Glittet Nails & Spa, Inc.

Go here if you value price over quality. They’re super cheap so you get what you pay for in terms of quality and service. The pedicure was super rushed. At most places I feel more pampered but here they kinda threw on lotion, massaged for 10 seconds, and were done. I also made the mistake of picking a darker color. The skin on the sides of my toes and fingers is all tainted a deep red. One finger got messed up and instead of taking off the nail polish and re-​doing it, she just slabbed on two more coats so I have one finger thats a 10x darker shade of red than my others. Now that my nails are dry, all these small bubbles showed up all over. Overall, very sloppy and I would rather pay $ 10 more at another place.

Worst manicure-​pedicure of my life. I literally lost my time and money since I had to remove the nail polish as soon as I got home.
First they didn’t have the color I wanted although it’s one of Essie’s basic.
Instead, the woman took a color that resembled the one I wanted and after doing my feet announced me that she didn’t have enough to do my hands with that color… Wtf
She diluted the polish with what might haven been polish remover. Looked super ugly on my hands, the color was lightened and couldn’t be applied uniformly.
Finally… They made me pay $ 30 although their ads says that it’s 22.99 $ for students everyday…
Good job guys…

BEWARE! HORRIBLE SERVICE! NOT WORTH THE CHEAP PRICE! So, went here today for a mani-​pedi for the second time. The first time I went was back in October 2014 – and they were pretty okay. BUT, after today, I will never step foot in here again. They were under staffed for a Sunday afternoon, so I waited about 30 minutes before they started, which wasn’t a huge problem because I got to sit on the massage chair the whole time. They did apologize for the wait.
They were trying hard to sell the pricey pedicure packages, but I told them straight out I wanted the $ 22 student deal. Throughout the pedicure, they tried to cheat me and add additional costs by asking if I wanted something, but not saying it was extra. I knew to look out for this, so I turned down their offer at a massage. BUT, they asked if I wanted a top coat, and of course I said yes, because duhhh — but it was $ 1! THEY CHARGED $ 1 FOR A TOP COAT ON MY TOES!!! I’ve had a decent number of mani-​pedis, and this is just ridiculous.
Then they had me sit there for 10 minutes until someone was available to do my mani. The guy did my mani, and he was clearly rushing, which resulted in a sloppy job. First of all, he only pushed back my cuticles – he didn’t cut them!!! WHAT!!! The mani lasted a total of about 5 minutes. He clearly didn’t care about doing a good job, and didn’t cut my cuticles to cut down on time.
THEN, when I paid and gave him a 20% tip, he announced to all the workers how much I tipped in Chinese. HELLO, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SAID!!! Rude and unclassy.
There are a bunch of other places around this area that do a mani-​pedi deal for around $ 20— go there instead. Will NEVER be coming back here.

I came here for the $ 20 mani/​pedi special for students. It’s small, but I got in right away. She did a really good job on my pedicure. The manicure was also good, but the polish was goopy and I left with some on my skin. Also, she forgot to cut the cuticles on one of my hands, but when I told her she went back and fixed it. Not the best salon in the neighborhood, but definitely the best value.

The business now is under new management since June 2014 and had changed its name to Glittet nails & spa. Nice stuff as always and have a lot specials but much better service then before. Stuff really friendly and helpful.
Now students got students discount price witch really good for Columbia students and all other school around that neighborhood.
They also lower their mani and pedi price from Monday to Thursday. And special SPA pedicure which is my favorite.
The business has been in this neighborhood for 20 years or so. So they little nail place has a lot loyal customers come back here over the years. They and the stuff become friends and know each other for long time because the stuff here also have been working in this salon for over 10 years already

I’m sitting in the pedicure chair here writing this review wondering why I came here? Oh because it’s just ½ a block closer to my home then the other places, that’s why. Go to Casablanca across the street, they’re much nicer to you. Or treat yourself to Carnegie up the street alittle.

The only reason I’m taking the time to write this review is to prevent someone else from needing to experience sloppy service. I went to this place because my regular salon that I had been going to for years went our of business, but somehow this place remains… I went for a manicure and pedicure, she did a decent job, although pretty fast and no real massage of any kind. The nail polish application on my feet was kind of sloppy and she painted the skin around my nail, which I pointed out and she said it was because I asked not to have my cuticles cut, completely ridiculous. In all my years of getting pedicures, I have never cut my cuticles and nail polish has still managed not to find itself on them. The manicure was ok too… but she was kind of sloppy and I had to point out uneven spots where she didn’t polish completely and areas again that some polish got on my skin… just find another place…

The worst expience i’ve ever had at a nail salon steer clear from here! The two lady’s purposely switch in the middle of a mani pedi and demand you tip both of them $ 5 each for a $ 20 dollar service it was ridiculous. They were rude and nasty and my nailpolish chipped the next day. My friend got a gel manicure and hers chipped too within two days. They rushed through the whole thing and it took forever because they were doing 20 other people at once even though we were the first people in there for the day. Do not go!

I would give this place no stars if I could.
This is my third time, and like a charm, the shittiest experience I have had. The staff here is beyond rude and disrespectful. From the moment you walk with no greeting, the smug looks on everyone’s faces (sorry if you don’t want people to come in please close your doors), the rough manhandling of the super rushed, and DIRTY service, and the crappy nail polish applications there is not much that could get worse with this place.
They over charge you for services and don’t provide appropriate documentation of said services. Oh and don’t worry they will try to force you to pay at-​least $ 5 for a tip, and literally say, «What is this?» when you hand them anything below, mind you the less then acceptable service.
There are far better places across the street. Please save your money, time, patronage, sanity, and patience and walk a few steps further. It blows my mind that this place is still in service.

Worst experience ever! So rude and horrible customer service! I just got abused for an hour and then they demanded more tip after I had reluctantly given them 20%. Never again will I come here!

DON’T GO HERE! I passed this place and on a whim for my first ever mani/​pedi. The lady who did my pedi was very rough and rushed. It actually hurt! The lady who did my mani was also very rushed. She didn’t even cut my nails! Before she even finished, she demanded I pay. «Cash.» she said. I waved a debt card at her and she gave me an odd look. She brought back the receipt and pointed at the tip. «You pay tip.» she said. I was confused. She hadn’t given me any service yet! «How much is %20?» I asked. «That not enough,» she said. «$ 6.» I thought that was too much, but relented. When I left, I could see what a half ass job she did. I think it’s extremely rude to demand a large tip BEFORE the service is give and is lackluster at best! BAD SERVICE! DO NOT GO HERE!

I’ve gone here a few times for mani/​pedis — they always do a fine job.
However, the last two times I went here I had nail techs who complained that I did not tip enough. Both times I got a mani/​pedi for $ 21 (discounted because I have a student ID). Both times I tipped $ 5 — non-​discounted price is maybe $ 28, $ 30? Both times I put the cash down, said thank you, and the nail tech said something to the effect of «but I did both manicure and pedicure, that’s not enough.» Given the express, bare bones nature of the place (which I don’t have a problem with, its just the reality), giving 17% or so on the regular price is just fine. I will no longer visit this nail salon.

Bad experience! Bad Customer service!
I was looking to treat myself to a mani-​pedi before my graduation.
I was really hopeful about this place. I got seated right away.
It quickly went sour after that, however. The water was scalding hot. I asked the technician to add cold water which she did begrudgingly did. She spoke to her associates in another language the whole time I was there. Rushed through the pedi, didn’t even cut my nails, or ask if I wanted them shorter, put on my sandals BEFORE she painted the tips, and «massaged» for less than 30 seconds.
Another lady started my mani at the same time, then asked me to pay before she put on the coat of paint, which I did. After I paid and when my pedi was done, they switched me over to the hand station and before she applied the coat of paint she said «The tip is not included in the price. You pay our tip now.»
First of all. I know how to tip. I go to a nail salon often in California. I tip my people well. I have Never been asked to tip BEFORE you finish the job. This was the longest part of the conversation they had with me! I felt rushed and unwelcomed. Did not even say thank you after I tipped or when I left. I would not go back to this place.

Decent and cheap manicures and pedicures, so you get what you pay for. Hit and miss with the staff, too – some are awesomely friendly and some are very brusk and impatient. But if you live near Columbia University, it’s great for a cheap, quick manicure.

Oh refined & sparkling… «refined» is the last thing you are. I went here with a friend and we both had the worst nail salon experiences of our lives.
I wanted to try this place for the $ 19 student special — manicure and pedicure. I will hand it to them, this is a great deal. I started in the pedicure chair, where the pedicurist was nice, quick, and did a great job.
However, after finishing my pedicure she left me at the drying station while she moved on to do a manicure for a customer who’d come in AFTER me. While I’m sitting there, another of the customers is getting a massage at a chair in the corner RIGHT behind me, and the masseuse KEEPS bumping into me, hard.
Then my friend comes to the drying station, and it looks like a 4-​year-​old just painted her nails — nailpolish on her cuticles, un-​painted bits, little spots on the outside, and a terrible nail shape.
So now I’ve been sitting for 20 minutes, getting battered while waiting to get my mani done, my friend is already dried and ready to go, and I see another manicurist start on yet another customer while completely ignoring the fact that it’s my turn. Someone finally comes over to offer me a manicure and I politely say «Never mind, I’m fine with just the pedicure.» At this point, I just want out.
The woman tells me $ 20 for the pedicure, so I explain that I had seen the student discount, $ 19 for mani AND pedi, in the window. Instead of offering me a student price, or even just the original $ 19, she just shrugs. Thinking it’s a mistake, I ask, «So you charge more for just a pedicure than for a manicure and pedicure?» Yes. So, I hand over the $ 20 bill that I had allotted for this expedition.
Then, as a final insult, she holds up a piece of scrap paper (actually cardboard) with scribbles on it and points to one word on it: «TiP». Realizing that my failure to give tip hasn’t sent the message I wanted it to, I hand her a dollar bill, which she holds with her fingertips like it’s a piece of garbage and says loudly «Only one dollar?» I say, «Yes, thank you» and get the hell out of this disastrous establishment.
So what did we get out of this adventure?
One toddler-​level manicure, $ 9
One decent pedicure, $ 21 ($ 2 more than the advertised mani-​pedi)
A chunk of my life lost to sitting sitting around uselessly, in the middle of a violent massage
No manicure for me
And an awesome story/​warning to share with all you Unilocalers

Never will I ever go back.
First, they kept me waiting for ever while my feet were soaking in boiling water until they turned to prunes. After a nothing-​to-​brag about pedi, I was taken to the drying station. I had requested a mani-​pedi and yet, I was wasting my time drying my feet.
After what seemed like forever, I was taken to the mani stations. A second woman starts doing my hands. After I had my hands soaking in water, a THIRD woman came by. Now, maybe they think I’m rich, but I kept thinking, «I won’t tip THREE LADIES».
I ask for a hand massage. Now, the massage and mani totals $ 18. As I take my credit card from my wallet, she glances at my cash and asks
«CASH? No pay with cash?»
«No!», I said. «Cash is for tips»
They take credit cards! What does she care if I pay with lentils if they accept them?
I prepare to give the lady $ 3 tip (before the actual service to see if I like it) and the woman STARES AT ME and says
«What? Only this? I massage. I manicure»
THE NERVE!
I also tipped the pedi woman, by the way. But not the in-​between lady, I’m not a stripper with $ 1 bills galore.
My mani is already chipped and it’s only been hours.
Finding a good nail salon in the Upper West is harder than finding a husband. I will not go back there and THAT LADY, that lady better wish I don’t bump into her on the street, because I have a few things I’d like to say to her.

If I could give this business a negative rating I would.
THE WORSE NAIL HORROR STORY YOU’VE EVER READ
I really tried to give this salon a chance and I’ve had some bad nail applications before, but this was by far the worse! I’ve had waxing here as well, which was a waste of money, but here’s my nail horror story:
I’m a transplant from the south, where permanent nails are really done right. I understand that I’m use to getting UV gels done, the correct and fast way, but I gave this salon too much credit.
First-​I requested silk wraps (they don’t do UV gels), which were about $ 75, which didn’t really bother me because I’m willing to invest in a good set of nails.
In less then 20 minutes the tech simply dabbed each nail with super glue, slapped on unfit acrylics, slopped base polish on them and DIPPED them in loose powder. She spent the majority of the time buffing. When I stopped her to ask if the final result would entail a gel coat/​silk, she continued to reassure me that she wasn’t finished and that I would just have to trust her method.
Near the end, the nails just kept looking worse, they were over-​applied and thick (I mean REALLY thick, as if I went to Duane Reade and bought a cheap kit for myself to apply).
Because they were so think, my «pink» nail, below the white tip, which is supposed to LOOK a natural pink, came out a dark GREY.
The worst part about the appearance is that you could EASILY notice white powder specks (where she dipped) below the thick application. Seriously, I could have saved $ 65 bucks and just superglued a set of acrylics myself.
WAIT – IT GETS WORSE
SO, I figured, «Ok…I just won’t get my nails done here again, you win some you loose some… Perhaps I’ll just get a pedicure to at least make the trip worth it?»
BAD IDEA. The manicurist literally shuffled me over to the pedicure chair as if time were money (there is never more than two clients in this place), even though my new nails were still wet. She yanked off my boots and threw them between the pedicure chairs and turned on cold water in the basin.
I tried to get up to at least choose a color, but she freaked out as if I would RUIN the new manicure by getting up. (I don’t think I could have made them worse, honestly). After leaving me there for about 10 minutes while she talked on the phone, I noticed the manicure acrylics started to turn an even DARKER grey, so I asked if she would at least paint the non-​white part a pink color?
Acting annoyed by my question, she quickly yelled something to her other employee, who then grabbed a pail pink OPI from the wall, rushed over, grabbed my hand and panically brushed pink paint over the entire nail!!! Even over the white tip!!! I looked at her, then at the nail, then at my manicurist and said, «Are you kidding me? I’m NOT paying for this!» I started to get up from the spa pedicure chair and the manicurist rushed over reassuring me that she would fix them, and that it was her employees fault and that I could get a free pedicure to make up for it.
So I stayed, quite irritated, for a half-​assed, awful pedicure (cold water, no color. She basically trimmed my toe nails and slapped a coat of clear base on it), then went back to the manicure station where she simply removed the pink paint that was just applied. She kept asking what I didn’t like about the nails, and I really couldn’t give her a reason as to why they would even be good. She seemed frustrated by me and finally shuffled me to the cash register. I refused to pay full price for the manicure, which REALLY upset her. So I put a fifty on the counter and left.
This is a true story. The LOW RENT Vibe is true… You should definitely judge this book by it’s cover.

This nail salon is neither refined nor sparkling. I took a leap of faith and went in for a basic manicure. I don’t care about the paint or knick knacks, I just want the general feel a nail salon is clean. When I sat down to a dirty piece of paper towel placed on a yellowing mat, I started getting nervous. The technician didn’t replace the paper towel until I asked. I noticed she didn’t pull her tools from the sanitzer, either. I crossed my fingers and hoped she had cleaned them in advance.
I got a perfectly fine manicure and it was inexpensive. That’s all I can say about that.

Service is good. The staff is friendly, they like me when I speak chinese to them. =)
It’s a little pricey though. $ 30 for both Pedi & Mai.

I’ve walked past this tiny nail place for years. Never went in and that was my big mistake.
The salon is tiny and decorated with tacky Chinese souvenirs, so you get a «low-​rent» vibe. Yeah, once again the adage «don’t judge a book by its cover» is correct.
I had limited time before I was going to an event and on impulse walked in for a mani/​pedi and wax.
Had one of the best mani/​pedis in a super long time and the aesthetician who did my wax was cheerful, funny and thorough. I ended up spending $ 38 for all three services.
What’s really cool about this place, besides the low prices and high degree of professionalism is that they mark down on a back of a business card what you’ve gotten done. Once your limit reaches $ 100, you get a free service!
Excellent work, nice people, worth ignoring the décor.