Ida Nails

Don’t come here for the experience, come for the result. There is nothing fancy or frilly about this place, but they are ladies who have obviously been doing nails forever and are very good at what they do.
Not to be all TMI about my feet, but I’m a runner and have a couple of horribly painful ingrown toenails. The older woman here is the only one I’ve ever been to who notices this and cuts them out. She basically does minor surgery on my toes. Hurts a bit while it’s happening but always feels SO much better after.
While this is not exactly a day-​spa type of experience, my manicures and pedicures have always been done well and with skill. Also, they’re very inexpensive so it’s a great deal.

I’m giving them 4 stars because there is a difference of high end salons, and cheap salons. I really feel like they should be rated seperately. Yea, if this placed charged $ 80 for a mani/​Pedi then of course, one star. These cheaper places are going to use cheap products, they’re going to have old equipment and be a little dirty. You get what you pay for. That said, this place Is much better than some places I’ve been to.
Ida has always been kind of rude to me, don’t know why. Tai and his mom do my nails. She does my pedicures, and he does my hands. No, it’s not very clean, it’s small but, it’s priced how cheaper ones are. I just keep coming back cause he knows what I like and his mom Is adorable. The best part of a pedicure is the rubbing of the feet. She doesn’t do this well, doesn’t scrub my heels well either but, she takes her time, and my toes usually look good. I just like them. Tai is so friendly. He cracks me up and never tries to push all the weird extra shit. Ya know. designs, quick dry, gel .blah blah.
If you’re expecting something spectacular, Go to a nice place but definitely try this place if you’re just looking for a regular mani or regular acrylic. Usually no wait.

I had a very decent pedicure for $ 11 & I think that’s a pretty good deal. The shop is very small, & someone was there w/​kids. Not relaxing & quite noisy, but if you want a good pedicure & you don’t care about «atmosphere», this is the place!

My boyfriend and I got pedicures here the other day and they were sooooo friendly. I got a gel pedicure and turned out good. The place is super tiny which was the only downfall we experienced. It’s was hard to get around. But I look passed all that considering the prices were sooooo cheap. Ewwww and they had to deal with my bf’s feet. So we will be back!!!

I just left Ida nails. I got a pedicure & they did a pretty good job. The technician was very nice and polite, but when I was getting ready to pay I was told the price was a dollar higher than it should’ve been. When I asked the technician why, Ida told me it was because I got the quick dry topcoat on my nails. The woman doing my pedicure offered the top coat and Ida asked if I wanted it so I said sure. Maybe it was my fault for not assuming it was extra, or even asking if it was extra, but I was not told there was an extra charge for it. So, ok, I shouldn’t have assumed I guess, but Ida’s response is what got her place only 2 stars. When I asked about the price difference she said «Oh, I should have told you it was extra huh? Hahaha!» I didn’t find that funny at all. Needless to say I won’t go back to Ida Nails and I will ALWAYS ask if there is an extra charge for anything offered.

I am a happy pedicure customer at Ida’s Nails. Not a girlie-​girl, I indulge in a pedicure about once a month and always get Mai as my technician. Yesterday I really indulged myself and got a spa pedicure using their spanking new massage chair! As other reviewers have mentioned, the shop it not fancy, but they do a good job of keeping it clean. At $ 11 for a regular pedicure and $ 16 for a spa, you can beat Ida’s! Please bring cash, though, as they do not accept cards or checks.
I’d like to say some nice things about Mai. She is a fantastic technician and, while she does not speak English well, she has a grasp of basic communication phrases that relate to doing toes, and Tai or Ida is always there to translate if needed. I appreciate her experience, attention to detail and quiet demeanor, which allows me to relax and really enjoy myself. I have a damaged toenail that she’s been nursing back to health for almost a year now, and her skill at keeping it looking as good as possible has been much appreciated.
Parking is street and is metered on the Boulevard, but if you pull around the corner to Illinois you get 2 hours free. Or come on Sunday! Walk-​ins are always welcome.

Best nail salon I’ve been to. Did exactly what I wanted (no questions asked) and I am so pleased! Such awesome prices for the great work that was done:)
Don’t be fooled by the outside area. Go in there. They are perfect and I’ve never gotten my lip and eye brow wax with full set with diamonds and gel for $ 31. You will not be displeased.

I’ve been visiting this nail shop off and on for about 7 years. I found it when I lived in North Park and was looking for a place I could afford a bi-​weekly fill and pedicure. Ida has a small shop and it isn’t fancy but it gets the job done. My fill, cut down and quick dry top coat comes to $ 12−13… And my pedi with quick dry comes to $ 13 too I believe. Add $ 8 bux in tip and I can get in and out with a fresh set of nails and pedi for $ 34 tops. Ida is fast and I only go to her. I let Thai do my pedi, but I really miss Kim and Tony! The pedi people rotate in and out, but Ida is always reliable, plus she is a sweetheart :)
As for people who write negative reviews on this place, I’d like to respond by saying you really ought to know your context. You are aware you going to El Cajon Blvd. for a low price-​point nail service, right? Affordable prices come with a cost, most times the compromise for cheap services are bad technicians or dreary environments, sometimes both :/​At least at Ida’s you can get a great technician.
So when you are low on cash and need your nails done, try Ida out, just call her and let her know you are coming in and she will save your place in line if there are people waiting.

I’ve been going to Ida’s nails for 10+ years and can say that they do a great job for a really great price! Ida, Ty and all the other staff are friendly and personable and really care about what they do… I’ve recommended them to several friends and will continue to give Ida my business!

I love Ida she is super fast and for the price the nails look great. The only thing I don’t like is how the small the shop is and you may still have to wait even with a appointment. However Ida makes your nails look like you went to a high end salon and did I mention the prices are amazing! It’s definitely worth the wait!

ok Ida and her son are great. but honestly I just cant hack the three days of a sore toe any more. I was in the rain today with my summer sandals on because both of my big toes hurt so from yesterdays pedicure Ok. bad. this is not the first or second time. I have come to idas more off than on for Over 15 years. I try to ok give it another go but every time same result. manicure is fine if done by ida. but I just cannot recommend for. anyone to try their luck at the pedicures. the gals speak in vietnamese the whole time and make you feel very uncomfortable even seem mad that you are there. I mean hell I dont know whats going on but not even an effort to ask if im comfortable do I like the shape… etc. nada. zip. zilch. im very disappointed and frustrated. I would hate someone else to go try just to. save a buck. not worth it. sorry Ida. I hate to Unilocal so negative but truth be told. stay away from the pedicures

Dirty must admit it is cheap and they do a decent job on a pedicure but very dirty, very small, bathroom is nasty. They are nice and friendly. Also, they try to upsale you with quick dry and if you say no, they start talking about you (in a different language).

I went into Ida’s nail salon since the nail shop I usually go to was apparently «busy.» My first thought wasn’t much, it was small but that wasn’t going to stop me from getting my nails done, anyways I wanted to take off my acrylic nails, pedicure, then a manicure. Well this guy «Ty» proceeded into using a fake nail to remove my acrylic nails, I told him to «stop» and use acetone. He did. While this is happening another girl is starting with my pedicure. Long story short I notice they are using «dirty tools»
(they had a box labeled «used tools» and it was right in front of me) I freak out and ask «Ty» some necessary questions like «how do you clean your tools?» his reply was «barbicide then rinse with water» I tell him «you’re suppose to use one of those ovens that heat up to sterilize manicure tools» he denied it, then I asked him «if he went to cosmetology school?» «of course» he replied, final question I asked «where is his cosmetology license» he replied by asking «what license?» I again freak out and get angry then call my bf (who is a lawyer btw) and he advises me to walk out and call the police if they touch me or keep me detained so I told these people «if they touch me I’ll call the cops as I walk out the lady who did my pedicure asks for «her money» when she used dirty tools as well.
I also forgot to mention this «Ty» guy was nervous, had a bad attitude, and kept dropping things PRIOR to me pointing out these flaws, health inspector, and cops. When I did mention the police he nervously asked «police, why police?»
Oh yeah the girl who did my pedi kept asking if I spoke «Vietnamese, alittle?»
«no» I kept saying then she proceeded to talk to an older woman sitting next to me in Vietnamese.
NEVER AGAIN, I’M VERY HAPPY I DIDN’T PAY A CENT.
0 STARS

My mom and I stopped in to get a spur of the moment mani/​pedi. The people were really nice and I really wanted to come back here but the establishment was just too dirty looking. Im no stranger to hole-​in-​the-​wall places but there has to be some standards when it comes to cleanliness. And another thing, its kinda weird when everyone working in a nail shop has horrific looking feet! Maybe theyre too tired after doing everyone elses feet, but dang, at least clean them and cut the nails! Pretty gross. Sorry, just telling it like it is.
The nails were very cute initially but ended up chipped in 1 day … that sucks. Paid $ 31 plus tip bc I got little fake jems added to each finger nail, which started coming off the same day :/​
So I’m now on a mission for a better hole-​in-​the-​wall! Sorry Ida, I really wanted to be a regular here.

So, I’ve gotten my nails done here twice. For 1 main reason, I am a STARVING COLLEGE STUDENT. The first time I came here, it was because I really needed to get a pedicure before I went out that night, and I was visiting my grandma who lives right down the street. I saw the sign and no one inside, so I decided to bust a U and go in.
The place is TINY. With 4 stations, 2 waiting chairs, and 1… yes 1 spa chair. The second (and last) time I went in, I asked if I could get my eyebrows done. I called about 15 minutes before I got there, and Ida told me that they weren’t busy and come on in. So when I got there I felt really weird when I had to stand in front of the door while Ida was waxing my eyebrows. Because of the other 5 women who were in there.
Yes, the place is small. Yes, it does look dirty. But the ladies are nice and I guess you can’t expect much from a little place on El Cajon Blvd.

I went to go get my nails did. I stopped by Ida Nails because it was empty and there was no wait. Decided on having a mani and spa pedi. As I was getting my pedi done, I noticed all these street girls coming in. OMG, I couldn’t believe I was at the HOOKER NAIL SHOP!
Why didn’t I listen to the hubby and check Unilocal before coming in here?!!
Service was bad. She didn’t even bring me my flip flops when I was done. Bad service! I will never go back to the hooker shop again.
Was the service good? Hell to the toe!
Will I return? Unless I return in another life as a hooker.

Many a fungus has been shared here. Very unsanitary!
The ladies are extremely nice.