Tips & Toes Spa

I’ve been back since my last review a couple times and the quality wasn’t as good. My mani chipped soon after both times. I so wanted to have my neighborhood nail spot, but I’ll have to keep looking.

UPDATE: I reluctantly gave Tips & Toes a good review based solely on the work performed (very good), not the service. The service then, and still, continues to suck.
I’m still waiting for a call back for messages I left in April and October 2011. I was a loyal customer, but now, methingks not. I really like giving small mom n’ pops the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes, when they suck, they just really blow and I’d be doing a huge disservice to my fellow Unilocalers by not calling it as I see it.
If you’re looking for a shellac/​gel nail salon, I’ve been going to Suzy’s Nails in Los Feliz.

Let me go ahead and excuse my manhood here — I have no business being in a Mani/​Pedi spa. You see, I’m not the type of guy that puts the «Man» in «Mani.» Call me delusional but I still think daily showers, trimmed fingernails, and a nice set of iron-​pressed clothes suffice for a man’s hygiene.
The culprit of my presence at Tips & Toes was my friend, she had an appointment here and I agreed to come along. Of course, I tried to hint out a bar instead but why the hell would she listen to that? Women.
The place isn’t big, but it’s very very clean so that compensates for its size. The workers there were friendly and they actually sparked up interesting conversation amongst each other. They went out of their way to involve their customers in conversation, it wasn’t the usual anti-​male society of Amazons that instinctively develops when a bunch of flock together. I would have been furious if that were the case — then again, they were pretty hot. I suppose you win some, you lose some. lol
The phone rang often and I wondered if anyone would answer it more frequently during our visit, but then I noticed that all the employees were busy. Answering every phone call would probably deflate their customer service atmosphere.
Tips and Toes is a very clean and comfortable place, I would definitely recommend it. As someone who’s been involved in the customer service industry for years I have noticed that some people demand ten-​star treatment on a five-​star scale. The people here work very well and if I were a woman I’d sure come here.
I just couldn’t give it five stars cuz, you know… I’m a dude and stuff.
(Burp!) lol

Unlike other reviewers, I had a GREAT experience. I went in today, a Monday, and had the owner do my shellac manicure. This is my first shellac manicure and it looks AWESOME.
1 Star for having a shellac manicure option (I haven’t been able to find a salon that does shellac in California, everyone does gel or acrylic… Shellac doesn’t last as long as gel but, it is gentler on the nails. Yay shellac!)
1 Star for cleanliness
1 Star for an EXCELLENT nail polish selection (High end polishes: OPI, ORLY, China Glaze)
1 Star for a friendly & informed owner and nail technician.
1 Star for easy parking

I’m not sure what’s up with everyone else but I had the BEST experience here.
I’ve been looking for someone who can create amazing nail designs (not that trashy stuff you get at every other shop), architectural and artistic is what I got! I was so excited, I literally skipped out of the store.
Susan (owner/​nail tech) was sooooooooo nice and great to converse with. She gave me the most awesome moon manicure, apparently that’s hard to find. I called several other places and most «professionals» had no clue what I meant. I walked in, asked her and she knew exactly what I wanted. IT WAS AWESOME.
I highly recommend Tips & Toes Spa!!!

I came to this place because of a Group On a bought a while back. I had in fact forgotten about this Group On till I got the reminder email.
Since I’ve been traveling non stop for the past 2 months and will be traveling some more in the next 2 months, I called and made an appointment for the next day right when I get off the plane.
I found this place and was surprised about how small and quiet it was. The woman who did my nails was really nice, and we had great conversation. My gripe would be that the gel nails (which she said should last about 2 – 4 weeks) only lasted 6 days… also, maybe I’m used to the little asian hole in the wall places, but the hand massage was really short.
I then got a pedicure. The woman doing the pedi was different from the mani person. Like the mani person, she was really nice. I agree with the other Unilocalers that the food rest thing was uncomfortable and I apparently kept pushing the foot rest/​cart away which was making it hard for her. Like the mani, the foot massage was really short and it kinda left me hanging.
Oh well. The place is cute and clean, and the people are nice, but I rather go to a hole in the wall asian place that gives me a nice mani and pedi for under $ 30 and gives me a nice 10 minutes food massage…

I’ve always wanted to sign up for Unilocal to write reviews-​Tips and Toes has now given me no choice… I’m in!
Get ready for it… yep! Another HORRIBLE Tips & Toes experience (see below.) Yes, I had a Groupon, but Groupon’s defense, its nothing to do with them, but if I see a Tips and Toes deal offered again, they should be sent to the chopping block!
Reasons for 1 Star:
1.) I can’t give them a negative number
2.) Tried to make an appointment, called incessantly, but no one answered phone. Finally left message, no one returned my call (that was back in June.)
3.) Yesterday, I had to call over 20 times in 1 ½ hr. period just to have someone answer the phone. Made an appt. but commented on the lack of humans answering the phone; no apology, just «Well, you have an appointment now, so we’ll see you then.» REALLY???
4.) Fact that when I was making all these phone calls was during the appointed times given on the message! What a way to run a railroad!
5.) Woman that started doing my manicure cut my nails so short, there was almost nothing left to work with! Even though I said I didn’t like square nails, she filed them flat across the top! Why do people not listen??? She actually had an attitude about me not liking what she’d done, too!
6.) Enter stage left: manager. I calmly explained that there was nothing left of my nails, even though the woman had asked how long I wanted them, and then proceeded to file them all the way off –what she hadn’t cut (I noticed another Unilocal reviewer had the same thing happen to her, bet it was the same woman… I’m a virtual Sherlock Holmes!) She was actually quite nice, and tried to help so she had another woman come to finish my manicure.
7.) SECOND TRY: this woman had the nerve to ask me why I hadn’t stopped the first woman from cutting my nails so short? Once you realize, its too late! Kinda like a haircut? Get it? But nooo… it was my fault for not telling her early enough.
8.) After about 2 minutes of working on my cuticles, this woman actually clipped my skin and it started bleeding. At this point I was ready to walk out; the woman looked shocked and said I’ve been doing this for 17 years, so I said «This has never happened?» She said «Yes, it sometimes happens»…so I was thinking «So what’s your point?! is everybody an idiot in this place?» When she cut me, I Unilocaled (no pun intented) «ouch!» and noticed that the first woman who cut all my nails off was actually shaking her head! I couldn’t believe the way I was being treated at this place! I confronted her on why she was shaking her head, because I knew she was making her non-​verbal statement that I was a «problem.» Apparently, this was not okay for me to do.
9.) Now enter, OWNER: this incredibly rude woman has no business owning a business. She has never heard of the phrases «customer service» and «keep them coming back.» She told me it was obvious they couldn’t please me, to which I’m thinking «Duh!» but not for the reasons SHE was thinking! I got my purse to leave, and tried to tell her that from the beginning, when I tried to call and never got a response, that I should have known, but she was talking over me and saying she wasn’t going to have her employees deal with this. So I responded «Ah, now I understand; your priority is your employees, NOT your clients.» She then told me to leave, to which I said I would when I was ready. This woman infuriated me to the point that I actually swore at her (this is not me!) I can empathize with the other reviewer who wrote she wanted to hit this woman!
10.) The place was deserted. Only ONE other client there on a Friday afternoon, and I left… you do the math!
Save yourself from being physically and emotionally abused at this place, and go somewhere else.
P. S. I immediately left and went to Stacy Nails off Central and Chevy Chase, and they were PACKED. Still got me in for a pedicure right away… this will be my next Unilocal review… this time 5 stars! :)

I went to this place because I had a Groupon I was excited because I get Mani Pedi regularly and lately I have been getting gel nails which at my usual place is awesome. I love how long they last. First I want to say that this place was very clean everything looked new… the rest just about sucked.
It was hard to book an appointment, which I thought it was because they were super busy but when I went there was only 3 people there that whole time I was there. There was no parking and even though the hours say 10−6pm and my appointment was at 11am the place was CLOSED. After 11am someone came to open the place.
They didn’t have a big selection of colors for the gel nails and personally I could have done a better job if I had done it myself. She used a very harsh file on the tops of my nails which left scratch marks and she didn’t even rub lotion on my hands or arms which I am used to.
My pedicure was supposed to include a salt scrub and a paraffin wax treatment. Which I had to ask for, when she rubbed my feet with the salt scrub she might as well have done it with feathers since she hardly rubbed at all! For the paraffin wax she just put my feet in a bag with 2 drops of wax for about 20 seconds and then took it off.
I was so disappointed, I will never come back. Go to Nail by Us on Brand next to Subway if you want a better job for WAY less.

I too succumbed to the Groupon disaster that is Tips & Toes. The only reason I am giving this place two stars instead of one (or none if that were possible) is because the woman who did my pedicure was so sweet (and did a pretty good job — although I’ve definitely had better).
The majority of my bad experience with this salon came way before I ever set foot in it. Like others, I found them extremely hard to reach on the phone, and when I finally did, they never had ideal availability. After weeks and weeks of trying to find a date that worked, I scheduled an appointment for the Saturday of the 4^th of July weekend. I showed up five minutes before my appointment and 15 minutes after they were supposed to be open, and the whole salon was completely closed. Lights off, door closed, not a person in sight. So I left — and I wasn’t even that upset. I figured it was an oversight and they were closed for the three-​day weekend.
I only became upset when I looked at my Groupons a two weeks later and saw that they marked mine as used. And even THEN I wasn’t raging. I called to explain the situation and only became truly mad when there was not a single apology offered for my inconvenience. In fact, they even told me that I was wrong and they were open when I came!!!
Obviously this Unilocal is more cathartic to me than useful to anyone else, but the depth of their poor service knows no bounds.
My pedicure was mediocre (again, sweet lady though) and my gel manicure is not impressive at all. I will definitely never be back.

Bought a GROUPON a few months back (when the Unilocal reviews were considerably better). I actually hadn’t looked at the more recent reviews until now… maybe I should have.
I went to Tips and Toes for my gel manicure and spa pedicure last Friday. The facility is nice enough, clean and well kept. Kudos for the massage chairs and the big screen TVs playing episodes of «Sex and the City» (the perfect mani/​pedi screening choice!)
The lady who did my mani/​pedi was nice enough, but it took 2 HOURS. I know there’s a fine balance in mani/​pedi timing. Too short and you feel like the salon is skimping and just trying to get you our the door, but too long and I’m thinking, «Come on already! This is no longer relaxing… I’m getting impatient and I don’t really want to sit here all weekend.»
The final result was good. But I was a little nervous during the actual treatment. Especially when she was cleaning up my cuticles. She did have me soak my hands and feet, but they didn’t use any oil/​moisturizers in between soakings like they do at most nail places-​and didn’t do the little hand/​foot massage with special lotion that’s normally included.
Overall, it’s not really worth it for the price. If I hadn’t had a groupon, there’s no WAY I would have paid $ 45 for a gel manicure.
Cute little place, but I think there’s a reason why I was one of 2 clients in there the entire 2 hours.

Been trying to use my groupon for weeks with no luck… I finally gave up today when I had this conversation with someone who finally answered the phone:
Me: «Hi! I would like to make an appointment with you today if possible.»
Her: «OK– what time do you want to come in?»
Me: «I’m open– how about 2?»
Her: «we’re booked all day.»
Me: «okayyyy…how about tomorrow? «
Her: «we’re closed on sundays.»
Me: «you know that your website says you are open from 11 – 5 on sundays?»
Her: «Yeah.»
Me: «you may wanna change that.»
Her: «yeah. Ok. We will someday.»
Me: «thanks for everything. You’ve been really helpful.»
Her: «uh– huh.»
Click.
Groupon refund here I come.

My second visit was much improved! No one walking in on the wax, still got a great wax at a great price. I’m not giving it 5 stars because I had to wait 15 minutes after my appointment time to get my wax.
I’ll continue coming back here. It’s cheap to get waxed here!

When they took the gel off, it ruined my nails. They just had me dip my hands in acetone and scraped it off… lovely. I’m still growing the damage out, and it’s been over 2 months already.
And it really bugs me that they’re ripping off groupon people by jipping us of the higher end mani/​pedi, over and over again. So wrong.
And the high reviews are by people with only 1 or 2 reviews… probably by friends or employees of the business.

Where do I start?
I had a very good friend in town from San Francisco and wanted to take her to get mani/​pedis. I had the Groupon that I wanted to use.
We made appts as the Groupon recommended and we arrived 15 mins early and waited about 45 minutes before we got into a pedicure chair. And listen, I’m not trying to be uppety, but that chair/​footpan combination? Not a fan. I’d like to say that I just didn’t get a good manicurist, but my friend’s nails turned out worse than mine. And of course I feel awful because she paid good money and we were only going for the Groupon.
I’m going to post a photo of my friend’s bubbly disgusting manicure. (That means old polish right?) I’ve never seen a shittier manicure. I could have done her nails better after 6 shots of espresso. (I get the tremors.)
Everything they used was cheap and low quality — the pumice stones, the pans, the files. It’s just disappointing when you’re looking to pamper yourself.
And why’s the toilet with the washer and dryers? And it’s sitting on an old cardboard piece with styrofoam. I mean, this is just ridiculous to mention, but the paper towel dispenser in the bathroom was filled with Bounty paper towels. WE GET IT, YOU LIKE TO CUT CORNERS!
I’ll never return.
The cheesecake place across the street though, INCREDIBLE! And the owner is an absolute goddamn doll.
But, here’s a TIP: AVOID TIPS & TOES LIKE THE GODDAMN PLAGUE.

Thanks, Unilocalers, for the Groupon warning!
I called for my appointment on a monday and got one for a wednesday afternoon. Luckily, I mentioned Groupon AFTER I made my appointment.
When I arrived, the place was empty. There was one other customer, a receptionist/​nail tech, and two other nail techs. As my service began, I decided to get on Unilocal,just to see the reviews (I didn’t see all the negative reviews until I got to the spa). So I was prepared for what was to come.
The groupon I purchased was $ 29 for services worth $ 79. The services were supposed to include a Gel Mani and Deluxe Pedi. The groupon description said the gel manicure was $ 45 and deluxe pedi was $ 30. $ 45+$ 30 does not equal $ 79. LOL
Anyway, the Groupon description says «During the gel manicure ($ 45 value), extremity experts will soak delicate skin mittens before shaping nails, caring for cuticles, and moisturizing skin. Finger-​crowns will be draped in a choice of Gelish or Shellac polish selected from a multitude of colors… A deluxe pedicure ($ 30 value) is designed for stiletto-​fillers to receive a lavish soak, sea-​salt scrub, callus and cuticle treatment, and a skin-​softening hot-​paraffin application before nails are regaled with a choice of vibrant polish. As hands and feet enjoy a whimsical play-​date with garrulous emery boards, serene finger parents can sit back and savor complimentary bottled water, coffee, or tea» Sounds more glamorous than what it really is. Who wrote, this anyway?
This is what I really got:
Pedi — cut/​file, cuticle clean up, quick nail buff, quick foot scrub, quick lotion massage, and color. Did not get a parrafin treatment, callous treatment, or beverages.
Mani — cut/​file, cuticle clean up, hand soak, quick lotion massage, gel polish.
Customer service — it was so-​so. Nothing extraordinary. They were quiet and polite.
So before I took off, I looked at their menu to see what the prices really are, so I can tip what’s fair. Turns out, what I really got was a $ 20 spa pedi, without the warm towel wrap. And a regular $ 13 mani. What confuses me is the gel service. The menu says gel top coat is $ 5 and gel full set is $ 30. But I didn’t get artificial nails, so I don’t really know how much that gel service I got is really worth, So I assumed it was really worth $ 30.
So…$ 20+$ 30=$ 50. I tipped $ 10 to make it fair. So in reality, I paid $ 29 for $ 50 (not $ 79) of services. Still some savings, but I can see how some Groupon customers are really upset because of the phone calls and the services that were promised.
Would I return? Maybe. But I’m still loyal to Mademoiselle Nails in Eagle Rock.

I never really had felt the need to write a review before, but after my experience with Tips and Toes Spa, I felt I had to share.
Like many others, I bought the Groupon deal that came with a gel manicure and a normal pedicure, I was excited because I had wanted to try gel nail polish for so long. I bought two packages, one for me, one for my friend, amounting to about $ 60.
This spa has terrible customer service, I guess after realizing how many people had bought the Groupon deal, the spa caved under the pressure. They straight up stopped answering their phone, I called repeatedly on multiple days, one day I called 20 times! Later on they installed a voicemail asking to call between a brief period in the morning and another time slot in the evening, what kind of business does that!
After going on Unilocal and finding people were having as much trouble as I, I contacted Groupon and received a refund. I dont understand why they would even put themselves on Groupon if they were not prepared to meet the high volume of business Groupon wouldve given them. The deal sold out, I think the final number was 2,000, and I think 2,000 people will have to get their refunds and all will probably not be future customers, Tips and Toes missed out on a great opportunity. I read on another review that if you really want to try to get the attention the spa should be giving you, that you should try to go in person to make an appointment. Hope this has helped!

I made an appointment for 11:30am. i called because traffic was horrible that day saying I was late but they do not answer the phone & only return messages 2 hours a day. After driving around the block trying to find parking I finally walked in the shop at 11:50am where I was advised I had missed my appointment time. I find this odd because I booked it through Lifebooker which blocked out 60 minutes. Where did my 40 minutes go? They advised me they were going to take the 12pm because she was there but they could take me after. Fine; if this would have been true!
The 12pm appointment asked if her friend could get a mani/​pedi as well. They took her next. Another lady walked in they took her. Long story short 4 people were seen before me and I waited 1hour and 40 minutes. Had I not prepaid I would have walked out! Who knows how long I would have actually waited had the 3^rd employee not walked in at 1:30pm who started my pedicure (uncomfortable because the bottom of the basin heats up your feet so I kept having to move them).
I paid to try Minx nails; which I had never had before. I then had to wait because only the owner does the minx nails and she was currently working on someone else. This is a dry manicure so it looks like my cuticles were not touched. They did try to trim them but they were not cut as close as a normal manicure. The heat from the lamp is uncomfortable because your hand heats up. I asked to have a towel cover me other than the nail she was working on. Shouldn’t she have suggested this.
The next day my nails looked like the minx had shrunken on my nails exposing the tips. Now 5 days later I the top of the minx is peeling up.
The extensive wait… which made me push my following appointment not once but twice. After the second time I advised them I had to be done by 2:15 I was advised this would not be a problem the minx wouldn’t take that long. I walked out at 2:25pm.
I have never had a mani/​pedi experience last 2 hours and 35 minutes before.
NOT WORTH IT NO MATTER HOW CHEAP!

I really wanted to like this place! Groupon deal was so hard to turn down, my friend and I wanted to do a nice girls day out, we started to call them at around 11am to make an appt. BUSY BUSY BUSY… when it finally rings no one picks up. Ok we eat lunch…
After lunch we head over to the Americana, we start the call again, busy busy busy… get the picture? I tried sooo hard to get through, I am getting so frustrated I look at my iphone and pathetically I tried 93 TIMES! I was like no wonder Im about to pop my top. I got so frustrated we WALKED over there around 5pm since it was walking distance to the Americana, and we were expecting it to be jam packed… empty!
One worker one person in chair getting her pedicure, the owner? and husband? I assume? We ask can we make it an appointment? She said shes booked, she has one person in half hour… I told her we’ve been trying all morning, are your phones working shes like «yea they are, I missed 32 calls». My MOUTH drops (figuratively) ONLY? 32… wow what kind of business doesn’t have call waiting? I dont understand businesses that sign up for Groupon and are not expecting how busy they will become. Seriously, there was only one worker when we got there.
Groupon should be a tool to get their business known and for groupon customers to have a positive experience so they will return. I already returned the groupon and got refund. 11−5pm we tried to get an appt. Why should trying to get a mani-​pedi be so stressful? Its supposed to be relaxing… never again.

My friend and I wanted to try this nail place, since it had awesome reviews. First of all, the place is beautiful and clean. They only use OPI and other really good nail polishes, but let me tell you about the service: I’ve had way better service at more cheapy looking nail places…
The lady that did my pedi, didn’t do a great job. She didn’t file my nails properly, and it looked like I did them myself. It wasn’t that pricey $ 15, so I didn’t feel that bad.
I won’t be returning back, since I have a way better nail place that does a way better job.
I“m not really a picky girl, but a prefer a uglier looking facility that does a great job then a fancier looking one that does a not so well job.

So the pictures do this place justice. Its really nice and clean on the inside. I went there because it seemed to have the highest Unilocal review in the area. I was in town visiting relatives and my feet were in need of major attention. I also wanted a manicure but I opted out after my pedicure service wasn’t very welcoming.
It wasn’t hard to find and although there seems to be limited parking spaces available in the lot that weren’t already reserved for another business, I had no trouble getting one. That was perhaps because I was the only customer. So on a busy day, parking may be quite the challenge.
I walked in and was greeted by the young lady at the reception desk. She asked how she could help me and I informed her I needed a pedicure. She told me to pick out a color. I noticed that on the desk there were «new customer» info sheets. I wondered why I wasn’t asked to fill one out since they had no idea I lived out of town.
Anyway, I sat down where I was directed. Let me preface what I’m about to say with I see what they were going for and I appreciate the effort… however I did not care for it. I’m referring to the chairs for pedicures. Its a massage chair however its separate from the basin for your feet. The basins are on wheels and are removable. I did notice a plastic cover in the inside of it which I appreciated the effort towards keeping sanitary and sterile equipment. The downside to this was that the basins are on wheels. Therefore they move. even though they have locks. It was kind of uncomfortable to have to concentrate on keeping my feet steady. Also the distance was a bit uncomfortable for my short legs. Usually in spa chairs, you can can just adjust the seat to move closer so that your feet rest comfortable on the top of the basin as the technician works on your feet.
Speaking of technicians, mine did not appear very friendly. She made ZERO conversation and there was no language barrier which can often be the case when you go some places for a mani/​pedi. She didn’t even ask me what kind of pedicure I wanted. I saw on the service sheet that they offer three types but she just started working and never inquired as to if I wanted another kind. She was done in about 30mins which I must say is the quickest pedicure I have EVER had. The cost was about $ 15 which was fair. I probably would never go back just because I didn’t feel like they wanted my business but the finished product was great. So I say to anyone go try for yourself.