Blooming Nails & Spa

My friend and I made an appointment day of for gel nails. Although there wasn’t much staff, we were in and out within an hour and our nails look beautiful

Grate service. I got My nails done in San Rafael and they came off two days later. I came here to get my nails done with Jenny and she was excellent. My nails lasted for two week till I did a fill again. I’m happy with my nails and will come back.

This place is horrible!!! Went in for a gel manicure and pedicure. The guy actually cut my toe and made it bleed and then put sone sort of antiseptic on it that burned!!! Without even asking me and saying anything about it! The gel manicure was rushed and I actually had to ask for the woman doing my nails to clean up the edges! It looked like a 5 year old painted them. Will never go back!

I’ve been going here regularly for over a year now and have always left happy. I tried many other places and for some reason (whether it is product or application) my gel polish stays on here FAR longer than anywhere else. For this reason alone I always go back here.
Jenny and the others that work here are lovely and the price is right. They have always been wonderful and worked with me bringing my young baby in with me (sometimes even keeping the baby amused while I am getting worked on).
On occasion my sessions have taken longer than I wanted due to them working on others at the same time. But, at such a great price I don’t really see this as a big problem.
I saw so many negative reviews and am surprised. It is a great place, they do great work, the price is right — I am happy.

Terrible… hands down the most painful nail experience I’ve ever had. Broken chair for the «spa» pedicure — but I was still charged the full price. She took another client when she was supposed to be doing my nails. The worst was that she blamed me for needing to leave after 1 ½ hours when she had told me we could fit everything in the timeframe.
The nail shops in Novato are not great, but this is among the worst.

DO NOT COME HERE!!!
I got a pedicure a few days ago and have been soaking my feet with hydrogen peroxide and wiping tea-​tree oil on my toes and feet everyday in fear that I will be getting an infection or fungus!
This place is not only filthy, but painful! I was getting a pedicure and the guy working on my feet was literally digging into the nail bed of my toe while I was obviously uncomfortable and saying «ow!» without him stopping. He was cutting my nails and pulling up on the nail toward my cuticles and was tearing at my skin. I still cringe thinking about it.
No, no, noooo!

Never again!
By the way, I know that recently Unilocal has changed it’s process for flagging and removing fake reviews. But you have to wonder why this place has SO MANY 5 star reviews written by people who have fewer then 3 reviews total. It kinda looks like Jenny got her friends to all put up great reviews for her.. . and that doesn’t tell the rest of us what we rely on Unilocal to tell us, does it?
HERE is my truth:
I had a business meeting in Novato and ran my nylons getting into the car on an earlier stop. So I popped into a drug store, grabbed a pair of fresh nylons (and a couple of sets of fresh lashes and lash adhesive) and headed to Blooming Nails. After confirming that Jenny could wax my brows and apply the lashes, I stepped into the bathroom to change my nylons. The bathroom was filthy. I ended up standing in one (stiletto) shoe while taking off the ruined nylons and putting on the other pair.
I came out and Jenny waxed my brows and applied the lashes. Less than 10 minutes later, I’m signing a credit card slip for $ 25. I confirmed– «you charged me $ 25 for that?» «yes, the eyebrows» Jenny said.
First, I want to say that I think its REALLY aggressive to charge that much for less than 10 minutes work. If she charged me $ 15 for the whole thing, I probably would have tipped $ 5 for each service and felt fine about it, but when I saw what she charged me, I left no tip at all.
Second, the lashes were lifting within 10 minutes. So the high priced work was BAD, too.
Don’t go and warn your friends. Three things to remember about Blooming Nails = filthy, expensive and bad quality work.

I have been to many nail salons in Novato over the years and Blooming Nails is by far my favorite. Jenny, the owner is amazing. I went in today, asked her for a specific french manicure design on my new acrylic nails, and they came out perfect! (See photo) She took care to insure all of my nails were straight, filed down properly and when she was done, my design looked flawless. I also got a pedicure from another woman who did an amazing job. The tools she used appeared to be cleaned. She took her time to insure that my toes were neat and beautiful. I will be going back again soon for my fill and pedicure!

I moved to Novato recently and have been searching for my new nail salon. I visited 4 others before finding Blooming Nails and Jenni. I can honestly say I have never been happier ! I’ve been back 3 times and each time I had no wait time, my fill took only 30 minutes, and my nails look amazing! My nails are very difficult and they typically start lifting within a week but not with the ones Jenni did! They have stayed put, are a great shape, and are sturdy ! Jenni is friendly and my visits have gone by so fast talking with her. Regarding the review that said the salon is filthy, well I just don’t see it! Really the place is spotless, doesn’t smell like chemicals, instruments are clean … That review should be removed because she clearly just had a bad day. I am so excited to have found my new nail salon, I hesitate leaving a review for fear they will get so busy I’ll have to wait :-) Seriously though this is one of the best places I’ve ever been to and I’ve been getting my nails done for 15 years and have been to dozens of salons, I highly recommend!!!

I hate to give this a place a bad review but I feel like other people must be warned!
The reason for my trepidation? The women who work here are really sweet and accommodating and they do a very good job with the limited resources with which they are given.
THIS PLACE IS A DIRTY FILTHY MESS. It’s so gross. I washed my feet as soon as I got home. I got a regular mani/​pedi, both of which were done properly but the tools they were using were old and damaged. The whole place is very run down and dirty, dirty, dirty!
The Polish Selection is a complete joke. They definitely «water down» their colors as well. Ugh. Bring your own polish if you absolutely have to go here.
I’m still on the hunt for a clean salon with good service. Sadly this one isn’t it. If Jenny or any of the other ladies read this please go work at a better salon! You are better than this place!

Jennie is by far the best manicurist I’ve been to! I’ve been to just about all the salons in Novato until I found her… she is truely a nail artist!!!

I like this business, nails quick and inexpensive, but not to many people here. They have a lot of thinks which don’t work like diet pills or a body wrap. Don’t go for that, better save the money for mani– or pedicure.

Okay so this is by far the best and only salon I will go to! Period. I’ve tried almost all nail salons in Novato and blooming nails uses the best products by far! Jenny is amazing and always knows what I want. I let her work her magic and she always awws me! She’s amazing the salon is amazing and I will continue to go!

HI Everyone!
I wanted to take a moment to praise my favorite nail salon in Novato, well pretty much Marin. I have been a customer of Jeni, since she was in Mill Valley and have followed her and would continue to follow her anywhere in the bay area. She has always been very professional and friendly. I love the quality of her services. I typically can go a month between fills since the nails last, and never do they seperate or lift or break. I am a fan of the spa pedicures. I love the scrub she uses and the masks. It leaves my legs feeling super soft for days. I truly truly do suggest her and her staff to anyone looking for a great person to do their nails and feet.
I know some might say that shes expensive but if your spending 20 – 30 to get a fill and a pedi and then have to spend that again to have them done again in two weeks or less your spending too much.
Jeni is one of the few people who I’ve gone to, who has been able to get my ingrown nails out too, after winter boots and shoes. I have NEVER gotten an infection, or had any problems with her. In fact when I have had any issue, shes been quick to resolve, and fix whatever the issue has been. Shes fantastic.
Her tools are always clean, the sanitizer machine is in plain view.
I have been there plenty of times where people have gotten huffy about having to wait, but I would gladly wait when your getting quality. And I know most of these people have come earlier then she has made appointments. Come on now people if you show up early have the patience to wait.
Anyways, just my two cents about a great place.

Funky place but worth it… the pedi spa treatment was very nice! It was like getting a facial on my feet and legs. It was 28 bucks and a great treat.

Best place in Novato

The best i’v ever had… this place should be EVERYBODY’S first pick… Jenny really knows what she is doing and she takes the time to do it RIGHT and to get to know you and what YOU LIKE she listens to you and out of that you get PERFECTION.
Thanks Jenny I LOVE MY EYE BROWS and my face is so soft & my nails look FABULOUS… love your style… See you in two weeks can’t wait… my boyfriend says I look ten years younger…

With my two previous reviews being wonderful I have to make a follow up.
It’s now August 2011 and have been going to Jeni for over 6 months. I love her style to acrylics. She does them thin and very natural looking. I had a pedicure recently and wasn’t thrilled. Not worth the money for the «spa» in my opinion but that’s only me.
I have decided not to go back for a few reasons and it isn’t the nails themselves because I LOVE her work. I won’t be returning because when I am paying for a service I want the service only. She often has her young children in there (3 of them). These boys are well behaved but still… I’ve had to wait so they can be tended to.
Another occasion I had an appointment and had to wait 20 minutes when I got there and she still wasn’t ready so I had to leave. She did call and try to make it right by asking me to come back, she offered me a discount, apologized and I did return but only to get the same treatment and … no discount. :(
As a single parent I do understand having to care for your children but that’s what childcare is for (or another sitter etc)
I am currently looking for a new salon, if you happen to read this please oh please send some locations my direction!
Thanks and sorry, Jeni!

DO NOT GO!!! INFECTION AND ADDED $$ TO TIP.
I have been here twice for pedicures and after the second time I will not be back for two reasons:
1). Within an hour after my appointment I started having pain in my right big toe. The next morning I woke up to find myself with a severe infection (right before leaving on vacation) that made it painful and difficult to walk. It has taken me six days (and all of my vacation) and the infection is finally healing thanks to loads of alcohol and hydrogen peroxide.
Obviously they DO NOT STERILIZE and do not maintain strict health standards. I have been getting pedicures from various places for eight years or so and never have I had an infection or any type of issue like this.
2). Also, on my visit I left a 15% tip. I clearly indicated the total tip and the final amount to the card. Today when going over my credit card receipts I was shocked to find that they had added on an additional $ 2.00 to the total without my authorization.
When I called to discuss they threw every excuse imaginable at me, but finally agreed to give me $ 2.00 in cash as they apparently cannot credit a card. This was ONLY after I explained to them that it is fraudulent to add money on to a charge and that I would be getting my bank involved if they did not correct the issue.
Although the ladies are friendly and accommodating they obviously do not adhere to high health and moral business standards. I will be going elsewhere and suggest everyone to do the same.
ADDITION: I would like to state that I did get my money back and they fully admitted to adding money onto the tip. I won’t get into details but I would strongly suggest checking your final amount billed as apparently this happens regularly when they think they are owed more (their words, not mine).
Also, in regards to people sending me notes stating I was untruthful, posting a phony review etc, unnecessary. I was looking forward to making Blooming Nails my new «home» so to speak and ended up miserable. Perhaps you all have had great experiences and that is wonderful, I however did not.
I would like to add that the mention of health/​cleanliness is per my doctor as Kaiser. After a week of infection I went for an appointment and apparently my problem was nothing new and a result of unsanitary/​unclean conditions. In other words either the instruments, the pedicure whirlpool or the very hands of the lady were not clean and introduced an infection into the cuts they were making into my toenail cuticle etc.
Good luck and I hope that your experiences continue to be wonderful as I do not wish mine on anyone. Happy Mani/​Pedis!

Walked right in and had service right away. I have only just started getting pedicures. The massage chair was SO nice.
I only had an hour to get the pedicure and gel tip fill. It all worked out!