Renew and Relax

Awful. There are so many better places in the neighborhood. I was in a rush and my usual spot was packed, so I went to Renew and Relax for a quick manicure. The first thing I said to the lady at the desk was that I was in a rush. So she very slowly prepared my seat, did a super uneven job cutting down my nails, only squared half of them, and then began to paint the thinnest layers of polish I’ve ever seen. I got a deep red and you can see the white part of my nails through two layers. She knew I was in a rush, but still didn’t offer quickdry, so when I asked for it, she told me I had to pay extra while my nails were already wet! She also kept paying more attention to who was walking into the place than my own nails while she was painting them. There were also two women discussing drugs with their 4 kids crowded around the drying stations, so I kept getting kicked as I sat there, only to be reminded that I needed to pay an extra dollar still.
Bottom line: don’t even think about it.

Always been my favorite and I hate to post a negative review but… They have really changed. This has been my go to for years but all the great people have left Maybe the new people aren’t as well trained/​experienced. The mani/pedi’s aren’t the same quality, the technician was rushed (despite the place being surprisingly empty), and the awesome free 5 minute massage was gone. Bummer

I’ve been coming here for years and service has definitely dropped. They used to offer paraffin and warm neck pillows but don’t anymore. Although most people are nice, there are a few that are really rude and make fun of patrons, giving dirty looks and whispering insults as my friend talked with me. They also didn’t let me use my points and made me pay for services that should have been comped. I really liked the massages I’ve gotten there but I don’t think I will be coming back to get my nails done.

$ 25 mani/​pedi special — you know not to expect much at a quality standpoint.
However… please learn how to cut cuticles correctly… please!
Oh and they definitely water down their polish… so bring your own if you want in on this $ 25 special from 10a-​3p during the weekdays.
Will I come back? No… I have my regular spot — put for the end of winter early spring I just can’t justify spending a ton on my pedicure.

This place is great. It was the best mani pedi I’ve had in NYC. Ask for some green tea while you enjoy an epically amazing massage chair. Lavender essential oil with your mini hand massage during your manicure. Just go!

CAUTION: AVOID THIS PLACE!!!
By far the worst pedicure of my life. I literally cried as the older woman doing my pedicure chopped off half of my toe nail at a strange diagonal corner. I had to walk her through each step!!! And she cut me twice; needless to say none my cuticles were removed. Then she filed my nail so low my toe nail bruised. I made her stop and requested another nail tech for my manicure. If I wasn’t leaving for vacation tomorrow, I’d return to speak to the manager. After all of that, they still made me pay for that horrible pedicure.
DO NOT GO HERE!!!

been going for years — really like this place. they do a good job/​nail polish stays on a while and they have a great Essie collection. Been to other places for the same price mani pedi $ 29 but this one has the best results/​colors/​services. i like their lotion/​oils they use too. overall exactly what you are looking for when spending $ 29 maniped.

i still really like this place. They do a great job

This place is definitely not up to par with other salons in the area. I came after reading reviews about paraffin being standard. Yeahhhh apparently not for those of us who come in all dirty and fucked up with our skateboards (I know I’m not the only one!). Anyway I got gels. It cost $ 50 with a pedicure which I thought was pricey but I guess that’s the norm in the city. They don’t do designs though! They did a fair job, but she didn’t even put lotion on my hands after the manicure. Grossss

Not at all impressed. First time here and got a pedicure. Felt like a $ 22 polish change. She barely filed, didn’t clean under the nails, hardly used the pumice stone, and the massage was pathetic. No paraffin wax treatment either. Clearly pedicures aren’t their specialty.

Got a gel mani/​pedi here. Poor technique and slow. Not very good quality. Everyone working here seems very young and inexperienced. There are cheaper places that do it much better. I won’t be back.

I love this place because it is across the street from me but I got a nail infection here and have to go to the dr to get prescription ointment to put on my cuticle… won’t be back unfortunately.

I have to say I was disappointed with this place. A $ 29 mani/​pedi should be pretty good in the city, given that there are plenty of places charging $ 20 and do a much better job. The salon is clean and the staff is very nice, however the quality of work was poor. My nails were not filed properly, the shape was weird, cuticles were barely touched and the polish application was poor. You can see two small bubbles of air on two of my nails. Overall not a great experience. I am giving it a two star because the place is very well kept but the work is not up to par.

The reason for three stars is not the mani-​pedi service. Yes they provide free parafin wax on your soles and hands which you may interpret for luxury. But when it comes down to the actual job bare bones it’s just ok. I’ve had to have them repaint my pedicure and it wasn’t the best job in the first place.
The reason why I keep coming here is to get the chair massage. I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s the big vibrator thing that they run all over your body after the massage. Maybe it’s the stretching that occurs after that. The massage itself isn’t painful or extremely amazing but there is something about the three (massage, vibrator, stretch) that leaves a girl damn satisfied. I noticed that I’m not the only one who just comes for these massages. Men… pregnant women… So it must be good for you too.
They only want cash tips. Be prepared or get ATM fees from the ATM in the corner.

SCAMMERS.
I walked in and checked the price list that is displayed by the front register. Eyelash extensions are listed at $ 59. Proceeded to get the eyelash extensions, where I was asked if I had ever been there before — I said no. When it came time to check out, they told me that I must pay $ 82 for the extensions because the price up front is «old». Then they ran all the way to the back of the shop and pulled out another sign that listed the «new» price. I think that this is something that could easily be clarified 1) on the price sign at the front of the store and/​or 2) verbally at the start of your appointment. The way that they went about this felt like a giant bait and switch SCAM. Imagine going to a restaurant, ordering a $ 10 sandwich, and getting the bill for a $ 30 sandwich and being told that is the «new» price. NOT A LEGITIMATE BUSINESS PRACTICE.

Quick and good quality! Ambience is much nicer than in many nail salons that are a single dollar-​sign price range. I got a mani/​pedi for $ 24 special (normally $ 28).

$ 29 (plus tip) bought me a very meticulous, high quality manicure and pedicure. The people are friendly. I didn’t have a long wait. Lots of colors to choose from. (Try «recessionista». It’s an awesome, fun plum shade! Perfect for the impending fall weather)
Pedicure was above and betond most low cost mani pedi deals. They did the scraper thing AND wrapped my feet in the plastic gel stuff. Most places charge extra for that.
And then… When I was drying my nails, a guy came up and gave me a complimentary massage for a few minutes.
Really nice experience.

I have been coming here consistently for almost two years for one reason.
IVY and her lovely eyelash extension services.
Truth be told, Ivy was a secret I wanted to keep, to assure my ability to get an appointment. But thats selfish, and she is fantastic.
My lashes look natural, and they last for close to three weeks typically. People that have known me for years comment, «I never noticed how long and pretty your eyelashes are…» THANKS IVY!
The prices of extensions have increased slightly through the years, but they are still below market for the service and she is fast and sweet. Everyone that works there is nice and the other services that I have had have been quite good, especially for the price. The points system is great, and they have late hours which is quite helpful.

I started going here basically beause it was convenient. They do a decent job on nails, the prices are reasonable for the area. At first I thought it was just your average neighborhood nail salon. But then, behold I discovered their massages!
I’m addicted. The male who is usually there is amazing. I now literally cannot get my nails done without getting at least a 10 minute message. Anna is good too. It’s literally like someone is stretching out your body for you.
I think the hour long massage in a private room is only $ 50 during the weekend. It’s not chinatown cheap, but it is still really reasonable. Also, even though it’s not a fancy spa, clearly it’s no Mandarin, the prices are decent and they definitely get the job done.
I’m also addicted to their facials. I use a Clarosnic, but sometimes cheat on it with Renew and Relax. They are also reasonably priced and the upper neck message that comes with it is an added bonus.

This place is very close to where I live so the convenience cannot be beat. The price is pretty average for nail salons like this in the area. Depending on if they have a deal, you can count on getting a manicure and pedicure for about $ 25.
I didn’t have a problem at all with bugs, and I have gone a handful of times so they must have gotten it fixed.
The colors are kind of limited, and the place is ok as far as being clean. But I prefer it sparkling.
I have had to wait for awhile once or twice, and I wish they hadn’t made me wait while sitting in a pedicure chair.
Everything is basically just eh. They don’t take that long or pamper that much. I just got polish but I have seen the designs they do and it looks bad.

Been going here for 5 years. Kind ladies, great service, always thorough. Jason is incredible with massage. They also have a points system that adds up to free services.
I feel like they’re family and I like seeing the same faces whenever I go.

This place is open until 10pm, perfect for a person working late all the time. Need a color change or fix a broken nail at 9pm? This is the go to place! Their holiday hours are also amazing! The basic pedicure and manicure are pretty good, prices are very reasonable. They also offer student discount. They do gel nail in an array of colors but with limited designs.

I would not wish this place upon my worst gay enemy. Once my sister informed the nail technicians that her friend was my partner (yes, we are lesbians *gasp*) the women all started giggling awkwardly and chatting to each other. Look, I get it. It’s a cultural thing at times but still inappropriate and uncomfortable especially when someone is TOUCHING YOU and judging you!
BESIDES THAT HOMOPHOBIA, at best they gave us a foot wash and a nail color change but that was it. Hardly any cuticle clean up, or dead skin rub on the heel or anywhere else. This was WACK.
ON TOP OF THAT, my partner’s nail technician insisted on a 20% tip after an awful job! Are you kidding me? I am a huge believer of 20% and up but when you hardly get a fresh color then you’re hardly getting paid.
AVOID THIS PLACE unless you’re ok with calling for an escort and a chauffeur arriving at your door.

The staff here have a major attitude problem. When my cousin and I arrived, we were greeted with a «what do you want?» Then we were seated. My finger got cut and when I politely mentioned it to my manicurist to make sure she didn’t touch my cut, she glared at me and said in a snippy tone, «I didn’t do that.» After my mani-​pedi, two other girls and I were drying our nails and EVERYONE inside the salon saw a HUGE cockroach run across the room, almost touching a girl’s foot! Everybody was shocked and shuddered and the staff killed it as it were just another cockroach like they kill them on a daily basis. I decided not to tip because all the staff had major attitude problems and when I refused to tip, the girl gave me a look and was ready to lock the door on me as if to not let me out until I gave her a 20% tip. Renew and relax is disgusting and filthy– never coming back to this pigsty.

When it comes to pedicures, I place an undue premium on massage chairs. I’ll freely admit that they’re half the reason I get my toes did. Do I care what my toenails look like in the winter? Dude, they’re covered up by boots. Who gives a shizz?
Renew and Relax has the best massage chairs, period. Why? Cause you can program them to never do the «percussion» phase — you know, the one where tiny gnome fists pound your back, making your boobs sway like you’re running a marathon and your pedicurist feel like she’s trying to apply polish inside of a jeep barreling down a perilous stretch of road?
I want to know who decided that would be a good feature to add to massage chairs, so that I can punch them in the nads.
Anyway. They don’t have that at Renew and Relax. It’s super easy to program your chair to give you a nice, un-​stressful rolling and kneading massage for as long as you gosh darn please.
Add in the sweet technicians, free paraffin treatment, decent selection of Essie and OPI colors, sterilized utensils (utensils? is that what they’re called?) and choice between lavender and orange oil for your hand massage, and you have a damn fine mani-​pedi.
Plus it’s $ 28. That’s a great deal for the ‘hood. I’ll definitely be back.

I would say this place is ok — it is nice that they give you a point card.
Went here for a manicure and when me and my friend first arrived, we were greeted by someone who was a little bit pushy. We told her we had 3 people and she said we wouldn’t be able to sit together and one of us should start now. We explained we were still waiting for the 3^rd person and maybe she didn’t understand but she kept saying we should start. Finally we got the point across, but didn’t really understand why it was so important that one of us start right away.
I later had that same lady do my nails and while she did a fine job, I feel like she did rush through a bit. Maybe it was because they were busy but I felt she could have taken a little more time to make sure everything looked nice. I chose 2 different colors and the first coat she put on was quite thin and I thought she was going to go back and make it darker (since my 2^nd color was more sheer) but she didn’t. My nails turned out fine since there was a little color in my 2^nd color choice, but I still feel she was a bit hurried and was anxious to get me out.
One nice perk though — every time I’ve been there, I’ve gotten a free short massage either while my nails dried or while they were being done!