i absolutely love this place and highly recommend!! everyone here is so kind and welcoming and it's very clean and very cute. i booked with jil after seeing all her positive reviews and could not agree more with everyone else. jil was so sweet and kind and did such an amazing job with my nails. i will absolutely be coming back and booking with her!! thank you jil :) read more

2EM Nail Place - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

My favorite place to go for a perfect set. Everyone here is super friendly - they have a great selection of colors and nail accessories. You can book easily online or just call read more

Another amazing set by Tiny! I've been going to her for years and she never fails to amaze me with her detailed designs. I love this salon and recommend it to all my friends. read more

2EM Nail Place - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

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I am super particular about my nails. I work a lot with my hands but I'm obsessed with a coffin shape nail haha A long nail bed, short as hell nails, and a coffin shape don't always go together and I've have a lot of salons in the past tell me I either need to pick a different shape or they have to make the nail much longer than I prefer I always go to see Helen and she's wonderful! Pays attention and always does my nails as close to the way I prefer and close to my vision as possible. I'm always happy to see her for a new set. I got a simple French tip today and they obviously look great, but she's done a lot of other great designs for me, cat eye, a tone toned neon French tip, nail art, etc. Most of my visits to 2EM have been awesome, I have gotten my nails done by a few different ladies here before and a lot of them are great read more

2EM Nail Place - Short coffin french tip (not gel x) - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

I've previously rated this salon 5 stars because I've been coming here almost every month for gel nails and have always had great experiences. Unfortunately, my most recent visit was really disappointing. I originally had an appointment for strengthen gel like I usually do, but this time I decided to just get my current gel removed so my nails could have a two-week break from constant polish. I had an appointment and was seated after about a 10-15 minute wait. It was clear the salon was understaffed that day, which I completely understand - that's not the issue. The problem was the lack of communication and the way my service was handled. The front desk woman (who I assume may be the owner) started removing my gel with a drill, then soaked my nails and left me sitting there for quite a while. When she came back, she would work on my nails for a short time, then leave again to manage the front desk, ask other nail techs repeatedly if they were done yet, and continue taking in walk-ins even though it seemed like there weren't enough staff to handle the current clients. This resulted in my appointment turning into a cycle of her starting to remove my nails, leaving midway, coming back briefly, and leaving again. I was repeatedly left sitting there with partially removed gel. I'm not writing this because they were understaffed (I understand things happen), but better communication would have gone a long way. I would have happily waited longer for someone to properly help me rather than having my service constantly interrupted every few minutes. She did try to be nice and offered to put a top coat on my nails, but halfway through she left again. At that point I just asked to pay and leave. I've never had an experience like this here before, which is disappointing because I've been a regular customer. I hope this was just an off day, but experiences like this are unfortunately how businesses lose loyal customers. Note: I've attached a photo of what my nails looked like after. I also asked if they could be cut to the shape of my nails and she cut them square. read more

2EM Nail Place - Strengthen gel manicure - natural pink - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

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Went in today to get my nails done as a last minute self care outing before my trip to vegas. My nail tech, Kay, was extremely detailed and thorough. Not only did she match my inspo picture exactly, she also did the entire thing in less than an hour and a half. While the pricing of the salon is seemingly on the pricier side, the experience you get here makes it completely worth it. The salon is extremely clean with a nice ambiance, and the staff are extremely kind. Especially since I booked a last minute appointment, they still were able to see me within the hour despite the little notice. I will 100% be returning to see Kay soon! read more

2EM Nail Place - my nails (without some charms and changed shape as i requested) - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

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Can we take a moment to appreciate how beautiful this design is? Helly absolutely nailed it--her work is amazing, and the attention to detail is incredible. I'm obsessed! read more

2EM Nail Place - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

First time getting my nails done in Irvine, and I know how hard it can be to find a place that actually does good mani-pedi work. I found this spot on Instagram and thought, why not give it a try--especially since I needed my birthday nails done. So glad I did! I was paired with two amazing nail techs. Jane absolutely killed it with my pedicure, and Cindy did such a great job on my manicure. Both were super sweet and really took their time. The place itself is really nice, clean, and very spacious. They do get busy, but the front desk handled everything so well and made sure everyone who walked in was checked in and taken care of. Check-in was easy, and paying was even easier--just Zelle and you're good to go. Super convenient. Overall, great experience! Thank you 2EM Nails for making my birthday nails perfect You'll definitely be seeing more of me soon! read more

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The gel pedicure service was pretty nice! I did have to wait a little for my turn even though I had an appointment and was on time, but that wasn't a big deal. The only issues are that not all nails were painted fully around the edges, and that less than a week after my appointment the gel polish on one of toes began chipping. Now a week after the service, a large chunk the polish is gone. read more

2EM Nail Place - showing the chipped gel polish after one week, and how the nails were not painted fully to the edge. - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

was so excited to finally try this place but my nail tech (think it was Kay) was rude and didn't make me feel like I could explain what type of nail shape that I wanted without being passive aggressive about it. I don't want to not explain what I want and then leave dissatisfied which I still did because of the service and a bunch of spots were missed - see pictures attached. Also the price for a french pedicure with gel polish and builder french mani with chrome is not worth $168. read more

2EM Nail Place - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

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Amazing amazing place! Will come back ALWAYS!! loved all the technicians! Thank you ladies for your time and careful attention to detail! read more

2EM Nail Place - Gel X with design! - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

I don't get my nails done that often because I usually have short nails for my job, but I have a special occasion upcoming and someone recommended 2EM Nails for Gel-X and builder gel. My nail tech, Kay, was so patient and explained the differences between the 2 styles. I ended up doing Gel-X because I wanted extra length and let me tell you, they were NOTHING like when I tried acrylic nails way back when. She fit and shaped them so perfectly and I couldn't even tell they weren't my natural nails. I was also impressed with how well the design came out. I prefer minimalist designs in general and Kay perfectly combined the multiple inspo pics I showed her. The salon is also v nice, no loud TVs playing random daytime talk shows and very clean. Would highly recommend. read more

2EM Nail Place - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

Got a classic pedicure and a clean up for my nails. They are so clean and super fast service. I especially love how clear the air was. Even with a classic pedicure they gave me a wonderful massage. They have super strong hands and it's so relaxing! My hands were dryer than a dessert and they were able to miraculously revitalize them. Totally recommend! read more

2EM Nail Place - Classic pedicure - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

Edit: This is in response to the salon's reply to my initial review. I did reach out about my experience, but I never received a response. I did not return to this salon to have my nails removed because of how poorly they removed my gel during my original appointment. I do not wish to come in and have the salon evaluate my nails because: (1) they are already damaged. It will take months for them to recover and even to stop hurting while at rest; and (2) I would like to avoid a situation where I feel pressured to minimize or justify my negative experience. The condition of my nails is not in dispute. It is the reason I left my original review in the first place. I have uploaded photos to show the condition of my nails now (this is after lathering my nails in jojoba oil multiple times a day for over a week). Original Review: I would give this place zero stars if I could. I went in with strong, healthy, natural nails for a builder gel application and removal. My technician over-filed and over-buffed every nail, leaving them with absolutely no structural integrity. Instead of applying builder gel, they painted on a single thin coat of what they called a "strengthening gel." Even with this so-called strengthening gel, my nails were bending and felt extremely sore. Prior to this appointment, my nails were healthy, strong, and pain-free. After the service, multiple nails became red, sore, and extremely sensitive. I had to have the product removed just two days later because of the pain and discomfort. Once it was removed, I finally saw the extent of the damage. My nail plates are lifting in multiple spots, and my nails remain constantly red and sore. The damage has made everyday tasks painful and difficult. I can no longer comfortably pinch, grip, or grab objects, including simple things like pulling up a zipper, opening a soda can, or using my hands normally. I am now left to deal with months of nail growth and recovery because of the excessive filing and buffing performed during what should have been a routine service. To make matters worse, my nails were not even shaped properly. The shaping was uneven from nail to nail, which was apparent immediately after the service. Between the poor shaping and the significant damage to my natural nails, the quality of work was far below professional standards. I am extremely disappointed with the quality of work and the condition in which my nails were left. I would not recommend this salon to anyone seeking healthy nail care. read more

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2EM is located on the second floor of a smaller Irvine plaza, but I love coming here as often as I can to get mani/pedis. I usually bounce around different salons, but the past two times I've come here and Jasmine has done an amazing job! She's thorough and clean with her designs, she makes sure she doesn't go too deep with cuticles or filing. Aesthetic & Ambiance: 9.5/10 aesthetic is modern with marble, greens, and all new equipment. Ambiance 8/10: very quiet, and laid back. Service: 9.5/10 friendly and prompt, open to talking while you get services. Can make reservations online. They use new tools with each client. Classic Mani: $29 - 8.5/10 a really good deal for a full service clean up & color (not gel). Takes a little extra time to dry so make sure you wait! 2EM Mani: $49 - 8/10 same as above but with a little extra treatment such as 10 minute massage, and additional hand care treatments. They use great products for the treatments, and take their time with each step. read more

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I came for my birthday nails and to get a classic pedicure. I have very small nail beds and Jil did amazing with my French tip pedicure!!! That is some SKILL! Kaylee did amazing with my gel nails. She took the time to do each detail on each nail to perfection. She worked with me on how to perfect my nail design. She has been doing nails for years and you can tell with how beautiful my set came out to be. Request Kaylee for amazing nail sets and Jil for the phenomenal precision on french tip pedicures! The vibe was welcoming and the salon was very clean. I will come back again! read more

2EM Nail Place - Nail set (by Kaylee) - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

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2EM is my new nail place! I love Lanie, she is an absolute tour de force of a nail artist. My second time seeing her and she took my inspo pic and just leveled the hell out of it. Little bit of trust and a lot of skill and these are my favorite nails I have EVER had! I wish the pics did them justice they are so vibrant and have a depth to them that is otherworldly. The staff there is so sweet and nice and so encouraging of their nail techs, it's nice to see coworkers being kind to each other, especially when the holidays have everyone stressed. read more

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Tiny is absolutely amazing! If you're looking for a nail technician who is talented, detail-oriented, and genuinely cares about her clients, book with her. Her French tips are always perfect-clean, straight, and beautifully shaped every time. One thing I really appreciate is that she never rushes through an appointment. She takes her time and pays attention to every detail to make sure your nails look flawless before you leave. On top of her incredible work, Tiny is so sweet and welcoming. She creates such a comfortable and enjoyable experience, and it's easy to see why so many people love coming to her. The retention is also the best I've experienced. Even after 4 weeks, I have no lifting, chipping, or peeling. My nails stay looking great for weeks, which speaks to the quality of her work and products. read more

2EM Nail Place - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

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Great nail salon in Irvine. The place is very clean and all the nail techs are super friendly and accommodating. It never smells in here and they always do a great job with manis and pedis. They seem to do great designs but I haven't done that unfortunately. The gel choices are endless though! read more

So I've been coming more consistently here recently, approx once a month. It's clean, chill vibes, and well ventilated. I don't have one specific technician I request because they are all good. I came here today, I've moved away from gel recently for personal reasons but let's just say medically. Today's technician keep bringing up gel. 1. I made an appt for a signature reg pedicure. 2. Regular manicure. I love gel but because I can't do it I will take next best thing. I always do a regular pedi. Today, 1. Your nails stain because regular pedicure, consider gel. I said no it's okay thank you. Once again, have you ever tried gel? I mean do I live under a rock? 2. I asked for a French mani w a pink base. She painted the white strip then proceeded to find some sort of something of pink. Now anyone knows if I say pink base, you use a light pink base color first then paint the white strip. I have to say, disappointed today. In regards to toes, I asked for the to be cut short. She left them sharp edges had to ask her to file them down again. Im bothered that writing this review while still here. Stop trying to push the gel!!!!!!!! And don't take people for a fool when they ask for certain things not my first time getting nails done. read more

2EM Nail Place - Does it look like pink base? - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

I've been going to a nail salon in Costa Mesa for a few years, and it was fine and wonderful, but now that I have a baby, I needed to cut some time when getting my nails done. I was recommended by my friend to try 2EM, which is about two miles from where I live, so I was hopeful. I FOUND MY NEW NAIL HOME. I booked my appointments on their website and it was so easy. The location is upstairs and there are stairs and an elevator, if needed. It is in the same plaza as Irvine Market! Lanie did my nails and Theresa did my toes, and I rested the entire time. I put my full trust in them and they DELIVERED. They were both quick without rushing me, and their attention to detail and what I wanted, was excellent. I already made my next builder gel fill appointment! read more

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Had an amazing experience with Kelly! I got a gel manicure and she took the time to go through the colors that matched what I was looking for. We ended up choosing a combination of colors with a clear subtle glittery top coat. Would definitely come here again! read more

I've gotten manicures and pedicures done here twice now and both were great experiences! The first time I called, I asked for techs who did detailed nail art and was put with Myra, and I HAD to work with her again the 2nd time. I showed her Japanese-style nail set references and she took so much care in matching the colors and gemstone placements. Especially the linework, her lines are so neat and clean (i.e. the flowers)! Myra was super sweet and thoughtful too, I enjoyed chatting with her. I've been complimented by several people already and asked where I got them did! I also included my sibling's sets, the pink by Ann and green by Stella, and my cateye pedicure by Julia. If you follow Japanese / Korean nail artists and would like similar sets, give this place a try! Just a heads up that you may have to adjust your nail designs if specific charms or accessories are more niche! * Edit: Forgot to mention, Myra's (green cateye) and Megan's (black cateye) pedicures were beautifully done too, both for my sister. Myra's is still her favorite! In terms of stability, there weren't any issues with our nails the previous times, with them lasting for weeks / close to a month before we went in to switch them out since our nails beds were showing a bit by then. I'll see how our newest sets last! read more

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I had such a great experience here! The salon is very clean and beautiful. The technicians are skilled, friendly, and made me feel so comfortable. I especially love that they use no-jet liners and single-use liners for each customer, which made me feel very safe and impressed by their cleanliness. Highly recommend! read more

2EM Nail Place - No jet liner - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

I used to go to Myu Beauty to get my nails done by Lin which I LOVED so much but she is taking a break from nails so I decided to try 2EM and my first impression is that wow is this place huge! There is a ton of seating in there and I would say the staff is generally nice although they speak in Vietnamese to each other and not really to me. They were able to accommodate all the changes to my appointment time which I appreciated so much and the girls working there were so nice. There is a cash discount so bring cash if you can! I have to admit that the work is not as quality as where I was going before. One of the lemon decorations on my nail started to... crack, I guess, two days after I got my nails done but I couldn't do anything about it because I was supposed to get on a plane that same day. It's definitely cheaper than where I used to go to but you get the quality that you pay for. read more

2EM Nail Place - Crack... in my design two days after I got them done and it finally ripped off and I just have a crater haha - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

I went to this salon due to all the tik tok recommendations. Unfortunately I didn't have the best time. Not returning. My manicurist made my naturally long nails different shapes and sizes and shortened them so much. I have nails going different directions:( She also made my gel polish so thick and lumpy. So sad. I had high hopes for this place due to all of the positive reviews. read more

Very easy to book online. I tried gel-x for the first time and had a great experience with Lynn! read more

2EM Nail Place - Gel x nail art - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

This is my 2nd time coming to this salon, and had positive experiences until my pedicure yesterday. I noticed my nail tech was quite rough with my pedicure while shaping/cleaning the nail but I didn't think much of it. This morning I woke up with the sidewall of my big toe swollen, most likely due to broken skin from the pedicure. This is very unfortunate, as the reason why I had gotten a pedicure is for an event that I need to attend tomorrow. Now it is painful to walk, and will need to monitor if the condition worsens and requires a doctor visit. What should have been a relaxing experience has turned into an inconvenience for me and feels like a waste of $65 (not including tip). read more

My second year with Emily, and she truly never disappoints. She is amazing with designs and always so gentle. My fingertips never burn under the UV light like they have with other nail techs--never once with Emily. She's consistent, talented, and genuinely cares about her work. read more

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I've been going to this nail salon for years now - I love it! Specifically, I love my nail tech, Tini. I always feel welcome and every nail design looks amazing. I get pretty crazy designs, and Tini always makes every one look great! read more

2EM Nail Place - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

I went in on Sunday for a builder gel manicure. It's only been 3 days and the nails are fully chipped. They do a good job on the designs, but for the price I'm paying, I would expect the nails to last longer than 3 days. read more

2EM Nail Place - Chipped nails and it's only been 3 days - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

kind of disappointed...my builder gel lasted got a month. i started noticing one nail looked a lot darker under the polish. i thought maybe the application or streaks were just thinner. recently decided to just peel back the polish to find my nail green. not sure if my other nails have this issue too. don't even know when it was lifted and water/moisture trapped read more

2EM Nail Place - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

Stella is always the best! I come to her every month and she never disappoints. Ready for the summer read more

2EM Nail Place - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

absolutely love coming to 2EM Nails Salon! I've done everything here -- Gel X, builder gel, dip powder -- and I'm always so happy with the results. No matter what I get, they consistently deliver beautiful, high-quality work and really take their time to make sure everything looks perfect. Everyone there is so welcoming, friendly, and genuinely cares about their clients. The salon is clean, relaxing, and has such a great atmosphere. They are also amazing with designs -- they always bring my ideas to life and exceed my expectations. I always leave feeling confident and taken care of. Highly recommend 2EM to anyone looking for top-tier nails and an overall great experience! read more

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I really love this nail salon for several reasons and one of them being so close to where I live, only 10 minutes away. Making an appearance is so easy, I did it online. Many available spots and it is very straightforward. The salon is clean and I love the vibes. If you live in the area, I highly recommend checking this place out read more

2EM Nail Place - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

I've been to many many different nail salons, in different city's, states, countries. I always call ahead to let them know I'm coming, what services I need, and get a quote. I've had $35 mani's $65 mani's , even $120+ mani's. But never ever ever have I been quoted a rate and walked out with a higher rate. I got quoted a $43 gel mani. Got a gel mani. Nothing special, no design. Walked out and got charged $53. Didn't ask. Didn't have time. Because any upcharge should be discussed for professionalism and transparency. read more

Amazing service! They are super patient and I'm always happy with my designs. Will definitely come back. read more

2EM Nail Place - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California

Came in with my mom for a walk in and vivian helped me! My design was a cute pink ombre with chrome. I was so excited they have an airbrush machine to get the perfect blended ombre! I love how my nails turned out, and will be back. read more

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I only have positive things to say about 2EM. I don't request a specific technician because all of them do an amazing job. I have long natural nails and regularly have a photo reference for intricate designs and they always nail it. They are super gentle with my nails and take extra care not to bend or break them. The salon is always extremely clean and organized. They are always incredibly fast yet the quality of their works is always stellar. 10/10 would recommend. read more

I'm absolutely in love with this set done by TINY .The shape is clean, the finish is flawless, and you can tell so much care went into every little detail. Highly recommend read more

2EM Nail Place - By TINY - Nail Salons Near Me - Irvine, California