This was one of the best walk-in nail salons I have ever been to. It was clean and serene, and my technician (Kim) was talented and professional. She gave me a wonderful basic pedicure and eyebrow wax to my specifications (i.e. kept my brows on the thicker side). At other quick-stop nail salons, the technicians do a mediocre job, talk loudly to one another the whole time, and try to sell you additional services through emabarrassment (i.e. Are you SURE you do not want an eyebrow wax. You REALLY need it."). There was none of this at Avalon. They surpassed my expectations and I will be back. read more

LOVE being pampered at Avalon Nails! The technicians are friendly, (I really like Susan and Helen) they take their time and are perfectionist. OPI polish selection is good and they always have the latest colors. The only negative for me is the new location (the old Specs site), which is very small with no place to wait. Otherwise, this is a special treat! read more

The salon is very clean and well maintained, but the nails don't hold up. I got a gel manicure and two days later they were all chipped and dull. I would recommend la vie salon around the corner bc they have a two week guarantee if your gel polish doesn't hold up. read more

Second visit to Avalon and I've enjoyed myself both times. The two times I've been here I've gotten a pedicure, just walking in and it wasn't too busy which was perfect. It was not only quiet but also relaxing. The staff is friendly and sociable. My favorite part is by far the foot massage included - it seems longer than at other places I've been to :) it's $28 for the basic pedicure which to me is a bit pricey, but after looking at several nail salons in the area, this appears to be the norm. However, the location is great - right at the mall, perfect for winding down after shopping or grabbing lunch. The salon is clean and I like that it doesn't reek like chemicals. I do plan on going back, and would more so return if they offered a coupon or discount in the near future! read more

One of my go-to nail salons in the Durham/Chapel Hill area. I always go here after a long day of shopping at Southpoint. Technicians are great and I'm always pleased with the gel manis they give me. Interior is decorated very nicely and it's one of the cleanest salons I've seen. read more

One of the only five star reviews I've ever given to a nail salon - I am impossibly picky and sensitive skinned, so getting a thorough and painless manicure and pedicure is almost impossible. Avalon did a fantastic job and my manicure and pedicure lasted quite a while on a hike and sail filled vacation. The first great salon I've found in the Chapel Hill area. TOTALLY worth a try! Also very easy to walk in on a weekday evening. Had room for two of us immediately. read more

I get mani-pedis here often. The women always dress nicely and work fast. I've gotten regular pedis, gel mani, and the full blown pedi treatment (which I was a little disappointed by). read more

Excellent experience today! Fast, efficient and friendly staff. Hannah did a great job on my gel manicure.

I love Avalon, have been here twice now and plan on coming back every two weeks. I have gotten Get Tips and they are absolutely amazing and haven't chipped once. They ladies are super friendly and helpful. I totally recommend this place. read more

Good massage chairs, easy walk-ins, convenient to the mall, and bottled water offered. The quality of my pedicure was fine - the polish looked good but I didn't love the shaping of the nail. I felt pressure to be done quickly and attempts to upgrade my service were unwelcome. Overall a good drop-in experience but not a place I would call my nail home. read more

My experience was good but the quality was terrible. The girl took a chunk out of my Of my thumb. Also, she rushed the whole pedicure and manicure so much that that the nail polish bubbled and chipped the following day. The manicure was a gel manicure and it should not have chipped the next day. read more

Went based on Yelp reviews and was not disappointed. Nail tech gave a great Pedi. Salon was clean and experience was fantastic!

My sister and I went to this nail shop before our weeklong beach trip. The experience was unpleasant for us both and, for the price, we expected better. Within two days of our visit, three of my powdered nails were cracked. I had to doctor them so they would snag my hair and clothes and possibly break my real nail. I was appalled and called the shop. I was offered a free redo of the nails and told they would not be able to refund my money. I honestly cannot say that I'll even take them up on this offer. read more

I took my daughter to this business for a pedicure and manicure. We were told that we could not sit together since one was getting a pediand one of us, a mani. When I sat down for the pedi, I was asked if I wanted an upgrade on the regular pedi and was treated horribly after just saying that I wanted the regular 30 minute pedi. When I looked at her and smiled, she gave me this horrible stern faced look back. She was rude and did a very sub-standard job. Stay away from this place. read more

I had a great first experience here. Went with two friends to get pedicures. They were friendly and professional and we're all happy with the results. They even did designs on our big toes when we asked about it at the last minute. Highly recommended - I'll almost certainly go back. read more

I am very dissatisfied with my nails. My technician was very rude and rushed the job. One nail broke a week ago and I went to get it fixed but still had to pay. The same day another nail broke down to my nail bed and it's currently bleeding as I type this review. I will never go back again. read more

We got the spa pedicure and it was perfect. It wasn't riddled with small talk and annoying tvs. The ladies that did our pedicures were very nice and the pedicure was very relaxing. Tools came in sealed packs!! read more

This was without a doubt the best French manicure I have ever had. I questioned why the nail tech was not using the small brush for the white but she said trust me. She explained that The thin brush is a short cut to rush. She artfully used regular brush then expertly removed the white to leave the perfect width crescent on each finger. I recommended this to my friends and they love this salon too. read more

The prices are much too high for what you get here. While the salon looks nice at first, at a closer look... It's very dirty! I had to ask them to wipe off the nail clippings from the table before getting my manicure. My manicurist did not pay attention to detail, and the massages I received were weak. During my manicure, the massage was barely long enough to rub in the lotion. There are rough edges on my nails, and she didn't clean up the random paint spots on my fingers. I came here because they had a strong rating on yelp. That was not my experience here. I've had better mani/pedis for nearly half the price. No thanks!!! read more

I recently came here with my cousin and a friend for a girls day out for manis & pedis. It was our first time here. I was raving to them about how much I love SNS nails, which is a dip it powder manicure system, works kind of like gel manicures but is a much healthier alternative because there is no use of harmful UV rays! Awesome, right? I still absolutely love SNS and will continue to get my manicures elsewhere. These people CLEARLY had no idea what they were doing! In other salons, the entire process takes about 30 minutes. They took 60+ minutes. And did a horrible job. I was literally teaching my manicurist what to do. Employees need way more training in order to work with clients with this system. $38 is a lot of money to spend on a subpar service. (For those of you who know how proper SNS should be given, they don't use the grinding tool after completing the powder part, creating a very bulky, uneven, and uncomfortable nail--any they only put 2 coats, all the other places I've been to put 3 coats---also, she put the powder on incorrectly and ended up getting a lot on my skin, which hardened and had to be removed---just an unprofessional & untrained experience overall) The lady who did my nails did listen to my instructions and did a better job on my nails than the ladies who did my cousin and friend's nails. However, I was very upset by the poor experience they had on their first time experiencing SNS. It just put a damper on our day. (For those of you who don't know what SNS is--you should totally try it out!---somewhere else haha--- because it really is great---quick manicure, 0 dry time, lasts 2 weeks plus, no chipping, & strengthens your nail) I was going to give them 2 stars because the pedicure I received was average, nothing special, but nothing horrible either. But due to the poor SNS service, I definitely will not be returning, and thus the 1 star. Train your employees! read more

Not the best experience. The woman rushed through my mani pedi - my nails were left uneven and the polish job was shoddy. The worst part was that my heels were rougher after the pedicure than when I went in! I actually went back to have them fixed and was told that because I got a classic pedicure, my feet might not be smooth. Umm... really?! The verdict: If you have about 50 bucks to spend for rough heels then go for it. Otherwise, you might want to look elsewhere. I won't be back. read more

Loved this nail salon! The place was clean and comfortable. I had no problem walking in with no appointment along with my friend to get a manicure. The techs were very polite and friendly. read more

I see that adults are constantly saying how great this place is, and yes I am technically still a child but I don't expect to be treated like one when I'm a paying costumer- especially when I'm paying such an expensive price for a fill in and nail polish. The employees are constantly being rude to me and my (older) sister, barely giving us the time of day or the patience they give other "adult" costumers. I only come back because they do a fairly good job on my nails- despite the times they are trying to draw blood from my cuticles. read more

Do not go here!! I went here the day before my wedding with my wedding party and ended up with a toe infection!!! Luckily pain killers got me through the night but I literally am battling a pussy, incredibly painful infection as we speak. Everyone in my party complained of PAIN (not really the point of a pedicure), as the attendants gouged into our toes like never before. Each time one of us said "ow!" they just smirked. I have never created a yelp review, but took the time to create an account just to warn others of this horrible place. I just would hate anyone else's wedding day to be troubled like this. The women working there were incredibly rude- not sure if they hated me for getting married or what but they were annoyed at everything- the fact that I took 2 minutes to pick a color, the fact that I wasn't instantly sure what type of pedicure I wanted, everything. I'm not sure why all other reviews for this place are positive, (maybe it was a horrible day for everyone working there?) but I would not take the risk- STAY AWAY! Ps I have gotten over 100 pedicures and have enjoyed every single one until this one, so please trust me and save your money and save your health! read more

I've been going to Avalon to get my nails done for years and I highly recommend Nancy. She's very sweet and very meticulous. I'm never disappointed in her service. The atmosphere is very nice. Make an appt - she's busy. read more

I went to this salon today and got gel tips...All went well. My nails look fine. But 5 hours later my fingers hurt and I'm experiencing pain in at least seven fingers where the tips were installed. I've never had pain after having my nails done. So this is a painful first. I can only make up that they sanded the nails too close to my fingers and too deep in the finger bed.. So it's a big ouch! And a TEN FINGERS DOWN. I will not be going there again. read more

Great mani/pedi! I went in looking for a quick/easy nail salon and I found so much more. The atmosphere is very relaxing and they have a ton of pedi chairs, so there is barely any wait. read more

If you like to be constantly upsold, this is the salon for you... The services I got were fine, but I had to constantly push back on suggestions for more that I could be doing ("do you want me to wax here too?" "don't you want callous removal?" "french manicures are so nice!") I felt like I was being treated like a mark. Not particularly relaxing or enjoyable. read more

I used to really love the one at Southpoint (when they were right across from the Cheesecake factory) but after the moved to where the Specs used to be, the service went down hill ! After going there faithfully for about 4 years I found a lady to do my brows who was really great. All of them were pretty good but Anita was the best! Once I started asking for her by name, the other ladies got really catty and began to give me attitude for asking for the lady that I wanted to do my brows. It became so tense and negative that I just stopped going. I'm now looking for a new salon with friendly non-competitive people who are happy to receive my hard earned money! read more

I have been disappointed the last few visits. The gel manicure peeled within a week. They are quick though so you decide-speed or quality.

Way too expensive for the kind of service you get there. I went to get gel polish last week and they charged me way too much for it. When I went to get it removed, they said it would cost me $10 to only remove the gel polish and then $9 to paint regular polish on without a manicure. I've definitely found cheaper in the surrounding areas. Plus, the workers are rude, and treated me poorly when I only wanted to get my gel removed. They even asked my friends if she wanted to get her eyebrows done without her saying anything. DO NOT GO HERE read more

I've been a regular at this salon since they opened in 2000 and I won't go anywhere else to get my nails done. I will admit I am a bit neurotic about my nails and have ridiculously high expectations so once I found a place that had quality and cleanliness I haven't let go! The salon is relaxing, the techs are all very good and the sanitation is spot on. Not sure what the other reviewer was talking about when she referenced "unsterilized" products but they have an autoclave and the techs open a fresh set of implements for each customer. They also wash the pedicure basins out after each use (but you may not see them do that since they usually walk you to the drying station or nail station and then go back and do the cleaning while you're sitting on the other side of the salon). I especially love the brand of gel nail polish they use. My neighbors have stopped getting gel polish because they complain it just doesn't last that long to justify the price. They don't go to Avalon and I tell them all they should because my gel goes 3 weeks with no chips and my nails have been in great shape despite repeated back to back gel polishes because they take such care during the removal process. Price is a bit higher than you'll find at a strip mall salon but after trying countless other salons, I'm more than willing to pay a little bit more for the Avalon quality. read more

I'm usually not a fan of walk-in style nail spots, but I was in desperate need of a mani/pedi before an event and couldn't get an appointment in time at my usual salon. I put my name on the list and picked out polishes (regular OPI on the toes and a Gelish pick for the fingers). I waited about 5 minutes before Helen came up to get me. Not a bad wait for the middle of a Saturday afternoon. She escorted me back to a big massage pedi chair and set right to it. I did hear a few folks complain that the water was a little lukewarm, which I'd agree with. I did make note that the implements they use are all in individual, sterilized packets with a fresh set used for each customer, and the pedi tubs are cleaned out with bleach cleaner in between each customer. Helen did a great job- she was polite and really meticulous, and she gives a great massage, too! It was definitely more than I was expecting for a "basic" pedi. She also gave the same amount of care to doing my nails- no missed spots of smudges. The price was very reasonable for the services rendered- $60 for a gel mani/pedi is a deal in my book! While Avalon certainly isn't a posh day spa, it more than fits the bill for the basics. I'll definitely be back! read more

As a loyal customer of Avalon at Southpoint, I am disappointed with the service I received today. Usually, everything is great, but today the nail technician was especially rude. When I first arrived, I was looking at nail polish colors until the technician pulled me away to look at the more expensive gel colors. I told her I was not interested in that today and she was fine. She painted one of my nails and I asked her if she thought the color looked too dark on me. She responded very directly that they were my hands. So, I said, well, I'd like another color. She said that she would only change the color once in a very rude tone. I was surprised that she was so rude, since I had already paid her and given her a 20% tip. What I had hoped would be a relaxing manicure, turned out to be an unpleasant experience. Customer service is very important for businesses, as it keeps loyal customers coming back. Unfortunately, after this experience, I cannot say that I will return to Avalon. read more

I have been going to the salon for quite some time, I always take the 10am with Kim. Several months ago she was running about 20 minutes late because she had taken a walk in, I wasn't happy and I told her. On my last visit I got to the salon at 9:55am (I am always there on time, even if she is not), she was once again working on a walk in, after a few minutes I asked her how much longer she would be, she said she was almost done. When I was going to leave I went to schedule my next appt for a mani/pedi, she came over and said she wouldn't be around for two months she was going to charlotte. I scheduled an appt for my mom (she goes regularly too) but did not make one for myself at that time. Yesterday I was talking with my neighbor who also uses Kim, she looked at me in surprise and said Kim didn't go away. This morning I called the salon to schedule a 10am for my mani/pedi. It is now 8:30 pm and I rcv'd a call from the receptionist, it seems that Kim doesn't want me to schedule appts because she can't guarantee my time slot and doesn't want to disappoint me (I had to laugh). Nice time to call me, of course Kim had already left. I explained to the girl that I purposely take the first appt of the day so I don't have to sit around and wait, afterall, isn't that what appts are for? I asked for the owners name and number and she tried to give me one of the other girls, I knew none of them were the owner, so now the "owner" is supposed to get back to me, like that is going to happen. I guess steady customers don't matter to them! read more