French Nail Design
Categories: Nail Salons, Hair Removal [Edit]
Neighborhood: Pacific Beach909 Grand Ave
Ste 2
(between Bayard St & Cass St)
San Diego, CA 92109 (858) 273-9515
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 9:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 9:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Sun 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street, Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- By Appointment Only: No
22 reviews
Neighborhood: University Heights
"They do a really good spray tan here......the girl is sweet and has you bronzed in no time! Brazilian waxing is also good here, however get…" read more »
14 Reviews for French Nail Design
A friend referred me to French Nail, now we go just about every friday. SO clean, they break out the hospital grade fungicide after each time they do a spa pedi. I see them fill up & empty the tanks out over & over to clean them. Regular pedi's they put a trash bag over the plastic tub. Plus all the polishes are OPI, my pedi's here last weeks.
Just make sure you bring cash for a tip, otherwise you'll get a lecture. (rolls eyes)
Hey btw ladies, ask for TINA. She rules! Pay $5 extra to have your calluses removed. UHHHH-MAZING!
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Yelp is right again! This place was awesome, perhaps the best mani and pedi I have ever received, granted I usually go to the super cheap hole in the wall places. The mani was $13 and the pedi was $17 or both for $25. I went for both and when the pedicurist asked me
"Would you like to pay $5 extra to have your calluses removed off your feet?" there was no moment of hesitation on my part I was like
"Please, do it! If my feet could talk they would say Amen.
This place is clean, and I felt like the manicurist and pedicurist were not in a hurry. Usually I end up pulling back in pain at some point during a manicure, because the manicurists are usually moving so fast that they pinch a cuticle. Not this time!
It's been almost 2 weeks, and my pedicure still looks brand new. If I didn't work with my hands so much, my manicure would too!
Well executed, and the first Salon where I've seen men getting pedis too. If you are driving here for the first time it is on Grand Avenue in the shopping center adjacent to Poor Boy Subs. :) I walked out happy to smell the ocean breeze.
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Acrylics, mani, pedi's...at FND they do a fantastic job, are fanatical about cleanliness, and about happy customers who want to return. Yvonne the owner, Cindy, Terri, Lynn, Jackie, Kim, Nancy,...you can't really go wrong w/ any of the girls and they treat their longtime customers like family. I highly recommend French Nail Designs. I have been going there for eight years...that says a lot!
"OK, honey, you go pick color." A smiling face greets you every time you come here for a quick nail-based pick-me-up. Your nails will come out great every time, the only variable is how long and invigorating your massage will be - it is hit or miss. If you find a girl you love, request them again! Three generations (grandmother, mother, and me) of my family have made this place our little family treat.
I drive the extra mile to go here for my pedi's. Really clean & they last forever.
After driving around for what seemed like foreverrrrr (yahoo told me to make a u-turn on Bayard but u-turns weren't allowed...stupid yahoomaps!) I was relieved to finally find French Nail Design, tucked away in its little corner.
The decor was nice and clean and the ladies were really nice. Kinda weird how you have to sign in when you enter, but whatevs. I signed in for a refill and minutes later was served by Lily, who was cute and spoke English pretty well. She did a good job with my pink & whites...it didn't hurt at all, which is my number one concern. At my place at home, I always get nicked.
2 disappointments because:
- at the end, she buffed my nails instead of putting on the shiny top coat that I like. I mean, my nails are smooth and everything but not glossy like I like them.
- $27 for a refill?! It only costs $24 at home and I thought THAT was expensive...
I have been getting acrylic nails for as long as I can remember (sad but true).
Last week I went to the WORST nail salon. 2 days later I had nails falling off and lifting like crazy. My nails looked like hell.
After reading a ton of reviews about this place I decided to head over and let them fix the mess that was "my nails".
The place was very clean, parking right out front and everyone was extremely friendly. They did not try to up sell you at all on your services (as many nail salons do) and they were very speedy.
I had my pink and white nails fixed, a pedicure and brow wax all at the same time! I honestly think this is the best pink and whites that have ever graced my fingers. My nails look amazing and for cheap too!!!
I am just sad that I just found this place a week before I am leaving San Diego!
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Yelp saves the day!
New to San Diego and with no clue where to find a good nail salon, I tried out a couple near my condo hoping they wouldn't be horrible. Alas, they sucked. Enter Yelp and French Nail Design.
The ladies at French Nail Design were so fantastic. Friendly and attentive, and very courteous. I appreciated the fact that they seemed like seasoned professionals (neither of the ladies who helped me were young girls like I'm used to seeing) and spoke easy-to-understand English (even to each other, for the most part).
The pedicure I got (aside from being totally afforable and absolutely flawless) has lasted for more than a month.
No need for an appointment. They'll work you right in, even if it's right at closing time, and even then they'll probably keep you around for a few minutes afterward just to chat you with you, make sure your experience was acceptable, and to ensure that your nails are perfect (and dry!) before you head out the door.
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Watch out for the bikini wax... I was getting a Brazilian, and it ripped my skin in a very disturbing way, and I ended up going to the ER for it. I'd really recommend going somewhere else.
i have never had a problem getting a good set of pink & whites here. they've always come out completely... acceptable. they're also relatively affordable--pink & white set, spa pedicure, and eyebrow & upper lip wax for $74.
the parking is a pain in the butt, but if you don't go on a weekend you can usually get a spot on the street and just walk around the block.
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My favorite San Diego nail salon. I've been going there for years, and really feel comfortable there. My nails always look great when I leave. Tracy is the absolute best for a pedicure, which I shouldn't disclose, but you should all benefit, too! Now don't say that I never gave you anything. . .
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As I type this review, I am avoiding looking at my fingers, as I upon moving to the Bay Area, decided that without a strong referral I didn't want anyone else doing my pink and white nails. So I took my nails off at Perfect Fingers in SF and have ever since had to deal with the awkward ugly stage as my natural nails are recovering from 8 years of being covered up.
How I miss my nail salon in the heart of PB. What can I say about French Nail Design? Like other Asian owned nail salons, it's pretty basic in it's offerings, nails and waxing is about it. It's not zen like nor do they offer you tea and stuff. You come in, it's a huge room with lots of stations and pedicure massage chairs, and tons of ladies ready to make your your nails look beautiful! The prices are cheaper than that at full service salons and the quality is better.
Now I'm super picky about my nails. I like my nails to be as thin as possible without breaking every week. Most nail salons I have found say they do thin nails but in reality your nails end up looking fake and like those of the girls on the Jerry Springer show.
Sooooo with that said, Cindy at French Nail Design was referred to me by someone at my work when my nail girl at the time started slacking..........I called her and asked her if she was able to do thin nails, and she said yes. I went to her once and have been going to her since. She is busy, and books fast so when you call her for an appointment, call a few days in advance and be prepared to wait a few minutes when you get there, she is usually running a little behind. But she is worth the wait..........never have I gotten so many compliments on my nails and they always look so beautiful, it makes me want to type more and more just so I can look at them. Cindy also does waxing and she is great at it: fast and quick........even with the Brazilian......................
Everyone there does a great job with the pedicures also...........never had a bad experience there, they are thorough and clean.
Just writing this review makes me sad that I now have no one in SF to do my nails...........maybe I can justify going back to SD every 3 weeks for a pink and white fill???? I feel naked without my nails............
Updated 5/18/2007
OoOOH naughty me, I snuck in a visit today even though I am in San Diego supposedly preparing for my broker exam and the cram course I have for the next two days. But I figured, my nails are so icky right now and the pink and white is actually pink and yellow from the nail places in SF, I needed to at least have pretty fingers for my broker exam right? If I had to look at icky fingers while studying it may break my concentration.
And now that won't have to happen. As usual, my nails look delightful, beautiful. Nice long thin nails. Not too long where I look like a hooker but long enough to make my lean fingers look leaner. Perfect pink and white, nothing to complain about. I was apprehensive when I booked as Cindy, my usual gal was booked the entire time I am in SD, but Lynn did just as good a job, I now am feeling even better knowing that if Cindy is busy again next time I'm in town, Lynn can get the job done. My pedicure looked lovely too. Gosh, pedicure and pink and white fill, $42? AWESOME, cannot complain. What would it cost for them to open a French Nail Design in the Bay Area???
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Not being used to getting manicures or pedicures, French Nail Design was a great place to start! Located very conveniently from me on Grand Ave, the parking would've been the icing on the cake. But it was horribly cramped and fairly tiny--so unless you get lucky and arrive when someone's just leaving, I'd advise going on a slower day. I, myself, went on a Saturday.
I called ahead to make sure I could get an appointment, which was easily obtained. Upon arriving, 2 girlfriends were just leaving so I quickly nabbed the spot after they pulled out. Victory! I walked into the salon 10 minutes earlier then my appointment, but was promptly seated at one of the stations. As I was waiting, I observed all the hustle and bustle going on around me. The majority, if not all, of the workers are Asian--not a surprise. They don't offer you any special drinks or anything, but I didn't expect it considering the size of the place and the basic-ness of it (like what Denise Q. said). As my manicure began, I asked her what the slow days are to inquire for future appointments, and she said that Sundays and Mondays are the slowest, and Thursdays to Saturdays are the busiest. I continued to look around and became slightly jealous of the women having pedicures done, so I turned to my manicurist, Lily, and asked if I could add on a pedicure as well, or if I'd have to make an appointment for another time. She said it wouldn't be a problem at all and told the girl at the register what I wanted done (or at least I think that's what she said. I wasn't so sure since she was speaking Vietnamese). I was moved to a station towards the back of the salon and my pedicure began at the same time as my manicure--talk about pampering! My pedicurist was Tina, and she began by covering my lap with a towel--thank God! I was wearing a jean mini and didn't want everyone seeing my Good Girl (a name I got from Grey's Anatomy, hehe).
Anyway, to make a long story a little shorter, I opted for one color on my nails, a sheer pink called Hawaiian Orchids, and a french done on my toes. They both came out beautifully and they were even accompanied with great massages! Tina even slipped my slippers on for me to avoid them getting messed up. Not too shabby for $31 (w/o tip). It was $11 for my mani, and $20 for my pedi. I def. plan on returning!
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I was in SD visiting with friends this past weekend, and one of my best friends and I were in dire need of a pedicure. So I looked on Yelp and we decided to go to French Nail.
It was a pleasant experience. The place was clean, the ladies were really nice and friendly, and surprisingly, spoke pretty good English!
I also saw them take a walk-in for a pedicure at 7:15 without any sort of attitude even though they closed at 7.
I liked that they had the option of a regular pedicure because I've always been scared of the nail fungus horror stories of spa chairs.
The ladies did a thorough job and we left with our feet happy, pink and scrubbed and nicely painted. $15 for a pedicure wasn't bad at all.
The only thing is that they might need better ventilation; the place smelled really strongly of nail glue, more so than other nail places I've been.
Easy to find, make an appointment with Mimi for nails and Jackie for pedicures. Mimi takes a long time but it's well worth it. Only downside...seems like prices are going up all the time.
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