Pinkies Nail Salons
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- By Appointment Only: No
55 reviews
Palo Alto, CA
"I have gone here three or four times, and have been impressed with Nellie every time. She's fast, efficient, and puts you at ease. She also…" read more »
27 Reviews for Pinkies Nail Salons
this place is pretty clean, so i guess that's why they charge higher prices for pedis. their regular pedi is $25, and for an additional $10, you get a 10 minute leg massage and foot scrub. at other places, you wouldn't even have to pay this additional $10, and you would get a massage and scrub anyway. luckily i got a free pedi from my yelp elite goodie bag from the 151 event, so i only paid the $10 extra. however, it wasn't even that worth it, b/c the massage was pretty weak, and the technician barely scrubbed my feet.
also, you have to show up on time for your apptmt here. if you are late, they will not even accomodate you, even when they have technicians ready to work on your nails just sitting there. i think that's pretty lame.
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Yelp hooked it up with a free pedi from the elite event at 151 boutique, and as I have never been here I decided today was the perfect day to go. I grabbed fellow yelper and R&R expert Laurie K, and we treated ourselves to a mani/pedi day. You know, it's the perfect time, the weather is starting to get warmer so you have to outfit yourself with cute summer nail colors.
It started with me making a reservation, the lady I spoke to was friendly and asked how the elite event went. I loved that gregarious chatty conversation. Making a phone reservation for the both of us was completely painless and quick. Then a day before we were supposed to attend I get a confirmation call letting us know to show up 10 mins early so that we can get everything going on time.
We arrived perfectly on time and picked out colors, and were set to rest and relaxation. Cushy massage chairs accented by the softest pillow, nice pastel yellow walls and a wide assortment of magazines. Then they offer green tea or water while you're getting your mani/pedi, as well as a relaxing hand and food massage. Two attendants each worked on both us.
A great and charming place. I thoroughly enjoyed going here. Thanks Yelp crew for the event at 151 and providing us with the goodie bags that contained free mani or pedi. You introduced me to this place and I am forever indebted.
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Five stars to yelp for giving me a free mani coupon at the Elite event. Yelp is like a nice boyfriend who feeds you and treats you to the spa.
Here's my breakdown:
Pros:
*Super cute spot, love the shabby chic decor
*Worked on my cuticles twice, once after soaking, once after disinfecting w/alcohol
*Nice, friendly service by hostesses- I was there 30 minutes after closing, and they didn't rush me out and let me sit there to dry my nails
* Drying heaters are nice, they make me sleepy, although I think they do dry my hands a bit
Cons:
*I forget the name of my nail technician, but she was rough! When she was filing my nails, I had images of someone sawing off a branch of a tree. She didn't make me bleed, but it was uncomfortable
*Not a very good paint job, it looks like my nails grew out already because she didn't paint from the very base..well some she did
Overall, cute place that's very clean (although the towels were a bit gringy) with nice spa chairs, but I think I'm going to stick my Pinky's in Cupertino. Yes, there's no nice decor there, but I'd prefer nicely painted nails and a cheaper price...
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The bottom line here is, if you're looking to support your local Los Altos, look for another nail salon in downtown. There's tons of them anyway.
It is $100, not including tip, to get a STANDARD manicure and pedicure package for two people. Which is "decent." It's an additional cost for a massage, scrub, nail art, french tips, etc. I hate being nickel and dimed.
When we got home, my mother touched up her own nails with an extra non-chip protective coat of her own, noting that she could tell the polish wasn't that strong. Less than a week later, my light pearl coat of polish had chipped beyond repair. Before I took it all off, it resembled dried glue on the tips of my fingers. So gross. The balls of my feet wre still rough, despite the fact that I got a scrub. Big boo for that.
The color choice for polish is poor. Most are shades of red and pink. How very drab. Aside from that, there was one shade of summery yellow, that I ended up choosing for my toes, a coral orange, and two different types of silver. That's it. All other non-reds and non-pinks were in the SALE section, so you had to purchase them for TWICE their retail value just to use them. Dumb.
The fact that Pinkies has all Asian nail technicians and non-Asian counter hostesses, is a little off putting, if you know what I'm getting at. The hostesses are high schoolers with major attitude issues, on and off the phone. As expected, the nail techs don't speak English that well. But at least they are friendlier than the counter service.
You may find it odd that Pinkies is also half RETAIL, with jewelry and other goodies you can buy while waiting. At first, I thought this was a tad bit STUPID. However, my nail tech told me that most of the goodies being sold at the front are actually items purchased wholesale from Vietnam and the Phillippines, by the nail techs and their families. So buying an item can be equated to giving double tip if you're satisfied enough to do so.
I should preface this review with the fact that I had a free pedicure coupon and then booked a manicure. After reading the mixed reviews here, that's the only reason I chose this place over another (coincidentally my pedi was the problem but I dont think the technician knew I had a free pass, so I don't think that affected my experience).
That being said, I believe quality of service here depends entirely on who you get. And by quality of service I mean the way your nails look when you leave, not the actual experience while there as the vibes were weird at the end of my appt (keep reading) and the technicians pretty much ignore you aside from asking if you want a second coat of polish and how short you want your nails. But hey, I get manis and pedis to look good, not to make conversation, so as long as they're pleasant, I don't really mind either way.
My manicure looked good, nails were shaped well, a very small bubble or two in the polish, but not bad.
My pedicure was another story. First, the nail shaping was totally off. Who shapes toenails curved and not straight across?? In addition to this looking weird, aren't you supposed to cut toenails straight across to avoid ingrowns? My toenails are now curved outward, like a half circle arch, tapered on the edges.. Additionally, the cutjob was not done well, it's uneven, snagged on one side of a toe, etc.. No attention to detail here, as worst case scenario, those issues could be filed out. Polish coat is heavy and uneven.
To top it off, she cut the cuticle too low on one toe and it bled. I've never had this happen at a pedicure before. She did get an aniseptic to put on it and was apologetic, but it still kinda hurts.. And she didn't really wait for it to stop bleeding before painting. I have bloodstained nail polish down at the base of one toe. I am not kidding here.. Granted, I had picked a light pink, but wow. At this point, I was over my toes looking presentable and just wanted to leave, so I didn't say anything..
I had a late appointment (5:30 on a Monday), and was the last client (along with a friend of mine). As they were finishing the paint job, the music turned off and the receptionist started to close down with the two of us sitting there. The technicians instantaneously disappeared not be seen again and my friend and I were left there with no instruction, no drying fans, no helping get shoes on etc. It was awkward as the receptionist was clearly waiting for us to leave. I waited a few more minutes since I didn't want to smudge my mani which looked good and then fumbled over who to give an obligatory (small) tip since no technicians were there and reception hadn't acknowledged that we were still there. I ended up leaving $5 (for my mani which was good) at the station and just left with still no acknowledgment, even though we walked right past reception.
-2 stars for crappy toenail shaping, this is an integral part getting nails professionally done.
-1 star for making me bleed
-1 star for not waiting for bleeding to stop to paint nails!
-2 stars for social awkwardness at the end
+2 stars for good mani
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I'm a bit shocked to see so many bad reviews! I came here the day before my wedding to get a mani/deluxe pedi, and it was fantastic.
I arrived on time, but was flustered because of all the wedding excitement. It was in the afternoon and I had forgotten to eat all day. I think I mentioned it to the receptionist when we were chatting. She reached behind the counter and gave me a granola bar - how sweet!
I got my mani and my bridesmaids arrived just in time so that we could all have our pedis together. Everyone's nails looked fabulous, and it was a very relaxing experience.
My only gripe is that it was a bit expensive, but I'm probably just a cheapo.
Nice, clean, bright atmosphere, that's basically what you're paying for here. I think the quality has gone down in the past year or so--the technicians are kind of hit or miss these days. I got a manicure last week and I think I got a technician in training--her hand was practically shaking when putting on the polish. Good thing I had a gift certificate--I would have been very disappointed paying $15 for that manicure. The hand/arm massage was also really short too. This place gets lots of business and I think they need to keep the services short so they can fit as many reservations in as possible. I'll use up my gift card and will be trying something else in the area that offers better quality services.
Got a mani/pedi today. I gave them a second chance.
Conclusion: Won't be going back again.
Pros: Cute place, convenient location, ummm...that's it.
Cons: Both technicians were rough with my cuticles - the whole operation not even paying attention to their work. My cuticles bled on two fingers after the woman pulled at my cuticles. It was painful. She was sloppy. It just wasn't right.
So that's it for them.
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I live in Los Altos, I shop in Los Altos, I do EVERYTHING in Los Altos.
I've been a loyal devotee of Jolie Madame for years, but this place looked cute from the outside so I gave them a call, thinking I might give them a try for a pedicure ...
...they were actually sort of rude on the phone so that I almost apologized for bothering them about trying to get an appointment. What's up with that????:
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Scheduled for a lip wax ($9) and pedicure ($25) and arrived 10 minutes late. I understand that may upset the schedules b/c the host urged me to pick at least 2 colors else my services would be shortened.
How is a service shortened I don't understand but anyhow I soon found out that my pedicurist, Lan, could not speak English which is fine but it doesn't help when I'm trying to instruct her on what to do. I asked that she not cut my nails on all toes since some nails were shorter than the rest. Nevertheless she is pleasant.
Lip wax was not great. The wax smelled toxic. The room was dodgy with a white piece of paper laid over a punctured and ripped plastic bed. Not very relaxing or inviting.
It was definitely crowded so make sure you get to your appointment on time. I won't be back.
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Pinkies is spotless, cute, well-organized, comfy and large enough to come with a friend or three and all get your nails done at once. Great magazine selection but of course if you're there with three friends, you won't need any magazines. When you sit down for a pedi, the receptionist will bring you a cup of tea or water, which is a small thing and costs them like pennies but somehow always makes me feel taken care of. They're well organized enough to keep track of your polish preferences. I'm more of a pedi girl myself, so I can't vouch for long-lastingness of the manis, but the pedis hang on for four weeks or so. And that makes it a bargain. Afterward, tuck your pretty toes into your flops (carefully :) ) and stroll the leafy streets. Lots of good lunch places nearby.
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I had a baby recently and was DYING for a pedicure to make at least one part of my body look pretty and perky. Pinkie's is within walking distance of my house and it looks so adorable, so I skipped my regular place in MV for a quick deluxe pedicure in downtown Los Altos. Pinkie's is so cute and manned by some very friendly receptionists. However, I was massively disappointed once my forgettable pedicure began. The pedicurist had filled up the basin with lukewarm water that kept distracting me (why isn't it warmer?) and had cold hands herself (first time ever experiencing this with a person who works with their hands!). And the towels that she left under my wet feet became cold themselves and were ultimately so uncomfortable on my feet that I asked her to change them. After it was over, she asked me to walk over to the drying station in my bare feet -- whatever happened to those little paper slippers? And, sadly, though my soles and heels are cleaned up and now presentable, my toes look like I painted them myself. I'm not hard to please when it comes to my nails, but I expect more from a $35 pedicure and won't be returning anytime soon. I did, however, buy some really cute earrings there while I was waiting to be called, so the retail is worth stopping in for if you're walking by.
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I have been trying to find a good nail salon in South Bay for quite some time so I checked this one out last weekend. The place is cute but what's with asking for payment up front? No other place does that and how can you be sure how much you want to tip without the service. The pedicure was below average and they don't get the callouses off. I was shocked to see the nail color chip off on my toes on the SAME day. For all its fancy presentation and sweet downtown location, one expects more than a seedy pedi service.
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I make the trek from Newark to Pinkie's in Los Altos because they are affordable, very clean, cute, professional, and give great mani/pedi's. This is what every nail salon should strive to be like. I'm not afraid I'm going to get some horrific fungus here, and it's somewhere I can afford to go. They use Essie nail products, which I find last long and are high-quality.
The plush massage chairs and the cute chabby-chic look of the place immediately draws you in. It's calming and relaxing, and the staff are attentive and know what they're doing. They also have cute jewelry and spa products for sale.
I did have an eyebrow wax here once, and I have to say, I wouldn't do it again. My only complaint about this whole place was getting an eyebrow wax from a woman who really really needed a breath mint. Badly. It was so unpleasant that I hesitate to do it again. Plus the eyebrow wax didn't look that great afterwards.
But overall, this is really the best place to go. I split my time between here and Lavande at Santana Row. The managers are awesome, and always donate to the school I work for.
If you have kids, they have a "Princess Manicure" that is sure to please... they even give little sparkly tiaras for them to wear. Definitely check this place out.
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I didn't feel like I got my money's worth for my deluxe pedicure. It was too short, and the massage was half-hearted, at best. We had to wait 15 minutes after our appointment time, and I don't like when places make you pay before you get your service. However, pluses:
* Very cute, cottage-like environment.
* SUPER-plush, super-comfortable massage chairs.
* Clean, plenty of magazines to keep you busy.
* Great selection of OPI and Essie nail colors.
* Great neighborhood to have a cup of coffee or pastry, and window-shopping opportunities!
Pinkies has the best pedis!
They offer 2 kinds - pinkies pedicure (the basic) and deluxe pedicure (the fancier one). I always get the deluxe becaus I love that you get an exfoliating salt scrub, plus a 10 minute massage.
The salon is SUPER clean - which is soooo important when you are sticking your feet in a tub that god knows how many other people have ever used. They even have a list in the salon and on their website outlining how they go above and beyond the required cleaning.
Kim N is a rockstar and does the most amazing polish job ever - absolutely perfect! Kathy is also really good with polish (I'm a polish nazi).
Definitely worth the $35 for a deluxe pedi!
However - the really young girls at the front desk are clueless!
Lets pay the workers more to get some good front desk staff in there - makes SUCH a difference.
I came here to get a pedi with a couple of friends. Cute place; efficent front desk person. Reasonably price $25 for a regular pedi (same price if you were to go to a Vietnamese place).
However, I miss this particular Vietnamese place in Milpitas called Nails 21. They use a scraper to remove all your calluses. It's great; but you just gotta watch that they clean it well.
****************
I came here for a second time and the downtown lost power so were dipping our feet in cold water. They shuttled hot water from Starbucks but I still wont come back. I just dont think a deluxe pedi is worth it (they charged me $35) with no electrical chair and no warm water. My esthetican did set a timer for the duration of my leg massage though. I dont think they cleaned my dead skin that well.
3.5 stars
The service and atmosphere here is good but not excellent compared to the better salons I've been to around the bay... They have an updated selection of magazines for girls to read during their treatments... However, I do wish that they have a small screen television in the room... since I'm unable to read anythg when Im getting a manicure and I just end up staring into space...
The two ladies that did my pedi/mani were pretty friendly.. however,one of them was talking about how big the bruise on my leg was thinking I didn't understand what she was talking abt... (actually i didn't... but i figured it out when they were yapping away and the other lady stole a short glance at my leg) So... just for fun.. when i was getting the massage on my lower leg.. i told her "don't bother abt tht bruise.. it doesnt hurt anymore"....That look on her face was pretty hilarious... she stared at the lady doing my mani and gave a frightened/shocked look... After that... it was silence all the way...
The prices here are a little lower compared to the higher end salons... this place is clean and hygienic and I really like the girl at the front desk.. she was really helpful and allowed me test trial a few colors before applying it to all my nails. One of the downside is that they don't carry a variety of colors... 80% of the selection on the shelves were pink-ish - red (maybe that's why it's called Pinkies Nail Salon)... So, if you're not a big fan of pink... maybe this isn't the place for you.
I did my nails before I went to Hawaii... and usually my mani doesn't last through a day..(since my nails chip off easy and I'm super clumsy) but surprisingly, all my nail colors including my pedi after the trip are still intact and looking good. So, that gives me a good enough reason to revisit this salon in the future.
Maybe this time I'll request for another technician...(Although they werent really talking s*** abt me... i still didn't like that I have to pay $40 to deal with nail technicians giggling away as they talk abt you in Vietnamese. )
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I am a big fan of pinkies. Living in San Jose, I NEVER went and got my nails done because the dingy, dirty, smelly asian places around here totally freak me out. I considered myself LOW maintenance for the longest time b/c I got my first EVER "service/paid" pedicure last year. Pinkies was the first!
The prices are excellent b/c you pay for the ambiance and cleanliness of your service.You get a regular non french pedi for $25! but wait there's MORE: 10 min leg massage with your choice of Lavendar or Citrus Pinkies lotion. They carry Opi and Essie Polish ONLY. Don't you love it?!!
After trying another similar nail bar nearby, my fave is still Pinkies. I even drove all the way there from SJ b/c the other place I went to was understaffed and "booked" for the rest of the afternoon. This was around early Feb and almost a month later after wearing boots from the cold, my pedi STILL looks clean. (no chips/shiney coat)
It was a great manicure, but I did find the staff to be a little rude, which was a shame.
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There are about half a dozen nail places in Los Altos downtown and Pinkies is probably the best of them. Both in price and in the atmosphere. We didn't actually try all of them, but from the prices, facilities and staff interactions, we came to the conclusion.
I had the sports mani/pedi for total of $37 and my wife had the deluxe mani/pedi for $48. This is pretty good price, compare to other high end places like La Belle where we like to splurge once in a while.
I specially like the fact that they use a brand new nail emery board and pumice block for every customer. Their chairs and the nice fluffy pillows are some of the best facilities we've seen.
This place is actually pretty affordable for a nice nail salon and it being in Los Altos. The salon itself is very shabby chic and cozy. I thought it was weird and annoying at first that we had to pay in advance, but I also understood why, so I got use to it. However, I recommend that the receptionist actually explain it, so we don't have to give her a perplex look and have to come up with that conclusion on our own.
I got both a manicure and pedicure done. The first time I did it, my nails were great. I didn't even need a gel fill at least 2 1/2 weeks in (that's especially good for me because I have a habit of picking at my nails). My friend also enjoyed the experience and she's been to quite a few nail salons herself.
However, the second-time around (it may be the nail technician), my mani/pedi were messed up the day I got it done! The color or gel must've not been completely dry, although I sat there for at least 20 mins. without anyone saying anything. Not only that but some of my nails broke 2/3 days in. =-(
I would give this place a try again. Hopefully I'll get a better nail technician. Now if only I remember the person who helped me the second time around, so I can request NOT to get her.
NO STARS! Man, I love trying new places to have pedicures, but this was by far the worst. The gal cut my foot (with a buffer! how she managed that is beyond me!) and then tried to cover it up - like I wouldn't notice my own foot was cut! When she finally looked up at me to see if I had noticed, she apologized, but really no effort was made to make up for the accident. I was SO pleasant and I guess I should have made it a bit more clear how painful it was? I would think they would have offered something...a discount? Something...
I also paid to have designs put on my big toes and they look horrid! I cannot wait to go get them redone this weekend. Seriously, they charge $4 per toe for 5 dots of white polish and some glitter? Yikes.
The worst part was they make you pay BEFORE you have the service so there was no way to compensate for all of the mistakes (also this was a birthday gift and I didn't want to make a scene and complain to management at the risk of embarrassing my friend who was treating me).
I have my hair done at the place across the street and when I said to her, "do you know the worst place I've been to for a pedicure?" She immediately responded "Pinkies across the street? Oh, everyone thinks they're awful." UH OH!
ONE good thing I have to say is the lady who did my eyebrows did a great job, but they use the wax that hardens on its own instead of pulling it off with gauze. That wax hurts much more - but still - the cosmotologist did do an excellent job - pain or not.
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I made an appointment for my daughter to get a Princess Manicure and toe polish change for her 6th birthday. The day finally came and we got there early so we'd have time to take care of the formalities before getting her on her way to her Princess makeover. The receptionist was very helpful and friendly, made my daughter comfortable in a pedi-chair and even gave her a crown to wear while we waited for the nail tech to come out.... A half hour past the time that my daughter was to get her treatment, we were still waiting for someone to come out and take care of us. The girl behind the front counter was extremely apologetic and promptly provided me a refund of my service (I had to pay in advance) and offered a free service for the next time, however I was floored that this happened. I have many friends in the Salon industry and Pinkies came highly recommended, so it was very disappointing to find out that this nail tech could not plan her clients and time accordingly for the day. The worse part about this was the disappointment on my daughters face when I had to explain to her why she wouldn't be getting her nails done on her birthday. I'm not sure I would try to go back there again after a horrible first impression. I realize they tried to make good with a free service, however how can they bring back my daughter's birthday surprise?
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Located in downtown Los Altos, Pinkies is a cute and classy little nail salon that offers a variety of nail treatments and hair removal. Unlike most salons, the service is more personal with receptionists(that actually speak English) who make your appointments that best accommodate your schedule and suite your needs. You have a choice of orange or lavender scented lotion for your manicure or pedicure. Both smell wonderful and are very therapeutic, which add to the luxury and relaxation of the treatment. Upon arrival, you are politely greeted, seated and offered a cup of water or green tea.
They definitely meet salon standards required by law and are very very clean! The interior is elegantly decorated with a warm and cheery color pallet of pink and yellow. You are provided with pillows for extra comfort. Beautiful jewelry and upscale skin care products are for sale and displayed throughout the shop. They also host private parties by reservation.
The prices are a lot more expensive than usual; a manicure costing $14 and a pedicure costing $23, not including tip. I've always had good results with nail treatments and especially with waxing procedures.
Acrylic nails: Anna does an awesome job.. they stay on ... they dont lift... I get a ton of compliments. But I moved jobs and Anna went on vacation for awhile so I haven't been back.
Pedicures: They are good. Nice chairs, nice people, relaxing environment.
Cashier: You pay first which is nice so you dont have to worry about it after you are done but I will say the prices are a little on the high side. Then again what can you say for a place in Los Altos.
Overall I give Pinkies a 4 stars. I had to try a LOT of places before finding somewhere clean, that did my nails fairly quickly and they didn't fall off after a week.
Too bad gas is so expensive and this place is so far from my house and work :(
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I've been here four times now, with friends and with my sister. I've been happy with the service each time bc all the employees are really nice. It's Italian owned but all the manicurists and pedicurists are Vietnamese, so if you are vietnamese like I am, you will get extra special treatment. They take reservations and are open 7 days a week, closed only on major holidays, so it's very easy to go to. The first time I went, i got a manicure, and my friend got a pedicure. They both lasted a few weeks which was great bc other times I have gone, it's chipped after a couple days. They have a really wide variety of colors to choose from and you get a arm or leg massage with your service. The second time my sister and i both got pedicures and had a little spa treatment for our feet. The regular manicure is only $16 and the pedicure is $25 so a pretty good deal. It's better than the expensive spa places I've been to and it's easy to get to from work or my house. (If you get a pedicure, request Hung bc he does an awesome job) I highly recommend it. They also do parties for big groups too! It's definitely one of my favorite places to go to, and i don't even like getting my nails done that often =)
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