Carlin's is the best!! Relax Nails is the most creative, customer-friendly nail spa in San Francisco!! If you have a special request for your mail designs., this is the place to go! Carlina and her staff are very adept at all nail designs. There are are all the colors to choose from and any design is possible! I've been getting my nails done here for about 12 years now! I get gel nail polish because I play guitar and like to keep my nails really short ! Also, no one here in San Francisco does waxing like Carlina! I had just given up on getting my legs fully waxed. Every time I went to a new nail/waxing salon the same result occurred: not completely smooth , bumpy and not what I requested. I had never had my legs waxed at Relax Nails until last month. What a miracle!! Smooth legs for once!! Thank you, Carlina!! read more

I've been coming to Relax Nails for a couple years now, I always leave with a clean gel manicure and pedicure. Lately I've been super busy and I wasn't able to come in for my usual monthly pedicure, I was speechless when my recent pedicure lasted over 5 weeks! No chips whatsoever, thank you Carlina! read more

Relax Nails - Gel pedicure - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

Loved them, they were super sweet. They did exactly the design I was looking for, and they took great care of my natural nails. Also liked that I could speak Chinese with them. read more

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I was just admiring the fact that it's been over two weeks and my gel mani by Carlina is still looking perfect! I have usually chipped something by now, even with gel. The shop is calm and the staff are friendly and careful. I'll definitely be back. read more

Relax Nails - Gel 2.5 weeks old - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

Carina and Susana gave me the best birthday attention and made my nails (hands and toes) looks fantastic. They both are very talented and fast! 100% recommend it! read more

Relax Nails - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

Relax Nails is a very basic, no-frills spot for a mani/pedi or waxing. Waxing services are cheap, straight-forward, and efficient (which is great if you're experienced and maybe not great if you're new to it). Gel manicures are the standard $25-35, depending on the brand of polish you select (but unlike most nail salons, the prices are labeled on their color samples so you know what you're paying extra for, rather than being slapped an additional $5 for OPI at the end of your session). The color selection here is decent, not super limited but also not overwhelmingly varied, which can be nice if you want stuff to choose from but don't want to feel like you're at Home Depot looking at paint swatches. Probably not best to come here for elaborate nail designs unless you feel like taking your time and/or live in the hood. I Iive up the street and have never had anything but positive experiences with the staff of Relax Nails but I also acknowledge that it's best for straight-forward, no-nonsense beauty services. As it were, I came in last Friday for gel removal and a gel manicure w/ a triangle design that went really well. The woman who worked on them did an exceptional job and really took her time to make sure each nail had an even coat and matched the one next to it. Wouldn't call this a destination nail salon but it's great if you're in the area and need some waxing or a mani/pedi done. read more

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I adore Relax Nails! Carlina and her team are efficient, they work very hard to make sure your mani/pedi is absolutely *perfect* before finishing, and they are very reasonably priced. I love that they take cleanliness standards so seriously here. Every time I've been the files/callus removers have been brand new for my appointment, and the hard equipment has been taken directly out of their UV cleaning machine for me. They set such a high standard and are so kind, I couldn't imagine going anywhere else. read more

Relax nails is the best! Be sure to book an appointment cause they can get busy. Super affordable prices too! I got a gel mani and a regular pedi. I had custom nail art done, and they did a great job. 10/10 would recommend! read more

Relax Nails - white and blue moon phase nails - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

Carlina and her team are the best! I typically get a gel manicure and regular pedicure, and both last forever. They're super quick, fun to chat with and are usually able to fit me in on short notice when I call. I wouldn't go anywhere else for my nails! read more

this spot is so lovely and everyone is so sweet and talented! i got my nails done with gel over a month ago and even though I work with my hands, I've had no chipping at all. Definitely worth it!! read more

A little disappointed in the fact that they charge a fee for removal ($3) when you get a new gel manicure. I haven't been to a salon where they do that and the lady said that everyone does it... they did a good job overall but they never mentioned the fee until I saw the charge. One lady said $30 and when I got my bill it was $33 which is why I asked. If that's the case, tell me $33 not $30!!! Oh well, I just stopped by here to get my nails done the day after thanksgiving because it was the only place that was opened read more

Relax Nails - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

Carlina is amazing, incredibly attentive and gave me beautiful nails to show off! She spent time and a half making sure they looked awesome and helped create a one of a kind design based off my photos and comments. Everyone at relax nails is wonderful and the service here was amazing. I had a wonderful time and highly recommend :) come here for your nails!! read more

Relax Nails - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

That's my 2nd time at Relax Nails, and I'm really happy every time. They are really professional and meticulous with work. They are really caring, and can't wait to go back for my next gel mani! read more

Relax Nails - Gel manicure - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

Went on a Tuesday afternoon and was in and out in 40min. Gel manicure was $25 and they accept credit cards but prefer cash. They are so sweet and she made sure to be very detailed with my nails making sure she did an extra coat because she noticed it was a bit thin. Will definitely be back soon for a easy no frills gel manicure. read more

Relax Nails - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

I can't say enough great things about Relax nails! I have been a regular customer for years because of the excellent quality of work, cleanliness and how friendly Karina and all the ladies are! Karina has waxed my eyebrows for years and no one else I have seen at other salons have ever matched her skills and abilities. I moved to Oakland last year and when things opened up again I did get a couple gel manicures in my neighborhood and they hardly lasted a week!! I recently took bart to SF and visited Karina and left with amazing brows and a gel manicure that actually lasted 21 days! I will be crossing the bridge to exclusively get my nails done at Relax from now on. The best! read more

This place is no frills, but they do a wonderful job! They are friendly, meticulous and fast! Good selection of colors and options (gel and non-gel) and also very honest (one time I chose a gel color and they suggested another similar shade because my pick didn't last as long). I've also had their facial and waxing services, both are great! It's not fancy, but is clean and gets the job done. The facial was surprising awesome! Very relaxing, Carlina has a great touch. My skin was smooth and glowing. Better than some $$$$ facials I've gotten. Prices are great, cash is preferred but they always graciously accept credit card payments. Bottomline: this is a neighborhood gem, go enjoy! read more

I have been going here for over 4 years now. Can't say enough about the good, quality service here, before and during Covid! They've since updated to screens between all the chairs, which adds to the safety and health measures three always took . And they do the best nails !!! read more

Price for regular mani pedi is now $45. This is not posted anywhere so just an FYI. Feels expensive even considering the inflation rate.

I had a great experience at Relax nails right before Christmas. She did a great job with many layers, and even did an accent nail. Overall really quality nails at an affordable price. Would highly recommend! read more

I just got a manicure and pedicure from Relax nails and had a wonderful experience! Carlina and the other woman working there not only did a great job on my nails but made me feel so welcomed and safe. They personally built glass shields that separated us and myself from other customers, while wearing face masks. It was nice to still get pampered while feeling safe in these trying times. They were so appreciative of my business, and I hope this review let's others know to go and support them as well. :) read more

Super cute, clean and friendly nail salon. Convenient location on Haight perfect for stopping by before or after shopping. The ladies here are efficient and quick! Also a great selection of colors as well. read more

They do an amazing job! I used to go a lot when I still lived in the city. I never feel too rushed and my gel always lasts a long time. Highly recommend. The ladies that work there are so sweet and always very welcoming. read more

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The wonderful ladies at Relax Nails are back! They are always the most welcoming and do a GREAT job on my nails. The salon is taking reservations, keeping the space Covid compliant and they will greet you with a smile! Go get your nails done ! read more

I would probably skip this place, there are better salons in the same price range. Went in for a regular manicure and asked for a square shape- the manicurist clipped my nails so short that I was wincing the entire time and then proceeded to dig into my nail bed to file the remaining nail into a literal geometric square, complete with sharp 90% angles and straight edges. It looks as bad as it sounds but unfortunately I didn't really notice until after I had already dried my nails... The manicurist was very friendly and allowed me to test two colors first which I appreciated. Color turned out well but during the actual painting, she got nail polish on the sides with almost every stroke and had to continuously scrape down the sides of my finger with her own nails (resulting in a really uncomfortable feeling of dried nail polish building up under my nail) "no-frills" is also a very generous way to describe the facilities...Overall would not recommend read more

The absolute BEST gel manicure you will ever get. Fair price. Nice staff. Good for appointments and walk in. Also a great eye brow wax.

I'm from London and stayed in SF for less than 24hours, in the desperate attempt to get my nails done I came here. I must say I was impressed, I had a full set of acrylics done and I was very happy. She did a great job in terms of shaping, they are exactly how I imagined them to be. I have only one criticism, the shaping was so so so perfect and my nails looked beautiful but she rushed the painting as there was a customer waiting. So if i look close enough, there are a few tiny bubbles and on some nails you can see both coats where she didn't reach the edge properly. It's not the most comfortable place, it's very basic and cheap. I didn't go there for a lavish and luxurious experience, I was there to get my nails done well and I did. Simples. Here's a link to a picture of them. http://instagram.com/p/XJIVmfOiz9/ read more

Relax Nails - 21/03/13 - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

I called this nail salon when they were about to close to see if they could take my boyfriend and I last minute before we were heading off to Burning Man. They we kind enough to say yes and stay late to finish our mani and peti. Not only where they quick but they're quality and price was great. We will be coming back :) read more

Great Service, convenient location, and beautiful work on my nails! Love my gel nails!! read more

Relax Nails - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

Certifiably, the worst mani/pedi I have ever had. Yes, the ladies are nice, but it felt like pressure to tip more. I wanted to tip nothing, since the salon is dirty, they made my cuticles bleed, and they mostly ignored me except when I cried out in pain at the vicious scraping of my toenail beds. Ugh. In all the years I lived around the corner from this place, I made the extra effort to go up to Divisadero nails instead! For the same price you can get a spa chair at several other (cleaner) salons around the city, which means there is no excuse for the crappy little foot tubs this place uses. UPDATE, MARCH 2006: They got a bit of a makeover so now they have spa chairs. Fine. Passable. But the technicians are still unskilled and have sloppy tendencies, like making you pay after your nails are wet, and neglecting the moisturizing/hot towels portion of the manicure. read more

Omg I love this nail spa! The staff is so nice and they are quick without making you feel rushed. They have a good color selection and great attention to detail. The shop is small, so maybe better for you and a friend vs. the whole brunch squad. read more

I agree with Taler C. and Chelsea R.! I've actually been coming here since '05 and have always gone for an eyebrow wax only. I've never gotten my nails done, and that's not because of these bad reviews, I've just never had the desire to, so I s'pose I have ESP. Like Taler mentioned, you're in and out in 5-10 minutes, and on with your shapely eyebrow'd life! If you're into no frills like I am, (because I feel bad enough that the poor ladies have to do this nasty job) this is the place. I started coming here because I used to live literally 10 steps from the door, but now that I've moved 5 times since then, including one apartment in Oakland, I still make the trek, even when I had to cross the Bay to do it. Call me a creature of habit! I am actually headed there sometime today, my eyebrows are afuzz. read more

Second worst manicure I've ever received in my life. Customer service: Terrible. My nail lady interrupted my mani THREE separate times and just left me to sit there while she acommodated people who walked in and wanted to get waxed. I even called to make an appt. but that did not matter one bit. The lady was 15 minutes late to start me and then made me wait as she helped all of the walk-ins. Cleanliness: The UV light thing you put your hands in to cure the gel was FILTHY. Like seriously disgusting. There was two dead nats in the back corner of it. Paint job: Meh. Wasn't awful but definitely not good. The only reason this place is the second worst mani ever is because a different chop shop in n. beach gave me the worst streaky polish ever. Would NEVER go back to this place and am seriously clueless as to why its so highly rated. read more

i go here regularly, but NOT for the mani/pedi. i must agree that they are pretty bad when it comes to your nails. An average manicure lasts two days before you your nails look shredded, and polish chips. They don't seem to take their time thats for sure. However, when it comes to waxing, they get an A. I work a block away and when my eyebrows are getting hairy I know I can run over to Relax Nails and they will get the job done in 5 mins. Ive been at least a dozen times and my brows are always perfect ( which is not an easy feat, ha!). They can be a bit rough and no nonsense, but Ive never broken out, and they have never cut corners. Nails, no way, but waxing, highly recommended. p.s. Ive never seen a salon that doesnt charge more for a french?! read more

I have a love-hate relationship with this place. I usually love the outcome of the appointment and the location is super convenient for me, but almost always hate the experience. Here's what happened today - 1. After my face wax, I asked if they had Aloe Vera gel and I was told that they didn't. No problem - except that it was right there on her cart!! I pointed this out and she proceeded to give it to me. Could have been an honest mistake, I don't know! 2. Katrina seriously needs to chill. During my full legs and arms waxing appointment - I asked her to wax the upper part of my leg, to which she said it would be considered bikini wax and I told her than I would be happy to pay extra if that is what she meant. Now the same thing while waxing my arms - I asked her to wax the upper part of my arms (while waxing my full arms) and she FLIPPED OUT! 'I don't know what you need.' 'It's always complicated with your appointments' 'I get nervous and forget what I'm doing' 'you should just go elsewhere' 'I don't like being told what to do'. I asked if she could just charge me extra and wax the upper part of my arm (because I don't like the contrast between waxed and not-waxed skin when I wear sleeveless), and she said yes. It should have been that simple and she just went on a rant instead. I tried to pacify her by telling her not to be nervous, that I have certain requirements for waxing and didn't mind paying extra for it. She said 'you should tell me you need this as an extra and will pay for it'. So, now she is teaching me how to ask for the services! At this point, I asked if I could speak with the owner because I really need to understand how I could get the services I needed without conflict. She responded that she was the owner. Nothing wrong with that, except that only during the previous appointment she had told me that she wasn't the owner of the shop! I paid her and left, telling her that I would never come back again. Sigh, I really wish this would have worked out better. I tried! :-| read more

Generic, kind of crappy nail place, but it's cheap ($8 mani). However, today my technician spoke NO English besides "hello" and "round or square", they made me pay with wet nails, and the polish is streaky. Plus, I was the only customer in the salon and all three women working there talked to each other the entire time. I don't expect spa service for dirt cheap, but I do expect at minimum servicable nails. The mani didn't last long and looked like I did it myself. Walk up Haight to Haight Nails, which is about the same price but 10,000x better. There is no reason why a cheap mani has to be a bad mani. read more

I went to get my upper lip waxed and it was sore, itchy, and burning after receiving the service. Even after 1 week. It is still hurting and red. I've taken ibuprofen and applied a cream. I have gotten my lip waxed numerous times before but this has NEVER happened. It's so embarrassing and I won't be returning here. They also pressure you to tip. :-/ read more

I love relax nails! Carlina & everyone do such a great job, the prices are reasonable & they always are able to fit me in when needed which I appreciate. It's a wonderful neighborhood spot and I love visiting with everyone there. My nails last a long time too. Definitely recommend it. read more

Went to this place because I only had 2 hours before i had to be somewhere and my nails were a wreck. I got acrylics and not only were they $30 but they fucking sucked. she might as well have done them drunk, though drunk she might've done a better job. dont do it san francisco. dont go to this salon. read more

I've been getting my brows done by Carlina for 10 years - yes TEN! I walked into this hidden gem when I first moved to Haight Street and she was quick, efficient, and so kind. I have since moved and will make the trek to Haight because I will not allow anyone else to touch my brows. This place has grown a lot over the last 10 years and now they have great spa/massage chairs for pedicures as well as awesome gel manicures that literally last three weeks. In a city full of similar salons and services, I won't go anywhere else. I'm as loyal to these girls as they are to me and they never disappoint. read more

When it comes to my nails, I'm extremely picky! When I moved to the city I decided to give this place a try because it was so close to my house. Good thing I did because I will not go anywhere else in the city. Relax nails is on the more affordable side and they do an awesome job without the froo froo ambiance! They are super quick but always make sure that I leave with perfect nails. I get a gel manicure done by Carolina every two weeks and I wont go anywhere else. She's the best when it comes to gel! Most nail salons in the city are over priced and do a mediocre job. Relax nails is affordable with a pleasant and talented staff. I highly recommend it! read more