Olive & June

Update: Knocked off a star for a pretty bad experience today. Simple manicure with shellac removal was very poor. Made a new appt with Nicotina (didn’t see her today) to correct it tomorrow.
Great job by Nicotina (sp?) on my Shellac manicure. I’ve been searching for a decent nail place for years in Pasadena. Finally after having my nails destroyed by Bellacures for the Nth time (scrapping gel because you are too lazy to let it soak is not the way to keep my nails from breaking) I was able to get an appointment here. We’ve had a couple false starts trying to book an appointment but made it in the end!

I’ve been looking for a place like this in Pasadena for a while, and I just happened upon it while I was waiting for a table at Sugarfish next door. Super cute! And really not as snobby and pretentious as it looked, and I expected it to be (like many other businesses on South Lake).
The nail color choices are varied, and they had my favorite one — gets them one star! I love that everything is done meticulously… well maybe that was just the girl who gave me my pedicure. Jamila was amazing! And so friendly. We had a great conversation and she made me feel comfortable and laugh. What a great sense of humor! I got the callous remover treatment, and she meticulously and gently treated all of them! Loved it. She gets 3 stars!
Unfortunately I have to agree with everyone else about the uncomfortable chairs and the lack of being offered a drink when you walk in — which I only learned about by reading other reviews. I guess it just really depends on who is at the front desk. (I came on a Sunday, so there didn’t seem to be anyone there full time; everyone was covering.) I didn’t mind the prices — because frankly the elegant and friendly staff is what you’re paying for. And I personally don’t like long massages, so I was fine with the 3 minutes per leg I got. If I wanted a massage, I’d go get reflexology at a place that specializes in that!
Thanks Olive & June! I’m a convert, and am definitely coming back to see Jamila!

I’ve been here once for a manicure and it was decent (a little overpriced and I think it was my manicurist’s first time) but they really should say they close at 7 if they don’t take customers past that time. Why say you stay open ’til 8 if you really don’t?

I admit that I went to this place because of all the cute photos on Instagram :)
I recommend making appointments because they are always booked. For my pedi, I got Abe and he was the nicest! I have dry heels all the time but once Abe did a paraffin they were sooo soft! It was amazing! I admit the chairs are not the most comfortable (I like massage chairs haha) but they are pretty to photograph and I do a lot of things for Instagram :) I especially liked the foot scrub which smelled really good.
My next trip was a manicure! I got the Chrissy aka the gel manicure treatment. I requested gel last minute and they were so nice to find me a manicurist who could do gels. Also I went in with a photo of rainbow nails and Samantha, my manicurist, helped me find the colors. She was also really fun to chat with. Lastly, her attention to detail was amazing! I give this place five stars because of Samantha’s handy work but I admit I was a little bummed the hand scrub didn’t happen. Maybe because I was 10 mins late?
Overall I will be back! I’m excited to do more fun nail art!

I absolutely LOVE and ADORE Olive & June. This is my go-​to spot for my weekly manicure and bi-​weekly pedicure. I have been going here since the first day they opened. The owner is super sweet and she offered us a free mani our first day! This salon is always full of the most chic and calm women. Every time I want to make an appointment, I just call or book online, it’s super easy and quick. I love how they know exactly how I like my cuticles cut, nails filed and massage. My manicures generally last me a full week here and the gels have lasted me 2.5 weeks! Taking off the gel may be a bit pricey but they are very gentle and take the gel off with care. Your nails will love you for it.
To those with great taste: Please disregard the bad reviews on here. The bad reviews have come from those (with poor taste) who generally go to cheap ($ 10)/quick mani’s from the ghetto salons. If you do have great taste and would pay more than $ 13 for a decent manicure, this is your place. One thing you must note is that they do not make you bleed or scrape the life out of your feet — if you are in need or something that serious, this probably isn’t your nail salon choice. They are gentle and do a wonderful job.
PS — Since their opening day they have added many more brands of colors such as Dolce & Gabbana and Nars!

I thought I’d try this place out even though it was quite pricey. I was expecting a better than usual mani– pedi for the price but it was pretty basic. They do have cool nail colors! But be prepared to leave a credit card on file just to hold your appointment. They said they would charge the entire cost of the mani-​pedi if you don’t show up to your appointment.
So I recommend that you just go in on a walk –in basis if you don’t mind the prices.

I really wanted to love you, olive and june.
I loved the girl who did my nails; she was gentle and precise and we chatted the whole time, but my polish started chipping the next day and my manicure looked like I’d done work in a field for a week after two days.
I expected higher quality along with the higher price tag, and didn’t find it. the manicure station was uncomfortable and for $ 25, I would hope my manicure on a Sunday at 5pm would hold up for an event that Tuesday afternoon.
two stars for randi.
don’t believe the hype– you’re better off doing your own nails. sorry, o&j.

I have been to higher end places and ghetto places for nails…
This place has uncomfortable chairs, nothing special, for the price… It’s old school. So if you’re looking to be pampered and have a spa experience. That’s a negative. No spa experience here. My gel nail came off in a week. They use the same stuff as anywhere else. So if you want to pay $ 20 extra, sure it’s a cool place. Staff was friendly and nice but it’s not special.
It hasn’t been a week and the gel is peeling off and lifting. This is the worst gel manicure I’ve ever had. Save your money and go elsewhere.

I want to love Olive and June so bad, but after my last few experiences I can say I will NEVER COME BACK.
I went to their Beverly Hills location for my birthday, and the receptionist let me know that my appointment was running a little late. She was even gracious enough to give me a discount for the wait and I appreciated their customer service :)
My next two visits to their Pasadena locations have been so HORRENDOUS. My first appointment, the technician cut into my cuticles and I was bleeding non stop! Needless to say, it was the most painful manicure I’ve ever had.
Today’s visit was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I made an appointment for a manicure a few weeks ago and requested for a specific technician that specialized in nail art. My requested technician was busy working on another client and my manicure started 45 MINUTES after my appointment time. I was running late to school and didn’t even get to have my nail art done AND my appointment ran 40 minutes over my allotted time! I expressed my disappointment with the receptionist and all she had to say was «sorry things didn’t go according to plan today». Although I have to say their technicians are really polite, this location has poor management and needs to work on their scheduling and customer service. This was the BIGGEST WASTE OF MONEY and I’m never coming back to Olive and June. Save yourself the trip and the money.

Update #2 on the supposed «fix» that I paid nearly full price for: within 4 days, my manicure started chipping.
Nail. in. the. coffin.
Sadly, I won’t return; I’ve spent way too much money to continue to be dissatisfied.

I had a pedicure with Tiff this afternoon and my experience was perfect. I can’t wait to be back. The salon is gorgeous. Very natural and clean and I loved their products. I can’t wait to be back to have Tiff do my nails!

I love this place. They have the most beautiful colors and quality polish.
My favorite girl is Nicotina!
She does such a good job on EVERYTHING.
From getting your hangnails to making the most unique and beautiful designs.
So happy I found this place.
:D

First time today and was pretty excited because they offer a pedi tailored for expecting mamas using organic pregnancy-​safe products. The service was great, especially the receptionist who was super sweet and kept checking on how I was doing. My only complaint is for a $ 50 pedi I wish the massage was a little longer. It seriously felt like it only took 5 min. The person who did my pedi did a good job and was very nice, but I just felt like the whole experience was short for the price I paid and didn’t have much of a difference from a regular pedi. I was really looking forward to getting my preggo feet pampered!
Besides that, décor is cute… but I agree with the uncomfortable chairs. I had to prop a pillow to my upper back to get comfy.

The color selection is really great. And Vinylux nail polish is not charged any more than normal nail polish which some places do. They also have designer nail polish available like Nars and Dior.
5 stars for the manicure: No complaints here. I was really happy with the service and the way my nails came out. The nail art options are super cool too.
2 stars for the pedicure: The whole set up for getting your toes done was meant for looks not for comfort. Yes the chairs are super cute but they are terrible to sit in. There is no real support and at certain parts I felt that I was getting a leg work out from being so tense. Both my mom and sister have been on separate occasions and say the exact same thing.

This salon is beautiful, but I’m afraid it’s more style over substance.
I booked a mani and pedi with my friend. The appointments were all messed up and we did not get synced up together.
The pedicure chairs are terribly uncomfortable.
The lady who did my pedicure was nice, and did a good job, but it was nothing special.
The polish brands and colors are amazingly well curated. Beautiful and all on trend in high quality long lasting brands. If the rest of the experience was ½ as good as the polish selection, I’d be a loyal customer.
Due to the comfort of the chairs alone, I do not think I would return.

What a great experience. Really comfortable. The reception staff is delightful and my nail tech Julia was really great. And did an excellent job! I got a regular manicure with art on two nails and it was only $ 30.
I will be back and will definitely get my nails done here for my wedding in April!!!

I decided to splurge and get my nails done at Olive & June for my wedding and they came out BEAUTIFUL. Every part of the experience was amazing. My girlfriend had gotten there before me and mentioned to the girls there that I was getting married and everyone kept congratulating me when I got there and made me feel so special :)
I got a gel manicure and regular pedicure and I have never been more satisfied. The girls doing my nails were so nice and kept asking if I was comfortable or if I needed anything.
SO happy I finally got to try Olive & June for such a special day and I will absolutely be back!
xo

I had been wanting to come to Olive & June for some time.
I walked in, and was the only person in the salon. The place is decorated very cute, but the furniture and chairs are not comfortable at all, and don’t make sense for sitting for a manicure or pedicure. My manicure took what seemed like forever, because the heat was out and it was a rare 45 degrees out. I am assuming why this is why I was the only person in the salon, though they didn’t warn me at all when I stepped in.
I was shocked when the total came to $ 20 for my poorly done manicure. I will not be back.

Thank you Pop Physique (and Vivian!) for the free manicure! I’m really glad I had a chance to experience Olive & June as I most likely would never have walked into this place. I don’t get my nails done since I have a difficult time keeping my nails long, but my sister talked me into trying this place out — and I’m really happy that I gave it a try!
Location:
Olive & June is located on S. Lake Ave. across from Soul Cycle and Sugarfish. If you walk down S. Lake past Lemonade, you’ll need to enter through the gates to find the nail salon. The store itself is super cute and welcoming — definitely a place that would attract girls (especially younger ones). If you envision a scene from a movie where the bridesmaids are chatting to one another while getting manicures and pedicures, the ambience of Olive & June sets the scene perfectly. Upon entering the store, you see their wall of nail polish colors to choose from. The check-​in area/​front desk is really nice as well, with products on a shelf and lots of wooden, earthly tones to make you feel right at home. There’s about four chairs set up for manicures/​pedicures against the wall as well as tables set up specifically for manicures. Hidden behind a movable wall is another area for manicures/​pedicures (seems more like a private party area). With the yellow lights, open windows, cute and modern decorations on the wall, Olive & June definitely allowed me to have a comfortable experience despite not being used to the whole manicure type thing.
Manicure experience:
Despite only having short nails, Sessy was able to work with what I had and used the three colors I chose from the wall of nail polishes to do something that I ended up really liking. I have a weakness for glitter, and the end result came out looking a lot better than I imagined it would! The manicure consisted of buffing, cuticle shaping, cleaning the nails; massaging the hands; painting the nails. My sister’s manicurist was Ashley who did a really good job at finding the exact colors/​style my sister envisioned. She ended up getting two accent nails with a champagne color and the rest being more dark/​mauve. The nails were finished with that top coat that made her nails look incredibly shiny and smooth.
tl;dr — The whole manicure took about an hour. We were offered hot tea or water after we checked in, which I thought was really nice. Everybody at Olive & June was super friendly, making me feel super comfortable to be in a place that’s a little out of my element. The normal manicure at Olive & June is $ 20; after receiving the free manicures, my sister and I both agreed that with the service and final outcome we received that day, $ 20 would be a fair price to pay. Gel seems to be a bit more pricey, so make sure you’re clear on the pricing. You’re able to do walk-​ins, but making appointments seem to be recommended. Make sure you have your credit card ready as they’ll need it on hand in case you back out of your appointment at the last minute. Park in the lot behind Lemonade or the one by Abricott. I believe both offer free 90 minute parking, which should be more than enough time if you’re just getting a manicure. Overall, a great manicure experience!

I normally don’t get manicures but thanks to a coupon, I got a free mani from Olive and June.
Setting: This location is pretty tricky to find. It is located next to Lemonade but in the back area. Although the address says it’s on Lake, I would enter from Shoppers Lane, east of Lake Avenue. You’ll see this brown structure for a wine business and stairs leading to higher ground and if you continue forward, you’ll see the nail salon to your left and lemonade in front of you. Look at my pictures if this was confusing. We didn’t know the shop was in the back until we saw a small sign saying that Olive and June is located in the back posted on the storefront of a hair salon, Dry Bar. Anyways the nail salon is super cute. Very homey setup and very modern and elegant. You can tell they put a lot of thought into the décor and colors. Olive and June also has a location in Beverly Hills which was their original location before opening their second one here in Pasadena.
Service: So my friend and I used the coupon from Pop Physique for a free «June Manicure» which includes a manicure (one color only) along with a hand massage. Normally this service would be $ 20, definitely on the pricier side for just a manicure. When we walked in, we were greeted by these fashionable ladies and filled out a form. After, you choose your nail color on this wall that is filled with various nail polishes. Brands of nail polishes include NARS, OPI, Essie, Dolce and Gabbana, etc. Then the lady asked us if we wanted some water or tea. They have different flavors of tea too such as vanilla chai, earl gray, green tea, black tea, etc. My friend got the vanilla chai tea which was so goooood. I recommend that. After that, we were sat in the VIP section since the front area were all taken. It’s just a more secluded and private area. The ladies that did our nails were super friendly and I had a great conversation with my person.
During the manicure, they will cut and file your nails. Then they would buff it and push back/​cut your cuticles. Then they give you a hand massage and put your hands in a warm towel. Both of which were my favorite parts of the service. After, she asked me if everything looked good before she painted my nails and then she painted them with a base coat and two coats of your color of choice and finished off with a top coat. I chose a dark burgundy reddish color from Dolce and Gabbana. Very fall and winter color. In the end, you can ask for a quick drying fan if you want your nails to dry faster.
Parking: You can do street parking or park in the shopping plaza just south of the commercial building that Olive and June is located in. The shopping plaza has a ton of restaurants like panda express, rubios, apricot, chipotle, etc. That parking lot is free for 2 hours.
Overall, the experience was great. I really liked the person that did my nails. She was very attentative and detailed in every process of the manicure. Very outgoing and easy to talk to. Someone also came by to check up on us. I had a great experince and maybe I’ll get a pedicure next time!