U & I Nails

Nail techs are nice and calm. They give very long massages very good service don’t feel rushed here.

I had a very disappointing experience at this salon. My daughter and I went there hoping for mani-​pedis and some fun time together. When we came in we were directed to the pedi chairs, where we sat for almost an hour before they even filled the basins. Then we had another very long wait while we soaked our feet. There was a horrible smell in the room which my daughter said was probably the autoclave machine. The TV was on very loud, also, which didn’t make for a serene experience. Finally someone came and started giving me my pedi, but my daughter continued to wait while another employee worked on someone who had come in after us. My daughter finally gave up and left. I spoke up about this and the employee was nice and apologetic about it. The pedicure was fine, no problem there, but I didn’t have time for a manicure and left without tipping them. I won’t be back as I don’t have time to spend two or three hours at a nail salon. They should have warned us that it would be a long wait.

I wouldn’t know if they do a good job or not (I had to leave because it took so damn long), but I do know this: suggesting customers go sit in pedicure chairs giving the impression that they will be served relatively soon, leaving them there for an hour without even the jets running, and then serving a regular customer despite the fact that they have been there for far less time is BAD BUSINESS PRACTICE. It’s also just plain ridiculous to serve one person of a two person party 30 minutes before serving the other person. Suffice it to say, I will not be coming back here.

Back in my glory days at U of I, I would visit U & I nails faithfully every two weeks to have my acrylics filled. Yes, I was a sorority girl, so of course I had fake nails.
Fast forward to last week, when I returned to the C-​U for a recruiting trip for work. I was in dire need of a mani/​pedi and had some time to kill, so I was excited to return to my old stomping grounds.
I didn’t notice any real upgrades/​updates in the place over the past five years, but they keep the space pretty plain and simple.
Sure enough, just as I remember, the mani/​pedi and friendly service I received were even better than my favorite Chicago spots. A mani/​pedi was $ 35, which is what I pay at my usual Loop salons, and given the precision with which they trim and polish, I’d have happily paid more.
They were lacking some of the newest Essie colors (like Chinchilly and Little Brown Dress), so if you are seeking a very specific color I’d recommend that you BYO just in case.

This place was great! Everything was clean, and the employees were welcoming and interested in talking to the guests. rather than just to each other. They were also all out on the floor, not hiding in a back room until they’re told they have a client, like other salons I’ve gone to.
The pedicure was good, but nothing out of the ordinary from the usual routine — soak, scrub, massage, paint, etc. — and the price was typical at around $ 30, plus extra for design.
I’d definitely recommend giving this place a try :)