nailsaloon

So i had my sister’s bachelorette party here at Nailsaloon. They were so accomdating and we couldnt be happier. Sure the price is steeper than my normal nail place which is super close to my place but the ambiance, the service and the fact that they accomodated a larger group was AWESOME! My sister’s friends and I were so happy with everything and my sister had a blast. I recommend this place for parties or just a pampering when you feel like you need it! Parking was easy to find on a Saturday. Shout out to Justine and her team! Thanks for making my sister’s bachelorette super memorable!

Good manicure. But.
We liked the concept of this nail salon and the décor when we went a few months ago. It’s exactly the quiet pampering experience you want, except for the fact that the manager talked loudly to her friends the whole time and there radio was on like annoying top 40 in the background. If you go by yourself you can put headphones on, but why pay extra for that?
If what you are paying extra for is the atmosphere and the more high end products and treatment — and I do think this is worth it — all the racket really takes away from it.
I liked that the manager was very enthusiastic about the products (my thought it was over the top) but also we were already there. Leave us in peace to talk to each other already.
When she finally left us it was to have a long conversation with someone about the time she tried to wax her own bikini line. Funny actually, but better for a different setting. I wouldn’t pay extra for it.
Look, everybody has to roll their own way, but they could put a larger and thicker divider between the front desk and the seats so to make it more of a private oasis — away from the ‘business’ side of all of it.

This is my lucky nail saloon. I came here for the first time for a manicure before a job interview, and got the job. Ever since I have been going back and when I leave I feel ready to take on the world.
Lovely, professional technicians and the best atmosphere you could ever want in a salon. They are a bit pricey, but if you’re going to pamper yourself, it’s well worth it.

I never thought I’d be writing Unilocal reviews, but my experience yesterday really needed to be documented!!! I had been searching for a nail salon in DC for about a year. I’ve tried several other businesses and just haven’t been super impressed. I really like nail art, and the other places just weren’t into it. I spent hours looking online for a nice nail salon downtown and Unilocal finally led me to nailsaloon. When I saw the pictures, and read some reviews, I had a really good instinct about it. I was so right!!!
First of all, the place is immaculate. I’m a germaphobe so that’s the most important thing in a nail salon to me. They used sterilized tools and also dispose of things that aren’t easily sterilized. Plastic, disposable liners cover the pedicure basins and the nail techs still clean them in between customers. It was incredible!
Next, the care I received from the lady who did my nails was AMAZING! I asked for some kind of Christmassy nail art and she was able to determine exactly what I wanted! She spent over three hours doing my manicure and pedicure! Was so careful and paid such close attention to detail. So was also very kind and personable. I also received great customer service from the receptionists as well! They were so kind and offered me coffee, tea, wine, or a cocktail.
I also really loved the ambiance. It was very classy without being snooty and stuck up. But It was also very relaxed, laid back, and friendly. I loved the nice, community feeling. We could talk with each other! I really liked how it felt so classy and yet so communal. Perfect!
Finally, I think the most important aspect of this establishment that totally sold me and will make me a regular is its social consciousness. They clearly care about communities because they donate part of their profits to the Coalition for the Homeless. Also, they take women’s health seriously because they use non-​toxic nail polishes! I actually read an article recently about how nail polish corporations are slowly killing women and it was really nice to see a salon taking this issue seriously! The business is also female-​owned, so I definitely got to support my sisters doing their thing!
All in all, a clean, friendly, community-​oriented, socially conscious nail salon!!! I feel at home!!! Yall just made a regular out of me!!!

Still a huge fan. Still schedule my Friday morning conference calls so I can spend an hour with Cris and Justine. Honestly wouldn’t trust my nails to anyone else.

Clean, fresh-​smelling and elegant. My husband and I loved the atmosphere from the moment we walked in but were even more delighted by the service we got with our nails. The massages, sugar scrubs and attention to detail was great. Jenny gave me the best manicure I’ve had in a while. We’ll be returning.

If you’ve ever been scared at the thought of shared utensils, unsanitary foot baths or anything else the germaphobe in me would cringe at, your search is over! I love they that use a disposable bag over their foot tubs, all utensils/​tools are cleaned/​scrubbed and soaked in barbicide (sp?) in plain view, and all nail files/​buffers are stored in individually sealed bags, so you know, it was never used on anyone else (they even sometimes ask if you’d like to keep your set, for use at home).
Cocktails and nails is their motto and every service gets a complimentary beverage of your choice-​water, coffee, tea, wine, cocktail, you name it! This place is the ultimate relaxation sanctuary when a flight to a beach on an island is not possible lol. Perfect place for meeting up and catching up with friends over a mani or pedi and drink :)
I know this review is kind of all over the place but I just had to get something out there b/​c its been about two months for me, and I like my pedis every 2 weeks, mani every week so I’ve been there weekly… probably could count on both hands, over these last two months and nothing has changed. The receptionists are helpful, the ladies all do a great job on my nails and everyone is friendly and kind. I no longer spend HOURS every week doing my own nails to perfection and my own liking once Kimberly S. suggested Nail Saloon to me! Also, my polishes last the 1 – 2 weeks in between my appointments, with no chipping, and I wash my hands A LOT.

I still like this place, but the customer service seems to have gone downhill.
After an unfortunate experience at a cheaper nail salon that left me needing antibiotics a few months ago, I almost swore off ever getting pedicures again. Alas, I remembered there is Nailsaloon, which is immaculately clean and very sanitary. I decided to ease my way back into pedicures by coming here. It helped that a glass of sparkling wine was offered and it definitely helped to ease my anxiety. The technician was awesome and did a wonderful job. She has made me trust pedicures again. I got a beautiful Zoya matte blue color that gets me compliments from everyone who sees it.
Unfortunately, the ladies at the front desk were not so great. There were two of them. Neither one of them paid me any attention (and I was sitting in the first chair). After my pedicure was done, I was instructed to keep sitting there in the chair to allow my pedicure to dry since the quick dry stuff would mess up the matte color. Fine. During this time, my technician went on to work on someone else. The ladies at the front desk couldn’t have been bothered to check on me the whole 30 – 40 minutes that I sat there. One of them got up and then started getting her nails done and the other was busy texting on her cell phone. They kept getting up and walking right past me, looking at me and then keeping on walking. No asking if I was okay. No asking if I wanted another beverage. Nothing. The one on the cell phone was completely oblivious as I watched her ignore a customer who was waiting to pay, while she kept texting on her phone. It took her a whole 2 minutes to look up and notice the customer.
I left here feeling annoyed and not valued as a customer… but at least my toes look good :/

After a really rough week of being sick, all I wanted was a relaxing mani/​pedi and Nailsaloon delivered. I booked an appointment using the Pretty Quick app, which as a bonus gives you 20% off services Sunday-​Wednesday so my $ 80 mani/​pedi became $ 64! Anyway, there were only two nail technicians working so the nailsaloon was pretty quiet today. I actually saw the receptionist turn away people, so perhaps they are understaffed at the moment. My technician (can’t remember her name!) was awesome. I don’t think anyone EVER has put that much attention and care into my nails! The hand/​foot massages were fantastic and considering the mess my nails were in she did a great job getting them to look decent. I changed my mind about my toe polish and she was totally cool letting me choose a new color– the receptionist even let me look through their new shipment of colors that literally arrived while I was there.
Overall, the nailsaloon is very clean, chic, comfortable, and relaxing. Other bonuses: there were plenty of magazines, I was offered a beverage, and they cleaned my wedding ring. The *only* thing I missed was having a massage chair, that’s one of my favorite things about getting my nails done! The large chairs they have are slightly awkward since they don’t recline.
This is definitively not the kind of place that will get you in and out quickly and you should probably make an appointment. I was there for 2 hours, but I didn’t mind since I wasn’t in a rush. I’ll definitely be back when I’m in the mood for some relaxation!

This is my favorite nail salon in DC, hands down! As soon as I read Kimberly S.’ review, I knew I had to come by. I fell in love, and now I’m a regular. I swing by monthly, and look forward to my time here.
— Atmosphere. Exposed brick and light flooring will welcome you instantly! Great lighting throughout — this is no cave.
— Cleanliness. This place doesn’t have a fleck of dust, and I am confident you won’t get an infection here. Feel free to bring your own tools though, the technicians are happy to use yours
— Technicians /​staff. These ladies are paid fairly, which is the main reason why I support this establishment. They’re all skilled; my pedis last a minimum of 3 weeks, and my manis last a week (no chipping). I always choose the RGB polish. Justine at the front desk is a rock star — she will do her best to fit you in.
— Online booking. Soooo easy. My schedule is constantly changing, so it’s nice to be able to schedule/​cancel outside of business hours.
— The Extras. Drinks (and dranks!), complimentary ring cleaning, lounge chairs for pedis, great selection of magazines. Mimosa + travel & leisure + lounge chair = great experience
— Easy payment. I keep a card on file (no risk of ruining that pretty mani), and tipping on card.
— Sugar scrub and oil. They make their scrub in-​house, and the oil is heavenly! It smells like paradise! Note that you have to get the salon mani to get the oil treatment.
One improvement they could make is a client loyalty program or rewards system along those lines.
Please note that this is not a place to ask to have your mani and pedi done at the same time. This is a place to relax and unwind, so please don’t have a long conversation on the phone! You’re ruining it for others!

Bought a Gilt voucher for a mani/​pedi, which ended up being the same cost as a mani/​pedi at any other typical salon in town. Would I want to pay $ 80 for a mani/​pedi on a regular basis? Not particularly. But I will say that the experience is worth it, perhaps for a special occasion! The place is super cute, very clean, decorated well. All the employees I encountered were friendly and helpful. I regretfully didnt take advantage of the wine/​drinks they offer (I didnt want it while getting my mani, and then when i got my pedicure i forgot to ask for a drink/​the didnt offer me one). The polish colors are not what im used to (OPI and Essie), because they are all vegan or earth-​friendly or something, but they do have a lot of choices.
I would definitely recommend Nailsaloon to a girlfriend who is in search of a quality manicure or pedicure in a luxurious setting!

Very clean place. They go the extra mile and use plastic bags over the pedicure tubs, and I saw the manicurists using one time use items. I had a glass of sparkling wine, which was a nice touch.
This place is a splurge for me and I can’t afford to come here often, but I enjoyed my pedicure very much. If prices were even just a little cheaper, I’d consider dropping in more often!

Lots of good stuff here. No whirlpool baths to harbor bacteria and fungus, no crappy «massage» chairs, just a big plush arm chair and a regular sink to soak your feet in. The space is beautiful, although the choice of music was bizarre — some kind of club music spotify channel that included lots of bad language. The use of exclusively «five free» polishes and products means there are no strong chemical smells going on. My manicure still looks perfect four days later.
I would definitely recommend making an appointment. They actually honor your time (unlike a lot of nail salons) and you might not get served without one. I went at a slow time and made an appointment anyway, but several walk ins came in who couldn’t be accommodated because there also weren’t that many people working that day.

Bottom line – not somewhere you’d want to be your go-​to saloon, despite how much I wanted it to be mine! Momma needs to keep-​up her nail color and, after dishing out the moola for the Saloon Mani & Pedi, I expected that I would have beautiful nails for at least week. Sadly, I had chips on my nails and toenails within less than 24 hours – so disappointing! Even within less than a week, two of my toenails were completely chipped to the point there was no nailpolish left, which is something I’ve never experienced at any other salon I’ve been to in DC.
Despite my own experience, my recommendation is to go to nailsoon for a once-​in-​a-​blue-​moon pampering sesh with an out-​of-​town visitor. They’ll be impressed with the beautiful, clean atmosphere, the pleasant technicians, and the plentiful drinks.

One of the nicest nail salons i’ve ever been to. You arrive to a large, bright, airy room that feels feminine, tasteful, and luxurious without being pretentious. Notably, it’s VERY clean and doesn’t have any of those typical chemical fumes that plague your average nail salon. They only use polishes that don’t have chemicals that create scents, though this also means they don’t do gel/​acrylic. Didn’t recognize the brands (they’re not using OPI and Essie like other salons) but their color selection was broad & fabulous and my polish stayed on all throughout my weeklong vacation gallivanting through Mexican beaches without chipping!
My pedicure was very thorough and included callous removal, a salt scrub, and a massage. The paint job was meticulous and my toes looked perfect afterwards.
Of course, the prices will reflect the superior atmosphere and service you receive ($ 48 pedicure, $ 32 manicure), but if you are looking to get a mani/​pedi that resembles more of a soothing spa experience than a solely «utilitarian» function, this is your spot! I can see it being the perfect place to host bachelorette parties, bridal showers, birthday parties, (read: any special occasion for women). Or, if you like to work hard/​relax hard, this is your place!
On top of it all, Nail Saloon is active in service by hosting a program where women can mentor girls in the community! Encouraging #GirlBosses while looking ultra polished?! Yes, please!
p. s. i walked by this place twice before finding it. It has a very unobtrusive sign on a door shared by a fitness studio that leads you to the second floor where the salon is located.

I already have a regular nail salon so I felt slightly guilty about using Nailsaloon for my pedicure this month. However, I’ve been very curious about the place ever since the sign on front of the building went up.
The appointment process was seamless. My regular nail place offers champagne, mimosa, hot tea, and bottled water; Nailsaloon offers all of the above plus coffee and espresso drinks.
As soon as I arrived and checked in with the receptionist. She took my coat and gave me a number tag or the hanger. The number tag was a first for me at a nail salon, but I soon found out why.
After the receptionist took my drink order and I picked out my nail color, she asked me to take a seat at the front because they weren’t ready for me yet. As soon as I sat down, two girls walked in. When one of them gave her name to the receptionist, someone who I presumed was the owner or manager rushed over to greet them. Based on what I gathered from the conversation and her profuse apologies, Nailsaloon had lost either this girl’s coat or her mom’s coat (or both?) on her last visit. Apparently, Nailsaloon had called all of the clients who had come in that day but no one fessed up to taking the coat (s) so it/​they were never found. Thus, they started using the number tags. After the introductions and apologies, the owner/​manager took the girls to get seated for their pedicures.
At this point, I had waited for almost 10 minutes. I thought it was pretty rude that the two girls were served before since I also had an appointment and showed up before them and on time. Regardless of whatever mishap they were trying to fix or gloss over, I was annoyed. I’m a paying customer, too!
The pedicure itself was very relaxing. Marnier did a great job. It’s been over a week with some time spent in a pool and on the beach, and I’m happy to report that the pedicure is still in very good shape.
So to wrap up, the pedicure cost $ 48 before tip. The perks were: a lukewarm latte, chemical-​free nail polish, very sanitary stations, unused tools (I was watching one of the girls put the individual kits together from bulk packages), and an offer to clean my diamond ring (which I accepted). Yes, I used to get $ 50 pedicures all the time, but those included 10-​minute foot massages and a shoulder massage in the end. I know Nailsaloon is trying to stand out from competitors by offering chemical-​free nail treatments, but I don’t think it’s worth the premium price.

First pedicure in DC. What was I expecting after reading the reviews? Well, I was expecting a pampered experience that would result in a five star review. Hmmm… not quite.
This place is located on the second floor of the building above chipotle and if you aren’t really looking for it you may miss it.
When I arrived I was greeted promptly by the super friendly and awesome front desk gal. Loved her. She told me all about the «five free» polishes and asked me if I wanted a beverage. So happy to hear that they offer mimosas on the weekends! She immediately popped a new bottle of sparkling wine and my morning was off to a good start.
While I looked through colors she got everything ready. I had made a reservation (highly recommended on the weekends-​saw several walk-​ins turned away) for a pedicure and they tried to seat me for a mani. No worries, this was quickly remedied!
The pedicure chair is extremely uncomfortable and my service provider, Kim asked me if I wanted to move the chair closer. I said sure and she looked to me to scoot the chair closer to the bowl. Weird. (–1star)
Overall the service was good. I would say that the sugar scrub was my favorite. Apparently just sugar and sunflower oil.
The final star deduction is because of what happened while my toes were drying… Kim began cleaning up the station, no problem. But then she asked me to move to another chair, wet toes and all. This totally ruined the relaxed vibe I had going.
For such a nice place, I thought this was going to be my new go to place. The search continues…

Probably one of the better pedicures I’ve ever had.
I’m not sure if it was the company or the fact they gave us more than enough specialty cocktails, but I had a great time and now I have pretty sparkly blue toes and soft feet.
First of all, the place is gorgeous and spacious and ever so clean. It doesn’t smell like a nail salon, at all. I heard they have great ventilation system like a Vegas casino where the bad air and fumes are pumped out. It is seriously library quiet in here, with the exception of us and them playing Van Halen quietly on a loop there was no noise here.
Although we had appointments, it took them about ten minutes to prep. We picked out the colors, while they opened up new kits and lined the bowls with disposable plastic (nice sanitary touch).
They do have wide array of colors but they stick to 5 Free polishes, which means only brands of polishes made without the 3 common chemicals found in nail polishes (Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde), but also without 2 other very dangerous chemicals (Formaldehyde Resin and Camphor).
So no OPI or Essie here, but rather they only had Zoya, RGB and Priti NYC. I went with Zoya over RGB (which after two drinks I was calling RG III) because they seemed to have more bright colors with glitter. This is one gripe, with the exception of RGB these are all lower end 5 free polishes (I get Zoya all the time for free in the mail), so it would be nice to see some diversity and higher end 5 free polish premium brands like Deborah Lippman, Scotch Naturals and LVX to justify the price of the pedicure.
If you’re expecting massage chairs, this is the wrong place for it. Being that Victoria called out my shorty status in her review, massage chairs can sometimes be too big for me, and once the pounding motion actually ejected me out of the seat, so I was glad to see they had smallish boxy chairs. Yet, my feet still couldn’t reach the bowls so yeah, I needed two pillows behind me. That’s how it’s got to be when you are five feet tall.
You have plenty of space to put your polishes and purses down at the table next to you, which is stacked high with magazines and has a cubby hole for your shoes. They offered us beverages which were either: water, tea, red or white wine, their signature cocktail (sparkling wine, vodka, cranberry and pineapple juice), coffee, lattes or cappuccinos. We opted for the signature cocktail. After two of those, I was thinking National Geographic was the funniest magazine I ever read.
The technicians were great, apparently they thought we were hilarious. They were highly technical, and gave a great massage. They used supplies like files, once, and promptly disposed of them. I like that they managed to scrub my feet clean without triggering my knee jerk ticklish reaction. Or that might have been the alcohol. Whatever, the whole process was great.
The pedicure did last for 45 minutes and we sat for a few extra minutes (or maybe an hour) waiting for our polish to dry. They even applied oil and wrapped our toes in saran wrap so our pedis would not smudge in our socks and shoes. Brilliant.
Given the customer service, ease of booking appointments on the Unilocal app (I hate actually speaking to people), the great drinks and the precise pedicure, I would return here again despite the high price. You are paying more so for the ambiance, cleanliness and experience of a spa day here rather than for nail art or fancy nails.
Also note if you’re balking at the price, 3% of their profits go here:
. I can get behind that.

By George! I feel like nailsaloon gets me. It is everything I have ever wanted in a salon. Let me count the ways:
+ Easy Booking — If you are antisocial like me, you avoid making appointments just because you don’t want to talk to someone on the phone. Here you can make an appointment through the Unilocal website, on their own regular website, and once you are in their system… by text message. It doesn’t get any more simpler than that.
+ Cleanliness — As someone with a compromised immune system, salon cleanliness is one of my biggest concerns. That was not the case here — — no double dipping, lined pedicure tubs, sterilized stencils, waxing room was immaculate, and towels spotless. There is also a ventilation system so there was no weird chemical smell in the air.
+ All Natural Products — They create their own salt and sugar scrubs with essential oils and use non-​toxic nail polish brands.
+ Reading Material — For those looking to catch up with celebrity gossip (apparently I was way out of the loop because I had no idea that Bruce Jenner was transitioning into a woman, Kris Jenner was dating a 35 year old man, and that Katy Perry and Taylor Swift hate each other) this is the place to do it! They had a stack of magazines next to every pedi station so you were never without reading material.
+ Ambiance — It’s a gorgeous, open air space which is perfect for catching up with a friend. They have an exposed brick wall and Edison bulb chandelier which made me feel like I was getting a spa treatment in a hip loft space.
+ The Extras: Coffee, Tea, Wine or Cocktail offered immediately upon entering. Local jewelry and handbag designers featured at check out. They will also clean your rings in their steam machine while you’re getting your nails done. They even wrapped my toes in saran wrap and oil so it wouldn’t smudge… and put on my shoes for me. If that’s not service, I don’t know what is!
+ Friendly Technicians — My nail tech Alicia was such a sweetheart and knew how to ask all the right questions to make sure that I was happy with my final results. She also waxed my brows with little pain and no red ugly bumpies afterwards. I felt like she paid attention to my hair growth patterns instead of randomly ripping out hairs without paying attention like at other places. Also she made my feet feel like new again! No easy task since I just spent two weeks hiking through the jungles of Thailand in a pair of flip flops. My feet feel very clean and hydrated!
+ No Chip Policy — So very necessary… and much appreciated
nailsaloon is a bit more expensive than your neighborhood salon but I think the amenities were worth it. Also, you can tip on your credit card so you don’t have to worry about stopping at an ATM and remembering your PIN number.

This the caliber of nail salon I’ve been looking for in D.C. You will pay extra but I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
The front desk staff and technicians are friendly, complementary hot and cold beverages and ring cleanings are offered, and most importantly the technicians take their time. No rushing and shuttling you around the salon to make room for other clients.
During your appointment, YOU will be the only client they are working on and as long as you have an appointment, you will be their only priority!
This was an especially memorable occasion for me as I was celebrating my sisters 30^th birthday. Little did I know, the next day my boyfriend would be down on one knee with an engagement ring! I’m SO thankful for the technicians for getting my nails in pristine condition for all of the photos that were taken that night!
I did have a few chips after 3 days but that is to be expected with regular polish. Other than that, I have no complaints and will be returning very soon!