please educate me re: pedicures

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

Hi all. I was hoping some people could give me suggestions on a place to go for a pedicure? I've never had one, so have no idea what price range to expect, or how to tell if a place is good or not. I figure word of mouth is the best advertising there is. So, any suggestions? Doesn't have to be in Davis Square, per se, but if it is, that's great. Also, if anyone can tell me what was good/bad about the place they went, that would be helpful.

Thanks so much!

Comments

[leighjen.livejournal.com]

I really like The Square Nail (http://www.squarenailstudio.com/index.html). It is a small little shop right across from the the Holland Street entrance to the T. It is cozy and the people are very friendly. My nails (and toes) always look great and they make their own lotions and scrubs so I always smell yummy when I leave.

[nomirena.livejournal.com]

I got a spa pedicure at Breathe Spa last week in Davis. it was $35 and lasted an hour and was very enjoyable. That may be more than what you're looking for at the moment, though. Otherwise, I had a good one in Arlington center at A Skin Care Salon. Less elaborate and less expensive.

[dani-namaste.livejournal.com]

$35 is cheap - I'll have to check that out!

pedicure info

[lizzyclean.livejournal.com]

While I agree that the people at the Square Nail are very nice and it's cozy, it's also pretty expensive. A pedicure there is around $15 or so more than other places. I remember being shocked at the price. They use higher end lotions that smell and feel amazing, but the last time I went there they did my foot bath in a metal bucket, which I found off-putting. I personally found it to not be worth that extra price over all, but that is up to each person obviously.

At other places, you'll be looking at about $25 for a pedicure and then be prepared to give a tip.
I am not really too choosy about where I get a pedicure in Davis - I just want them to have the comfy massage chair and bubbly foot bath! But I just wanted to alert you to the big price difference between Square Nail and the other places in Davis Square. Sorry none of the names are coming to me at the moment.
Hope you enjoy your first pedicure!

Re: pedicure info

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

How much do you tip for a pedicure?

Re: pedicure info

[lizzyclean.livejournal.com]

Usually 20%. $5 or so.

Re: pedicure info

[cthulhia]

square nail does not have the massage chair or the bubbly foot bath.

and, for all its claims of being eco-friendly, they haven't found a better nailpolish than OPI.

it does smell nicer than places that do acrylic fingernails tho.

[lac.livejournal.com]

The Square Nail is pricey but maybe I'll try it for a special treat. I generally go at lunch near work and I go to either BeBe's Nail Salon or Lauren's on Newbury St. Both about $27 without tip. I think quality wise, Lauren's has an edge on BeBe's.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

I love love love Julie's Nails, right on Elm. A pedicure there is $20 plus tip (they take credit cards but the tip needs to be in cash) and they have the massage chairs and the whirlpool footbaths.

Henry the owner is a sweetheart and I always feel so welcome there.

I tried to go to the Square Nail once. It was 3pm and they said they were closing at 4 and were no longer taking customers. Evidently, they can only take one client at a time, and only one per hour. I'll never even look in their direction again.

[eeyorecol.livejournal.com]

I second Julie's Nails. They are inexpensive and do a good job. In fact, the pedicure that I currently have from them is two weeks old and still looks really good...

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

I third Julie's. They are efficient, cheap, and do a very good job. My pedi is still on form June 16. And, they just bought new massage chairs (that you sit in while getting the pedi) that are worth the price in and of themselves. I highly recommend Julie's!!

Square Nail

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

Well, it depends on how many people they have working there -- theoretically they can do up to 2 pedicures and 2 manicures at a time, though usually they only have 2-3 people there so that wouldn't be possible. A pedi takes 45 minutes, a mani pedi a little more than an hour when you include drying time. And yes, during peak times you generally need an appointment, more often than not. Some days (I forget which) they're only open until 4, but most days it's more like 7 or 8.

If you don't want to go there because it's too expensive or because you want walk-in convenience, that's perfectly fair. Other places are faster and cheaper, absolutely. But that "I'll never even look their direction again" sounds like an awfully harsh dismissal of a place full of really nice and dedicated people.

What they are is a small, independent place with a small number of very skilled employees, they give highly personalized service, nothing automated, they remember who you are and what you like and are unfailingly kind and friendly and welcoming, and they use all-natural, high-quality salon products. If that's not for you, fine, but you make it sound like they're mean and/or have ridiculous hours, which is simply not true. Considering how few employees they have, they actually are remarkably flexible -- and if you make an appointment, they'll often stay later than normal closing time for you.

So if that's not the kind of service you want, don't go there, but there's no need to suggest there's something wrong with them for not being exactly like every other place out there. I've had to stop going there since I lost my job because I can't afford it any more -- but I still like them as people and as a salon. (They even once gave me a discount right after I lost my job, just because they knew me and felt sorry for me. I didn't go back, though, because I didn't want to push it. But that's the kind of people they are.)

Re: Square Nail

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

And just in case it's not clear, I like Julie's too -- they've always been polite to me there and they do a good job. That's where I go now (when I go at all! woe to me and my financial state!), but if I could afford it, I'd go back to Square Nail at least some of the time.

Square Nail is actually also a decent deal for a french manicure if that's what you want, because their mani is $20 whether regular or french. Most cheaper salon places charge $12-$15 for a regular mani but $16-$18 for a french. So if that's what you want, Square Nail isn't actually much more expensive, and you get all the other benefits of their cozy atmosphere, nice people, and natural products. If you want to check them out, that's what I'd suggest doing (rather than starting with a $40 pedi).

[lidiya6.livejournal.com]

how much is a mani pedi at square nail? I would like to try them.

male toes

[ronpoop.livejournal.com]

Should men get pedicures?

Re: male toes

[rawrin.livejournal.com]

If they want one, I don't see why they shouldn't.

[kelmit.livejournal.com]

My question would be-- what nail salons actually autoclave their mani/pedi utensils? Do any of the recommended ones do so?

[sissychrissy1.livejournal.com]

VIP nails just opened recently in Porter (on mass ave pretty much right next door to the Dunkin Donuts) and they were pretty much the bomb when I went in. 10 for a manicure, 22 for a pedicure, or 30 for the whole lot, and it was a sweet treatment and a good job.

Don't go to the place at the corner of Mass Ave and walden. the woman there cut my toe. more than once. OUCH.

[thedoubleduches.livejournal.com]

I also like the Square Nail. I only go a couple of times a year because I can't justify the expenditure, but they are really nice and do a great job (I've had manis and pedis there). I actually prefer the more homey atmosphere with the metal bucket. :) The big footbaths and chairs kind of weird me out.

I usually either make an appointment or go early in the day -- I have never been able to find their hours posted, and think that because they are a small operation, the hours might change more frequently around their schedules.

Also, only vaguely related, I seem to recall that they once had a much larger space (in the same store area). The first couple of times I went, they took me into a big back room with two pedi chairs, one or two mani stations, and then another mani station in a loft. Does anyone know what happened that they are so much smaller now? I wanted to ask last time I went, but I didn't want to make them feel bad or worried if they had been forced to give up some of the space for financial reasons.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

I'm late to this party, but if you don't mind heading over to Huron Village, Wet Paint Nail Spa (http://www.wetpaintnailspa.com/) is truly awesome.