Buddha Tree Salon

For my birthday last year, I was gifted two treatments at Buddha Tree Salon. At the time (summer ’13), Buddha Tree was pretty new to the neighborhood and I was excited to give it a whirl. From my two visits, I have pretty mixed feelings.
The salon is quite small but is clean and pretty tranquil. The prices are a bit higher than other places (i.e., Red Sun just by the Convention Center) and for higher prices, I would expect a step up in service (a glass of water or cup of tea, as other «nice» salons do).
First off: a facial. The 25 minute facial (at $ 45) was a 2-​star experience. Sure, it was somewhat calming and relaxing and my skin felt a little nicer after the fact, but there were a few things wrong. Twenty-​five minutes isn’t a lot of time for a facial (granted, it doesn’t include neck or décolletage as a longer treatment would) so I was hoping they would make the most of it. I watched the clock (in the treatment room) and it came out to 23 minutes. Which wouldn’t have been so bad if — during those 23 minutes — my esthetician hadn’t left! Here’s what happened: a patron called asking for a back wax. (Yes, the walls are thin so even in the back room while you get your relaxing treatment, you can hear all the goings-​on of the salon, including what customers call up to inquire about) The person who answered the phone came back and asked my facial girl for advice. Without further ado, my facial gal left and went to the next room (really just an area partitioned off for waxing), and proceeded to give this (newbie?) waxer advice on what to do when the client came in! A little distracting during my treatment, um yes. But knowing that I could hear that entire conversation from the next room, I would NEVER get waxing done here knowing that a) the waxer didn’t seem entirely confident and b) you can hear EVERYTHING that is going on in the «private» rooms!!!
Second: mani-​pedi. I had Chantalle (sp?) and she was awesome. Definitely 4 or 5 stars. Very sweet and conversational, without forcing conversation if that makes sense. She was quite meticulous with my nails and did a great job scrubbing my feet (which really is the most rewarding part of a pedicure for me!). I opted for a sparkly glitter nail polish for my fingers and she added an adhesive that is usually just used for gel manicures. She told me that «every manicure is customizable» and she wanted to make sure my nails looked fabulous for as long as possible. Loved her and my fingers and toes looked great!
In sum, I would come back for my nails, but not for any spa treatments.

I was in the neighborhood and stopped in for a mani pedi despite the mixed reviews. My nail tech was nice and the price average ($ 45), but I was underwhelmed with the level of service. Fairly unprofessional — I can understand that you might cut my cuticle too much (it was bleeding), and that you might leave a bunch of excess dangling cuticle skin, but I was really annoyed when she smudged a nail while applying topcoat and rather than redoing it from scratch, she kind of «mushed» it back into place (it’s visibly ridged now). Also, I had to point out twice that there was lint caught in a nail. Very sloppy work. Would not return.

After searching high and low for a waxing salon with reasonable prices (for d.c.) and good reviews, I settled on Buddha Tree to wax my lady bits. Making an appointment was easy by phone, but I did not have a good experience like other Unilocalers.
This is mainly a nail salon, and the waxing is done in a small area in the back separated from the rest of the salon by a curtain. This was my first time getting waxed in a nail salon, but the curtain provided enough visual if not auditory privacy so it was fine for me.
My esthetician was very nice and friendly and very chatty. The chattiness was fine at first, but after a while I wanted her to focus more on waxing. She would occasionally stop and show me how much hair she pulled off… which was weird to say the least.
I can’t endorse the glowing reviews of the place for waxing services, but apparently you get what you pay for, and at ³⁰⁄₃₅ for a bikini wax this place is a bit cheaper than most wax salons in the area, and it got the job done, however awkwardly.

Love it!!! The best French manicure I ever had. I can’t wait to go back.

I was very satisfied with the quality and professionalism of Buddha Tree. They fit me in last minute for a mani and pedi. I opted for gel for my nails, and it was one of the better manicures I received. No sides were lacking polish, and it lasted a full two weeks before my nails grew out and it needed to be removed. I will definitely be returning.

There are so many five star reviews on here, I’m confused. This is why I went. Because there were good reviews. I went for a brazilian wax tonight and holy crap it was probably the worst experience I’ve had with a wax. The problems:
1. I had to wait sitting on a nail salon chair right in front of the door… awkward. No waiting area… just a chair.
2. Once I finally got back to the waxing area I see that it is just a thin curtain separating my half naked body from the rest of the open salon. Take one step outside and you are right in front of people getting their nails done.
3. The woman who did the waxing did not even leave the room or know who I was or what my name was when I entered this ramshackle waxing area. She didn’t leave the room while I disrobed. She had to leave once and if I had been naked, the entire salon would’ve seen everything.
4. The inside of the waxing area was super messy and did not look clean to me. There were buckets of wax on the floor.
5. The woman who waxed me had to dress the table with a fresh bedding… but it was so not a nice sheet or something… she unrolled this piece of paper and then cut it with scissors and put it on top of a wrinkled fitted sheet covering the table I was to sit on.
6. When you go to get a wax of this nature, you want to be calm, but she was anything but calm. Her pink bra straps were hanging down along her upper arms and she seemed rushed.
7. She did not put me at ease and under the bright lights of this strange back room curtain thing she began to put me through so much pain I had to mentally check out.
8. I’ve had many waxes of this nature before and know what a good one is. She kept going over and over on my skin because she was not waiting long enough for the wax to dry. So I was pulled, waxed, and stripped of not only my hair, but my skin.
9. To go through this much pain, I would expect to be soft and hairless where I instructed her to do so… instead I have a throbbing, painful, red and sore body part with sharp pieces of hair still sticking up and around my lady parts!
What is up with this woman? She told me during the wax she is more into facials and is just doing this part of the job because the owner asked her to?
I gave this place a try, and was asked by the owner to leave a good review because he gives first timers a discount. Sorry, I can’t in good faith do that. This is not a place for a wax or for anything else as far as I am concerned. Now, to pop an Advil and try to sleep.

This is my first time writing a Unilocal review.
I’m writing because I really wanted to like this place, but I just removed my nail polish (a week later) and discovered that my nails are dyed red from the polish.
The salon has good polish — I chose OPI — but the base coat polish is thin. My manicure was with red polish, which I have gotten done many times at other salons and have never had it dye my nails.
Although the staff was very nice, I would not go back.

I had manicure and pedicure and both were well done and lasted longer than expected the pedicure even for 3 weeks (being on vacation and wearing open shoes though). There were 3 ladies, 1 American and 2 from Vietnam, when I arrived and having been to Asia and Dubai a lot I know that they leave you alone, do not talk too much, so you can really relax. Unfortunately the American Woman (forget her name, something French) though being nice did not seem to notice that she was too close, loud and chatty… so no chance to relax while she was around.
The owner is very friendly and talkative, wish him all the best with his young business.

Jade does the best spa pedi and gel mani in town! After receiving services from several of the top spas in town (Red Door, Bliss, Logan 14, etc.), nothing compares to the quality of the services here! You will never need to get your nails re-gel’ed due to chipping! It seems like it lasts forever! Also, my nails seem quite a bit harder and therefore stronger after receiving a manicure from Jade. My pedi always last just as long as my nails too — just paint on the toes. I would definitely recommend this place and am looking forward to trying their other services!
Moddy is also pretty awesome! He is the owner and cares a lot about service and customer experience!
Definitely check it out!

The best french manicure I have ever had!!!
Hands down this mani was the best looking and longest lasting (over a week looking perfect) french I have ever gotten! Jade was my manicurist and she along with the owner Moddi were very welcoming, professional and made the experience for an out-​of-​towner memorable.
I came here based on the Unilocal reviews and was not disappointed. I was greeted with warm welcomes and hot tea upon my arrival, friendly conversation, a hot towel after the massage and attention to detail throughout my 1.5 hours there. My french manicure and pedicure were a bit pricey at $ 47 but absolutely well worth every cent! I would highly suggest checking this place out.

Late Sunday I realized that I needed to get my eyebrows and nails done for the next day and of course my usual go-​to places were closed. I remembered walking past this place and gave them a call. I asked if they could fit me in 30 minutes before closing and the guy said yes (score!).
Went in picked a color and asked for my eyebrows to be done first (seeing as I get horribly red afterwards, I wanted sometime for my skin to chill out). The technician finished a woman’s pedicure (who ended up being my manicurist?) and took me back. I told her I didn’t need anything too drastic, but a little bit of clean up. While I got more than that, my eyebrows don’t look bad — just thinner than what I’m used to and prefer. I was also amazed how quickly the redness went down — don’t know what she did but it worked.
Then I went to my freshly pedicured manicurist, who did the worst job ever! Seriously I could have done a better job myself, and ended up having to once I got home. She didn’t paint the nail evenly so you can see where the layers don’t match up and it started to chip as soon as it was dry.
Overall, if I’m in a crunch again, I might come back for an eyebrow wax — but definitely nothing else.

First review on Unilocal so I’ll spare no details!
I had been trying to go to this place for months and finally got the nerve to go. I made a mistake on my part and chose the wrong times TWICE and almost had my appointment canceled altogether. Luckily the owner was nice enough to give me one last chance to make the appointment. After rushing on the train, bus and a 10 minute walk I FINALLY made it.
The inside has a couple chairs but what struck me the most was the soothing music and the smell of candles. It was a major change from most spas I went to so that definitely caught me by surprise. Now I went in for a bikini wax and since it was my first body wax EVER… I didn’t know what to expect.
Fortunately Jade (who I must say is an absolute sweetheart and awesome person) put me at ease and told me what she would do, the type of wax she uses and her technique. I was more comfortable with her than I am with my doctor (and I’m a shy person I might add)
The waxing process itself was quicker than I imagine but it was PRECISE! She got all the hair PAINLESSLY and here’s the biggest thing of all: She didn’t double dip. She used a fresh stick each time she applied the wax and for all you Unilocalers out there, that’s a big check on the waxing list. There was some pain but it quickly went away and in under 20 minutes I had a fresh bikini wax.
Thanks Buddha Tree Salon! You’ve got one new client! :)

The pedicure was great and lasted several weeks. However, the owner really spoils the whole experience. I like peace and quiet when getting a mani/​pedi. Despite the name of the salon, the owner does not get that. For nearly two hours, he would just not leave me alone. Seriously, why on earth does he insist that his customers compare services with the next salon? What’s with asking me five times to confirm that the service was great? And all the personal questions– where EXACTLY do you live, what do you do, how long, are you married, etc etc — made the whole thing creepy.

Nice new salon in the Chinatown area of DC. Jade does a great job and is nice to chat with. Buddha Tree is by appointment, which is a nice change of pace for me. Usually I am running into a salon for a manicure in between errands, whereas here since I was scheduling ahead of time, when I came in for my appointment I was just able to relax in a quiet setting and decompress. Also, there is not the usual nail salon chemically smell here, so I would definitely recommend this salon for pregnant women who want to avoid exposing themselves to too many chemicals.

This just may be my new «Cheers» of a salon. Great massage during a spa pedicure, and Moddy is an awesome host that creates a quality experience. I’m going to stay tuned… reflexology may be on the way!

The prices are a bit higher than other salons in the area, but it is a better experience overall. I could tell they used high quality products, and the nail technician took her time to do a good job. The staff were really friendly. I also appreciated the quiet, relaxing atmosphere. The space is very clean, and there are no chemical «salon» fumes in the air because they do not do acrylic nails.
The owner was outgoing and talkative, but almost on the pushy side. I had a short wait before getting my pedicure, but instead of leaving me to wait, he went on and on about why his salon is so much better than other salons in the area, as though he was trying to justify why their prices are higher (I hadn’t commented on the price at all). Then, he told me that he also sells jewelry, showed me a downstairs area with showcases containing imported jewelry, and tried to sell some to me. I politely declined. I really hadn’t gone in there to shop, but to relax and get my nails done. When he asked how I found the salon, and I said it was on Unilocal,he pointed out that he had so many 5 star reviews, again because everyone loves this salon and it is the best. He asked me several times to make sure I review it and give it 5 stars, and I hadn’t even had the pedicure yet! Around that time, the technician was ready for my pedicure, and I was eager to sit down, soak my feet, and relax. My pedicure lasted for a few weeks without chipping, and looked great.

Really great quality pedicure from Jade.
Super personalized service (appointments only) and attention from Jade and also from friendly and attentive owner Moddy.
Relaxing environment.
No acrylics so no toxic nail polish smell.
Reasonable prices for DC, though higher compared to suburbs. Cash only. I think it’s totally worth it, though.
Great location in Mt Vernon Triangle, where there is a scarcity of nail salons.
Sign is missing so try not to go into strip club next door.

I have to write this review!
Was in DC for 2 weeks. Had to do Mani-​Pedi… Unilocaled while stayed in Resannan hotel. Buddha Tree jumped out of my eyes. Decided a try. Price is a bit more than the ones I’m used to in CA. Especially in SF, more and more Mani-​Pedi-​$ 28-​deal showing all over the place… But hey, in DC area, $ 45 is not bad at all. (I did my research.)
Here, the service is great and friendly. The quality is amazing (Colors on my nails and toes last almost two weeks, and it’s not even the gel~)
I suggest make an appointment if you wanna come, because they are quite busy. Anyway, in short, enjoyed.

I’ve been to Buddha Tree on two separate occasions now, and have been somewhat satisfied with their general services and demeanor. However, on my most recent trip, I was left a bit disappointed with the quality and price of the manicure and pedicure I received.
I came in for a spa pedicure and gel manicure. The pedicure was fine, albeit a bit truncated for time. The gel manicure, on the other hand, was disappointing. The color I selected was intended to be a slate gray, but turned out more like a sheer top coat with shimmer. Despite the color not being what either of us expected, the manicurist proceeded to apply coat after coat of polish with the result that my nails have a thicker coating than I would like. When I voiced my concerns about the color, polish thickness, or anything else, I was rather rudely told it would «fine.» What’s more, they are fairly expensive for the services they provide. I paid close to 60 for a manicure and pedicure, and that included a 10% discount for their soft opening. That’s pretty steep even for a girl from San Francisco who is used to paying high prices for such routine services.
All in all, they are pretty accommodating and nice, but be sure to double check the colors. They purport to only use the best products and expose you to as few chemicals as possible, which I can appreciate. However, use of the most high end products doesn’t necessary assure a good result in every instance — as was the case here.

Buddha Tree Salon just opened at 468 K Street NW in Chinatown.
The location is convenient, the space is very nice, the staff is friendly and the services are excellent.
They offer manicures, pedicures, facials and waxing. What I liked most is the personal service and attention to detail.
The owner Moddy makes everyone feel welcome.
I will definitely go back. The prices can’t be beat, especially for the quality.