Beauty Retreat Spa & Nails

I love the color and polish selection at Nail Story. They use high quality polish and have a beautiful assortment of colors to choose from. The mani/​pedi was done by 2 different technicians (didn’t get their names) but was done well and they listened to exactly what I wanted (nails and cuticles cut really short and clean).
I would normally give them 4 stars but took 1 star off because of their lack of efficiency. I was the only one in the salon but had to get my pedi done first, then walked over to the manicure table and got my mani done. I’m not sure why they couldn’t do it at the same time. Also, once my pedicure was done, they asked if I wanted to move to manicure table or stay in the reclined chair. I said I would just stay but they asked me THREE different times and then basically escorted me to the mani station. so weird.
While I was paying I asked if they normally do mani/Pedi’s at the same time (I was there for 1.5 hours… basic mani/​pedi and the only customer), and the receptionist said that next time I have to request it. I have never heard of that before!
One last thing… as I was waiting for my nails to dry a man walks in with his 5 year old daughter. He surprised her with her first manicure for her 5^th bday. It was such a cute moment to see her face light up knowing that she would get to have her nails done. The lady who had just done my nails was going on and on about how ridiculous it is that kids get their nails done, kids are too spoiled and that she would never bring her kids to get their nails done. I just smiled and nodded but noted that I would never my daughter here because I’m sure I would receive severe judgment! :/

I was actually there while the Kevin customer was having his issue with the management, and before that another angry customer was also trying to have something sorted. I had made an appointment and they took me a half hour late. There were only two techs working on a Saturday. It was a beautiful looking salon however the experience there as of late had been lacking, and the lady I liked and used to see is no longer there so I really have no need to return. I was a regular customer and hadn’t been to the salon in a while as I was pregnant and didn’t want to be around any fumes, and was really shocked at the downturn this place has taken since my last visits. I paid for my service, tipped the person doing my nails well, and decided not to return. There are plenty of other choices in the area so hopefully they get their act together soon.

They only employ 2 nail technicians. saying they’re understaffed is a understatement
I’m upset I have to give them even one star, my experience was that bad. I was a walk in. When I walked in there were only two technicians working. one looked up at me and explained it would be a 15 min wait. Me *no problem. I 20 still had not been taken in. I told the lady at the front desk I’d come back some other time. She explained to me they could take me now. I was sat in one of the chairs, put my feet in scolding hot water, the lady that sat me noticed my grimace, asked if the water was too hot, I said yes, she turned the cold water on and there I sat for an hour.
When the only two techs finally started working on me, they explained that just a few days earlier everyone quite because they hated there management. They were the only two left. The job they did on my hands and feet was rushed and horribly done. My 5 year old could have done a better job. In the week since visiting The Nail Story Salon, 2 of my nails have broken. That’s never happened to me since I started getting gel manicures. The woman filed more then just my gel off making my nails weak, then did a poor job re applying the new gel.
As I sat there, I watched the lady at the front desk turn 3 scheduled appointments away.(I later found out the lady at the front desk was the new manager) Finally one of the techs got mad over having to turn away customers she stopped the last two girls to walk in from walking out, leaving my toes half finished and not to return until she got the two girls in their chairs soaking their feet. One girl complained about the water burning her feet. This whole experience was a mess. 15 min later the tech returns to hurry and finish my toes. Leaving my toes a mess. She got polish on the edges of my toes and didn’t bother to clean it up.
When they were done working on me, I walked over to the new manager to pay. She didn’t offer me not one discount or compensation for all my discomfort. Instead I feel I was over charged. The manager had no idea how to work the P.O.S system. She poked around the screen, guessing on how to charge me. I was so over the experience, I just wanted to run out of there. the whole experience took two in a half almost 3 hours. I walked in at 10:30am and didn’t get home until 1pm.
I will never go back and urge anyone else to give this establishment a minute to get their act together before you book an appointment or see there 4 ½ stars and decide to give them a try

Buyer beware! They have no issue upsell you without telling you.
My girlfriend came to the salon and ordered a manicure and pedicure package with French tips. The she and the lady at the front desk agreed on a price ($ 40 total). During her appointment, the worker (Holly) added on work but DIDN’T tell her there would be an additional charge. The final bill came out to $ 71 dollars! I came back to ask them to fix the error. The lady at the front desk called the owner, who said that since she already paid for the service to not do anything.
In the 5 minutes that I was there, 2 angry customer called about Holly and were promptly hung up on. I’ll be reporting these crooks to the Better Business Bureau.
Oh and the quality of product they use chips very easily.

I called and set up a 1 oclock appointment and the lady who answered (owner?) said she could take me at that time. I arrive at 1:03… picked out my colors and then was seated in the spa at 1:10. She told me Richard would be right with me and brings me a magazine. 1:20 rolls around, she comes by to reassure me that he will be right with me when he’s done.
Finally at 1:25, Richard comes over when he’s done with his previous client. I tell him and the owner that I should probably skip the full set and just get a pedi because I’m on my work lunch and I have to be back at 2. They both reassure me that he can do it in 35 minutes. REALLY?! I’m never a believer of that but boy, were they pushy about it. So I said, okay.
I left the Nail Story at 2:35pm. Whompp…
To top it all off, my nails look sooo messy. He got stuff all over my fingers that I had to peel off later. My gel coating looks crappy and has a few little bubbles in them. I usually love IGing my nails, but this, not even a filter could fix!
And for $ 75?! They do use expensive polish and all that, but for that price, I expect a little more. Back to my $ 45 shop I go…

The only few free hours I had one week were during the time my husband was spending at a card dealership in Irvine, so given that this establishment was around the corner from them, I came here for a much overdue manicure and pedicure. On arrival (I did not have an appt), I was told to wait 10−15min, which was fine at the time. However, this morphed into a 35−40min wait. What I found most frustrating was that they started soaking my feet in the meantime, so just getting up and leaving would’ve been a hassle, and every time I inquired, I was told it’d just be five more minutes. The water was consistently going cold every ten minutes as well. The chairs were very uncomfortable. Although I had told the host at the front desk I wanted both mani/​pedi, they forgot about the manicure until they were nearly done with pedicure (I had to remind them), prolonging my stay even more.
Saving this review from being a one-​star review was the quality of the pedicure and manicure. Very long-​lasting and were meticulously done. The manicurist was also very pleasant and friendly; pedicurist not so much.
Will not return, however, given the unpleasantly poor customer service; what should’ve been a 30−40min visit turned into a frustrating hour and a half.

I was in the OC area and was trying to kill some time. Since I was in a desperate need to get a pedicure, I Unilocaled a nail salon and The Nail Story popped up. (My go to place is always Coco Nails in Ktown, but since I really needed a pedicure, I decided to deviate and try this place out). The Nail Story is located in a small plaza, I almost missed it and had to make a U-​turn to come back to the plaza. There is plenty of parking in the plaza. It was a Tuesday afternoon and there was not a lot of people in the place, so I didn’t have to wait. The place itself is SOO cute and bright. It actually looks like some of the nail salon places that I saw in Korea.
I decided for the «Once upon a time» pedicure, which is the one more expensive than the very quick pedicure (30 minute one). I think this gives a little more scrub, massage, etc. The chair that I was in was amazing, it was so comfy to sit in. My nail technician was Bella and she was very nice. I initially chose a black color, which is my lately favorite color. But, she recommended that I try a white nail polish. I never tried it and I decided to give it a go. It actually looked very pretty on my nails. I wanted to mention that their foot bath in the pedicure chair is kind of deep, so it took me a while to roll up my skinny jeans all the way up to my knees (It took me EVEN longer to roll it back down later). LOL. I would recommend wearing looser pants or shorts.
My pedicure was $ 29, but I took advantage of the check in deal (10% off). It is a little pricier that I am used to paying ($ 20 in Ktown), but based upon my experience and service, I think it was worth it.

I saw great reviews and thought 2 give this place a shot but didn’t meet my expectations
Hey @ least I gave it a shot.

I loved my first time here! Bella and Kathy were very detail oriented and made sure everything was exactly what I wanted!
I’m definitely coming back the next time I’m indulging myself!

I got my nails did and I loved it. Walked in on a Monday afternoon and it was pretty empty. I chose to get gel nails because regular kept chipping and that’s just not good when you are handling baby, baby food, cooking for family, etc. I chose the glittery kind that said «Presto!» on it. Come to see that it was a Japanese brand. I looked around and saw that they had ciate, butter, essie, OPI, and a whole slew of Asian brands (if ya’ll don’t know by now, Asian makeup brands are the leaders of the industry). The Japenese gel nail polish they put on me I’ve never donned before and it was Uh-​Mazing.
By the time I was finished, 2 more customers were getting their mani pedi’s and slowly people started trickling in. They have large tv’s playing Dr. Oz (at the time I was there) with subtitles so it was something to look at when I didn’t feel like talking.
Checked in on Unilocal for a 10% discount (M-​Th) so total came out to $ 27 BEFORE TIP. Get the loyalty stamp card. Apparently You get some discount for services after 10 stamps (not sure about the 5% off each time you visit like someone else mentioned. will try and update next time).
P. S. I wasn’t offered a bottle of water but maybe it was because I was using the Unilocal check-​in deal. I also didn’t ask for it.

Came here today during my lunch. was happy to have found a place nearby work. I normally go to my usual spot in FV. but today was an emergency and I had absolutely no time to wait.
I was very pleased upon arriving the store. This place caught my attention due to the good reviews on Unilocal.I called in the morning and made an appt for 11:30. I was done by 12:30! I did a manicure and pedicure and I really liked the turn out of them both.
There was a few things that could have been different. The store is really modern and very clean and pretty. However, I wish there was a spa chair that had the massaging option while I get my pedicure. Also the chairs here are NOT made for short people. I happen to be one of them. when I sat on the chair. my legs couldn’t even reach the bottom for the lady to do my feet. I had to use two pillows behind me to push myself forward because the chairs they had do not recline or move up. it does however. swirl around which I am not sure why they would need that for. but yeah that was the main thing. I was very uncomfortable for the whole hour because I couldn’t sit back and I was literally stretching my legs as much as I could to reach the the bottom to get my pedicure done.
Overall, I would come back because it’s so convenient to my work. They also offer a stamp card! Which I LOVE!
Tip: Make an appointment so you don’t have to wait. I can tell this place will be pretty packed on weekends!