D.

    I chose this place based on the reviews and photos. Never having been there, however, I called to confirm pricing. I was told $37 for gel manicure and Spa pedicures start at $20, but $15 more for gel. Ok no problem so I proceed in booking the appt. I end up doing powder dip nails instead because the manicurist said it would look better with the type of Ombré design I chose. She doesn't stop to mention the difference in price. I wish I was kidding, but when I got to the register to pay, they rang me up for $142 for the gel pedicure and powder dip nails. It was very nicely done but they misrepresented themselves. I always tip very well and in this case I couldn't even leave a tip I was so horrified at the price difference between what I was quoted on the phone. I will never be back to the salon and if you value your money you should steer clear as well. Update: Forgot to mention that this happened 8 days ago and 2 nails are lifting and will need to be removed when I go for a fill to my usual place (never again to this place!!)

    J W.

    I had a pedicure and a full set with gel polish. My pedicure was great and the person who did it was very nice. The person who did my full set and I had some difficulty communicating. She seemed mad that I didn't want to do dip nails. She cut me twice on different fingers, used water from the foot bath after my pedicure to soak my hands in to remove my cuticles after she'd put on the acrylic. No base coat, no top coat. By the end I was just waiting for it be over. I think this was just the wrong nail tech for me. You might have better luck.

    Extremely bad burn from Tammy's eyebrow wax

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    Love Mimi and Ashley!! The place is clean and everyone that works there is very friendly. I always get pedicure and gel manicure!

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    Page 1 of 19

    Ask the Community - Pearl Nails & Spa

    How much: acrylic fill with gel polish?

    Call them and ask!

    Do they do matte acrylics?

    Yes

    How much is it to get a full set with gel?

    If you look in the pictures section you'll see the cost list. Looks like $35!

    How much is a gel mani pedi?

    $29 mani $35 pedi for gel

    Do you guys do sns nails?

    Yes

    View All 10 Questions

    Review Highlights - Pearl Nails & Spa

    The owner, Mimi, runs a beautiful business where there is harmony and warmth, which is always a bonus.

    Mentioned in 145 reviews

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    This is a darling day spa in the heart of downtown Carlsbad. When I first walked by I didn't know…read morethey did skincare & waxing; I thought it was just a cute boutique...when some coworkers surprised me with a gift card, I was so excited! I booked a bikini wax and did not state a preference for the technician. Riley ended up doing my Brazilian and she was excellent! She talked to me throughout to distract me from the pain, but honestly it was not that painful. I was surprised that my skin was not super red afterward. She offered me a rosewater wipe to use prior the waxing and the treatment room was clean. She did a thorough job and used an oil by the brand Fur to finish, and I decided to purchase the travel rollerball, which totally helped eliminate any ingrown hairs or red bumps that were trying to come out. I kept using the rollerball for weeks after, and no ingrowns! I shopped around the boutique after my treatment and was astounded at the reasonable prices on the super cute clothes, jewelry, and other accessories and fun things in the shop. I left with a dress, a couple cute tops, a bracelet and earrings by Scout (love that brand), and a travel candle, plus the Fur rollerball. I believe the Brazilian bikini wax was $65, and I left a nice tip and walked away with fun new stuff without spending a ton over my gift card amount of $115. Side note--the toilet would not flush when I used their restroom, and let them know, so they shut it down for customer use while I was there. I think it's an older building and perhaps sensitive plumbing. This did not affect my experience in any way. Overall I recommend Riley and this awesome little boutique if you live near the Carlsbad area or are visiting!

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