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    AO Nails - Poway

    4.3 (84 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 8:30 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Services - AO Nails - Poway

    Manicure

    Manicure and pedicure

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    Reviews With Photos - AO Nails - Poway

    nail design

    I asked for Cherry nail designs for Las Vegas weekend trip and they delivered! OBSESSED ‍

    Aurianna B.

    Called ahead to see if they had any availability for a regular pedi and gel mani. I was able to get in and be seen within 25 minutes. I was looking to try gel x but after talking with Tiffany she recommend hard gel to keep my regular nail and build from there. It was perfect because I didn't need the additional length. I typically do square but a nail had broken and she asked if it would be okay to reshape. I'm so happy that we did that. This shape feels more natural than the square. I also saw the artwork she had up at her station and asked if she could do a Valentine's design. I think she did a great job and I would be happy to come in again! I had another shop I was loyal to but the quality had been declining and I decided to try out AO Nails. I'm so happy that I decided to give this shop a try. I've found my new go to nail spot. This place is clean, bright and airy and the decor is too cute. Definitely check them out for quality nail care.

    Nails by Joy

    Everyone was friendly and professional. Joy did my gel x mani with a design and it was better than the picture I looked at for inspo. They offered me cold water and a massage. Best summer pampering day. 'll be back :)

    Nani N.

    I called the place with no appointment and they were able to squeeze me in 30 minutes later. I needed a removal and new set, which they kindly said they could do for me. I'm not sure the name of the person who did my nails but it was a guy and he was super informative and friendly when I had questions for him. These are my real nails and I normally get gel x overlay on top of my real nails, but he advised hard gel and it was the best decision! I love the way my nails came out and how strong they feel now, since I have pretty weak nails. The inside was super clean and I honestly lovee how sterile they clean their equipment. They had all the correct machines to ensure no cross contamination was made when doing clients' nails. I guess the only downside is that they don't have a lot of color choices for gel x. But other than that, everything else was amazing! They also offered so many different services, which I would love to come back and do. At the end, my nails came tech offered me a massage and hand massage which was super nice of them. Definitely will come back again for my nails and other services I need!

    Got them done Friday and this is how they looked by Tuesday

    very disappointed with my first time experience. I went in on a friday night Around 6:50 for a Classic Pedicure. Not sure if they were in a hurry but I was literally done and out by 7:15. She was about to put the nail polish on my toes already until i told her she hasn't clean under my nails so she did also she didn't do Cuticle Care at all. I usually never get gel anywhere I go but they last me a few weeks. This time by monday one of my toes nail polish chipped off and by wed 3 more chipped off smh. Never going back! If i could give 0 stars i would.

    Laura C.

    Salon was nice and clean with plenty of parking, but I would not drive out of my way from 4S ranch for this ok mani. nothing special. Regular gel mani is $40, but if you want ombre nails you have to pay $50 extra for that ombre design!! say what??? That's craziness. Upside is that it is next to Home Goods If you are willing pay upwards of $150 for a mani, you can get really pretty designs! I was not impressed, so my search for another go to nail salon continues...

    Alyssa C.

    Our experience at AO nail salon was unbelievable! The hospitality and kindness shown to us by the staff was out of this world. The owner was so kind and introduced herself as well as joined in celebrating our girls night! They offered sparkling wine, coconut water and a variety of other options. They had plenty of colors to choose from and different package options. The pedicures were high quality! They ended the service with a brief shoulder massage, which was such a nice touch. My friends and I are so grateful of the care provided and want to highlight what an exceptional salon this is! We will be coming back in the future, thank you!!

    Thank you Aria for the wonderful work you do on my nails each time! Such a great spot to go get your nails done!

    Great place to go, I highly recommend Aria for manicured! She does a great job each time!

    Nails

    I absolutely love my nails! Aria did an amazing job at making sure they looked perfect and was very precise. I highly recommend this place they are great every time!

    Matcha latte nails
    Jessica Y.

    I made an appointment online for a fill but decided to also get some nail design done as well. The woman at the front desk was super nice and flexible. The place was very clean and serene. The devices used for the gel manicure use special technology to only target your nails instead of your whole hand. Tiffany was amazing. I showed her an inspo pic of matcha latte nails and because the pic was a little grainy, she freestyle painted each white line of marbling. 10/10 worth the price!

    Gel manicure
    Sarah B.

    Highly recommended! Clean manicure and relaxing pedicure. Shout out to Linc and Aria! I'll definitely come back.

    Vida K.

    Updating my review, owner reached out and made things right. The experience was night and day from my last experience. Helen was my nail tech and did a wonderful job with a gel Mani. Everything was very clean and staff was very friendly (offered water and was very friendly). Great friendly service and staff.

    Called about 20 minutes before I walked in and they accommodated me with my request for a mani pedi with nail art on my hands. Joy did my pedicure and was very sweet and friendly. Aria took a complicated reference picture and recreated it so well! I'm beyond happy and the place is very bright, clean, and large. Will be coming back whenever i get my nails done again!

    Black lace nail design

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    27 days ago

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    7 months ago

    Great service. My mani/pedi was very relaxing! My mom fell asleep during her service. I will definitely return.

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    Thank you again for choosing us — we can’t wait to see you both again!

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    7 months ago

    Clean, relaxing, affordable. Very happy with my pedicure. I need to make this a regular thing for myself :)

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    Page 1 of 3

    AO Nails - Poway Reviews in Other Languages

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    Review Highlights - AO Nails - Poway

    I was looking to try gel x but after talking with Tiffany she recommend hard gel to keep my regular nail and build from there.

    Mentioned in 12 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Studiomani Nails and Spa

    Studiomani Nails and Spa

    4.8
    (89 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$
    Kid friendly
    Pet friendly

    first time in! took about 1.5 hours with Kim. very professional, showed me color options on my…read morenails before committing, and was very gentle! have a one week repair policy also which is great, overall good experience

    I was passing through Poway and needed to get a last-minute mani/pedi before an event, so I…read moresearched Yelp and found Studio Mani because of all the great reviews. I called, and even though I didn't have an appointment, they were kind enough to squeeze me in, which I really appreciated. I went in on Friday, 7/17, around 2:00 PM. I want to start by mentioning the woman who did my pedicure. Unfortunately, I didn't get her name, but she was absolutely lovely,kind, gentle, and did a great job. She's the reason I'm giving 3 stars instead of fewer. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about my manicure with Nina (although she told me her name was Kim, while her station said "Nina"). She was extremely rude and unprofessional from the beginning. She handled my hands very roughly, constantly grabbing and pulling them around. The turning point was when I politely asked if she was still planning to file my nails into the same square shape I came in with. My nails were visibly uneven and hadn't been shaped yet. She was about to apply the polish, so I simply asked if she was still going to shape them. Her response was, "I already did," and everything went downhill from there. I've been getting my nails done for over 15 years, since I was a teenager, so I know what a finished nail shape should look like. I normally go to the same salon in Mission Hills, San Diego, but because this was a last-minute invitation, I thought it would be quicker to find a place nearby. I wasn't rude or confrontational, I asked a legitimate question. It seemed like she took it personally or was offended, and her attitude became even worse afterward. It's unfortunate because the manager (I believe she was the one who answered the phone and fit me into the schedule) was very nice and accommodating, and my pedicure experience was great. Unfortunately, one employee can completely change the overall experience. If I'm ever in the area again, I would choose another salon, and I wouldn't recommend this one based on my experience with the manicure.

    Photos
    Studiomani Nails and Spa
    Studiomani Nails and Spa
    Studiomani Nails and Spa

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    SOPHIA NAILS & SPA

    SOPHIA NAILS & SPA

    4.4
    (248 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Sophia Nails and Spa is truly the best nail salon I have ever been to. The space itself is warm,…read morewelcoming, and beautifully cozy, creating such a relaxing experience from the moment you walk in. Every member of the staff is kind and attentive, which makes each visit feel special. I always see Emily for my manicures, and she has never once disappointed me. She has been doing my nails for over a year now, including my engagement and wedding nails, and her work is nothing short of exceptional. Emily is incredibly talented, detail-oriented, and truly passionate about what she does. What I appreciate most is how much she genuinely cares about her clients. She always wants you to leave completely happy, and even when I'm unsure of what I want, she comes up with beautiful ideas that I end up loving every time. All of the photos I've included are her work, and they speak for themselves. If you visit this salon, you truly can't go wrong with anyone on the team--but I highly, highly recommend Emily.

    I have to say this was the worst nail salon experience I've had in years…read more The technician did not properly file or shape my nails, and several of my fingers were cut during the process, which was both painful and concerning. When removing my old gel, she relied heavily on an e-file and went far too close to my natural nails, despite me specifically asking her not to. That request was ignored. Additionally, my cuticles were never properly addressed before the gel application. When I pointed this out, I was told that the product she was using works "backwards" and that cuticles could be handled after applying hard gel, which does not align with standard nail prep and felt dismissive. The service overall felt rushed and incomplete--no finishing care like a massage was provided. Between the poor technique, lack of communication, and disregard for my requests, I will not be returning and would not recommend this salon.

    Photos
    Let your nails do the talking with playful and colorful summer nail art! 
Book now for a colorful summer nail art experience!
    Let your nails do the talking with playful and colorful summer nail art! Book now for a colorful summer nail art experience!
    Engagement nails
    Engagement nails
    Fall is in full swing and your nails deserve some love too!  Come see us and walk out feeling refreshed and beautiful.

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    Fall is in full swing and your nails deserve some love too! Come see us and walk out feeling refreshed and beautiful.
    La Belle Nail Boutique

    La Belle Nail Boutique

    4.5
    (251 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$$

    The salon is clean. Gives me this calm and relaxing feelings. Doesn't have the terrible smell other…read moreplaces do. They feed me coffee too! ^_^ Niki done all my nails. Her works are very detailed, coming from a very picky person. I love how she's able to do exactly what I want every time. She's simply the best! Howie is also a master too. You can tell right away from watching him work. Lisa and Kim are always so smiley and welcoming. Overall, I'm very happy with this place. I dont have any reasons to go anywhere else.

    I had a soothing experience! I was greeted when I walked in…read moreand the receptionist was super sweet and attended to me right away. Asked me if I wanted any drinks, and had me browse for a gel color in their collection. Once I was done selecting, I was escorted for my pedi first. I had a manicure and pedicure and gotten gel sets. They were done super quickly and the level of detail was also fine! If you get a pedicure, they have massaging chairs. They were comfy but I didn't leave it on for too long as I was afraid to fall asleep. Nyny did my nails and she was so sweet! She made sure along the way that everything came out as I wanted it to. The only caveat is it's super expensive (around $150) though it's fine if it's done once in a blue moon. Long gone are the days of $20 manicures... Anyway, def recommmend Nyny if you want a sweet manipedi!

    Photos
    La Belle Nail Boutique
    Broken and bleeding nail
    Broken and bleeding nail
    Broken and bleeding nail

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    Broken and bleeding nail
    Kim Nails and Lash

    Kim Nails and Lash

    4.7
    (152 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    irene saved my nails today on such short notice. her attention to detail, honesty, and expertise…read morecompletely won me over and i cannot wait to return for my next appt. for context, the day prior to my walk-in at kim nails, i went to another salon and received gel x that was poorly fit (my sidewalls were still showing on 6 out of 10 nails), an ombre that was not blended whatsoever, and extensions that were sloping so far up my coworker two desks over asked me if i wanted her to fix them for me. i couldn't endure it so i decided to go to kim nails near my work and ask them to just soak it all off and redo the entire set. irene took one look at my nails, patiently heard me out, and got to work. instead of a new set, she and her coworker filed down all that previous unshaped bulk and gave me the best acrylic fill of my life. irene dedicated extra time to filing and shaping my nails pre-builder gel and then even more time post-builder gel to create the perfect apex and minimize unnecessary weight. ive never had a nail tech use three different drill bits just to refine my nail shape before at a salon. she even filed underneath the nail where the gel from the previous extension had built up - without me asking! this all by itself was more than i could have asked for, but then i find out that they have asian nail polishes, too! ive always brought very translucent/transparent inspo pics to my appts and have always been let down by opaque polishes. but at kim nails they have the exact type of translucent jelly nail polishes i have been looking for!! irene also perfected the subtle cateye gleam that i love and have been unable to achieve at home. when i inquired re: designs, irene informed me that if she feels like she can't do a design justice, she'll be upfront with her client and let them know. i value this honesty so much because i am lowkey nonconfrontational and have watched my nails become something totally different than the inspo i brought to the table. to top it all off, they have a very, very affordable pricing for a very efficient appointment. for the same duration and more effort, i almost spent under half of what i paid just the day before for my previous set. (i tipped over 50% to match because it would feel like a moral failure to pay irene any less than what i paid for my failed set.) all in all, 5 out of 5 stars i am endlessly grateful. my pictures do not do this establishment justice and for that i apologize i will take better pictures with my next set!!!

    I was disappointed with my experience at this nail salon. The appointment felt rushed, and the…read morefinal result didn't match what I asked for. The polish application was uneven, and I noticed chips much sooner than I expected. I also felt that my concerns weren't taken seriously when I pointed them out. I understand that everyone can have an off day, but based on my visit, I don't feel the quality of service matched the price. I hope the salon improves its attention to detail and customer service in the future.

    Photos
    Gel X by Nyny
    Gel X by Nyny
    Nails Art by Kelly
    Nails Art by Kelly
    Nails by Nyny

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    Nails by Nyny
    FC Nails & Lashes Spa

    FC Nails & Lashes Spa

    4.6
    (56 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    I had such a wonderful experience at this nail salon for 2 years alraedy. Everyone was friendly and…read morewelcoming esp Li and Cici. Li is my nail tech, she's amazing! The attention to detail, which is always perfect for me that's why my nails always turned beautiful and I'm so happy with the results. I'll always be coming back. Looking forward for my future appointments with you guys. Thank you so much.

    Had an appointment for me and my mom to get gel manis/pedis (we purchased Groupons) but I waited 40…read moreminutes before anyone could start on my mani or pedi. Then felt rushed when the next customer arrived (who also waited 30+ minutes). Only one person working on us at a time so whole appointment took 2 hours. Language barrier didn't help.... I wanted to pay for an extra service to add strength back to my nails (I came in with acrylic and gel polish). They don't do acrylic, said that gel-x was only for extensions, but then didn't offer anything else for nail structure, so I left with horribly thin nails after all the dremmeling. Now the gel polish is chipping after only a couple days. Won't be returning. It was also warm in the salon which made the wait very uncomfortable for me. Bummed about this experience because they did have very pretty gel polish colors. **and in response to the owner's reply to my review - no we were not told the gel would chip because of our nails being thin. My mom came in with dip powder and instead of soaking the powder off, they filed it off so it made her nails thinner than normal. And I was happy to pay extra for something to add strength to my nails. They could have offered a builder gel which I guess is a common material used for this. I asked about gel-x but the owner said it was only for extensions, when it could have easily been filed short since I prefer shorter nails. No reason why these services couldn't have been added on since the Groupon just included the gel manicure. We were already paying extra to have the old gel/dip/acrylic removed.

    Photos
    Gelmani + French design By Li
    Gelmani + French design By Li
    Eyelashes cute looking
    Eyelashes cute looking
    Dry flowers freestyle

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    Dry flowers freestyle
    Ocean Retreat Nail Spa

    Ocean Retreat Nail Spa

    4.4
    (319 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    I have been coming here for several years (maybe a decade by now actually) for pedicures. They know…read moreI bring my own polish & they always return it to me. When I have to cheat on them because I waited until the last minute to ask for an appointment and they cannot fit me in, I always think of them & wish I waited for an opening at Ocean Retreat. Every. Single. Time. Nikki is always so sweet & she remembers so many of the customers who come back. All the ladies & gentlemen working here get along well. The vibe has no pressure or tension. I LOVE that. I can totally tell when people do not get along well in a salon & this salon is a place that is easy to relax in. I will not say my favorite's name because I want to gatekeep her purposely. I don't need her to become busier than she already is! But this salon has several great nail techs. The rubs are good. The conversation is enjoyable. I actually enjoy the music & always love what they choose to put on the TV (HGTV for the win every time!!). The ambiance is worth the visit. Tip well. They are all each worth every penny.

    terrible experience! I made an appointment for a natural mani/pedi. I showed up waited for ten…read moreminutes to have someone start. Then she cut and filed and then used a DRILL to over-file my nails and removed the healthy top layer of nail. then stopped without finishing the rest of my 8 fingers and cuticles (no soak no water nothing) and stated the pedicure. She was so rough on callous removal that she cut my heel so I said that's enough thank you and had to walk out. I had waited months for the time to come in and get a mai/pedi. I left in tears. Awful experience I'll never go back.

    Photos
    Ocean Retreat Nail Spa
    Beautiful cozy place
    Beautiful cozy place
    Ocean Retreat Nail Spa

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    AO Nails - Poway - othersalons - Updated August 2026

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