I just moved to the area a few months ago, and I was looking for a good nail salon close to my new home. I went for a spa pedicure and manicure on Mothers Day. The salon is clean and has a nice atmosphere, and a good selection of nail polish, which is the reason I gave them one star. I wasn't too upset that I had to wait about 30 minutes, even though I'd made an appointment, because I knew it would probably be very busy. It didn't even bother me that I waited another 20 minutes, soaking my feet, because I was relaxing in a comfy massage chair. While I was waiting, I noticed that all the employees were literally running back and forth around the salon. One of them even tripped and fell over the feet of the the woman next to her. As I watched all the scurrying around, I realized it was because the woman who seemed to be the owner, was rushing everyone, and barking orders. When someone finally came over to do my pedicure, I was a little apprehensive because I went there for some much deserved pampering, and the technician was clearly very stressed and rushed. She did ok for the most part, but when she was putting the callous remover on my feet, she missed one of my big toes, and when I (politely) pointed this out, she said it didn't need it, instead of correcting her mistake. The callous on my big toes aren't terrible, but the left and right are the same. To make matters worse, half way through polishing my toes, the owner chased her away to start on someone else, and took over my pedicure herself. The woman literally got up and walked away with half of my big toe nail polished! Things really went downhill from there. The owner was sloppy with the polish on my toes, and my manicure was not a pleasant experience. She kept jerking my hands around impatiently, and she kept filing my nails crooked. When I finally had to pick up the file and fix it myself, she seemed insulted, but by that point I'd had enough. The owner should stick to answering the phone and booking appointments. She also needs to learn the meaning of customer service, because she has no clue. I am not that fussy about my nails, and I could forgive a less than perfect manicure or pedicure, if I was treated nicely. Clearly, everyone must not be having the same experience I did, or this salon wouldn't be so busy, but I will be looking for somewhere else to have my nails done. read more

Went to this nail salon and waited about 30 mins before I was even sat for a pedicure (was not busy at all-people sitting not working) put my feet in cold water and waited another 15 mins. The lady who did my pedicure rushed. I wasn't even there 30 mins and I was sitting under the dryer. She barely took my old polish off and didn't ask how I liked my nails filed so some were square some were rounded. My nail polish had air bubbles in it and I expressed throughout my time how unhappy I was with the job that was being done. That said and done the lady then card my card and stood over me and stuck her hand out and said "tip" that was extremely unprofessional and rude. I am always one to tip regardless. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS PLACE AND WILL NEVER BE BACK read more

Awful!! i got a full set acrylic nails here and 3 nails have fallen off already and i got them done 5 days ago!

I have gone to this salon for several years and have been very pleased the problem is that they change management often and the current management is terrible. I recently visited the salon for a pedicure. The girl they sent me to was obviously a student or intern. She had no clue how to clip or file my nails or anything else about a pedicure and kept appoligizing to me for being inexperienced. Another technicial attempted to help her and was reprimanded by the manager??? It felt it was very unfair to me as well as to the student to expect her to assist customers with out proper training and guidance from trained staff. I did not complain and gave the girl a tip as she was very sweet and really trying to do her best with no help from he management. Everyone should have an opportunity to learn but they should have provided her with a trained person to supervise. I deserved to receive professional service. Management is very lax. I will be looking for a new salon. read more

Asked for a French gel pedicure and not what I received . After waiting 45 min my pedicure was horrible . Boiling water to put my feet in . When I said it was to hot she looked at added water with attitude . Dead skin or cuticles were not cut . I should have saved my 45 dollars . When I told her she still didn't fix it . Then when I paid Jackie said you should have told us . It's a pedicure I am at nail salon . It's shouldn't be a problem ! read more

I went in there with my daughter for her special day. I treated her with mani and pedi but the girl who did my daughter did very sloppy job. Mine were done fairly decent but my daughter came home crying that day. I thought it was because the girl rushed her manipedi and she wasn't treated as well as the other customers. She actually hurt her during the process and now my daughter never wants to go back. It seemed like a really good place to get a manicure and pedicure but will not go back!! read more

Great, spacious new salon. Paraffin wax is a real treat. Always does a nice job, I've had no complaints. Walk ins are accepted although they do get busy so an appointment is always better. I've been coming here for years. I've been to many in the area an I always return here. Gel manicures are $30 but always last me at least 2 weeks, if not more. I never feel rushed. Keep in mind tip is cash only. read more

I have been a regular customer here for several years and have always been satisfied. Today I had the mani-pedi from hell. I arrived a few minutes early for my appointment only to find that they were running late. Twenty minutes later I was escorted to a pedi chair. The tech turned the pedi water on and walked away to work on another customer. I was chatting with the woman sitting next to me, when I suddenly realized the water had overflowed. Big time, water everywhere. Another 15 minutes passed while 3 techs cleaned up. Meanwhile several walk-in customers arrived. The 4 techs who were already behind with customers were now even further behind and I had to "share" my tech with someone who had walked in without an appointment. Twenty minutes later, a different tech began my pedicure. Between my pedicure and manicure, the tech ran off to start another customer. More walk-in customers. Tech was gone for another 10 minutes or so. Finally, back to start my mani. Then took another 10 minute leave to take care of another customer. When I finally complained about having to wait so long and share a tech with walk-in customers, another tech came over to finish. I had a gel mani, so the paraffin dip was done at the end. As I was returning to my chair from having the paraffin dip done (hands covered with paraffin and plastic wrap), I went to sit back down in my chair. In the past the tech always stood behind the chair to stabilize it (chairs have rollers, floor is tiled). Unfortunately, today the tech walked away and did not hold the chair for me. I did not realize that she had walked away and sat down ON THE FLOOR as the chair slid out from under me and rolled across the salon. Not even an apology from the staff. My mani-pedi took 2 hours and I left with a headache and a "jarred" feeling from falling to the floor. I am so disappointed, not to mention humiliated. I find it so rude that they would accept all of these walk-in customers when they were already running behind. I find it rude that they would make customers who had made an appointment "share" a tech with one or more other customers. And finally, I find it unacceptable that when a customer falls because of their inattentiveness, that they do not even apologize. read more

New to chester and I went here for first time this week. Facility was very clean and modern and the people working there friendly. The person who did my service was awesome. I had a pedicure, manicure and chair massage for my aching shoulders. Very pleased. I will return without a doubt. read more

Wont ever go back. I used to love the service and quality Waited over an hour for the worst pedicure that took 15 minutes . It's gone down hill. read more

Would never go to another nail salon again. Larkin is the best there, ask for him. They give you exactly what you want plus some. The spa pedicure is a little pricey but you get WHT you pay for! read more

After 3 strikes that is it. I will NEVER go back to Essence Nails and Spa (shop rite plaza) in Chester NY. My last nightmare was a week ago. My 11 year old daughter and I wanted to have a girls day out of mani and pedi. I requested the gel polish which was very rushed with my nails filed slanted, even though no one was in the waiting area. The pedicure was the same, the worst that I ever had. Within 3 days the gel began to peel off my nail. I went back to have 3 fingers repairs and the owner had the audacity to have an attitude, after taking my $30. The polish on all the other fingers peeled right off within a week. Please stay away from this place. They are also over priced. read more

I went in as a walk in and the nail tech told me to come back in an hour. I told the nail tech that I needed a repair and fill in. I came back with in the hour and when my polish was removed I needed more then one repair and the lady in the first chair on the right told me the male tech who was fixing my nails didn't have time to fix more then one nail. She also said it's not my problem and to schedule an appointment next time. Keep in mind I asked her if she had time and she said sure come back in an hour which I did. I was there the week before for a fill in and my wraps started lifting. She was so rude and unprofessional I've never been treated like that. I was in complete shock. She spent more time telling me she didn't want the male tech to fix more then one nail instead of just fixing it. If you want to go to a nail salon that's acts like they are paying you for a service then go there. Not to mention they are over priced. read more

I don't get my nails done that often. One of the reasons for this is because i have never found a place that i am fully satisfied with. I have been to many nail salons throughout the area, and none of them have been worth going back to. I went into Essence because it is close to the gym i go to and wanted to get my nails done fast after. First impression, is that they are very attentive, and the place was beautiful and clean. They have soft music playing which was nice and it was a very relaxing atmosphere. I liked that they did exactly what i wanted without trying to push more expensive options on me. I asked for a gel manicure and a pedicure. The pedicure was really nice and relaxing, the chairs were great. Then he did the mani which was awesome and dipped my hand in wax afterward to make my hands nice and soft. Overall my experience was great and i will definitely be coming back to this place. I highly recommend it to everyone. read more

Pretty disappointing. I wanted to like this place--it looks beautiful, but I've gotten better service at nail salons in the area that are much less expensive. First of all, I had an appointment for a gel mani and a pedi. I waited 1/2 hour and then they wanted to do my gel mani first. Really? Who does that? Then, my pedi wouldn't be dry and I'd have to wait around for my pedi to dry or risk ruining it. So, I said I would rather wait and do my pedi first. So, in total I waited 50 minutes, which is absurd. The pedi was lackluster. What I mean is, it felt like everything the technician did was for show. He barely scrubbed my feet. It was kind of like he was pretending to trim my cuticles, but there was literally no skin on the clipper, so I asked him to trim the cuticles more. He said, "I already did that." Ok....then. I should have left. Rude, rude, rude. To make matters worse, the pedi was pretty messy--with polish on white flip flops and on my skin, not to mention the dead skin that should have been trimmed off. The gel manicure was nice and neat, but I felt that the technician was annoyed at me for asking him to make the French tips wider. How dare I make a request!! Well, for $65 plus tip, I'm pretty sure I wasn't out of lline. He asked me if I wanted the parrafin wax. I said no because I just wanted out of there. Plus, if it was incuded, why ask? Just do it. Everyplace else I've been to does. I've had friends who went here and were happy, but I'll surely NEVER go back. Now I know why there were only a few people in the place at 5:30 on a Friday night. read more