06/20/09

Cute Place, Nice People, Really Bad Mani-Pedi

by schlectum

This place is very cute. Also, the front desk people were friendly, and the women who did my manicure and pedicure were friendly enough. However, the manicure I got was really, really sloppy. (Plus, it lasted only 2 days.) The polish job on my pedicure was not sloppy, but they do a very quick, non-thorough job in terms of foot care. They really don't spend any time exfoliating, buffing your feet, or removing callouses. Teashi, down the street is slightly more expensive, but so, so much better. After a pedicure from Teashi, my feet are so smooth. Plus, I have had manis from Teashi that I have stretched out through almost 2 weeks. As a sidenote, Teashi also has really great estheticians, so they are great for facials and waxing also.

• Pros: nice atmosphere, friendly staff
• Cons: really poor quality manicure and pedicure

03/24/09

Cute nail salon

by taylormelissa27

What a adorable nail salon for the neighborhood. Everyone is friendly in there. My polish alway last a week. And it always smell very fresh in there, unlike a lot of the other ones

07/20/07

Bad Experience-Run far away

by ticombh

ZERO STARS RATING! I will NOT recommend to family, co-workers or friends. POOR customer service! For such a lavish area in the Bay area I would expect more out of a business on Santana Row. I bought $140 gift certificate for my brother and sister in law. They were told the certificate was used when it was not. VERY DISAPPOINTING!

• Cons: Lack of Customer Service

04/24/07

Lonni is AMAZING!!!

by springiling

I had avoided getting my first brazilian wax for quite some time because I had always been told that people bruise, and that it hurts. I received this recommendation from a friend of mine, who had the same fears as me. I decided to give it a go, and scheduled an appointment. Lonni was my esthetician and she was amazing. It only took her 10 minutes, and it was surprisingly comfortable. She is very friendly, very efficient, and extremely thorough. I haven't been quite the same since. If you want an amazing brazilian, go see Lonni!

• Pros: Lonni

01/30/07

Enjoyable Experience!

by hipmama36

I went there recently with a girlfriend and the experience is quite enjoyable. We sat side by side and got to chat while we getting our nails done. The manicursts are skillful and friendly....my nails look great. We will be back.

• Pros: Great atomsphere, nice friendly staffs, Clean
• Cons: None

01/27/07

Lovely place, mediocre service

by stars9fan120

If they're known for speedy service, I would give them a 10. My friend and I went in for a manicure+spa pedicure and the whole treatment took about 20 minutes. I have had basic manicure and pedicure treatments at other salons for at least 30+ minutes. The service was so fast that it was hard to relax and enjoy the experience. Not only were they in a rush but they were rough and somewhat sloppy at their work. However, the atmosphere was great. Lovely decor, big open space and very comforting and inviting. It felt clean and sanitary. And the tubs they used for spa pedicures are known to carry less or no bacteria. Lavande even offered treats (sandwiches, cookies and fruit) to snack on. The best part of the treatment was the spa pedicure. The lady gave me a good 5-10 minute leg massage and used an amazing heated mango scent moisturizer. I really enjoyed the atmosphere but I left disappointed at their service. I most likely would not go again.

• Pros: great atmosphere, good treatments
• Cons: bad service

10/20/06

Great pedicures and ambiance

by weebee24

This place is super cute inside, with lots of yummy treats to snack on while waiting. They are sometimes a little late to get you into your appointment, but the pedicures are great and last way longer than average without chipping. There are lots of nail polish colors to choose from, too. I would definitely recommend this place for mani/pedis and the gift certificates are a great idea for a present.

• Pros: Great open atmosphere, delicious snacks and candy
• Cons: Night appointments sometimes hard to come by and can run late

08/27/06

average for nails, NOT for facials!!!

by supergirlpw1

I visited this location in cole valley...

by the looks of the website, i thought i was scheduling the most relaxing spa day for myself in the city, but when i got to the front door my heart sank. in an all- asian "spa" my "esthetician" was a girl not less than 8 monthes pregnant and commented almost immediately that she only had two 10 minute breaks all day. the room i was taken to is no larger than a closet with dirt smudges all over the walls and the noise, between the crowd outside, someone dumping boxes of glass bottles on the other side of the wall, and the cole valley train going by every few minutes...it's insane!

my face was rubbed with the same vigor as a foot rub...anything but relaxing, then she started massaging my hands and shoulders with an oil that i immediately questioned and she told me it was lavender oil. i could tell what it was and i asked more specifically, "is this baby oil, as in mineral oil? " and she admitted to it. UGH!

between aiming the steamer at me and laying some wierd paper thing over my face to "absorb" i think she spent at the most 30 minutes of an hour long facial in the room with me. as i was leaving, i looked at the bottle of oil she used to massage my hands and it was labeled grapeseed oil!

the mani/pedi was fine, i've had hundreds of them and it doesn't stand out in any particular way. one definitely has the feeling they laugh about you with eachother right in front of your face.

i went into this place feeling exhausted after having a monster workweek (intensive care registered nurse) and left feeling then not only exhausted but angry that i had just been ripped off in a BIG way...$125 facial and $50 mani/pedi....i will spend the rest of my life making sure no one makes the same mistake i did. this is san francisco with an abundance of better choices!

• Pros: fresh fruits and snacks in the front, cute for neighborhood
• Cons: indifferent staff, total ripoff for skincare, absolutely not relaxing

06/19/06

Appalling customer service!!

by pantsgirl

I was given a spa package here as a gift and was really looking forward to it. The massage was great and the rest of it was just OK - I've had better pedicures for half the price. But the real problem was the attitude of the host staff. There was a mix-up over the payment and, before they even checked into the details, I was accused by the assistant manager of having walked out without paying. Even when it turned out to be totally their fault, I was just given more attitude instead of an apology.

I will certainly never go back and, having just read the rest of the reviews here, I don't know why anyone would.

• Pros: Great masseuse, cute decor
• Cons: Rude host staff, lackluster pedicures

05/18/06

Wouldn't recommend. Pretty but very overrated.

by naymonster

I live a block away so I thought I should try them. They are always busy and the place is really nice looking. The receptionist was not friendly at all. The manicure was the worst hands down, I have ever had. I give $5 tips on $8 manicures and get them frequently so I think my opinon is valuable! My cuticles were not touched, the massage wasnt even that, I had to ask her to reshape my nails so they weren't crookedly shaped, when I did she only fixed one (I meant them all), the nailpolish had fuzz in it she didnt remove I had to point it out to her. My topcoat wasnt all over the nail, so there was a line when it dried, and it was bubbly. I did let Stephanie the manager know and she gave me a complementary one, but it was still just OK.