Elegant Nails

I walked-​in once to do a full set of acryllics and the lady told me it would be a 30 minute wait before they could take me. I couldn’t wait so I did gel instead, it was okay. I’ve had better. So I called ahead this morning to guarantee an appointment for a full set of acrylic, told the lady who answered I’d be there in 2 mins. When I got there, the ladies just looked at me and continued to converse amongst themselves in their native language, then finally acknowledged me and said it would be a 20 minute wait. I said I called before and she said someone walked-​in right after I called and they serviced her first so I’d have to wait. I’m turned off by this place and their service even though I’ve heard good reviews about the owner’s quality of work with acrylic. No thanks.

This place has a woman named Linda that is physically and verbally abusive to ALL her customers. The place should close their doors because they are RUDE and treat people of their race with total disrespect.

I love this place! I’ve been coming here for years and Nancy always does a great job. The acrylics and thin and natural looking and last for 3 weeks. She also does custom nail art upon request. Reasonably priced and you’ll be in and out in a little over an hour for both a fill and a pedicure! Big TV to watch and comfortable massage chairs for your pedicure. Call ahead to be sure to get in! Aloha.

Not very friendly or accommodating. A very shallow welcome and when I asked about their services I did not even get a verbal response. Awful customer service. Keep working on that and maybe you can get a to the 4 star level.

You never know what you’re going to get when you and your girlfriends decide to try and do a walk-​in manicure on a Sunday afternoon. In need of some pampering before the start of another week, my friend and I stumbled upon this place after being turned away by another nail salon in Hawaii Kai. Like other reviewers, I was a little skeptical — but the results turned out very nice!
A woman greeted us and asked what we were looking to do that day. After we explained that we both wanted gel manicures, she handed us a wheel and we picked our colors. The salon is small, but clean. Two women were working at the time — one was finishing up another customer while the woman who greeted us started on my friend.
Once the other nail technician finished up with her last customer, she had me move to her station. I explained that I wanted one nail on each hand to be a different color from the rest and she immediately understood — I didn’t even need to specify that I waned it to be my ring fingers. She didn’t make much conversation, which I didn’t mind. Everyone was engrossed in the big TV they have on the wall that was running a marathon of «Intervention.» I do think she was a little rough while prepping and buffing my nails though.
We walked in at about 4:45p, not realizing they closed at 5p. This fact came to my attention when they turned away a woman who walked in right after us looking for a pedicure. At this point I was worried they were going to rush and do a sloppy job, but my manicure took about 45 minutes and she didn’t skimp on the details. I even got an arm massage! (I thought she might skip it to get me out quicker.)
Prices here are moderate (not the cheapest, nor the highest), and although I was pleased with the results of our spontaneous manicure I wouldn’t go out of my way to come here. Their selection of nail polish colors is smaller than others. However, if you’re in the area and are looking for a place to get your nails done on a whim, it’s a good choice! They’ll accommodate if they’re able. We received professional service and the women clearly knew what they were doing, but the place just lacked a little personality in my opinion.
CREDIT CARDS: Yes. However, you can’t leave tip on your card. Be sure to have some cash on you!
PARKING: Ample stalls in the Koko Marina parking lot.

I have been seeing Vivian for over 8 years! She is the best. She’s fast, efficient, professional, and very good at what she does! She’s very talented and I don’t trust anyone w my nails but her! Request Vivian!

Not a huge color selection. The lady doing my pedicure cut my toes twice. The lady doing my mom’s toes was constantly on her phone and charged her extra without telling her in the beginning it’d cost more.

Worst pedicure I ever got. I did not stick around for a manicure. I did not get a massage on my legs either. Sadly disappointed!

walked in, got back massage as I got a pedicure. Contrary to other posting that said everything was dirty, I found everything to be clean and very professional. Would definitely go back.

I was curious about some negative reviews and comments. Had gel nails fill done by Linda. She was gentle with my fingers, no scraping or bleeding. It was emergency procedures but I came out very satisfied. One negative point noted was there were some ridiculously rude customers who acted like they owned the place. If you don’t pay attentions to those hopeless creatures, you will get what you pay for.

I was skeptical about this place because of the low ratings. I tried it anyway because I was in the area and they weren’t busy. To my delight, they did a really nice job on my pedicure, and were not the least bit pushy about services I wasn’t interested in. I’ve been back several times since my first visit, and have had consistently good service. The workers are friendly and proficient. The pricing is on par with all the other salons I’ve tried. Elegant Nails is now my go-​to place for pedicures.

Normally, I willingly make the drive from my Hawaii Kai neighborhood to Kaimuki for my pedicures but yesterday I didn’t have the time because I scheduled a massage at 5:15 and it was already 3:45. I know, I know… the problems I come up with for myself. So, what’s a gal to do?
I hesitantly decided that I would go to Elegant Nails. I won’t lie, for the past 4 years I’ve been a skeptic of this place solely based on drive-​bys and their not so appealing storefront. I walk in and there are 2 other patrons in chairs that look relaxed and comfortable. A man asks me if he can help me and I tell him I’d like a pedicure. He says to pick a polish and starts filling the basin. He goes to the back, grabs his things, ushers me to my chair, and begins. Everything exceeded my preconceptions and I feel a little bit like a jerk for having them now. The service was great and affordable ($ 26 and some change), all of the staff were nice, and the place is clean.
I’ll definitely be back! This may even turn into my new go to salon for pedicures.

I felt the need to post a review about this place because of all of the not so positive reviews.
I was in dire need of a manicure and pedicure today and every salon that had high ratings couldn’t accommodate me on a walk in basis so I reluctantly (only because of the reviews I read) called this place to see if they could get me in. They told me they could get me in for a mani-​pedi 30 minutes from the time I called so I booked the appointment.
Chelsea was my nail technician. She was very friendly and professional. She asked me if it would be okay to use the blade on my feet instead of just assuming it and only suggested I get the gel manicure versus pushing it. I declined as my nails are too short right now to warrant it in my mind (I’m extremely impatient and it kills me to sit there forever getting acrylics or gel manicures). I noticed a sign hanging from her station advertising shellac’s. I just heard about this product YESTERDAY after complimenting a tourist on her nail polish. When she told me it was shellac I had no idea what she was talking about. I told her we’re always the last to hear about the newest fads out here on the rock. Needless to say I was shocked when I saw it advertised at this salon.
Chelsea suggested I get my fingernails done with a fade explaining it would add some shelf life to my polish since it wouldn’t be as noticeable when my nails grew out. I had never had it done before but a lot of women I work with get it done so I opted YES! She was professional in explaining that it would cost a little bit more to do it which I appreciated.
Summary: The positives
1. Total cost for both services $ 50.26 (not including tip).
2. A brand new razor was pulled out to shave my calluses (bonus points).
3. I was in and out of there in less than an hour (more bonus points).
4. I appreciated Chelsea following my lead as to when I actually wanted to talk.
Overall, I felt the experience and service was a really good value in regards to what I paid. Was it the best manicure and pedicure I’ve ever gotten? No, however, it certainly was better than most and for the price I most certainly can’t complain. The convenience of location in relation to where I live and the speed in which I was in and out of there add to the rating. The only reason I am not rating it 5 stars is because I would have liked a little bit more massage time and more shaving of my calluses, as well as a little more attention to the cuticles on my finger nails. Other than that, I feel value for dollars spent were right on.

I’ve only gone here for acrylic nails, and for that I’ve only had good experiences here. The technicians are friendly and gentle. I’ve only had good work done and the prices are very reasonable.

Reasonably priced and I like Linda… I noticed another reviewer did not. Sure she’s not the best in the world, but what I do like is her willing to please, her friendly manner and customer service. The nail treatments are adequate+ for the money.
I think they need to clean the place and remodel though… that could greatly improve.
My humble opinion

I wish I didn’t have to give even one star…
I told myself after my last 2 totally crappy pedicures at Elegant Nails in Koko Marina that I would NEVER go there again. And where do I end up today because I didn’t want to wait at the other 2 nail salons in Hawaii Kai? Elegant Nails… and they SUCK — especially the nail technician Linda. God, I wish I had just had to guts to request another technician… but I didn’t. Being 9 month pregnant and waiting to go in to labor any minute and looking at my chipped nail polish and feeling my disgusting cracked heels — I just had to get a pedicure today — I am sick that I wasted $ 45 dollars on a crappy pedicure.
I used to love this nail salon and would happily request gift certificates for birthday or Christmas gifts. Never again… I swear. I don’t care if my heels are bleeding or that I have to ask my husband to remove my nail polish… I can’t waste any more money at this nail salon.
I brought it a couple different nail colors of my own in case I didn’t find one that I liked. I didn’t want Linda to think that I was taking their polish so I showed her that I had two of my own while I was holding their bottle of OPI in contemplation of choosing a color. She immediately told me the OPI (their polish) was a better and prettier color than the ones that I had. I mentioned that I wanted something fun (since I would be looking at my feet in stirrups with the next week or so)…and she waved her hand and said, «Whatever, pick something fun.» I should have left right then. Her attitude was so ugly.
The calf and foot massage with Linda is a HUGE joke — she did it the last time and did it again this time — she runs her finger nails into your skin. There is NO massage… just nails digging into your skin. I almost wanted to tell her to just stop.
She asked me if I wanted the razor on my heels and I said no… that I just wanted it scrubbed really well. What a joke. What prompted me to get up and write this review was my heel getting caught on my bedspread and it has only been 3 hours since the pedicure. My heels still feel disgusting. The rhinestones are crooked and I am pissed that I wasted time here.

I don’t know what happened at this salon. I don’t know who owns in anymore. Back in the day, there was a lady named Jenny and her husband who were there all the time and I think they were the owners. The service was better. The quality of work was better.

Don’t waste your time at this salon. There is a nail place over near Pizza Hut in the Hawaii Kai Shopping Center where Safeway is and they did a fantastic job the last time I went there. It was a little more expensive — $ 40 without tip — but my feet looked and felt fantastic. I wish I had gone there and waited.

These people are rip off artists! They charged my $ 47 for a full set of UV Gel nails and put on a set of acrylic with a UV top coat! I asked about them using powder and she said it was a powder gel. BS. there is no such thing. I have filed a complaint w/​the BBB. It’s business like these that give all nail salons a bad name!

VERY Disappointed with the work they had done on me. «Elegant»? I think not. I went in with a friend of mine after having lunch and we spontaneously decided to get our nails done. So we decided to go here since it was nearest.
Well, i got a mani and she had a pedi. I first thought this was gonna be a nice experience, but it wasnt! I did a simple nail color with a flower design and in the end, i felt like i couldve done it better myself. The lady that applied it on didnt even get coat it on good. She missed so many spots! The flower wasnt what i expected either, just a quick drop of paint to «make» it look like a flower. Wasnt happy about that.
The very next day, it already started to CHIP! Cant believe i wasted my money. I get my nails done all the time and this by far has been the worse. Jacqueline Unique Nails Salon is WORTH the drive and the BEST place to go. Shes very much recommended.
(So disappointed, that i needed to write this as my FIRST review)

Everywhere I go, people ask me about my nails, so I thought I should give Nancy and Elegant a shout out.
Last week, I was at Tiffany’s at Ala Moana for a repair. The sales lady and some other women there wiped me out of the biz cards I have started carrying with me (because people always ask me)…so better get your appointment soon — Nancy is going to be one busy gal!
Don’t forget– Cash only for tip!

I have gone to this salon multiple times out of convenience for mostly pedicures. For the most part they take walk-​ins and can get you in and out pretty quickly with not too long of a wait. I like the fact that the nail salon workers don’t seem to be as pushy as other salons I’ve been to. They just ask you what you want and don’t try to push any upgrades or other add ons to your order. A little pricey for a cramped little nail salon, but they get the job done!
Service: ***
Ambiance: **
Value: **