New York Nails

This was pretty horrifying. This place is so filthy and cluttered, I should have run away. Additionally, there is a bit of a language barrier.
On the other hand, there wasn’t a wait and both the girl who did my nails and the lady who waxed my brows were quite efficient and I am okay with the results. Also, it is $ 10 for the mani, $ 10 for the brow wax, which is fine, but I had a hard time finding the listing for a regular mani on the board with the prices. I guess they do mostly fake nails.
Anyway, I’ve said it before but this time I mean it. It make take more arranging and more time once I get there but I’m going to the Aveeda school in Metairie next time I need nails done or brows waxed.

Drop-​in for emergencies only.
Pros:
Decent wait-​time (I went on a weekday)
Fast service
Friendly staff
Cons:
Manicure only lasted a few days
Lots of noise/​ruckus (kids running around, patrons/​staff talking very loudly — couldn’t wait to get out of there.)
Décor is VERY dated; not relaxing at all
Place isn’t very clean — I wouldn’t let them use any cutting tools on my cuticles

They are nice here. They also are very pocket friendly. I’m pleased.

Two words: filthy and uninviting. I like to think that my standards are not abnormally high, but I didn’t even stay long enough to have anything done.
I went in on a Saturday for a simple manicure. The thing that struck me immediately was the odor. I’m not opposed to the smell of disinfectant, solvents, or chemical air fresheners, but… this was none of those. This place doesn’t smell like a nail salon, if that makes sense. In addition, the floor was dirty and every single surface was in need of a good polishing. Not the first impression you want from a nail salon.
A guy (I think the owner?) asked me if it was okay that there were two people ahead of me, and I said yeah, no problem, I can wait. No big deal. I stood around awkwardly for a little bit, honestly afraid to sit down. The place was that dirty.
At some point I was reading their price list, and took out my phone to snap a picture. They have a listing especially for ‘Men’s Manicure’ and it was MORE expensive than a regular one. I’ve had a men-​getting-​manicures conversation with one of my friends before, so I thought I’d send it to her. At this point, one of the techs very abruptly walked over and nudged me and asked «What are you doing?» in an accusatory tone. I responded that I was taking a picture, and she followed up with «Why? What are you going to use it for? What is your name?»
I answered her questions civilly enough, feeling like she was accusing me of something the entire time. She pointed to a chair at the end of the manicure and said «Lady, go sit down.» I doubt English was her first language, and I’m willing to give her some allowance for not being so nuanced with her word choice, but her tone and attitude was very rude and accusatory. I think she was afraid I was a competitor and was somehow trying to undercut their pricing. Believe me, if this place loses business it’s not going to be on the basis of their pricing – which admittedly is about as low as it gets, even for budget salons.
Even then I didn’t walk out. I went over to the polish rack and picked a polish out of a badly organized, jumbled shelf with all sorts of weird non-​salon polishes. Many of them looked old and dried out. I noticed at this point that it seemed like people were living in the back. I heard some kids screaming (the way kids scream when they’re playing) and a TV going, and all sorts of junk stacked in the hallway. I sat down and got out my book. At one point, I glanced up and the lady that had asked me all those questions was glaring at me.
Enough is enough, so I got up and left. Not worth your time. A salon experience is counterproductive if you feel defensive and on edge from the moment you walk in the door. Try The Master’s Hands further down Elysian Fields – for not a whole lot more, the experience is everything a salon should be.

While it’s no paradise, they could easily charge more for their services. The owner will regal you with news you don’t care about, daytime television and afternoon soap operas…
The pedicures are divine and while all the polishes look suspect, I’ve never had any chipping before I was ready for my next manicure (about 1.5−2 weeks)