I came here to get a hard gel manicure and they did a perfect job. I'm very picky about where I go because I have long natural nails. The woman who did my nails was friendly and talented and the salon itself was clean and relaxing. I would recommend to anyone! read more

The Upper Hand - Fall manicure - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I've been getting my nails done by Ann and team since 2017. Every single time, I am impressed by their meticulous attention to detail and care for my nails. I cannot recommend the Upper Hand enough. It is consistently my favorite nail salon. read more

I'm so sorry I waisted my money here. I have to say the place looked nice I was greeted by a very nice woman at the front desk. She sat me down with a lady who did care to hear what I wanted. I asked for a design she said no and I said why and she said "it won't look good". A little time later I said " can you put another coat of nail polish"? She looked at me so mad and almost yelled no. My nails looked so bad after that, and I was getting the most basic French tip. Please use ur money in a better way and don't buy here. They need more respectful nail techs. read more

Pluses: Decent nail salon hood for basic mani/pedi. Seems like they have some regulars so probably pretty consistent service. The pre-pedi soak had a lemon and flower in the water which was a nice touch. Staff were cordial. Minuses: Attention to detail could be better; when they trimmed my toenail, they missed a corner. The next day when I was putting on socks, it snagged my sock. Also, there are a lot of pictures of nail art on the site but I question whether or not that's their strength because when I asked for a pretty basic design, they initially said they could do it but after I sat down, they suddenly said they couldn't. It would have been better if they just said no upfront. I'd return if I needed a basic mani/pedi in a pinch. read more

The Upper Hand has services you won't find at other salons. While they may not have the massage chairs and soak tubs that you see elsewhere, I really enjoy the aromatherapy hot wrap that they put on your neck during treatment. They don't skimp on the massage with your mani/pedi. The nail technicians are so friendly and welcoming and accommodating. Also love their online booking system. read more

A regular pedi is $39.00- and not gel. They do a good job, that is true based on the regular (non gel) pedicure and gel removal for hands I had here. Unfortunately I do think their prices are very high for the city. I live in the neighborhood and regularly pay 70-80$ for a gel mani with removal and regular pedi. I was charged close to $70 for a regular pedi and just gel removal (no manicure at all) The staff do seem very nice and the space is clean-- I just think with so many salons in the area they would do well to adjust their pricing to market a bit more. read more

Finally, after 30 years of living here, a wonderful nail shop in Noe Valley! I almost hate to let the secret out. Great service by Joann, Anne and really the entire crew. Joann revived my weak nails, and now they are consistently beautiful. Gel manicures last 3+ weeks, the pedicures with massage are wonderful, the shop is super clean and if you make an appointment, they are very good about making sure you don't have to wait-I think this is important. I have lots of experience over the years in many nail shops in SF (downtown, Noe Valley, other neighborhoods) and this is definitely one of if not the best! So happy they are on 24th Street! read more

My mani lasted more than a week which is a first so have to give this place five stars. Also got a great pedicure. The place is pretty cute and tasteful. They have comfortable sofa-style chairs, rather than the typical nail salon massage chairs which I personally don't like. Customer service was solid, and they had a plentiful selection of colors. Will definitely be back. read more

DO NOT COME HERE TO GET YOUR EYEBROWS WAXED. Super over priced and I had to tweezer my eyebrows when I got back to the car. Only reason I gave two stars was because the managed to wax my upper lip lol read more

Nice service all of them done so wonderful for nails care , unbelievable I will be back soon thank you all your guy I love this shop have a wonderful days all you ( most beautiful lady ) read more

Sweetest lady does a sick job with the dip manicure. Check it out! Tad pricey with pedi it was over 100 but worth it!! read more

The Upper Hand - Dip manicure - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

Beware! I have been looking forward to getting a pedicure for weeks and instead of a lovely pedicure and feeling relaxed, I left The Upper Hand with a bleeding big toe cuticle. To add injury to insult, the nail technician tried to pretend she didn't do it. My cuticle was not bleeding or red when I arrived but certainly was when I left. Not even an apology! read more

So awesome and friendly. Love coming. Did the powder and dip nails. My nails use to crack twice a week, now I almost never break a nail. read more

The Upper Hand - Nail art - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ann is a miracle worker. She gave me the best set of extensions for a party. Such a good experience. Cannot recommend Upper Hand enough! read more

See all

Ann was super sweet. She did a great job with dip powder and then design. She has a great design taste. read more

The Upper Hand - Powder with Ann - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

First time at this salon and will be my last. I called for an appointment and they said they can take me if I come right away. I was there within 15 minutes and still waited another 30 minutes until my appointment began. The chairs you sit in are very uncomfortable and they soak your feet in cold water. There is no way to adjust the chair and I felt uncomfortable the entire time. I felt the service was overall subpar and overpriced for what it was. read more

What brought me into this place was the list of amenities you would receive during a manicure and pedicure- neck wrap, hot towel, rose petal water.. but when sitting down none of this happened. I double checked and asked if I was getting the correct "classic mani pedi" .. still no neck wrap or hot towel. Especially paying $60 each for gel this isn't worth the money. They did get me in quick but overall experience was not worth $120. It's frustrating to be ripped off and ignored. read more

Pretty disappointed in this place. Checked it out based on the reviews because my usual neighborhood spot is closed for a month vacation. My cuticles are a mess, my gel polish is full of bubbles, my nails are uneven, and I was there for an hour and a half-so it doesn't seem to be a time issue. I didn't receive any of the services that are listed to come with the manicure and pedicure, not even a massage. I was draped in the aromatic neck wrap which was wrapped in a hair net and smelled like burnt microwave popcorn leaving my shirt stinking for the rest of the day. My gel mani/pedi service was the most expensive I've had in the neighborhood. Two stars because the ladies are nice and they do have a large selection of polish. read more

was on a date with my bestie here& Got the best nails i've ever had! Thanks a looot. Im im love with the atmosphere

I wanted to love this place. The owner is very sweet but they just can't seem to get their timing together. The two times I have gone with my partner, each time we made appointments and each time they run at least 15 mins behind. In the last instance, they were slammed and it effected not just us but everyone else that had an appt behind us. But they still didn't turn people away, or tell patrons that they couldn't help them with additional services that they didn't book. One person walked in and asked if there was availability, when told 5, they asked if that was real bc apparently they had to wait over 45 mins previously. And when they rush the quality of the mani/pedis is def affected. This time my partners manicure is still a bit rough. For mine, they asked me to move right after they painted my toes, which I had waited for them to do for 15mins, and tried to provide a heater on a chair that didnt have the room for it. After the polish got messed up from the switching around, I finally just asked for it to be removed, paid and left. read more

The service was lovely, and I loved having Chanel nail color options (part of the price). My pedicure came out fine but my manicure looked worse than when I came (photos attached) cuticles looked not properly taken care of, with parts of nail polish on them. Would not be going back read more

The Upper Hand - Nails right after mani - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

The Upper Hand consistently does an amazing job. I've gone to their salon a total of 4 times now and will continue to come back! I make an appointment before visiting as they are very busy and in high demand with a relatively small space, but they are always prompt and on time. The TUH team is thorough, patient and incredibly attentive throughout the entire service (I always get mani + pedi). The cuticle work is always incredibly well down and has fixed a lot of the issues I used to have with mine! With each manicure, you're given a neck and back massage and it's amazing. You're also given a heated neck wrap that stays on your shoulders throughout the duration of your service, and the essential oils they use in both that and the mani/pedi water is the perfect addition! The price is comparable to other spas I've frequented and is definitely a bargain as you're treated with such professionalism. I've recommended this place and will continue to do so. I'm so happy I moved to the area - this is a gem for sure! BONUS: they have loads of toxin-free polish options which is a must for me! read more

The Upper Hand - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

very clean!! great service everyone is so nice and gentle! very clean environment! amazing service!! read more

This review is long overdue! The Upper Hand is my regular neighborhood nail salon :) They have hands down the highest quality, longest-lasting gel manicures that don't do tons of damage your nails. I've gone 6-8 weeks between manis with no chipping or cracking at all (especially during the lockdown). Ann and all her nail techs are really nice and supremely patient / meticulous even when I ask them to do a tricky design. They also offer shoulder massages and a warm neck compress when you come in. So lucky to have them in Noe! read more

I frequent here for gel manicures and I really like this place. I wash my hands a ton for work, and my nails grow super fast, and they still hold up well. Gel manis are about 50 minutes, which is good because it means they're properly using the led light repeatedly after each polish to secure the gels & make them long lasting. The chairs are super comfortable and the space is really nice and clean. It's a relaxing environment to sit and be pampered by Ann and her team. The prices are fair and affordable. read more

The Upper Hand - My nail after about two weeks + - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

I searched for months to find a good nail salon and finally found this wonderful gem in Noe Valley. I go every 2 weeks for a gel mani-pedi and the service is consistently great. From the moment I walk into the salon, I feel welcomed and pampered by Ann, the owner, and by JoAnn, who does my fingernails, and Nicky, who does my toes and gives the best foot massages. JoAnn's meticulous and won't let me leave the salon until my nails look perfect. The Upperhand is top-notch! read more

See all

I don't normally write reviews on yelp but I cannot overestimate how much I LOVE this place! The people working there are so lovely and they always do an incredible job, so detailed and efficient. I come every 3 weeks and they have helped my nails grow so much longer. The facility is super clean. Would definitely recommend! read more

The Upper Hand - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

I already loved going here to get my nails done, but I decided to try out the dip manicure with an ombré design, and I do not regret it one bit. Joanne was wonderful, and my nails look absolutely amazing. This picture doesn't even do it justice--it looks stunning in person. Looking forward to seeing how long it lasts and I'm probably going to keep getting dip manicures in the future. Thanks Joanne! read more

The Upper Hand - Ombre dip manicure - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

Gel manicure was typical but they did file down the nails (aka thin the nails) a lot more than usual and even used the electric file thing to file down the nail right next to the cuticle. After years of gel manicures I never saw this done before and was cringing since it's just weakening the nail right at the base. Pedicure was odd... they did the whole pedicure and I sat there for a while while they the rest of my manicure so my toenails were close to dry. Then they did a paraffin bag thing on my feet which seemed odd because it was at the end of the pedicure and I was near dry. But I just went with it and figured this would be fine. Then not surprisingly, the polish got smudged so they have to repolish and I had to sit there another 30 min waiting to dry. I asked if this is how they normally do things and they acted like it was normal. All and all it ended up being fine but be prepared to be there a while if this is truly how they do things. read more

This review is long overdue. I came here to get a pedicure and honestly I don't think the person who did my pedicure had a license. She cut my nails so short to the point where It was painful for a whole week! Additionally, I was treated differently as opposed to the other caucasian customers who were there. If you are brown, do not come here, they will not treat you right. Also, I'm pretty sure it's illegal to ask your customers to give gratuity in cash, that's so tacky in my opinion. read more

Been coming here since 2018. Tried dip powder for the first time with an almond shape and I love the results. Service here is always stellar and the ladies are super welcoming. Recommend making a reservation on the weekends because they can get quite busy! Will definitely be trying more dip powder colors in the future. read more

The Upper Hand - Dip powder nails with almond shape. - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

I chose this place on a whim and I'm so glad I did. I was looking for nail salons that were open and had same day availability. I was able to schedule a same day, when I showed up I had to wait about 15 mins or so which is no biggie for me. I felt incredibly safe with their safety protocols. They give you hand sanitizer before you sign in, check your temperature, and put you in your seat with a giant sneeze guard that goes all the way around and were constantly disinfecting and cleaning things. They were incredibly kind and gentle. I haven't gotten a mani-pedi since... February? So I'm sorry for what they had to endure I feel so much better and was so happy with their work. read more

The Upper Hand - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

Really 3.5 but round up because I get being in the service industry during covid sucks. Clean shop. Nice ladies. Decent price. Basic pedicure $35 and they asked for tip in cash (luckily I had it) plexiglass screen between each of the chairs as well as in front of you. Washed gloved hands which is a general no from my perspective. Online appointments available which is a plus but it got busy at the end so I wasn't given a dryer and about 15 minutes of being patient had to finally ask them to let me out of my Plexiglass cage because they were all focused on other folks. Parking: meters on 24th. Some neighborhood 2 hour. read more

I love this nail salon. When I moved into the area I was so nervous about finding a quality place. I came here first and I've never been to another spot. The services are amazing (my gels last the whole month), we'll priced, and they always give you exactly what you want. Everyone is so kind and makes sure you are so happy with your nails before you leave! read more

The Upper Hand - Nails - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ann was so great!! I've been looking for a good nail salon around Noe Valley and this is the place to go! Highly recommend to anyone looking for a go to salon here. Great atmosphere too, definitely my new spot. read more

The Upper Hand - Dip with Tip in color bubble bath - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came in as a walk in and instantly greeted. The nail techs were so kind and sweet. I came in wanting a full set but the woman who did my nails said that my natural nails were long enough for the shape I wanted and she saved me lots of money! She was able to do the designs i wanted and was very detailed. Will be coming back read more

The Upper Hand - Red French tip with gold crescent moon and star - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

My friend and I got a manicure and pedicure here and the whole experience was great. I felt very safe with all of the precautions and protocols they have in place for covid. The experience was very relaxing - we decided to get the Mani/pedi that came with a hot stone massage and that was amazing. Parking in the neighborhood was pretty easy and we were able to call and make a same day appointment. My hands and feet look amazing. read more

The Upper Hand - Nail Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

We went to upper hand for a mani with my besties for my Birthday. They were super sweet, friendly and even fixed my nails when we all left early and messed rhem up. Best experience ever! read more

Disappointed :( I was happy they could take me for a walk-in pedicure. It's not something I do often so it was definitely a special treat. Nice selection of polish colors including from Zoya and Butter London. Individual use bowls for foot soaking (no gross hard-to-clean shared jet tubs). No aromatherapy neck wrap as advertised (maybe a COVID thing?). Seemed to do a nice and careful job. However, the evening after my pedicure and the following day, my left big toe became increasingly swollen, red, and painful next to the toenail. It looks like it is infected. Now I'm concerned about their sanitation practices and my foot hurts :( I'm sad because I enjoyed the experience at the time and the results looked nice but an infection is just not worth it. read more

Great job on upper hand pedicure from Joanne. Very strong massage with hot stones and paraffin. Nice lady.