New Escape Nail and Day Spa

I’d skip New Escape. It’s near my house, so I’ve been a few times, but I’ve always left disappointed.
On the positive side, the space is beautiful and very clean. They also offer you water, coffee, and little snacks, which is nice. Well, I’ve seen them offer other people those treats, but never me. I’m not sure if you need to have more lavish treatments done, or just need to look like you’re going to tip well, but it seems odd that they don’t give those perks universally.
My disappointment is based on two things: the service and the quality of the work.
As for the quality, twice I’ve left there after a manicure with cuticles that still needed a lot of trimming. My gel nails also lasted less than a week, which was frustrating. I’m not sure if they didn’t bond them correctly or what, but they normally last two weeks or more.
The service is my primary problem. They are supposed to open at 10:00, yet on a Friday morning the staff didn’t arrive until almost 10:30. When they got there, we followed them in, and they seemed incredibly irritated that we were there. It probably was rude of us to tromp into the store uninvited, but we’d been waiting half an hour and were in a bit of a rush. They didn’t even acknowledge their lateness or explain if they normally aren’t there during the posted hours.
I’ve also had lackluster services. My manicurist never rubbed my hands or arms, as they usually do during the treatment. She also seemed annoyed with me in general, and was brusque and unfriendly. I’m a pretty nice person, and I would have appreciated a smile back and maybe a few words of hello. Instead, it felt like just a business transaction, and she was trying to get me out as quickly as possible.
I always tip well there, so I don’t think I get poor service because I have a bad reputation. I think they just must be cold in general. Next time, I’ll head farther down the street to get my nails done.

Got eyebrows done with my sister.
The people working there were rude at first, but after we got our eyebrows done they were nice. My eyebrows looked good after, even though she kinda over-​waxed one of them. Overall it was okay.

A nice little spa. I have gone here a number of times with varied results. There have been times when my polish stayed sticky and did not dry properly. I think this is because they add polish remover to thin older polish. I know this is a common salon practice — but STOP IT ! You are not scientist — don’t change the formula !!!
Or maybe just too thick? Anyway, the OPI was Not drying, so they talked me into «upgrading «to gel polish — ok fine, but it also stayed rubbery and tacky feeling for over a week ! Really !
I almost did not return but I figured I would give them one more chance. I had been here before without issues, after all .
This week was GREAT ! They gave me a fill, when I thought they would insist on a «new set «& they looked great ! The polish dried just fine. They have lots of techs everyday which keeps the wait time short for walk ins. They try to do a little more for customer service, offering fruit infused waters or coffee and even an Asian snack mix (sometimes … Or also by request if they are busy and «forget» to offer)

As a guy, there’s very few places I feel comfortable going to get a pedicure. It’s something I like to do it take care myself, and I hope I find a good place I can take good care of my feet and my toe nails.
When you’re for the first time it was quite disappointed by the results. It was evident after I got home that the lady didn’t even clip my nails properly… I don’t know if this is because I was a guy and she was intimidated or whether she just mailed in. I need away quite disappointed for the $ 35 I spent and the five dollar tip again… Will be looking for another place

I was very disappointed in the service I recieved here. They had me soak my feet for over 30 mins and the water turned cold. When I asked for them to warm up the water I was ignored. When I was finally attended to they did a rush job. My nails were not cut properly, my nail polish was all over the place and she used a different color then I had picked because she felt the color she chose was better. I will never return to this establishment nor would I recommend it.

I have tried to give this place another chance exactly 5 times, and the same thing has happened every time: the owner PERSONALLY has overcharged me. 2 times she ended up giving me my money back. She tries to upsell, claims you had a service you didn’t have, or just «does the math wrong» for 2 mani pedis. This last time I took my mother in law who was visiting from another country for her first mani pedi and wanted it to be relaxing. Instead the staff complained the whole time that we came in too late and now they were going to be stuck cleaning, in traffic, etc. Of course I felt for them, but it was all around stressful. They did a rushed job and the owner overcharged. The ambience is nice, on the surface, but it’s obviously not a good place to work and that gets transmitted through the service.
If you have to go here, check your receipt!

Never again! Dont ever go to NewEscapeNailsAndDaySpa in Santa Cruz they are terrible… Mind you i was specific on how i want them. she put the tips on sooo cricked at first… She then filed one shorter than the rest so they all ended up having to be filed down! Mind you she didnt notice that i had to point it out… (cant believe im posting an angry post) but I’m pissed. Aaaaaaand the design i saw displayed that i wanted! Couldnt be done because the girl who did them no longer works there! Wth! Buuuut when i 1^st asked for that design she said «i dont have the brush for it» then she said something about the owner being trained in Vietnam and he should be able too… Thwn when thw time came he informed me of the «excuse» so i am wondering why would you promote something you dont do! Oh and mind you one by one of the other staff there kept coming up lookomg at my nails and talking in there language and i asked «are they wondering what im giving you a headache about?» And she said «yeah normally i would have done 3 sets by now»…it took her over an hour to do a crappy job. I now appreciate my nail guy Henry more than ever!!! located in Elk Grove, ca. He always takes his time and my nails are always flawless. I had to come new escape because im currently working in santa Cruz. But i will never go there again id prefer to take a day off work to go to my guy than to go there. (Only put 1 star because i had to in order for me to post this.)

Love this place! Clean, stylish, very nice ladies that work there. Have to say best place in Santa Cruz County in my opinion. They just opened a place on 41^st too. I want them to Scotts Valley location.

Got him a gift card for a pedicure as part of his birthday present. I didn’t judge per se but when I learned that he used to do this regularly, I was thinking to myself, «WTF, really?» Anyway. I even took out $ 10 for the tip but I don’t think he ever went. In fact, I will see if he still has the gift card because hell, I’ll use it for myself then, haha.
When I walked in and spoke in Vietnamese, they looked at me stunned. I know I don’t look Vietnamese but I so am and I love it because speaking a 2^nd language is beneficial on many levels.
The place looked clean and located in West Santa Cruz in a busy ass plaza.
Wow– this review took a year to be written.

This place has really gone downhill. I used to love coming here. During my last two visits, I have gotten sloppy pedicures from very inexperienced technicians. They seem very understaffed. I understand the need to train people however when paying $ 20 – 25 for a pedicure, you should leave feeling as if you received your money’s worth. I honestly could have done a better job myself. And to top it off, when I pointed things out to them that needed to be fixed, they treated me as though I was inconveniencing them. Will never come back.

I always treat myself to the VIP pedicure when I get my nails done here. It is worth the price and I am treated very well. The time spent on massage is wonderful and being in my own room makes the whole experience very relaxing. My pedicure always looks great and it usually lasts 2 – 3 weeks. The only reason I didn’t give them 5 stars is they are not always honest with the time it will take to get your pedicure done. They will place me in the VIP room and not get to me for 30 minutes. I’d rather be told a realistic time and come back when they are fully ready for me.

If I can give no starts I would.
At first this place came out at fancy and clean. But asa when my server started doing my nail, half way done she did her own toes nails, which were black like infected right IN FRONT OF ME?
I have been there more than ten times and this is the only time the boss isn’t there.
And I can’t imagine what happens in the back of this shop, idk if they clean their tools properly

$ 20 for basic pedi. The nail polish started chipping off after about 3 weeks.
I recommend this salon for its service and decent ventilation system. The odor of chemicals is not as overwhelming as it can be in other nail salons. I recommend Lina for her kind manner.

Should not have given this place another chance given my last experience. However, today solidified I will not return. Having made an appointment, you would expect to be in and out with in an hour for a gel manicure and pedicure. It took 2 hours and 25 minutes because the girl doing my nails kept getting up to work on someone else. Also– my nails did not match because they don’t carry matching gel and regular polish. The polish on my pedicure was poorly done and I asked them to fix it and I was made to wait again. I left furious just as I did my last visit and will end up going to another salon to get fixed again. I’ve learned my lesson and will not be back. This is generous giving one star.

Huh. Always a strange experience.
Sometimes, my manicurist is amazing, does a beautiful job, and I leave happy… Other times, I get someone who doesn’t seem to care at all that I’m there.
The women who work here are rude, occasionally pointing out flaws on your hands or feet and laughing with one another. It’s happened to both me and the friend I have mani/​pedis done with every time we’ve gone.
I know that’s just part of the experience these days, but it’s never pleasant.
You never know if you’re going to have a decent or really lack-​luster experience here… Always a coin toss.

If I could give them no stars I would… The pedicure was nice but the lack in customer service was awful
To bad I’m someone who gets their nails done at least once a month
I will gladly be telling others and my friends to not go here

Loved this place!
My friend recommended that we go here for pedis and shellac manis. I was skeptical because I usually go to a different place that always does great shellac.
My first impression was, «WOW, thats a lot of chandeliers!» The atmosphere was very spa-​like, very different from most salons in the area. The pedicure chairs were extremely new, and well-​cleaned. We were pampered with snacks and water with citrus slices in it.
I asked to see the shellac colors and they brought over the LARGEST selection of shellac color samples I have ever seen, there must have been hundreds to choose from!
I got a paraffin wax and hot stone pedicure for $ 30, a really amazing price for the quality and time spent on my pedicure. The massage was also really good.
The manicurists were all very friendly, and many stopped by just to «check on us» and make sure we liked our colors/​service. I chose a french-​tip shellac manicure, which was done very well. The manicure only cost $ 30, and I usually pay $ 35 – 40 for a shellac french-​tip.
It has been a week and a half since our visit, and both my manicure and pedicure look brand-​new. They did a really great job. I think I will have to make this place my new «go-​to» spot.

No, this is not a «perfect» salon.
However, reading these reviews compels me to offset the negative. Some of the reviews on here are seriously impacting this business. This is Santa Cruz. There are NO other nail salons like this at this price point. I am tired of having to go to San Jose or Palo Alto for my amenities. I would really hate to see this place close down. It is clean. There are no fumes. They serve lovely snacks and water. I was in today and they were serving watermelon, along with the rice cracker «trail mix.» My eight year old daughter was with me and she got fruit snacks, as well. They have relaxing music. THEY OPEN A NEW PACKAGE OF TOOLS EVERY TIME, which is key for me. They also cover the bowls in plastic, which was mentioned in prior reviews. I don’t know if that really helps anything, but at least they are clearly making an effort to maintain cleanliness. Whenever, I go in there they are super friendly. It hasn’t been perfect every time but if you mention you are uncomfortable (in any way) they will always try to accommodate you.
Yes, they talk amongst themselves in their own language. Tell me about a salon at this price point where that does not happen? I don’t have a problem with that. Worst case scenario, they are saying my feat are crusty and I’m ugly. Who cares. Since I can’t understand them, no harm done. Honestly, I don’t even think that they are talking about clients. I think they are just making conversation. Sometimes you just have to sit there and enjoy. Fortunately I’m a mom so I am perfectly capable of drowning out background noise. A truly important skill in my occupation.
My background. I’ve done manicures and pedicures all over the country and even in some other countries and one common thing I experience is there is always a woman with an attitude that is a a killer of my «relaxation buzz.» People need to go in and program themselves to relax and not sweat the small stuff. I am not saying that the reviewers on here fall in that category. It does suck to wait. It can be disappointing if your nails chip, or if your technician is having a bad day and doesn’t offer great service. Let’s look at the big picture of things going on in the world today, is your fingernail chipping really significant? Are you willing to put someone’s livelihood on the line because your nail chipped? Go back and get it fixed. Most salons guarantee their work and I am sure this place is the same. My pedicures last 1 month here so I haven’t had the issue. I do my own fingernails because I know my lifestyle doesn’t accommodate investing $ on a regular basis for a mani.
I was in today and had a really relaxing experience. We were seated right away. My 8 year old and I had two male technicians. No they were not as thorough as the lady technicians, but they were nice. My massage was great. My daughter got a mani and pedi $ 20 for both!!! I got the basic pedi $ 20. I was out of there for $ 50 including tip. Many places I go my pedi would have been $ 50 alone. My daughter’s technician did slop some color on her skin but it comes off. I can brush that off for the price and the comfort of knowing the place is clean. Please consider going at a time that might be less busy. I do think they are a bit understaffed. Lets keep the Santa Cruz economy going strong by supporting local places.
A few tips for any nail salon (Particularly if you are concerned about a language barrier):
1. Read signage at the check in counter. This salon’s signage clearly states service must be $ 15 minimum to use a credit card. It also states that tips must be in cash. Many salons are doing this. I do not find it out of the ordinary. People should appreciate this because it gives you more control of the tipping.
2. Ask to be quoted a price upfront. Today, I verified the price for my daughter prior to sitting in the chair. I also ask up front for pricing and I enjoy that this place does not try to upsell you on stuff every 5 minutes.
3. Ask for help with your massage chair if you are unsure how to use it. They usually will set it for you. I personally don’t like knocking or tapping settings. Today I set it on the knead setting, with back stretching at a low speed. It was very relaxing, rather than jarring as some of the settings can be. Hope this is helpful.

I traveled from los angeles for a wedding here and went with the bridal party to get our nails done. The pros were that they offered water, snacks and a very luxurious atmosphere.
Even with all of that I still would never go here and I warn people not go here as well!
Ive been to salons all over Los angeles and I’ve had pedicures for as low as $ 7 and they still weren’t as bad as this one.
–she was rushing and constantly walking away.
–She left pieces of my cuticle half cut off and just ignored it.
–I brought my own nail polish (which I let her know as I gave it to her) and she ruined the entire bottle because she kept missing the hole.
–They also automatically made my nails square without asking me.
None of that matter much because all I cared about was the actual manicure but she did a horrible job!
–My cuticles had globs of excess nail polish and when I asked her to fix them she just dragged her nail over my cuticle which just made it smear.
–she scratched/​smeared 3 of my nails because she was in such a rush and when I pointed it out she just added 2 more coats of polish but you could still see the dent.
–when she finally started applying my top coat she added blobs of it onto my nail and you could see the crusty clear pieces on the rim end up on my nail so she added yet another layer of polish.
–she also didnt even bother getting the clear top coat on my nails because there were large patches without top coat and it was all over my skin.
you could say maybe it was just the girl that helped me but my friend had almost the same experience and it wasn’t even a busy day. She also cut her nail completely crooked and refused to cut her acrylic nails shorter than a certain length. Who does that?
I payed about $ 50 to get my nails done here and I still had to go to another place after to buy nail polish remover and clean off all the access nail polish off my skin. I wish I would have taken pictures but It was my birthday so I tried to ignore it and enjoy my self afterward.

Great spot for a group
Came here on a bachelorette weekend with 6 girls. We were lucky to get a same day reservation. We got taken into a private room and all but one girl got work done at the same time.
This salon is definitely a good bang for your buck. Very pleasant service, cute interior, and even complimentary beverages and snacks. The professionals still chat to each other in a foreign language but it’s not an issue if you come with friends.
My only reason for giving 4 instead of 5 stars is: My french tip mani turned yellowish on the next day and was chipping by day 2.
I recommend this place for groups and make a reservation to be safe!