Nail Time Spa

The place is nice for the price! Its clean and looks sanitary, coming from someone who works in the industry that means a lot. I came here before new years so it has been a while since I have been back.
I believe I had Ashley for a nail technician. I received and mani/​pedi from her on a Wednesday when they were having a special. She was very nice and accommodating and her manicurists skills were superb! She went above and beyond during my service and offered me neck/​shoulder massage during my mani AND when my nails were drying. You normally don’t receive such «spa-​like» service at your local chop-​shops (at least I never have). My mani from Ashley lasted at least 5 days too, which is unusual for me because my hands are in water frequently.
Overall it was a nice experience, and if you go here on a Wednesday ask for Ashley!

What a pretty, clean, and calming space. I never feel rushed when I come here and they have great prices on Mondays and Wednesdays. The best part is that it doesn’t smell like chemicals like most nail places do.

I just had an awful experience and I didn’t even get my wax!
I called on Monday to make an appointment for Wednesday (my day off), got the appointment, and preceded to plan a busy day around it. I got a call the next day saying «Sorry, we can’t do it that day. The person who does waxes is only in on Saturday and Sundays!» I was annoyed (don’t you have a schedule in front of you? Why did it take you almost 24 hours to call me?) but I rescheduled for 10 am today even though I already had a busy schedule. I wanted to give this place a shot because it was close and they were running a good special for waxes. I walked over and got there right before 10 to see that they weren’t open yet. They’re supposed to open right at 10 so I wait. And wait. And wait. Called, knocked on the door, no one. I waited almost 20 minutes before a woman casually walked up and unlocked the door. No acknowledgement that she was almost 20 minutes late. At this point, I should have been done, paid and out the door. And when I got mad that I had an appointment for 20 minutes ago all she said was «you can come in now». No sorry. Nothing.
I wasn’t expecting a lot for the price, I was hoping to be pleasantly surprised, but I DO expect you to at least open your place of business on time. If you’re busy, I have no problem waiting but to not even apologize or look hurried is ridiculous. I have a schedule too and money I can take elsewhere.

After buying a Swoop certificate for this place last July, and having immense difficulty in obtaining an appointment, I had essentially given up, lost track of the certificate and when I found it the other day, decided to take a chance and try to redeem it before it’s expiration.
When I called to «make an appointment’ the person who answered was very rude, strange for a business to not find a good customer service-​scheduler…
I went for my appointment, and bizarre! There was NO one in the place! I have never been to a nail salon that was entirely empty on a Saturday afternoon. Nonetheless, I presented my certificate, and was remarked at that I was «lucky, because it would be expiring in 3 weeks»…ok. Thanks. Pointing that out seemed unnecessary.
I picked my color, and explained I only wanted color on my toes, and clear polish on my nails (I’m taking pottery and there’s no point in having chipped polish the next day). The technician promptly prepared my pedicure soak and got started. Her style in trimming and filing was off; I can’t explain it but it was almost like she was awkward with her own tools. She also was silent and didn’t look up, smile, or say boo. The foot and ankle massage was excessive, though appreciated, it made it seem as if she was better at massage than pedicures. Which, as it turned out, she was.
The manicure was ridiculous. My nails are now clipped bat-​crazy as if I did them myself after a quadruple gin martini. She also failed to apply any clear polish and assumed (?) she was done after a light buffing and filing of my nails which she whacked off like Sweeney Todd. I didn’t bother to try and correct her as I truly just wanted to get the heck outta that place.
Weird vibe. Nail Time needs a crash course in personality and re-​certification of their nail technicians.
oh, and Swoop, —your ‘deal’ was no deal.

Horrible, horrible, horrible experience. I never got to the actual mani-​pedi part.
I had a swoop for this place and decided to use it the day before I had a special event. I made an appointment a week in advance, drove there straight after work to make sure I’m not late. First thing I was asked was if I had a swoop. I said «Yes», the receptionist asked for the printed copy. Now, I buy Groupons, Swoops, Travelzoo deals (you name it) all the time and I was never asked for the printed copy, the electronic one is always sufficient. Well, apparently not at Nail TIme Spa. They suggested I go somewhere to print it (I didn’t have time to drive around looking for a printer) or come another day (also not an option since I had a special event next day). The receptionist (or whoever she is), who is younger than me, kept calling me «sweetie», said there was nothing they could do!
Needless to say, I’m never going back there.

What a hidden gem on Belmont!
I was calmed instantly, thanks to the different shades of blue painted on the walls through out the spa. As for the nail polishes? So many to choose from. I felt like a little girl in a candy store!
The young man who gave me my mani/​pedi was fantastic! Quick and efficient and found a way to make me giggle minimally when scrubbing my feet. That takes some talent! As for the leg massage, I was in three minutes of pure heaven. My calves felt like butter and they were ready and raring to go and finish up the long day! The mani? My hands were smooth as silk and the polish lasted almost 10 days, which is almost impossible for my hands.
There are so many nail spa in Chicago and this one should not be overlooked!

I had the absolute perfect manicure and pedicure here!
I had a YouSwoop and called for an appointment and got in a half hour later. I was able to use my YouSwoop no problem and my mani/​pedi was about an hour and a half total.
The inside is really nice and clean and a bit zen. There is one TV but when I was there it was on mute so the place is rather quiet. My manicurist was fantastic – it was one of the best pedicures and my manicure lasted a week! That’s bananas.
I’m not sure if it’s worth the regular prices at Nail Time, but using my YouSwoop I definitely got a deal. I would recommend this place to anyone that lives around that area that is looking for a really solid mani/​pedi.

Terrible customer service. Rushed pedicures. Manicures that chip after a day.
I live right across the street from Nail Time and even the convenience won’t be bringing me back. I went in for a simple polish change on my acrylic nails. I had just gotten a new set 1 week prior at a different salon because, as the younger girl at Nail Time said to me in a snotty tone, «We don’t do any acrylics here.»
When the guy took off my polish my nails were all powdery and sticky and it didn’t look right so I said something. He asked the younger girl to come over and take a look, she was on a roll that day. First she started blaming me for having an old set of nails-​when they were 1 week old. Then she started blaming the other nail salon for doing a bad job-​when she doesn’t even do acrylics. Instead of being nice and offering suggestions she was rude and unhelpful. I just said forget it and decided to go to one of the many other nail salons in the city that treats customers a little better than this.
As I was getting up to leave the guy informed me that it would be $ 5. I was in shock. To take off my nail polish? Up until this point there was still hope for Nail Time, maybe they couldn’t help me with my acrylics but they were still right across the street from my house. Well, they sealed the deal on never having me as a customer again. I asked the girl, $ 5 to take off my nail polish? Her response was yes, sweetie-​in her standard rude tone of the day. Sweetie? I’m pretty sure she is at least 5 years younger than me, please do not call me sweetie.
There are hundreds of nail salons in this city. You would think, for a salon that is less than a year old, you would put in a little effort to retain customers. Obviously they aren’t that concerned, I’ll be interested to see if they can stay afloat.

I have been trying (unsuccessfully) to make an appointment ever since I purchased the YouSwoop deal. I finally lined one up for this morning at 10:00 am, when they open.
Admittedly, I was a little late — I misjudged the amount of time it would take me to walk here from the L. When I walked in, three people were in the pedicure chairs, each well into their pedicures.
One of the techs greeted me and I let her know I had an appointment. She told me I’d have to wait half an hour. I made an appointment so I wouldn’t have to wait.
Really? You JUST opened less than 10 minutes ago. If they’re going to insist that people make appointments to redeem their YouSwoops (which is totally reasonable) then they need to honor the appointments.
I had a jam packed day and couldn’t wait what would likely be more than 30 minutes, so I left. I passed three nail places on my way there and figured that one of them would take me — and I was right! I plan on asking YouSwoop for a refund or giving the voucher away.

Quality mani-​pedi.
Used my YouSwoop and went in after work on a weeknight. The place was oddly quiet which actually suited me. Mani and pedi were finished in about an hour plus drying time.
Things you should know:
— the nail files they use are pretty fine which actually suits me just fine — less breakage
— the foot scrubbing was hard, but my feet feel great
— the shoulder massage was wonderful
If my polish stays looking as good as it does, I’ll be back.

I also tried out nail time spa after I got the youswoop coupon.
I like my manicure and pedicure. The guys who did it, did a great job and was very meticulous and very nice.
The thing that made me upset was that the guy accepted my coupon, but then five minutes later a tall thin asian girl told me I could not use it this time since I didn’t schedule an appointment.
Mind you, it was me and one other person in the whole place. When I told her I didnt see that on the coupon, her response was rude. She said, «it is pretty self explainatory. 1. Print coupon 2. Make appointment, 3. etc. etc.»
Hello, I can read! The coupon didn’t say you can not use the coupon unless you make an appointment. I think this was ridiculous and she was very rude on how she went about it.
I am considering not going back due to her interaction with me. I may just give my youswoop away. I don’t need someone talking to me like that. If it wasnt for this experience, I probably would have gone back.

Like others, I tried Nail Time Spa after getting the YouSwoop.
The Good: My pedicure looks great. Great neck and shoulder massage, both during the manicure and while I was drying. I was given a coupon for $ 25 mani-​pedis for myself & 3 friends.
The Bad: Cruddy massage chairs for the pedicure. The manicurist kept well clear of my cuticles with the nail polish, which unfortunately means that there is a good-​sized gap of nail near the cuticle that wasn’t painted.
The Ugly: My manicure. There are areas in the corners of my nails that weren’t painted, along with the aforementioned gaps in the cuticles. It didn’t even seem like the nails got more than 1 coat of polish. 2 days later, nearly every nail is chipped by the tip or elsewhere and I haven’t been aiming for that. I don’t frequently get manicures, but this looks worse than when I paint them myself.
Again, I was VERY happy with the pedicure. 2 stars instead of 3 because I’m so disappointed with the quality of the manicure. I don’t know that I’d return — just very cheap.

Nail Time is my new favorite nail spot in the city! I stumbled in here to take advantage of their grand opening special and boy am I ever glad I did!
Nail Time has all of what you’d expect for a $ 40 mani-​pedi. Essie/​OPI polish, clean and cute décor, big comfy massage chairs etc. But its all the little extras that put them just a cut above the rest. Great massages, not just the calf, feet and hands, but neck and shoulder rubs, plural, during both the mani and the drying period. Awesome. They don’t skimp on the massage either. I’m getting sleepy/​drooly just thinking about it. Plus, they have fan dryers rather than UV (which I just read a CNN article about how that can give you skin cancer… or was it Women’s Health?) and they are running crazy specials right now to get business ($ 25 mani-​pedi if you bring a friend, buy 9, get the 10^th free card for frequent customers.)
All in all, I really enjoy Nail Time. It’s close to my house, the people are friendly and they always remember me, and its a great value for what you get. I have only ever had one bad experience here (I had to wait an hour for my mani even though I’d made an appointment), but I’d chalk it up to small business owners taking a little too much business and leave it at that. I’m not a hater (and the free mani they gave me didn’t hurt either…) So watch out for that but don’t let it stop you from coming here!

This was, by far, the best mani/​pedi I have ever had.
Strolled in without an appointment and was seated immediately. Score! The pedi was perfect. My feet were super smooth, the shape was spot on, and the polish was perfect. Same for the mani. Throughout every part of the service, you get a massage. Feet and legs first. Then hands, arms, and neck during the mani. Then another neck massage when you’re at the drying station. These were not lazy massages either. Perfect for an after work pit stop to get purdy and indulge in some minor pampering.
So, on to the YouSwoop portion of the review. I don’t follow directions well. Ask any coworker or my parents — they’ll vouch for this. I didn’t make an appointment, and only noticed the sign requesting that Swooper’s schedule an appointment when I was already at the drying station. Ladies, you know that you pay after the pedi but before the mani is completed. My manicurist never even mentioned that I was supposed to set an appointment. Super sweet. As I was leaving, she gave me a coupon for me and 3 of my friends to come in for a mani/​pedi at $ 25 per
person. That’s only $ 5 more than the Swoop was. Awesome.
The place itself is cute. Bright colors and very clean. My only complaint is that the pedi chairs were probably some of the worst massage chairs ever, but when you get the real thing, who needs ‘em?

The tech was nice but the quality of the service was poor. 10 minute pedicure? In lukewarm water? I had to ask that he scrubbed my heels a bit longer, barely any triming around the nail edge.
For the mani, I had to ask that he put an additional layer of polish on because the paint job was so spotty. Also, he left such a space between the paint and cuticle, the mani looked a week grown out already.
I will never go back here, far too many options in the area to receive such a disappointing mani/​pedi.

Loved our mani/​pedi — bought with a Swoop, made an appointment, which I thought was nice because we could schedule our day around the appointment and not end up sitting there waiting. Staff was friendly and the foot massage, leg massage, hand/​arm massage and neck massage was an added treat.
While we were there, two women came in without an appointment and the staff fit them in without interrupting our services.
Also, received a coupon for a 2^nd visit — $ 25 mani/​pedi.
Highly recommend this nail salon.

Talk about getting nerves before a mani/​pedi. I called 30 minutes ahead to make my appointment. Then, I spent my 30 minutes killing time eating froyo and reading up on the reviews… Eek, I too have a YouSwoop. FYI, an appointment is NECESSARY… call or your voucher will not be honored!
As I read up on reviews, I was seeing this mani/​pedi can go one of two ways. Really good or really bad, but I was trying to be optimistic. I arrived a few minutes early. It was early afternoon, and they were not too busy.
I started with the Pedi. Now I am a runner, and my feet have a lot of miles on them… to say they are in rough shape is an understatement. So I was appreciative that anyone other than myself would touch them. The overall pedi experience was okay, the polish turned out good. But that was it, it didn’t look or feel like anything had been done to work out the rough spots from wear and tear on my running toes and the nail shaping was a little whack on a few toes. I too will echo shoddy pedi job.
The manicure was a little less than desirable. I was asked if I wanted round or square shaping to which I said square… some how that turned into rounded corners. There was hardly any cuticle trimming done whatsoever on my nails. The polish didn’t turn out well either, it wasn’t applied evenly. I was left with some areas that had better coverage than others.
I ended up touching up a little too much on my hands and toes when I got home, if I wanted to do it myself I wouldn’t pay someone else to do it for me. Glad I didn’t pay full price for that.

No.
I got the YouSwoop for the $ 20 mani-​pedi. When will I learn? A $ 35 pedicure lasts long and looks good for weeks. A shoddy pedi doesn’t even look great right out of the box.
My feet need to look perfect and delicious. Yes, this is how I like to put one foot in front of the other in life. Well shod and well pedi’d. Adorable toes peeking out of stylish shoes.
I called ahead for an appointment, sure, I’ll play along. 45 minutes after my appointment was to start, I was finally in the chair. I was in that place for 2 hours, but my feet don’t reflect the time invested. The cuticles are still a bit ragged, and the polish is. .. meh.
I’m sorry I cheated on you, Magic Nails on B’way.

I bought a YouSwoop for a mani/​pedi.
why 1 star?
Customer service: well, i didn’t like that i had to have an appointment just because i had a youswoop. While I was getting my mani, a woman asked if they can fit her in for a mani/​pedi. they asked if she had a YouSwoop, and she said yes. they told her that she has to make an appointment. 5 minutes later another lady walked in and requested a mani/​pedi (didn’t have a YouSwoop and was going to pay full price). needless to say, they started working on her nails immediately.
Atmosphere: no music. one TV (some news channel). this is a Spa, it should have a more relaxed atmosphere. I don’t want to be hearing about robberies and earthquakes when i’m trying to relax. I can watch the news on my phone!
Mani/​Pedi: I was not satisfied with the mani/​pedi either. the lady was really nice though.
Location/​Sign: the location is real nice but their sign is not clear. when you’re standing in front of the place you can’t really read the sign unless you’re across the street from it.

Fifteen dollars for a manicure in Chicago? I’ll take it!
Throw in another $ 15 and get a pedicure as well? Yep.
Sister and I went to Nail Time last weekend. As the place is new, we only knew of it because Sister had passed it during one of her walks to the beach. The location is perfect — there was plenty of walk-​in traffic while we were there.
Sister and I didn’t make an appointment but they were able to take us right away. We selected from a wall of polishes (mostly OPI and Essie) and grabbed some Serious reading (Us Weekly — I need to keep up with Kate Middleton’s outfits on her Canadian Tour. Girl’s got style).
In addition to the application of color (you know, the nail-​doing part of the manicure) they do quite an extensive arm and shoulder massage. Seriously, $ 15 was a steal.
The best part, however, was when a seven-​year-​old came in with her mother for mani-​pedis. The mother asked if the daughter could just have a «mini pedicure» and they propped her up on pillows but the footbaths and got to work. The girl was positively beaming with happiness. Adorable.