Nova Nail Spa
Categories: Skin Care, Day Spas, Nail Salons, Hair Removal [Edit]
Neighborhood: SOMA811 Mission St
between 4th and 5th St
(between 4th St & 5th St)
San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 896-6682
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 10:00 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Sun 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Garage
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- By Appointment Only: No
38 Reviews for Nova Nail Spa
One of Nova Nail Spa's Favorite Reviews
I am aboslutely addicted to this place. It's a bit on the more expensive side for gel nails - as the saying goes "you get what you pay for!" The customer service has always been top notch - with the tea or flavored water and the neck pillow. Super PLUS plus they are a GREEN Nail Shop!!!
I was inspired to get the royal treatment from this upscale version of their 3rd & Folsom location. I have never tried a paraffin hand wax, but wow was I happy I did. I left from my Mandarin Honey manicure feeling so smooth and silky.
I have been to a few salons that have great ambiance and charge for it...receiving $10 quality while paying $40 for a simple manicure.
Not at Nova. This was affordable luxury.
And it actually lasted more than 2 days! I will definitely be back.
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I went in looking like an X-Files Sasquatch. My brows were growing together, one stray hair at a time. I walked into Nova and asked if they had an appointment.
$15 later and I was a human being again. Excellent wax, good prices, and a lovely new shop right smack dab in the middle of the Mission & 5th Parking Garage store-fronts. This was the last place I thought I'd ever see a nail salon, for some reason.
Weird location for this little gem, but well worth the confusion.
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I've had trouble typing lately, I've been so mesmerized by my baby pink nails. Healthy, smooth, and shiny. I find myself cocking my head every minute or two to just stare at my silky hands, grazing my keyboard - with a soft lovely touch thanks to Nova Nail Spa.
Nova isn't cheap. Unlike my favorite nail place Sensi, they will make a rather unpleasant dent in your wallet. But if you're looking for a luxorious high quality manicure and pedicure downtown Nova is a solid option.
Nova offers clean, excellent services. Many of them include heavenly touches like paraffin wax masques, which will envelope your feet and hands in pure gooey goodness - leaving them all kinds of nice
Sandals can do a number on your feet. Leaving them dirty, rough, and begging to be hidden from wandering MUNI eyes. If your feet are yearning to be pampered and you're looking to spoil yourself after a hectic work week, slip on over to Nova and treat yourself to a decadent treatment.
After a pricey pedicure, you'll be itching to get into a flowy dress (or flowy pants) and a pair of pinching heels (or men's dress sandals), eager to show off your shiny toes.
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I'd been there quite a few times; quality really depends on who did your nails....not very stable. but the price was okay, considering the nice environment and perfect location.
Sooo... I've never been a manicure type of girl. My practical side has always questioned why a person would pay for a treatment that chips off in 48 hours. That said, I'm no stranger to the pedicure. In fact, I might even say that laying back in a comfy chair and having my feet soaked and massaged is one of life's greatest pleasures.
I credit Nova for introducing me a whole new level of pampering through the manicure. The Mandarine manicure, to be exact. First, they sit you down and soak your hands in rose petal water. Next, they exfoliate your hands and arms with a mandarin scrub, and then massage you with luscious lotions. Then, your hands are dipped in hot parafin wax and placed into big mits to cool. Finally, after your skin is soft as a baby's, they apply your polish.
Sigh... so this is what the girls pay for. Who knew?
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I'd been passing Nova Nail Salon for some time now, always impressed by the decor when I gazed inside. Yesterday I finally had a chance to check it out.
I think I've said in other posts how difficult it is to find a really good nail salon. Strange as there are so many in the city but I've yet to find one that I truly love (and is convenient for me to get to).
I walked into Nova without an appointment and they were able to take me immediately. Good for me, but not good for the 3 or 4 women who came in after me that all had appointments and had to wait (I believe one girl had to wait 45 minutes from her scheduled time to when she actually sat down). So yeah, time management - maybe something they need to work on!
They have a whole menu of customized manicures and pedicures which can be fun, but ultimately when it comes down to it - is just a reason to charge more money. I did go for one of them though, and it was enjoyable - but the seats were so uncomfortable. I prefer the massage chairs to these hard stone-like chairs with cushions. My only other complaint was that it was a really warm day yesterday and it was uncomfortably warm in the salon. When you're using hot water for pedicures, warm booties and mittens as part of the experience, it should be a bit cooler in the salon.
But lest you think I hated this place, au contraire....despite being pricey, it's nice to walk into a place that is decorated well, is clean and relaxing. So many salons are too stark or have tacky decor (ie -pictures of hands with ridiculously long, hideously painted nails). Nova really tries to create a relaxing atmosphere. The girls who work there were all kind, even overing water or tea while we were being "worked" on. They don't try to rush you like so many other salons do these days.
Would I go back? Yes, probably. Definitely not on a regular basis because it's a bit too pricey for every few weeks. But if I had friends in the city or my Mom wanted to have a girls day, I think this is a great place to go - and it's conveniently located across from Bloomingdale's and shopping mecca.
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I'm a serial monogamist looking for a nail salon. I don't cheat and I'm loyal till the end. The dating game with nail salons insofar has been pretty lackluster (see previous 800 reviews).
Nova Nail Spa (not to be confused with Nova Beauty Salon which is owned by the same people but way less class-ay) is a pretty darn good fit. I got 100% gel nails (after removing my DISGUSTING acrylics - see previous 800 reviews) and they are gorgeous! I don't think they do them anywhere else in the city.
They spend literally 2 hours hand filing and buffing. My only complaint is that 6 of 10 cuticles were a little dinged and I have one nail lifting despite the assurance that it doesn't (after 4 days). Other than the fact that it's pretty expensive, $58 for a full set, I would go back to them in heartbeat. My nails have never looked so good so I guess you get you what you pay for!
I found this place through Ideal bite and being that it was advertised as one of the first green nail spas in San Francisco, I wanted to try it out. I took my cousin here for her birthday and we both got the Mandarin Honey Combo Mani/Pedi. It was very relaxing... Chairs were comfy. I also liked that their tools were sanitized and were wrapped seperately.
As for the service, I thought it was okay... I give it a 3 just because I thought she could've scrubbed harder on my feet AND my french nail polish chipped on both my toenails and fingernails... Not sure if it has to do with their non-toxic nail polish, but STILL.. damn, you pay how much and it comes off that same day? Anyway, I still like the ambience of the place and it IS relaxing.. It would be a pretty nice treat after doing some hardcore shopping, so I'll probably go back again.... but maybe I won't get french next time and we'll see what happens.
I love the concept behind this spa - a "green" salon with organic products. The atmosphere is really relaxing: the walls are painted in various earth tones, waterfall, and zen rocks scattered below. However, like some other reviewers have mentioned - it could use a few improvements like using paper cups instead of styrofoam cups.
Aside from the environmental factor, the service here is great. I've only come here for waxing - mostly for the brows. The person who always helps me is a friendly woman named Kim. She does an excellent job and the brows always turn out exactly or sometimes even better than what I imagined them to be. It's a little pricey, but I think it's worth it. I highly recommend this place.
This place was okay but it was really overpriced. Way more than Levende or other places and the level of service at the other places is better. They do get credit for being a "green" salon though. Like the other posters have mentioned, the chairs are strangely uncomfortable. The edge hits you at a weird spot and you have to kind of slouch down for your feet to reach the manicurist. Not comfy. Overall, not a place I'd go back.
I booked Nova for a private event and it went off without a hitch. Kim was extremely helpful and pleasant. The layout of the salon was extremely condusive to a relaxed party atmosphere. Everyone had a wonderful time and raved about their experience. What drew me to Nova is their interior space. It is extremely elegant and streamlined for a nail salon. They have plenty of stations for a large group. We really enjoyed ourselves and I will definitely go back for our next event.
Quick service and nice staff. i usually go there for a quick fix for upper lip and toe nails. its very clean and its located close to my work, which is definetly a plus. and the price, considering its location is reasonable.
I work in SF Centre across the street from this place and had always wanted to go in but, never had the time. Finally, the other day at work, I broke 3 nails and my polish had more chips than a can of Pringles. I headed over, asked if they had something available and was taken almost immediately. They brought me a warm neck wrap to wear while they did my nails , washed my hands with a lavender enfused towel and gave me awesome hand and arm massage. I almost fell asleep, I was so relaxed. Also, it didn't have that cheap nail salon smell which often gives me a migraine, no one was yelling at each other in a language I couldn't understand and there was no Tv blaring in the corner. The facilities were also super clean and from what I've read, entirely eco-friendly. What more could a girl ask for?
why is a "green" salon using styrofoam cups and disposable flip-flops -- especially when I brought my own sandals?
the only green thing I saw was toxin-free nail polish (which peeled right off in sheets after my first shower). Reading their site, I see they used green construction techniques, but they leave a lot to be desired in day-to-day green-ness.
The setting is nice, and my pedicure is lasting well (2 weeks and counting), but I feel like they're charging extra for the environmental angle that isn't really delivered.
They do have a nice early-bird special: Sunday through Wednesday before 2 pm, they offer a Mani/Pedi Combo for $35 -- not a bargain, but a nice discount off the regular cost of $45.
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After a stressful day spent running around without a chance to sit down, after work I decided to treat myself to a manicure and some Icebee yogurt (note the yogurt shop 2 doors down). Nova nail spa is a very peaceful escape from the bustle of downtown. Inside there is a rock wall over which water flows gracefully into a pool below. The music playing in the background is so relaxing you'll have a hard time keeping your eyes open. After a short wait I was taken in by a nice girl "Lam" who had me sit down, offered me tea, and put a nice hot compress on my neck. What a nice treat for my overly sore shoulders (lugging around a bunch of papers to work on for a presentation tomorrow). She did a fairly good job of trimming, shaping, and painting my nails, although in the end, a second woman took over the paining job in a rather cursory manner. The final product turned out nicely although I was not completely thrilled with the color and the price ($15 for an express manicure). Overall the service and ambiance were exactly what I was looking for to relax and prepare for a long night of work ahead.
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Quick service- Wonderful staff. The price, considering its location is reasonable.
Perfect fix for upper lip and toe nails. Its clean is close to work, which .
This place has a good vibe and talented technicians. Although my appointment for myself and two friends didn't turn out as expected, the finished product was fantastic and for $15 it wasn't all bad.
Minus two stars for lack of customer service.
My beef with Nova:
Made an appointment for myself and two friends, three manicures. They said they could take all of us at once if we came earlier than the time I proposed. We showed up at scheduled appointment time and had to wait around 10 minutes. This was fine except we all had to start at separate times, totally defeating the purpose of going together. They also refused to allow us to choose anything other than the express manicure as they "didn't have time" for the treatments we actually came for and wanted. Although the technician did good job on my nails she was constantly leaving the table to answer the phone and take payment from other customers. This doubled the time of my manicure and was pretty annoying. My "express manicure" took over an hour.
I'm a total pedi snob but I love nova! i go there all the time with my girlfriends, my boyfriend, anyone who will go with me. i found Nova because its so close to my house and as soon as i tried it i was hooked. i got all my friends gift certificates and they were also hooked immediatley. now when i get a pedi its hard to NOT run into one of my friends already there! staff is nice, facilities are nice, and the pedis they offer are awesome. i recommend all of them but especially any of the ones with parrafin like the Red Hawaiian. most f my friends are shocked and thinks it expensive going into it (45$ pedi) but are all convinced shortly that its worth it.
By far one of the best nail salons I've been to in awhile. Great customer service and quality work. I went in for a mani/pedi and an eyebrow wax.
How it all went down:
I came in 30 minutes before my scheduled appointment. There were a couple women getting their nails done so they were glad to take me 30 minutes early. I started with my brow wax. I was a bit nervous because I didn't really know what to expect. *I was secretly hoping the lady was experienced* When she finished and handed me the mirror, I found myself pleasantly surprised. She did an exceptional job! My brows have the perfect arch and width! Once I exited the room, I was directed towards one of their chairs for my mani/pedi.
Once I sat down, a girl quickly started on my pedi. I envisioned my nails to be a cute powdery pink color but picked a color that was too light. I think the (mani) girl knew what I wanted and suggested that I try a different color. At this time, (pedi) girl had already started applying the polish on my nails. The (mani) girl quickly stopped her and had my color changed to the color she suggested. I was impressed with the fact that she suggested a different color and had the (pedi) girl start over. She informed me that it takes 3 coats of polish to achieve the color I wanted. I said "ok". I was almost expecting her to tell me that it will cost extra. That never happened. Again, I was pleasantly surprised. When my nails were finally dried, I found no air bubbles and there was a nice, healthy coat of polish on my nails. Oh! I forgot to mention that I also went in with a chipped nail. They fixed it and after the polish, you wouldn't even know it was there. Before leaving the place, the decision was made... I'm a repeat customer. I walked out with perfect brows and amazing nails! It was an amazing experience!
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Initially, I thought the place was over priced. Then I started reading up about the gel nails they do and decidied that maybe I could get away without having to fill them as often and make it worth the extra money.
I had acyrilics on (it was an accident - I went to a new place and they did not do gel and I didn't realize it until it was too late) and they did an awesome job taking them off. They were almost pain free.
Then they started putting on new nails. The gel is actually a gel, not powder plus liquid to make it gel. They put multiple layers on and in between the layers you put your hands into the typical hand dryers to dry them. The gel actually bonds well to your nail but it does sting a bit.
All in all it took about 2 1/2 hours to have my nails done. Yes it took a while, but it has been over a week and they look PERFECT still. I abuse my hands at work (helping with dishes, lifting boxes, mixing chemicals, etc) and any place that can keep my nails looking good is worth it. Also, they only do pink & white nails (which is sometimes hard to find).
Overall slightly time consuming and slightly pricey, but if you don't have to keep going back as much isn't it worth the time you are saving?
I've been looking for the salon who can do gel nail. I am too lazy to fix my nail every week and once had gel nail in Tokyo and really liked it. It's more expensive than usual nail but lasts much longer. Nova does gel nail and I stopped by to try it.
It's done different way from my past experience in Tokyo but they did great job. They have only two choises (French or clear) for gel nails and I am hoping them to have more variety of colors, but it still works.
They have many types of pedicure and foot spa and it looks very nice. I would try pedicure next time then.
Surprisingly, I had a super experience here. The other Nova is a more typical nail place, but this one is really spa-like.
So often gotta bring my own lotion to avoid the narley stuff used by most nail places, but no need here. I was doused in lime and it was fantastic. Great selections, excellent service, clean, modern and right on.
convenient too!!
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I have the clear tips with the Gel overlay -- a newish product easy to find in NYC or Europe -- very tough to find here in SF. Most places do Acrylic and then add a topcoat of "gel" polish - NOT THE SAME. Nova does the true 100 percent Gel. So clear that it looks like bare nails -- no colored polish necessary. They are fabulous. The only place that I have found in SF that does this process. It is a clean lovely salon. Neighborhood isn't great. but what the heck. They put a warmed towel on your shoulders and serve tea or water. There is a little waterfall that is soothing. I highly recommend this salon.
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more expensive than your usual vietnamese girls service nail, close by metreon parking so convenient; however, they are very very ROUGH, they seem like robots, what i like about vietnamese service usually is they are meticulous and careful - this was completely NOT, my nails were bleeding and i told them to be careful and they just indifferent,, they didnt even cut cuticles. The pedicure was better. they did thing fast and rough. I got nail art done and it was very difficult to communicate in english and i had to settle with what they could understand how to do.
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Good idea, poor execution.
First of all, the pedicure chairs are NOT comfortable at all: odd angle and sharp corner right where you feet are resting when they're being painted. Not relaxing.
I had their rosemary and mint mani/pedi combo. The girls seemed friendly yet clumsy. I had two of them working on me at the same time which was not comfortable as I had to lean over with my right hand as the manicurist was sitting on the left of the chair. And because I was getting simultaneous mani/pedi service, my hands didn't even get soaked! And that's for $66 before tip.
To be fair, I have to mention that the neck warmer was very nice and I appreciated the little warmed up booties they put on my feet as a part of the treatment. I also like their eco-conscious attitude: organic products and the fact that they used paper instead of foam toe separators. Decor is nice too.
Overall, not bad but I am not coming back (need that massage pedi chair!)
With so may choices to choose from, why choose here? Crappy service at a high price aside, my biggest complaint is their hygiene. I wouldn't be surprised if they bribed someone to stay licensed.
I am new to SF and was having a really hard time finding a good pedicure and wax place when I stumbled upon the grand opening of Nova Nail Spa. I had already tried the Nob Hill Spa and not only got a discriminating eye from the receptionist but the woman who did my lip wax seemed irritated that all I was there for was a lip wax!!! She was done in like 5 seconds and left most of the hair on my lip!!! I also tried tru spa which was way worse than Nob Hill Spa!!!
I loved Nova Nail Spa the owner Kim is very vigilent of everyone's work and she is always doing QC in her shop!!! She did my lip wax and left it softer than a baby's bottom!!! She pays attention to detail and is very nice! I would recommend this shop to anyone!!!
Eh, the wooden chairs are kinda uncomfortable, and you have to kinda lie down on two pillows (cause I'm short, and can't reach all the way across). I wish they vibrated, it would have been a much more comfy experience. Overpriced, as everything is in the Financial District, but I only went here cause they have a grand opening special- free mani with every pedi. It was average, the color on my nails are streaky, and the tips are already chipping. Not that spectacular, though the lavendar scented neck warmer they put on every client is pretty cool. Again, I'm sticking to New Age nail salon.
The first time you walk into Nova Nail Spa you are transported to the land of tranquility. The decor, the state-of-the-art chairs, the staff and even its elusive herbal scents that linger in the air are all a part of this exquisite experience.
Every day I walk this part of Mission on my way home from Cal Train and ever since I saw the sign posted that a nail salon would be so close to my pad, I have eagerly been anticipating their arrival. This weekend was their grand opening.
It was an amazing experience. After shoddy third world type nail salons that I've visited in the past, with the ever present fear of staph,I don't mind paying the extra dosh for the treatment you get here.
Joanna and Christine worked on my hands and my feet with meticulous attention. All of their pedi instruments were new and unwrapped before my very eyes, I was given a heated neck pad to relax me, and green tea to sip throughout the experience. They soaked my feet in a refreshing lime/lemon water, with slices floating on top. The same for the hands.
They took such good care of me I didn't want to leave! I left feeling recharged, refreshed and intent on returning. Just think of this as the Kamalspa for your feet. I got the express pedicure for $30 and because this was their grand opening I got a free mani!
They have a variety of services, a Spa Feet Retreat, a Red Hawaiian Pedicure cocktail where they slather your feet in a mineral scrub of Hawaiian sea salt, alaea red clay, kukui nut oil and mango butter, a Chocolate and Roses pedicure, a Callus Therapy Pedi, Ginger Lime Pedi, Rosemary Lime Pedi and much more. They even do Parisian facials!
While I was getting worked on, several tourists stopped by and peeked in and had to comment on how gorgeous it was inside. The decor speaks for itself all intended to convey bliss and tranquility designed by Design Solutions on 24th.
All in all this was an incredible experience and considering they are located a mere 4 blocks from where I live, I plan on making it here at least twice a month. Highly recommended!
Don't go here if you're looking to get your gel nails done. After all the amazing yelp reviews of this place I finally decided to fork over the $65 to get mine done.
While they did a great job drawing the white tips for the pink& white gel manicure, the gel itself was super thick.
I feel like I have about 10 layers of gel on my nails and even though I didn't have fake tips added, my nails feel really fake because of how thick they are!! Gel nails, when properly done, are pretty thin and mimic your real nail very well.
I am super bummed about how mine turned out. I'm still searching for a place in the city that does gel nails properly.
This place is amazing! I've been walking by it for weeks now, waiting for it to open... and finally it did!
First, the place is gorgeous. Super clean, very cute, incredibly relaxing environment. Second, what a deal. I got a ginger-lime pedicure and manicure for the price of the pedicure--$40. And ladies (and gents), this was the BEST pedicure I have ever received. It's been almost a week now and not so much as a chip. And since I was the only person there (they only just opened), TWO girls did my nails at the same time, while a third made sure I was completely comfortable and relaxed.
If you're a big spender, sure across the street is Burke Williams and it's incredible. But I gotta tell you, if you just want nice nails and a nice experience, Nova is for you! It's fairly inexpensive and incredibly relaxing.
After having a relatively wonderful experience with acrylics for a while (I found a tech who was a real artist at Tranquility in SF, and if you're looking for acrylics, I will still highly recommend them!), I began to tire of the smell and the lifting. I have naturally thin, weak nails which is why I'd gone for acrylics in the first place, and no matter what I did the free edge always seemed to lift, making it impossible to grow my nails out under the acrylic.
I came across information on gel nails and wanted to give that a shot. Searching for a salon that would do REAL gel nails--and not just gel on top of acrylics--I came across these reviews and made my way over to Nova.
The weekdays are slow there (as confirmed by the owner), so it seemed the salon was appropriately slimly staffed, and I was asked to have a seat and it would be a few minutes. Not having made an appointment prior to coming in (not needing one is a key factor for me, as my days off rotate and I never know when I'm going to wake up in the morning and decide that is the day I'll be having my nails done!), I was perfectly fine waiting even 15min or so if need be. While waiting, I took a look around the salon and was really impressed by the quiet beauty of it. Being a green salon, it made me feel positive about my support for such dedication to a cause.
As soon as the tech was available, I was draped with a warm neck pillow and she got to work cleaning up my somewhat-damaged nails and applying the gels. I really appreciated her attention to detail and gentle hand. It turned out she was the owner, Kim, and so I talked with her a little about the salon. She seems really proud of this, her second location, and pride in a business is important to me as a client because a proud owner will make sure every detail is fussed over and the store meets their every expectation for it.
The whole process took around 2 hours, which I am actually thrilled over. When a tech spends a lot of time on my hands, it shows, and I do not settle for anything less than beautiful nails! I feel I got excellent service at Nova, and it was worth every penny I paid.
I'd brought my own O.P.I color along with me, but their selection is tremendous, and I may just pick out one of theirs next time for a bit of a change.
All in all, the whole experience at Nova was absolutely lovely. My nails are gorgeous, my wallet is none the worse for wear, and it was so nice to meet the owner as part of my visit. I definitely recommend this salon for TRUE gel nails, I will undoubtedly be returning for fills, and I look forward to trying their other services in the future!
OK this is THE best place to get your nails done. I used to (get this) drive all the (hell, yeah) way down to San Carlos to get my nails done (silk) for years. I've been to all the top nail salons in SF without any positive results until I found Kim! Deb D. is right! The gel nails are fantastic. Yes, it is a bit expensive to do this process but it's worth every penny. Take it from me - the nails are completely worry-free. If you have an active life and need to have perfect nails without babying them, this is for you. They are perfect (I get the pink & white gel) for weeks and those little digits look flawless, clean and perfect until my nails grow out in about 2-3 weeks. Kim is adorable! All the women who work there are fantastic. They are sweet, kind and genuinely want to make you satisfied with their work. The salon is the cleanest I've ever seen and very high-end and relaxing! They service each customer with packaged, clean, sterile tools. The heated neck pillow is awesome and they make sure you are given whatever you want to drink. Listen, you can go to those hack shops and get mani/pedi's for $30. But we all know that you get what you pay for dahlings! And the pedicures are to die for! Try it, you'll LOVE it!!
this place is super -- definitely a welcome addition to the neighborhood. not your average nail salon -- they've done a terrific job with the interior, transforming a blah storefront space into a lovely environment (and a meticulously clean one at that) to relax into your mani/pedi. although nova offers "express" treatments, it's a nice place to hang out for one of their "spa" services (i had the mandarin/honey, i believe it was called -- very nice -- which included an aromatherapy foot soak, parafin wax, and a fine-smelling exfoliating scrub in addition to the traditional mani/pedi work), especially since the place is "green" and doesn't stink of acrylic nails. the owner and staff are very friendly and accomodating. i walked out with soft hands and feet, and very pretty fingers and toes. i'll happily return.
This is hands down the best nail experience I have ever had. The owner and his employees are professional and friendly. My girlfriends took me for a birthday treat before dinner-- our appointment was late and we realized as we were leaving that they had stayed open late to accomodate us. We were also offered a generous discount even though we had not mentioned it when making the appointment. I think the special is going on through November so check it out!!! This is the place to go in for a beautiful manicure and pedicure-- well worth the trip down town and the slightly higher price. When you have rose petals in your water and are sipping champagne, I hardly think you can balk at their prices. Also, check out their site-- they are environmentally friendly and seem to take a genuine interest in meeting the earth friendly needs of San Franciscans.
I don't know what was up with this girl but the manicure/french I had was terrible. Once she was done, I could see nail polish in between my nails and on my hands. It started peeling instantly as well. I'm only giving two stars because she was friendly.
I have to recommend this salon for GEL NAILS. Kim and Lan are the best in SF at applying Gels. I've been going to the Spa since they first opened. Whereas, other nail salons have a radio station full of commercials and "noise". Nova Nail Spa has meditative, calming music and it's a pleasure to be in the environment that Kim (the owner) has created. The beautiful water fountain adds to the peace.
If you've never tried Gels, it's worth the extra money. The difference in feel and look of acrylic and gels is so obvious, even to the untrained eye. Acrylic just doesn't compare, it's cheaper because IT IS cheaper; it lifts and really damages the natural nail. Yes, Gels do take longer (average new set and fill is about 2 hours) and cost a bit more but I only go every three weeks. I started wearing Gels when I lived in Germany, where they don't use toxic stuff or provide bad quality (just not their culture) - however, I wouldn't say the Germans are anywhere close to providing the best customer service (kind of a joke but it's true).
Anyway, I looked for a year when I moved to SF for a place that does good Gels. I searched the internet and called numerous places. Finally, I came across Nova Nail Spa's brochure, they hadn't even opened yet. When the brochure stated that they do Gels, I was on it, went to the spa. I sat at Nova thinking "show me what you got" girl! To my surprise, I got the same quality and "better service" than I had been used to in Germany.
Nova Nail Spa is leading the way to the new generation of nails - GEL NAILS. I just love this place; the nail technicians are friendly and warm! It doesn't feel like an errand to get my nails done and my pedicures, instead it feels like "quality time". A short spa experience!
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241 reviews
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPA