- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
West Portal Nail & Skin Care
Rating Details »
Categories: Nail Salons, Skin Care [Edit]
Neighborhood: West Portal819 Ulloa Street
(between Claremont Blvd & West Portal Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94127
(415) 681-5101
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- No
Sponsored Result
Special Offer Nearby
White Daisy Nail Spa
- Category:
- Nail Salons
- Neighborhood:
- West Portal
A free gift for yelp customers with purchase of mani & pedi. Please mention this offer when you come. Limited time only while supplies last
21 reviews for West Portal Nail & Skin Care
i was in dire need of a pedi, so on the way home after dropping off the bf at the w.portal muni station, i stopped by west portal nails b/c it was so close!
the laides are super nice offering you water/tea when u come in
she did a great job of pampering my feet..i got a french pedi, and it was a lil' pricey $25 compared to other places where i've gotten it done...it looked good, but when i got home to put back on a pair of flip flops, part of the white part came off on my big toe!!! i kno it might've been my fault, but it should not have come off that easily! i think my nails could've used another top coat....i think i'm going to stick to my usual place
Weeks ago, around the beginning of this month, i felt like pampering myself one morning and stopped in here for a quick pedi. The place is tiny, like really tiny, but they seated me right away and were totally friendly right off the bat, offering me tea and water.
I wanted to like it here, i really did, but the woman doing my pedi nicked my toe. It felt like a quick pinch and when i looked down i was bleeding. And i kept on bleeding. I noticed her constantly pouring antibacterial stuff on it to stop the bleeding, and it didnt help. I let her finish my pedi, but my relaxing pampering went down to "get me the f*** outta here". My polish came out nice but walking out i could feel my toe starting to hurt. She was friendly but she didnt apologize or make acknowledgment about the fact she cut me. Even a week after, my toe was still hurting. Not cool.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
So, I am about to reveal a huge secret.
Contrary to popular belief, I don't have hands.
I have paws. Seriously.
So it was a pleasant surprise when I walked into WP Nail Care and picked out my nail polish of the year - OPI's Linkin Park after Dark [I know it's out, but it'll always be in to me], sat down and my nail lady smiled at me. She didn't scream or yelp [not review, but like the dog-yapping kind of yelp] at the sight of my atrocious paws. Instead, she really took care of them! The manicurists do such a wonderful job here - the detail, precision and work that they put in to making my paws look beautiful -- it's amazing.
My manicure lasted for a long time. This place is affordable and it's a nice, clean and quiet atmosphere here. It is very relaxing - just like how a nail salon should be.
I can actually look at my paws now without cringing. When I talk to people, I gesture with my paws profusely -- just so they notice my beautiful nails.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (4)
- Cool (3)
This place has bummed me out as of late. Not only with the cash only for tips thing, but also because today I went in for a pedi and was rudely turned away due to "at least an hour wait." It was clear they didn't WANT me to wait....so, I didn't. This place is cheaper than others on West Portal, but cheap doesn't always mean best.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
11/27/2007
What a bargain! Prompt, professional service at rock bottom prices. I treated an out-of-town… Read more »
Call me vain call me shallow but when I get my nails done I like a little bit of pampering. I don't like to feel like I am on an assembly line.
I went here the other day because West Portal Spa was closed and I was desperate for a pedicure. The space itself is long and narrow and feels a little cramped. The chairs looked old. I had two different ladies do my nails. They passed me off once one got busy. So rude. Now I admit I am pretty fair skin and couldn't tan if I tried, and yes this genetic lack of melanin also makes me more apt to bruise. But a good massage shouldn't leave me covered in bruises. The second lady massaged my legs so hard (even after I said "ow") that I have bruises! Not exactly the relaxing experience I was hoping for.
My daughter and I were making a day of it - lunch, shopping and nails. In the 2 1/2 years we've lived in the Bay Area we've not done that much since she's now a college student and has her own life. West Portal is a nice and compact area where lots of unique things are all nearby.
We called around to a few of the nail shops in West Portal since it can be an upscale area which can mean prices can be a surprise sometimes. This one we didn't call but I relied on my fellow Yelpers to tell me what I needed to know about price and they didn't disappoint me.
My daughter got a full set of acrylic nails and I got a acrylic fill with a gel overlay. The full set was $30 and my gel fill was $22. As other reviewers have said you'll need to bring cash to tip (even though the credit card machine they use does have a place to write in a tip, I got the impression they don't let you use it). I wonder if they would forgo a tip if you had to either write it in on the credit card or not leave a tip at all.
Communication was somewhat difficult. My daughter had an issue with her nails and found it difficult to explain it in a way that would be understood. The issue was eventually resolved then though it could have been avoided in the first place. The spa chairs looked lovely and I would enjoy trying that next time.
The shop is small and particularly narrow. It would not be a good place for a wheel chaired individual and the floor is on a couple of levels with the restroom being a step down and in a small space. If accessibility is something you need you may want to keep looking. The space was so narrow that my purse bumped someones freshly painted nails as I walked by. That was kind of awkward... sorry to whomever that was.
If you're having lunch at Squat and Gobble and need a little primping this would be a great place to try.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
Great =) Friendlier service than West Portal Spa. I was a walk-in and there was only one manucurist at the time, so I had to wait about half an hour, but it wasn't too bad because I just walked around and came back.
I got a gel-fill for $25 + $5 for each nail fix. Sterilized tools. The manucurist didn't try to sell me anything else or tell me to get redo my full set. She asked me if everything was okay and examined my nails before drying and after drying.
Just got back from getting a full set of nails for $25. Great prices, friendly service and comfortable atmsosphere. I will be back!
I was eating at the Submarine Sandwich shop and saw this place across the street. It was a cute little nail salon. The place did not have the usual overbearing nail polish remover scent at all which was a major plus! The only thing was the person working on my pedicure cut a little too deep in my cuticles so they were very sore that night into the next day. Other than that I really enjoyed coming here.
If you are paying by credit card make sure you bring your tip in cash.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
Need some quality relaxing time for yourself? Get a spa mani/pedi here. The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming (unlike many nail places that want to impress you how clean they are by having all the charm of a dentist's waiting room), the massage chairs are comfortable (a redundant observation? Not when one is six feet tall), and the workers are skilled and solicitous.
I relaxed so much yesterday that I dozed off in the chair a couple of times. Heck, I barely laughed when she was pumicing my feet (the joy of being ticklish). My nails, needless to say, were excellently turned out.
One interesting policy to note: you can pay with credit card but all tips are cash only, so be sure to have some green with you. You'll want to give them a tip!
Received a gift certificate here. The small salon was packed with people, but they fit me in right away since I had an appointment. The were quick and very polite, offering me a beverage as I sat there. The only dislike was that the polish began to peel within 2 days. It wasn't like I was wearing tennis shoes and working with my hands a lot -- I'd have them put another coat and top seal the nails next time I go.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
I went here just yesterday after looking at reviews from my fellow yelpers. I just got my usual spa pedi and my toes are pretty and cute! The lady cleaned them up real nice (and that's saying something considering its been a couple months since my last one) and painted them perfectly. She didn't just slop on the nail polish like many places I've been to (just to get you out of there as quickly as possible). The manager even came over and asked me if I wanted some hot tea! All of the women in there are really friendly and sweet and who can beat a spa pedi for only $19?! I'll be back again for sure!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
the freakin nerve of some people. just because I prance around like a prima donna, just because I put a premium on looks and appearance and labels, just because my hair and nails and clothes are always just so, these presumptuous dungheaps think that I, of all people, am SHALLOW. is it a crime to care more about my toenail polish than a starving child in Somalia ? is it a sin to plan my schedule around a salon appointment instead of making time to volunteer in a soup kitchen ? to some, this is the season of giving and sharing. to me, this is a life of taking and receiving.
I do not stress over million-dollar accounts sitting on my desk. I don't give a hang that we've been in the red since June. what I'm stressing over is what damn polish to choose for my pedicure later. classic crimson or deep merlot or flirty pink ? flamin' fuchsia or lusty lavender or neon orange ? no prob bob. West Portal Nail has got them all covered and then some. they have a myriad of colors, clean and sanitized spa chairs, and the techs are efficient. the foot massage could have been longer but what the hey, 4 stars for a good job and pleasant service for $15. afterwards I sashayed across the street to the Philly's to cap off my out-of-touch diva day. yo, some feel the need to give back and feel all warm inside from being generous . . . honeys, that has never been me. self-gratification w/out the use of artificial substances or sex toys. look it up.
ps -- they are under new management but haven't been back yet. who's to say.
pss -- that chick getting a manicure who talked the tech's ear off about her g'damn prom back in 1992 almost made me hurl a pumice stone at her. stfu please, I'm trying to relax.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (8)
- Cool (3)
Now, admittedly I'm not a mani/pedi conniseur (I've only had 3 in my life) but this was a very enjoyable experience. Very reasonable prices, nice ladies, massage chairs, hot towels and the best part is they don't hurry you out of the chair. I could totally get used to this...
I love this place. The ladies that run it are former employees of West Portal Spa (down the street) where you get the exact same service for double the price. WP Nail charges $25 for mani/pedi which included the part where they glob on the warm lotion.. It is clean and economical. Very good deal. Credit cards accepted but they want the tip in cash.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
I have been in SF for 3 years and I bounced around at various spots, but never finding consistent quality work, clean friendly environment at a reasonable price. I discovered this place out of sheer luck and I have found all of these qualities at the tiny little shop right of the train station. I think what sets them apart is really the attention to detail..... they offer you tea and immediately greet you, but they do have a large selection of current magazines they have a great deal on a mani /pedi but if you upgrade to spa and french tip it starts to add up to average pricing but again you are getting very friendly service and all of them listen to your instructions. So don't be afraid to ask for a top coat or point out a detail where the polish isn't perfect, but I've never experienced anything but methodical quality workmanship, they take great care in clipping cuticles correctly and the hot towels and warm lotion massages are thoughtful and not obligatory squeeze passing as a massage which I've experienced so often at other places around town. With the pedi they wrap your toes in plastic wrap a very nice touch I have also never been rushed out the chair. But really I am cheering the quality and expertise of their eyebrow waxing which for 11 dollars is the best I have ever had. She takes great care with the wax, tweezing, clipping and uses a frozen ball to ease the sting a wondrous experience. Bring a little cash to tip because they can't accept tips off of the cc. So after 3 years I am thrilled to find that quality and unpretentious, inexpensive can all be found at the same place.
Eh, talk about not putting time and consideration into you!! I left my stuff there, and walked down the street because I had to go and get cash from the ATM. When I came back, BOTH ladies were working on someone else, and asked me to wait 15 minutes, when they knew I needed to get done first. I left, and never came back.
For only $25 you can get a mani/pedi in a spa chair with the warm lotion hand/foot massage. That's the cheapest I've found so far in this city. My nails weren't shaped perfectly which is why I only gave it 4 stars.
It was a rainy day some two years ago that i first walked through the doors of west portal nail and skin care. The manicure was decent, the pedicure was alright, then i thought my eyebrows are out of control why not get a wax. She took me into the back room and laid me out me out on the table and proceeded to wax my eyebrows and lip all while talking loudly and possibly angrily on the telephone in another language which totally freaked me out. The whole time I'm thinking who is this women? Why am i trusting her with my eye brows?god i hope i still have eyebrows left... but then she handed me the mirror and grunted for my approval and there they were the most beautifully sculpted eyebrows you had ever seen.
Since then the salon has been completely remodeled and is now owned by the women who waxed my brows on the telephone. Their customer service has greatly improved, they have great spa chairs with massage. Every time i go in it gets better, and the price stays the same, $25 for a spa manicure and pedicure in the magical chair. They bring you tea, and magazines, they wrap your hands and feet in warm towels and they give the best hand and foot massages that i have ever had, i always leave relaxed and feeling beautifully pampered. If you're getting wax ask for Nancy, she is the owner now so she doesn't wax on the phone anymore. They accept credit cards but they ask that you leave a cash tip, so be prepared for that. They are open from 9am-7pm daily and they are right across the street from the west portal muni tunnel, how much more convenient could you get? Five stars, cause they keep me beautiful, and don't make me broke.
$20 less than West Portal Spa for the exact same spa mani/pedi with massage chairs and warm lotion (only $25!). The women are very nice, it's always less crowded and they keep all the equipment clean. It's not as nice inside as West Portal Spa, but for the price difference who cares!
I've been here several times and each time I've been disappointed. Each time I went, I had the spa mani/pedi as well as different technicians. A couple of times I had them do french for both my hands and feet and other times I had a solid color. One of the major issues I have with this place is that they don't cover your whole nail with nail polish. The sides of your nails, hands and feet, are always missing some nail polish. Also, the second coat they put on is even worse. It doesn't even cover the first coat let a lone the sides. Also, the last time I went, the nail tech actually painted my nails with a big gap between where my cuticles end and my nail begins. My nails looked grown out already and I hadn't even stepped foot outside. They truly do a half-assed job at this place. They don't even clean your nails well either. Yes, if you do the mani/pedi deal it's pretty cheap although if you want french they charge $4 for your hands and $4 more for your feet. It's honestly not worth going to this place even if it is cheap. You can honestly do a better job yourself than these people.
