Inspa

The good, the bad, and the flat out ugly: Bellevue Square
I’ve been to 3 Washington area InSpas, Mill Creek, Redmond and the Bellevue Square location. I selected InSpa for nail services because they have a waterless method and an autoclave.
The good: Lana is a very conscientious nail tech. She did my friend’s feet and you could tell she took extra care, spent more time on the massage, she was focused on comfort and quality.
The bad: The quality of service is limited to the right tech — that happens in other places as well. My nail tech, Kathy was not up to par. I asked her to do a little more work on my feet because she spent so little time exfoliating and the skin was barely touched. She basically said «no» by dismissing the request. Normally, I tip 15−25% and she was not worthy of a tip. Her manicure (just a cleanup) left a messy job of the cuticles, further she didn’t clean thoroughly under the nails. I still had a bit of gardening under at least three nails. Unacceptable.
The ugly: And this is why I will not return to this location. When I made my appointment the desk staff was unaware of their waterless (The ReFresh) service. When she finally realized they have it, she was unaware of the difference between the ReFresh and the ReFresh Signature. She even went as far to say «you must be looking at an old menu, we don’t offer a ReFresh Signature.» Keep in mind, their services are RIGHT BEHIND THEM ON THE WALL.
When I arrived, I shared with the desk staff that perhaps they had someone new but she was not informed. They were put off by my sharing this information and quickly turned strident. The woman also flat out lied about their cleaning practices to my guest. I mean a ball faced lie.
When I left, I gave them feedback about Lana and Kathy’s service and true to form they contradicted me «all our technicians are great.» Um… no… I am the customer and I am giving you feedback that Kathy was not to my standard, which is very forgiving.
The desk staff is absolutely the reason to avoid this location.

I’ve always relied on InSpa as a last minute, quality beauty resource. But now I’ll be scheduling often! Heidi at the BelSquare location was amazing. I came in for the Classic Pedicure, which sounds straightforward and maybe basic, it was anything but basic. Super relaxing, thorough, and my toes look great. Heidi had a professional, relaxing, and positive demeanor. And she gives an amazing massage! I highly recommend Heidi at this location, sweetest woman you could ask for!

I called and they were able to squeeze me in for a last minute appointment for a classic manicure and pedicure. Lana was fabulous! She didn’t rush because I was her last appointment and took her time with my mani and pedi. I felt completely relaxed when I left! I will definitely being going back to see her. Thank you!

$ 40 is a little over priced for a classic manicure, especially when the polish chips almost immediately. I had an appointment Thursday and my nails started to chip on Friday! 6 out of 10 nails are almost bare.
My technician missed part of my nail/didn’t put on enough polish. Not to mention after She was done, I was rushed out of the chair because her next client was there.

I booked an eyebrow wax and tint. The gal had to redo the tint three times because it wouldn’t show up. Additionally my eyes were burnt by the wax as it was too hot. My eyes were red and swollen for a few days. Afterwards my skin started to flake. Awful. Very very poor service.

This review is just for the pedicure services.
I paid $ 10 extra for the ‘Signature Pedicure’ ($ 50 total before tip.) The only difference between that and the normal one was about 15 seconds of being rubbed with an exfoliating scrub, and then 10 minutes of plastic bags on my feet with lotion on them. Not worth it.
The lady was kind and the place was clean-​instruments were opened in front of me, but it wasn’t an impressive or relaxing experience by any means. I’ve had much better experiences at Myano nails downtown Seattle, for considerably less money.
Quite disappointing, I will surely not be returning here.

So disappointed with my pedi. Got extremely bad infection from them. Spent hundreds of dollars going to the doctor to try to repair my toe nail. I’ve had a couple of my family friends say they had the same experience. Find a cleaner spa!!!

Went here because of a gift card– and bottom line, I’m mad I wasted that card. Used it towards a shellac mani/​pedi.
Let’s start with the good:
— Called that morning and they were able to get me in early that day for my initial need (more on that…)
— The color selection was great for both shellac and regular.
— My old shellac was taken off with no extra fee.
The bad:
— I sat in a weird chair with a portable mop bucket, basically, for my feet.
— I’m not 100% sure the buffer and the paddle for scrubbing my heels was sanitized.
— She didn’t ask what shape I liked or if I wanted my nails cut down.
— They called it a «massage» which was her stretching my feet and rubbing oil on my legs for maybe 2 minutes. No scrub. Nothing. Nothing was offered like that either, although if other reviews are correct, it would’ve just been a bigger waste of my money.
— Polish took forever and still didn’t look great. My toes are lumpy and uneven (and please see below for my mani).
The ugly:
— Getting some shopping done 15 minutes later, I see that my thumb has creases, three of my fingers have bubbles, and two others have polish on the cuticle, meaning it’ll peel in a few days.
— Take a card out of my wallet and my thumb with the creases CHIPS. Big dent in it. Weird on shellac, but it happens.
— Go back to ask what we can do, and they tell me they can’t until 1:45 (it’s 12:15 at this point), I ask for alternatives, or can they squeeze 5 minutes out of someone to fix just the one nail real quick (I had an appointment in seattle), and the lady at the front counter was too upset about her lashes falling out. She then proceeded to tell me I could go to the one closer to my house, or get a free one loaded on my account, which I appreciate and would’ve taken had she not been so rude and condescending when she talked down to me. I told her I felt she was being rude and she goes «ugh, I’m trying to give you a free manicure how is that rude?!»
At that point I left, and I won’t be returning. My nail place by my condo in Seattle does an amazing job for half the cost, and it’s a lot cleaner and the techs take way better care of their customers. Wish I had just gone there today instead of wasting this gift card on this salon. 2 stars for mediocre mani/​pedi and really awful front desk service.

I went for the first time today. I was looking for an option to the quick spa experience. I know that many are happy with that but I was not.
If you compare the prices to a quick spa then this is definitely more expensive.
I am okay paying for someone who really wants to take care of my feet vs. someone who makes me feel like I am simply a body in a chair.
I worked with Heidi. She was great. Very caring about my experience and attentive to my needs. The room is intimate but the chairs were nice and I chose the hot towel experience rather than the foot bath… and yes the color of the foot bath insert is orange but i would not call it a bucket. They looked like a lot of others I have experienced.
I saw her open a fresh pack of tools to work on my feat.
My only downside was that in their desire to take care of my feet they discussed my challenges out loud so that everyone could be privy to the information. I personally liked it when it was quiet but it was also fine to have discussion.
I will be back.

I originally came here for a Brazilian about a month ago and Natalie did a WONDERFUL job. She was very thorough and made me feel extremely comfortable. She uses hard wax, which was new to me at the time, so I was a littl hesitant, but now I refuse to go anywhere else.
I told my bestfriend about my experience, so we ended up going in together the other day, where she was taken care of my Natalia. She fell in love with it as well. The cost is $ 75 for your first time, then $ 55 for maintenances. I highly recommend Natalie and Natalia for all the ladies who are in need of waxing. :)

I want to say good things but… I came in for a nail appointment and waxing services. At 6 pm. Waited over an hour to be seen for the waxing services.
Just poor planning. Something relaxing ended up being a 2 hour ordeal. But the staff was nice.
It won’t let me respond to the In Spa person anywhere else. I WAS NOT A WALK IN!!! I had an appointment. Just FYI

I’ve gone to Inspa for a manicure and pedicure and am happy with both services. It’s a clean place and the ladies are really nice and polite. The services are a little pricey, but it’s worth it every once in a while to treat yourself. I think they often have deals or a membership program, so the price could be more reasonable if you’re a regular.

This review is based on my esthetician, Natalia. She is absolutely adorable, personable, and amazing at her job. Getting waxed is not the best activity, but Natalia makes it bearable. She tries to make it as quick and painless as she can. Love… love that girl!
The spa itself is clean and tidy. No complaints.
If you are a regular, I recommend their membership program… I think it was $ 25 (annual membership) and you get 10% off all services. Not bad. Also, do the maintenance package… buy 5, get one free. :)

For waxing, this is a two starts.
Miracel is not a miracle at all.

If I could name one trait that I admire most about this spa is that it is VERY accommodating. After making an appointment for facials for me and three other ladies, one of the ladies informed me the day of the appointment that her face did not handle facials very well and that she would often breakout after having one done. So, when I arrived, I asked the receptionist if we could change the facial for her to a tension relief massage. The receptionist was able to change it right at that moment and I was very relieved.
Also, the facial was nice. My face feels smooth and hydrated. The only complaint I would have is that they try to sell you products during your facial, which is normal, but not something I really go for. Overall though, good service, nice staff, and very accommodating.

I’ve been here three times so far for a massage, all with different people. I’ve had a great experience, each time I’ve gone in with some pain in my shoulders and back and left feeling much better.
Brandon was especially great, worked out so many kinks and found more that I didn’t even know existed.
I would highly recommend this spot for massages. Hope the Mill Creek massage therapists are just as great when I move out there in a month.

I would give this a 5 *, but given my latest experience, I WILL not be going back.
For Vday I got a gift card, and was pretty excited.
3 weeks ago I went to get shellac and was running late, they squeezed me in, and the (Asian) women did an AMAZING job. 20 min –in-​and-​out and it looked GREAT. Lasted the longest I have ever had it done.
Well, I should have asked for her again =(
Went back two days ago, and it was TERRIBLE.
Had a (maybe Russian) lady? Who, pulled me into the middle of the room so «she could see better» … It was on a portable rolling desk. I was extremely uncomfortable and awkward feeling.
I told her I did not want my nails too short– and liked them square.
She said «Oh you need them cut shorter»
what? — well, I like them nice, but not too short.
She said Okay.
Then she moved me over to the shellac area.
After telling me she didn’t think the Shallac (after I have been doing it for a year now)
wouldn’t be best for me, but she was «going to do it anyways»
She proceeded to put Shellac on my nails.
But was very clumsily and disorganized.
Half the time she kept unplugging the heaters, and forgetting to put one in front of me so I could use it. I kept asking her– «Shouldn’t I be under the heat?»
«Oh yea» she would reply
All said and done– my nails look like a MESS.
I have never had such a bad job done, and it took her almost an HOUR and a half.
All my nails are unevenly cut, and the polish is all over my cuticals =(
I had to go home and fix them up a little to look semi normal, but really unhappy that my nails are so short
I work in the service industry, and have a HUGE threshold for mistakes/​whatnots. but this was pretty bad.

Monir is the tech I request to do nail services at Bellevue Square InSpa — she is thorough, gentle and conversational without being too inquisitive. Plus, she has a great personality. Frankly I am glad InSpa accepts tips — some techs certainly deserve good tips.
The one complaint I would like to voice (I should say something to the front desk gals) relates to mobile phone usage in the nail service area. I believe everyone would enjoy their experience more if relaxation was not interrupted by a phone and the subsequent phone chat — which of course is «of utmost importance at that moment». Please ladies, can we agree to texting-​only if we have to use a mobile device?
Other than that, my experiences at InSpa have been very pleasant.

I first visited InSpa a few years ago and was pretty disappointed with that experience. (I had never had a pedicure where I sat in an office chair and dipped my feet in a bucket.) I received a $ 100 gift card and decided to try the place one more time hoping for a better experience. The spa has upgraded the set up a bit, but it is still not up to «Spa» status. The chairs are pretty basic compared to the corner nail places and the foot bath is still a bucket style bath, just more dressed up.
I arrived on time for my appointment which was set for 4:45 and I was seen at 4:50. My pedicure took 40 minutes and it was ok. It would have been nice to have warmer water, but since the bath is a bucket vs. an actual spa bath, I didn’t want to cause an issue by asking for warmer water, so I sat with my feet in cold water for 30 minutes. The pumice stone tool was very dull, it felt like my feet were being rubbed by the back of a wood hairbrush, and it was just as effective.
My manicure began at 5:30 and took exactly 30 minutes. The «classic manicure» is pretty much a glorified polish change, with some cuticle trimming. I paid $ 7 extra to have the french polish and half of my nails have very crooked paint, it looks a bit silly and does not look like it was done at a salon.
I was dismissed at 6:05 and was helped immediately by one of the ladies at the front desk, but it still took 12 minutes for her to complete the check out process although I was the only person she was helping. The entire process took from 4:45 to 6:17 and the cost was $ 76 for a nothing special mani/​pedi with french polish.
The place looks clean, I am sure that all of the basic sanitation requirements are being followed. I will likely return again next year when I am given another gift card, although I am going to give my employer some feedback about the value of the gift card. If I were paying out of my own pocket, I would go to a nail place in a strip mall and save $ 30+ and 30 minutes receiving a quality mani/​pedi.

I went in for a shellac manicure, and classic pedicure recently. The total was $ 98, and for that amount of money, I expect great service, sanitary tools, and very knowledgeable technicians. Unfortunately, this was not the case.
There is not much difference from this InSpa versus a cheap, strip mall-​run nail spa. Before I soaked my feet for the pedicure, I did not see the technician sanitize the bucket, which was literally just an orange, plastic bucket. The tools came out in a small baggy, but there is no guarantee that these were even properly sanitized.
To me, one sign of a nail spa that I should steer clear of is how they paint the french-​tips: you should NOT have to correct the white using a brush dipped in polish remover. Experienced nail techs should be able to precisely paint the white in the first place. Looking at my manicure, I see non-​sharp lines because of the brush-​corrections, and nail polish that ended up painted on my skin.
I only went here because it was last minute, and it seemed like no other places had openings. Before, I had tried Patsy James, and she is AMAZING. What a huge difference in expertise and skill.
The nail tech at InSpa also improperly uses the UV-​light machine. It requires a specified number of seconds/​minutes for each layer of polish to cure. My hands remained in the UV-​light for extremely long stretches of time. It seemed almost arbitrary, and that the nail tech just wanted longer time. I literally felt like I was developing skin cancer from all the exposure I was getting. With my previous Shellac experience, I was given the appropriate amount of UV time, and all the polish cured perfectly fine.
I do not recommend this place. The nail tech started off friendly, but I’m not sure what happened, as she became rather serious and did not smile as the session went on.