Nail Boutique
Category: Nail Salons [Edit]
Neighborhood: Wicker Park2142 W Division Street
(between Damen Ave & Hoyne Ave)
Chicago, IL 60622 (773) 227-3090
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- By Appointment Only: No
19 reviews
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
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30 Reviews for Nail Boutique
My pedicure looked awesome, HOWEVER (and this is a huge however) as my nail technician was finishing up, the technician next to her asked her a question and next thing I know, my "foamy pumice thing" (thats the technical term) was handed over to the next client for her foot scrub down- EWWWW! Gross- I will NOT be back.
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Although they do provide really good color selection and a good job for the most part...I was treated very nastily there. The technician who took my appointment had a bad attitude and also had an attitude when she was doing my nails. Huffing and puffing while just being an all around jerk is enough for me to say DON'T GO THERE. Having had my nails done before I know the procedure and am never a very bitchy client but this was just ridiculous treatment. I would rather pay for someone pretentious to take care of me and fake being nice who can actually speak and understand english. Quality is always good but shitty customer service changes everything to negative.
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Fabulous job on my mani/pedi! My nails looked gorgeous and people kept complimenting me on them. The mani lasted a good week and looked super shiney the whole week. The pedi two weeks. The store is super clean and very tastefully decorated. Very relaxing. I also loved the leg, arm, and hand massages they give. A little rough (I've actually had some bruises), but hey, I like it rough.
I am subtracting 1 star because right before the technician was going to apply the nail polish to my fingers she stopped, looked at me and said: "PAY BEFORE POLISH!". That was a little odd. But, whatever.
I'll be back for sure. If they don't do that "PAY BEFORE POLISH" thing again, I'll totally give 'em another star.
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I came here a few times to get my nails done, once for a mani/pedi. They did a very nice job every time, and the hand massage/hot towel treatment is awesome. They also have one of the best color selections I have ever seen. Again, I don't necessarily get the feeling they aren't talking trash, which isn't aided by the fact they don't seem to be the friendliest people. However, every time I go they are booked solid and always fit me in without appointment. During the pedicure, they hand you a basket full of different exfolients, which I don't quite understand since they all seemed the same to me, but hey, to each his own. My only real complain is they don't have dryers, which means you have to hang out for a while afterwards, but at least their couches are comfy.
Love, love, love this place! By far the best nail salon I've been to in the city of Chicago.
When I walked in, I was taken aback by how beautifully decorated the space was, especially in comparison to how inexpensive the prices were ($39 - $45 for a mani/pedi depending on the day you go). Nail Boutique looks like an upscale downtown salon but for a fraction of the price.
The service was great and thorough. Good selection of OPI colors, a choice of scent on the scrub for your pedicure, and the staff is friendly and professional. The nail techs weren't overly chatty - but it came off as polite and courteous, rather than rude.
Although there weren't massage chairs for the pedicures, I didn't even miss 'em - the seating was spacious, cushy, and comfortable.
As an aside, Nail Boutique is located two doors down from Letizia's Natural Bakery, which is an added bonus! Grab a coffee and split a ginormous cookie with your girlfriend before getting your "nails did", and you have a perfect Saturday morning planned.
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10 Days.
Exactly how long my manicure lasted. That is an accomplisment considering I cooked, cleaned, worked out, and shovelled during that time.
Good OPI color selection, clean salon, and though the hand massage was rough it did relieve the tension in my hands. I made an appointment the morning of with no problem (on a Saturday).
$15 Basic manicures
$45 for Mani and Pedi
Tips: No AMEX, no pedicure massage chairs, no nail dryers BUT loads of trashy celeb magazines to wait it out.
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There just isn't a better place to get your nails done. They are prompt, polite, professional, and do a fantastic job.
Bring cash for a tip, you can't include it on your card.
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All of the excellent Yelp reviews brought me to Nail Boutique but there's no way that I'm going back. Maybe my nail tech was new or having an off day, but her work was disastrous. She was incredibly slow even though I told her that I had an appointment and she could skip some of the extras. During my pedicure she was very rough and held my feet at awkward angles. She clumsily knocked over various tools while working and managed to make my cuticles bleed. My nails looked so bad that I took off the polish within a few hours. The decor is fine but I expected more based on the reviews. The chairs aren't terribly comfortable and the lack of dryers is impractical.
My quest for a good mani/pedi in the neighborhood continues.
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Love their color selection and the service. Some of the people that work there are not as talkative as the others, but I haven't experienced any rudeness yet. This place is actually very much out of my way, but the massages and service keeps me going back. Plus, I love a clean nail salon and this is the best I've found yet--or does that mean I'm a dirty bird that goes to dirty salons? Either way, the price is pretty reasonable and my manis/pedis last for a long time.
Now I only wish I didn't mess up my thumb after I left...
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This is my favorite nail place and believe me, I have been to a lot of nail places. They give the longest and best massages and the mani/pedi actually lasts a long time compared to other nail salons. The interior is great, very serene. For the price it is definitely worth it. But, yes, the cash tip can catch you off guard. Arrive prepared. Also, during busy times they will ask you to make an appointment, which I find refreshing compared to other places that make you sit and wait forever.
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Extremely clean, great polish selection, highly skilled technicians that take the time and make the effort to give you the best mani/pedis in WP.
Upsides: Their salt scrubs are fabulous. The chairs are not gross massage chairs that attempt to puncture your kidneys during your pedi. The techs are polite but not chatty- it's a really nice place to go with friends. They are great about seating you at the time of your appointment.
Downsides: tips are cash only, no driers for gals on the go, walk ins can mean a wait, and for some reason, they INSIST on playing 101.9 the MIX, which is grating after you hear the same Carrie Underwood song for the third time that hour. Change the station, Nail Boutique, or better yet, get me some flat screens with Bravo reality marathons!
Daughtry aside, though, it's still the best mani/pedi on the west side.
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Overall I got a great mani/pedi here - there were just a few kinks.
A friend and I went in on a Sunday afternoon and had the place to ourselves. The pedi was good - there was a lot of rubbing but it sort of hurt more than felt good and I'm a fan of deep tissue massage. She put a mint scrub on my legs when I got there and it felt good for a few minutes - 20 minutes later I was about to scream in agony because it burned so much for being on so long. The actual pedicure part looked great. I wish that the chairs vibrated but oh well.
On to the mani... again there was lots of rubbing that was almost too hurtful but warm towels and lotion and lots of nice things. My nails do look great. I think what was shady was that when it was time to pay I pulled out my credit card and she said no credit, cash only. Now I had been facing the credit card machine this whole time and there were credit card emblems on the door. Also another woman had come in for a mani and paid by credit card. I told her sorry, I have no cash you should have told me before you did the mani/pedi. She got pretty pissed at me and told me next time cash only "REMEMBER"! LOL. Whatever its a nice mani but I'm not going to pay for someone to be rude to me like that.
Nails will look nice but there are far too many places that will spoil you and be nice.
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This place is great. I have to admit, the location is key for me as it is so close to our house - but even if it were further, I would try and go here. I used to go to fingers and toes on division. This place is so much better. When you walk in for a pedicure, they have you pick out a scrub that they use in your spa massage. They take their time with your manicure and pedicure and truly make it a relaxing experience. The prices are very reasonable too with specials during the week. I have no problem getting an appointment - however I would strongly recommend an appointment on the weekends because they tend to be busy so walk-ins can be difficult.
Great nail shop. The space is very pretty, unlike many other nail shops that feel more cluttered than serene. Nail Boutique really takes its time giving careful, relaxing manis and pedis.
And the arm and leg massage can't be beat. (Literally. My friend felt like they beat her up when they pounded on her arms. Laura B., below, also mentioned this. They are a little rough with you.)
The manis and pedis last a long time but be forwarned- they only accept cash tips.
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I scheduled a same day appointment, and glad I did.
I was impressed by the care they take.
I was however disappointed how the "manager" I suppose that is who she was, distinctively made it clear to me only that tips were only in cash after paying with a credit card. I found this to be inappropriate.
My tech seemed annoyed that i was 15 min late, which I suppose is appropriate.
My polish lasted almost 5 days on my hand, with all the hand washing and such.
My pedicure is still in tact.
I will be going back.
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I got a pretty good manicure/pedicure here. But I think I had my expectations up. I am a big fan of their color selection.. and that might draw me back. Although they are a bit of a hike from my place.
I think the biggest flaw for me was my technician just wasn't very pleasant. Everyone else around me seemed to be getting great service.. their choice of salt scrubs.. some limited friendly banter..ect. Mine just seemed annoyed that I was there. And then when at the end as I was drying I was literally pushed out the door. I know they were getting ready to close up and such.. and anxious to go home. But, of course leaving early cause my nails to smudge. A little annoying.
Oh well. I might give them another try earlier in the day sometime and see if my experience is any different. Or not.
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I'm probably the only fool who yelps with semi-dry nails.
I live right round the corner from Nail Boutique so I was able to roll out the door 5 minutes before my appointment. The boutique itself and bright and calming...but if you go this winter be prepared for non-stop Christmas radio. I don't really mind it yet as it's only mid November.
Since I'm rubbish at small talk, I didn't really mind that my girl didn't speak the best English. She was nice and thoughtful - helped me with my coat, carried my things over so I would muss up my nails. The only downside was that I got the ever-lovin' crap rubbed out of my arms and hands. I've got dainty limbs so it was hurty at the time but now I feel really chilled out so I'll only deduct the one star. If you're a sturdy girl you'll probably love it. My digits look lovely if I do say so myself and the price was very reasonable ($17... tip not included).
Word of warning - don't try to pay with American Express because they don't take it. I heard a long conversation with some bimbo Bucktown mom and the owner. Bimbo didn't have anything to pay with besides AmEx (no other cards, no check book, no cash) and she kept saying, "Well I've got to go now, but I'll send my husband in later and he can pay." The owner seemed put out by this but wouldn't you be? Dumb ho.
But yeah, get your pretties on here.
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Ever since I moved to the neighborhood, I have been trying to find all neighborhood services that I knew inside out in my old neighborhood. I found the reviews on here and decided to check it out.
I am pretty picky about my nails and the skills with which the technician does, in particular, cuticle removing and shaping. The Tech I had was really great, fast and through and didn't hack apart my cuticles while still managing to remove all the "loose ends."
I love the environment -- very serene and nicely decorated. Clean and minimalist and uber-tasteful. It is also very quiet for a nail spa.
And I loved the salt and sugar scrub that they used.
Great value for the money and so far, the polish is holding up beautifully!
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I just wanted to respond to a few things I saw on here. First, it IS open on Sundays, but not on Mondays. Second, in response to Laura B., they do accept credit cards, but tips must be left in cash. Perhaps there was a misunderstanding.
I've had nothing but the best treatment there, and I'm a regular customer. They do a great job, and the girls are very sweet. Highly Recommended.
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Good pricing, can almost always take walk ins, the decor is clean and modern, and they do a great job with manicures and pedicures. Only one negative, some of the manicurist are nicer than others. I have been here many times and most of the time they are very nice and friendly. My last experience, the women who did my pedi was very rude and unfriendly. She was acting like I was forcing her to do the service. Very strange. Overall, good place to go!
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My mom took me here on a whim one day and I cannot WAIT to go back.
The staff is SO nice, this place is very clean and on top of that, it smells good. Some nails salons smell like chemicals and while there is a faint hint of that in the air, it isn't nauseating.
For an amazingly affordable price, the lady gave me an outstanding manicure AND and arm/hand massage that felt fantastic.
They use OPI nail polish there and for those of you who are OPI fans, you know how great that is. If you're not familiar with OPI, just know this -- it lasts a lot longer than most other nail polishes out there. I had my freshly manicured nails painted black and while other nail polishes would have started chipping after a day or two, the solid black color lasted me 6 days before it started to chip (and considering I do a lot with my hands at work, that's truly amazing). Had I reapplied a top coat after a few days, it probably would have lasted longer.
This is going to be my new nail hangout for as long as it's around. You should make it yours, too. (And now...my famous last remark...) WORD!
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I don't often get pedicures due to: 1. I don't like regrowing my running calluses. 2. I don't like being judged for the occasional black toe nail due to said running.
Alas, I had/have some fancy parties to go to and wanted fancy toes to go with my fancy outfits.
Nail boutique exceeded my expectations. It's really a spa pedicure on a budget price. I got two exfoliating treatments and an extended leg massage all for $33. I think that's a pretty good deal for an hour of pampering.
Only caveats: chairs are comfy, but don't vibrate. Not open on Sundays.
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My roommate and I found this place about a year ago when they were having their grand opening. We had just moved to the neighborhood, and I was thrilled to find this place not too far from home.
The space is clean and, like others have said, very relaxing. I've spent 2 hours in here just indulging myself and walked out feeling so refreshed. The staff is awesome - very friendly and attentive. They do a great job on my nails, and it's my top spot for a mani/pedi because it always lasts so long! Never disappointing. The salt scrubs all smell so delicious, which makes the whole place smell good.
You can also join their mailing list and receive coupons via email, and they've also implemented a card stamping system (10 visits, free mani). Nice.
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I stumbled into this small nail shop this weekend when my normal place was too busy (and way too rude--this wasnt the first time--usually they like to stare at my husband and talk in their native language) to give me a manicure.
I walked in to Nail Boutique without an appointment and they were very cheerful and friendly. The zen like atmosphere was relaxing and made me want to take a nap during my mani/pedi.
For my pedicure, my girl used a sugar scrub and a salt scrub on my runners feet (there were a variety and I was able to choose the scent I wanted). The massage was long and felt so good--much better than at most places. I was very impressed.
My mani was equally incredible. She paid close attention to detail and after she filed them she asked me if I liked the shape. Again, the hand massage was awesome and I didnt want it to end.
All of this for $45. And that was without a special. I believe there are great weekday specials. This is my new favorite nail salon.
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I have a theory about nail shops: The 'white girl' shops often have a nice spa vibe but can lack quality skills. I have had a $60 pedicure that didn't include any exfoliation, for example.
The asian owned spots sometimes lack in tha atmosphere department (too many airbrushed pics of tigers?) but have clinical precision when it comes to your cuticles and calluses.
Nail Boutique has it right on both counts. Excellent work in beautiful surroundings at a fair price. And it's 1 block from my house. I love my neighborhood!
The massages and exfoliation treatments are insanely relaxing - don't bother bringing a book - you'll be too relaxed to read.
$50 for mani/pedi
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This place is a gem. I've been to may nail salons, but this one really is amazing. Every time I have been there I have been completely satisfied.
The mani/pedi is great, there are some really nice touches, like the scrubs for the pedicure. I love the massages as well for my feet and arms- they even massaged my shoulders!
The nice things is that they have specials as well- on Wednesday a mani/pedi is only $38! You can't beat that for an hour and a half of relaxation!
Make an appointment- especially if you want to go on a Wednesday or Saturday... and bring some cash for a tip- they do not accept tips from credit cards.
I have been going here for over a year. It really is the best I have ever had. The massages are wonderful, the mani/pedi lasts over a week, and most of all, the staff that works there are the nicest group of girls, and I have really enjoyed getting to know them. The owner runs a tight ship, but there is a lot of respect going around, and that means ALOT to me.
Look no further, this is the best!!
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This place rocks! I've been on the lookout for a nail place that I can call my new favorite - I finally found it. I was sad to leave D'Lee's when I moved to Wicker Park, but thanks to the great reviews on Yelp I decided to try out Nail Boutique.
I called midweek to book a Saturday afternoon manicure for my friend & a pedicure for myself. They were happy to accommodate my request to be next to each other.
The atmosphere is relaxing & everything seemed very clean. Like another reviewer, I wish they had massage chairs, but the pedicure chairs are really comfy. You get to pick 2 scrubs for your pedicure - 1 salt & 1 sugar, about 5 choices of each. Each one smells different & has a unique purpose. They're happy to make recommendations if you're stumped.
The highlight was definitely the looooong massage that comes with both the mani & pedi. My friend & I were in heaven! My legs felt awesome all day. Our nails looked great & they let us just hang out on the couches in the front until we were dry. Several people walked in & they barely had to wait - pretty good for a Saturday. Make sure you bring some cash - you can charge the services but not the tip. It was a perfect way to spend a girls' day - can't wait to go back!
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ive never had a manicure last so LONG!! my mani/pedi went 2 weeks strong without a trace of wear! 2 weeks!!
i went to nail boutique after i read some reviews on yelp, and was not disappointed at all. i believe i paid $45 for a mani/pedi, but they included a nice massage and great attention to detail.
the staff is SUPER friendly, and the environment is clean.
i will definitely be returning.
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I like the upscale fixtures in this shop, though the atmosphere is still a little lacking in some ways (piping in loud music from The Mix will never win me over), but I will say that I have never had a better more long-lasting manicure than I've had at this place! I love Bien Assorti and Sole, but the manicures that I have gotten at Nail Boutique literally have lasted me over a week without chipping EVERY SINGLE TIME and every other salon has really fallen short there (with the possible exception of Tricocci, but that's a fortune). There must be a secret trick that I'm missing, but who cares?
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June 2007
I just edited my review to add a fifth star (I had four previously) because not only have I received perfect pedicures/manicures from this place for the past year, but they stepped it up a notch in the past few months by adding a shoulder massage while moisturizing your hands with hot towels. AND they always offer to clean your rings while they work on your nails. Brilliant. I can live with the awful adult contemporary and smooth jazz for this!
P.S. As it is with a lot of places these days, the tips have to be in cash. The credit card companies must really be killing small businesses with their fees, I figure.
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