JT Nails
Category: Nail Salons [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Japantown, Pacific Heights1848 Fillmore St
(between Bush St & Sutter St)
San Francisco, CA 94115 (415) 563-4373
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- By Appointment Only: No
77 reviews
Neighborhood: SOMA
"Love this place. I come here for my cut and color and the occasional massage and facial. I have been coming here for years and have never…" read more »
19 Reviews for JT Nails
I had been going to more foo-foo places since about September, but am very happy that I have found a no-frills, quick, clean, high-quality mani/pedi place. My fingers and toes look great, just like I had been at a foo-foo place recently, but spent a lot less money and time there. The technicians are very nice, introduce themselves, and are not too rough on the cuticles (I hate that!). Will be back!
I was in desperate need for a neighborhood NYC-style nail salon - cheap, quick, long-lasting and HOT TOWELS. A classmate recommended JT Nails as she had been going there for years and a friend's mom had been going there for over 10 years! Tina and the crew are the best, they are super nice, extremely accommodating and overall they do a terrific job. I am sad I am moving away from pac heights but I fully intend on going there every weekend like I normally do! The place also got recently renovated.
I never got a MAN-icure until I moved to SF and made 700 million selling my brilliant online greeting card dotcom to Excite@ home (which later resold the dog for 40 million - haha, screw you Excite!) and decided that with my newly found riches I could afford a little pampering in the form of a Vietnamese woman fretting over my greedy, capitalistic, cuticle-covered claws.
I then tried various places around SF and found that there was a vast difference in the quality of MAN-icures given.
I would exit some shops with hangnails and cuticle skin still on my nails - egads! Sometimes my manicurist would be cursed with flower-wilting halitosis. The worst experience was when my manicurist suggested I go with clear polish. I stupidly said yes and with in a few days, the polish having become chipped and natty, my hands looked like those of a homeless transvestite.
Other places would make my fingers look like perfection. In fact, I did some hand modeling for a while (not for the money, obviously, but to meet female hand models - I've a fetish, you see).
I've learned a lot since those days. Always buff. Never polish. Tip well. And once you find a good manicure shop, stick with them.
JT Nails on Fillmore is such a place.
"Feelmore Street" is normally not my scene, but one day I needed to get out of my Pac Hts. Mansion and was walking down lower Fillmore Street. Right when I was almost getting to the scary part of Fillmore (the flat part) I saw JT Nails.
Up until this time I had been going to a place way over in Bernal (where I used to live with some lesbian dog-lovers before I sold the dotcom) to get my nails done but had been getting increasingly annoyed with the haul over there and my driver always had a hard time finding a parking place for the Maybach.
So, in a rare moment of varying my excessive-but-common-among-the-ultra-wealthy OCD routines, I stopped into JT Nails. The aroma of nail polish and acrylic nail dust was intoxicating. Really. It was. I had to step outside again a couple times while I was waiting to grab a few gulps of fresh air. It is no wonder everyone working there has such a dreamy expression on their face.
In any event, that day I received my first MAN-icure from JT Nails, which, incidentally is run by two sisters whose portraits and family photos adorn the walls of their modest, fumey shop.
I requested a high-polish buff. I wanted my nails to look like little mirrors on the ends of my fingers. I knew it could be done. However, I was slightly disappointed with the results and, a few days later, *very* disappointed. Why? Because I had developed numerous mini-hangnails around my cuticles. A perfect MAN-icure will *stay* perfect for at least a week.
Despite my disappointment, I stopped in there again because, as I had found out from visiting previous shops, it's all about finding the right manicurist.
And I found her. Actually, I found two. I found one for my hands and one for my feetsters (the foot massage is unreal - her hand-strength is like the jaws-of-life!).
Wow. This review is getting long and I've got some Web 2.0 parties to go to (yah, sucks being a VC - everyone wants you). Anyway, there are two manicurists at this shop that give top notch, superb, outstanding, simply unmatched MAN-icures and pedicures.
I won't tell you their names because they are already very busy and these days a call must be made to tell them I am coming. I don't want to exacerbate the situation and have to start having my assistant call them to make an appointment days in advance.
But, I do say, they simply rawk. Ok. I'll give you a hint: They both have black hair and dark eyes. JT Nails, I love you.
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I'd been here a few times for a mani-pedi, even bringing my little sister here to get our nails done when she last visited SF. I used to think their work was half-assed, and their customer service was sucky...but they must have adopted some sort of new motto since my most recent experience has completely redeemed them in my eyes.
My friend and I decided we needed an emergency mani-pedi before our Prom fundraiser event, so we headed down the street from my apartment to JT Nails, without an appointment. Not a problem - they sat us both down immediately, and got to work prettifying my hands and feet. The ladies were extremely friendly - asking our names, making small talk, and doing quick yet precise work on our nails. I couldn't have been happier - my fingers and toes were ruby red, and flawless. All for $25 plus tip! I was feeling G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S, yeah :)
Two days later, after cutting ribbons, stacking boxes, decorating a ballroom, and schlepping stuff up and down stairs, my nails still look immaculate. Soooooo glad I don't have to drive down to the Marina to get my nails done now!
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Since I started cutting my own hair (and saving a ton of money in the process), I thought I should get my first manicure. I'd been a bit bothered that, since I'm right-handed, my right hand nails were always funkier than those on my left hand - know what I mean? So I happened upon this place in my neighborhood and have been happily going there every other week. The quality varies, depending on who you get, so I have started to make appointments with the ladies who have, in my opinion, done the best job. Now I have great nails, but hair that looks like I have a blind barber.
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A mani/pedi for 25$ plus only 3$ for the French, that's a deal!
The place is squeaky clean, all the gals are nice, you don't need an appointment and you can even get a neck/shoulder massage while your nails are drying (10$ for 10 minutes).
I have been a customer of JT Nails since they opened and Tina is not only my manicurist, but she has over the years become a very dear friend. Tina does one of the best silk wraps in San Francisco. I am equally fond of both Jackie and Tina, and more importantly I appreciate the quality of customer service and the manner in which they have taken care of my nails and pedicures for years. Yes - there is quite a bit of chatter among the ladies...but they tell you what they are talking about and always make everyone feel welcome. It is best to make an appointment, especially with Jackie or Tina. Diane is very good as well....and she gives a WONDERFUL neck message. Dao is kind and gentle....trust her with your feet. However, if you want a silk wrap - Tina is the one you want to have work on your nails. Since Jackie and Tina are the owners and quite popular because they are both very good, best to make an appointment so you don't have to wait very long. I highly recommend this shop....there is a reason I have stayed with them for several years.....they are excellent.
I've been going to Dao at JT Nails on and off for several years now. She is always sweet and eager to please. For the price, they do a good job. One of the other employees was entertaining her client with stories of a customer who chooses interesting shapes for her bikini wax, including a heart.
You can get a mani/pedi for $25 but if you don't need the full pedi with the foot soak, scrub, etc, you can get a toe polish change for $7 (they still file and cut your nails) and a mani for $9. Cash only.
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I've been a loyal client for more than 15 years, and have always been very happy with their work. Tina (a co-owner) does an excellent silk wrap, the best I've ever had. The staff are all so nice and cheerful, it is a pleasure to go there.
So I recently started going here regularly to get my acrylics done.
And as much as I wanted to love this little local nail shop, the quality is not very high.
My arcylics start to lift almost immediately after I have them done.
I mean they look good for the first couple hours but I hate having my lifting nails pinch my hair as a shampoo it in the shower.
And that begins to happen within a couple days.
The place is cheap but it's easy to figure out why.
I should stick to Portola Nail Bar for quality.
But I do like that I can bring my little Philster and they are down with the canine companions.
all ya'll yelpers wondering what the ladies are gossiping about?
they are talking about you!! just kidding. it's mostly gossip amongst themselves.
i speak 3 languages and can stumble through another 2 so i could understand them. i got them laughing and entertained with some stories but i think they appreciated me asking about their stories.
most people are so egocentric about talking about themselves to their hair stylists, we forget that these people do this to pay the rent and bills.
they have some great personal stories about how they came to the states and their struggles here. i laughed so hard that the mangled english interpretations of their names
sure, it's not the best quality job..... but for 25$ for mani-pedi?! i can't complain. i have ticklish feet so i couldn't help but giggle as one scrubbed my feet. she tried hard not to giggle because i was giggling.
but the best part is that i really like them remembering your name and they use it often. makes me feel like "norm" at cheers even though it was my first time there. i felt like one of the regulars on any old friday.
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**i hit post and lost my first review - this one may not be as good**
anyhoodle - the nails? fine. the pedis? no complaints. the ladies? super nice and always remember me (even when i didn't go there for 5 years when i moved!).
but what i want to yelp about is the 15 minutes of pure heaven you can purchase for a mere $10. yes - you can get an unassuming chair massage (in a regular chair, mind you) that will blow your mind. the lady who massages on mondays has some seriously magic hands. i wish i could go here every day!!
i am not kidding - you must try this amazingly inexensive bit of relaxation and pampering when you just have 15 min and want a little treat. and wear a tank top for maximum pleasure.
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I usually don't have much of an opinion of where I get my nails done. I don't go all that often, and usually get pretty bored- especially when I have to wait forever. Anyway, I'm taking off for the weekend and had to squeeze a mani/pedi in last night... I walked in, immediately they gave me a seat, found out my name, recommended a different color for my hands- which was just perfect! Most of them spoke English, and pretty well too. Very clean spot. OH-So, you know how when you get your hair done(cut) and you're hairdresser ALWAYS says, "wow, you have the softest hair, i love your hair, i wish i had your hair, etc" well, these ladies were saying the same about my nails. Whether or not they meant it- I still appreciated it... Anyway 25$ + $6 tip- 30 minutes later, done. Yay, new nail place.
I recently tried this place and I was really happy with my pedicure and eyebrow wax. They don't use the spa chairs which I don't like to use any more after hearing about the yucky fungal infections you can get from them. The girl who did both my pedicure and wax was really friendly and did a fantastic job. Also, even though the ladies did chat among themselves, it was nowhere near as much as other places I have been to.
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I enjoyed my experience here. They didn't make me feel bad for biting my nails and were very friendly. I heard on the grapevine that they do nail art. Curious.....perhaps I will wait until my nails grow out until I try that feature, but the ladies are nice and they mean business....so this place gets all stars!
$25 for a mani and pedi isn't all that bad, and they were friendly, clean, fast and used opi polish; i can't complain!
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It's always intimidating to get your nails done at random shops and ever since Paula Abdul's Anti-fungal/bactericidal Campaign....eh who am I kidding! The $20 Mani/Pedi Special is what attracted me to this place and instantly, I was greeted and asked what service I wanted done. I got a french mani/pedi for an additional $4 and a long, soothing spa pedicure. Ahhhhhh! The ladies were quite careful and everything was sanitary.
FYI: Cash only. My only gripe is that I can never understand what the heck they are saying to each other in asian-owned/run nail salons. For the love of ..., speak to each other during your coffee breaks!
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thanks JT NAILS! my hands and feet are now so soft, groomed and stylish that i feel like a spoiled empress from the orient seas...
seriously, CAN'T BEAT the price and cleanliness of the place. it''s always busy but no worries if you just walk in. owners are very friendly and staff is quick and talented. got these super-cute asian designs on my ring fingernails for an extra $3 each.
although i am an asian myself, i totally get what other yelpers mean by getting a bit irked by non-english chatter at asian-run salons, because we don't understand and it makes us uncomfy. however, i have no real prob with it, because if that is the way they pass time and hence keep them in good enough spirits to do quick, cheap and clean mani-pedis at $25 - - chat away, my sistas...
shi-sheh ni ha! (or something like that)
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Okay, I am not a particularly girly girl. Or at least, I am not a mani/pedi kind of girl. But when my friend wanted to meet up for mani/pedis before she left for a weekend wedding, I figured it would be a good thing to say I'd done. At least once in my lifetime.
If you are a mani/pedi kind of girl, you already know that you should bring flipflops with you to wear after your toenails are polished. I forgot that rule. But because the women who work here are so sweet, no one even noticed. Or if they noticed, no one thought it was worth giving me a hard time. (For those not in the know, this is the kind of thing that salon patrons and employees tend to make you feel dumb for forgetting.)
The employees all chat with each other in what I think may be Korean (yes, I am fairly ignorant when categorizing languages I don't understand). But what's really sweet is that they then tell you what they're all talking about with you so you don't feel all left out. And they remember your name and use it over and over, and when you leave, they all yell "Goodbye [your name here]! Thanks for coming! See you soon!" so that all the rest of them hear your name and use it. It's little touches like these that make me feel like I could become a mani/pedi girl.
The big touch that makes this place extra worthwhile? It's pretty frickin cheap. I liked that part too.
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