Central Nail Salon

This review is for waxing only.
I can’t help but wonder how they maintain their license after experiencing a wax in an upstairs room with dripping ceilings and loose wires after having to climb over supplies to get there.
Yes, the hair was removed from my face — along with some hair that should have remained on my head.
However, what remains two days later is a lip and cheek full of bumpy itchy red marks where my hair follicles used to be. That is because after having difficulty removing the excess wax off my face, a thick coat of vaseline was applied! I went back to work a swollen itchy bumpy shiny greasy mess.
You have been warned!

I stopped in here for a gel manicure yesterday since they are only $ 25, but quickly found out you get what you pay for.
This place did not seem very clean and was pretty outdated. I was rushed when trying to pick out my color and felt that the staff was very rude.
The tools they used were not sanitary and one even had some kind of rust or discoloration on it — not very assuring.
The woman doing my nails nicked my finger when cutting my cuticles and didn’t say anything — didn’t even acknowledge the fact that I was bleeding! She also had absurdly long nails and kept digging them into my skin, which made for a very unpleasant hand massage (which lasted 30 seconds at most). The polish was all over my cuticles and I thought she did a very sloppy job — Probably won’t be returning here, no matter how good the price is.

Good for a quick mani pedi!

I’ve been coming here for years for a quick brow wax, and manicure and pedicure. For the price, this is the place to go for fast service when you don’t want to pay spa prices or wait the spa wait time or make an appointment.
May is my buddy. She provides all of my services and is the nicest person ever!
She does a great regular french and a great gel french, which I get on my toes sometimes. I love that! I’ve never had a smudge or messed up toe or finger nail.
When drying your regular (non-​gel) mani or pedi, you can stay at the dryers for as long as you’d like. So if you leave and your polish is still wet, it’s on you!

It is not the best for 3 simple reasons: 1. They almost did nothing but putting the nail color on, and claimed that some people don’t like the dead skin to be cleaned since they grow faster back afterwards. 2. They also tried to sell the gel optino with 20 dollars more rather than the 25 dollars combo i asked for. When i said no to it, she was unhappy and seemed to try to finish it as rough as possible the rest. 3. Uneven color.
On the other hand, the color seems to persist quite long, compared to a few others.

The worst manicure and pedicure I ever had! The girl hardly cut any dead skin. It seems that she was pretending to cut not touching my nails or skin. Very sloppy. I was there long time ago and it was the same. I decided yesterday to try again since it is close to work and I got the same mediocre work. I was the only one there, you would expect the will put more effort. I know we are only paying $ 25 for both but I have gone to other places and pay the same and it can’t compare… Dont waste your money. There are other much better places in the area.

.:a Mixed review:.
French pedicure is my thing… So that’s all i’ll review…
++++++
Arrived at 6pm. Done by 6:35. She was thorough and courteous.
Chairs massage back, thighs, butt, and are overall clean.
Sanitary — yes.
I was asked my tip-​width preference. She did a very good job.
total cost: $ 25 + tip… cheap for Rittenhouse adjacent.
–_​-​_​-​_​-​_​–
The place could otherwise use a makeover… carpet, décor, neon… not very inviting.
I waited 3 rounds in the nail dryer… she checked, said I was good to go.
At home, not so. Both pinky toes were completely ruined. I got an 8 toe polish.
Ya get what ya pay for.

I will start with a disclaimer… I’ve lived in Cali too long so I have high manicure and pedicure expectations. And quite simply this place did not meet them.
There was not a massage for the hands or the feet, which is a requirement for me. And my paint job was just a tad better than I do at home myself. (boo!) And my spa chair didn’t work well. And the salon needed a bit updating. Although my services were quick, they shouldn’t have been. They should have been thorough!
If you want someplace somewhat inexpensive $ 25 for mani/​pedi, then head there. but you’ve been warned. I would pass.

After reading the decent reviews, I decided to check this place out. What a mistake. Both my manicure and pedicure are the sloppiest that I’ve ever had and the technician basically chopped off my nails making them ratty little stubs. I do a much better job on myself. I am pissed that I dropped $ 25 + tip and had to go home and tidy up their mistakes.
I wish I could get my time, money, and long pretty nails back.

If you’re looking to get your nails done for a special occasion, and unless you have been going to the same manicurist each time and have had great experiences, I would say skip this place because of its inconsistency. Definitely make an appointment with a manicurist that you have heard/​know is good, but if you walk in it’s the luck of the draw as to whether you will come out with bubbly, unsmooth polish that is left on your cuticles or the best manicure you’ve had for $ 15. The worst experience I had, which left me avoiding this place, was when they cut my pinky toe too short, making it uncomfortable for the next five days (runners, beware!). Otherwise, friendly staff and convenient location. TIP: go on a Wednesday instead of Thursday/​Friday, when it can get packed (especially during the summer) and your wait can be long even with an appointment.
— pinkposy

A decent, well-​located super cheap and fast place for a manicure. Emphasis on cheap. The place (like some other nail salons) looks stuck in the eighties and that’s probably also the last time the place got a good cleaning.
The whole place needs a scrub down. There is a veneer of dirt and dust everywhere. Everything looks old and worn. Nail polish selection is budget with a very limited number of OPI and Essie and even those bottles look old. On the other hand (sorry), my manicure has lasted five days even with heavy activity — so that might warrant another quick cheap return in the future.

When I wrote my last review I had never had a manicure @ Central Nails. Since then I have had two and I am very impressed. They both lasted 6 – 7 days without chipping! I dont know about you but I never had a manicure last more than two days without chipping. I type all day at work, wash dishes at night and no chips for 6 days… amazing! So for that reason I had to come back to bump my rating to 4 stars. Pedi & Mani $ 25. Cheap, quick and it lasts!

I had a manicure here many months ago. It was not particularly memorable nor was it unpleasant. It was just middle of the road.
There are better — and worse — places nearby.
It was, indeed, quick. And they are accessible for walkins.

Not bad, but not great either. The price is good, but the quality of the work wasn’t that great. My manicure is really missing spots around the edges & my brow wax wasn’t that great. I tried it b/​c it’s convenient, but I won’t be going back.

I give this place 3 stars… why? Maybe the person I had wasn’t the best, but I am just not that big of a fan.
The biggest plus for this salon is the convenience. I am able to get my nails done in a short period of time (duting lunch, breaks, etc). Also, the layout of the place is nice, and they have great customer service, but the skills… the skills. aren’t the best.
The prices are very nice, although I would pay a little more for better service.
I got a pedicure and manicure and I wasn’t happy with either. I was just in between. The person who served me didn’t do a graet job. It looked as if my four year old daughter had polished my nails and feet for me. Although I did love the manicure and pedicure because it was very relaxing, I just was not impressed.
I am also not impressed with the eyebrow arching that is offered. The woman practically RIPPED the hair from my face. This is not what i am used to at all. They were clean, but not arched, and they were pretty swollen afterwards so I vowed never to get my eyebrows done again (unless I have no other choice).
Point is… if you are looking for good service and a time saver then this is your place. If you need a mid workday massage or just a quick relaxation break, then go, I encourage you to go. However, if you are looking for a place that has top notch skills, who will really give you a «pedicure», then go elsewhere.

Best eyebrow wax ever by Sarah.
Great for quick polish change manicures and pedicures without the fuss. Always crowded but never a long wait.