Very relaxing and calming atmosphere . You have your own semi isolated spot for your pedicure/massage. It's far from being overcrowded and cramped like regular nail salons. The manicurist is very gentle and calm. They help provide recommendations on color and leave you time to relax. They have a building for massages and facials and etc and separate one for nails. And parking available for both which is convenient. I love this nail spa so much I now visit monthly for ME time. Have to pamper yourself! read more

AvantGard Spa - Lavender scrub pedicure; please excuse my dry legs (definitely in need of pampering hahah) - Nail Salons Near Me - San Carlos, California

AvantGard is beyond amazing. It is a very zen business model, and they absolutely pull it off magnificently. My chosen nail tech is Kim, who performs my "manly pedis". She is fantastic: Kind, thorough, hygienic...exactly what I or anyone would want. Thank you, Kim...and thank you, AvantGard. read more

Hannah, I'd give you a million stars if I could! You are the best!!! My face looks and feels amazing! You have the softest hands ever!

Emilie is an amazing esthetician! My first visit to AvantGard was several years ago when I was looking for a nice teachers gift. I finally visited the spa for a service for me a month ago with a gift certificate and got the Spa RX Customized Facial and booked with whatever esthetician was available that day. I hadn't had a facial in years! It was so relaxing, and my skin felt and looked flawless after. Emilie walked me through what products she was using. I just went back for an Advanced Spa RX Customized Facial and it was even better this time around because I was much more relaxed coming in this time. She customized the facial based on my skin. I was a bit dehydrated and pores a little clogged. She used a couple different masks, She was gentle and her massage was amazing and I dozed off several times. I have gone to get a facial twice now from her and would recommend her over and over! Thank you Emilie! The spa is beautiful as well. It has a beautiful and well-stocked gift shop and their own line of skincare. The place is very large inside, very unassuming from the outside. The rooms are big enough that you don't feel cramped in. Defined recommend this spa! read more

At first this spa seems small and unsuspecting from the outside, but inside it's immaculate and beautiful! I waited a few days post facial before writing my review to be able to give the details about the final result. I have had a lot of skin issues, like rosacea and dermititis the last 2 years. After seeing multiple dermatologists, none have been able to help me So I wanted the anti-acne facial here but it's only for under 18, so they recommended a different one for me. I don't remember which one it was but it included the zapper thing that I really think helped. They also used the matcha mask on me which really really helped decrease my skin inflammation. After my facial, I was worried it wasn't going to help because my skin looked and felt worse the next 2 days. But on day 3 it cleared up so much, it reminded me of years ago when I had clear skin. In fact, I have not even been wearing makeup this whole week because my skin looks great! Overall the facial including tip was ~$150 which IS pricey to me. However the results were really great, so I will definitely be back. read more

Overall, this spa is very cute and clean and better than the other nail salons I've seen in the area. Blanca, the owner really wants you to enjoy your experience here and receive the best service. My first time here was a mixture of both amazing and just Ok, but in the end, I left satisfied. My pedicure lasted over a month! The polish only chipped a little bit after that so I've already scheduled my next appointment in which I'm trying a different person here. :) First time experience below: When I arrived, no one was at the front desk. (I was 15 minutes early to my appointment). I waited for a few minutes, then walked in the back and saw ladies working away, so I went back to the lobby. Crystal then came up and told me that someone should be with me soon. The lobby had water, dried cranberries, raw almonds, and fruit to munch on. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/plMBFuEGB7SfyZMcXxry-w?select=wRZxJoiba3-Jw-K1OJ8J2Q http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/plMBFuEGB7SfyZMcXxry-w?select=MP1UyeIlDg7r-eDNrQ7m_Q Cece then walked in with a bucket of ice. She was very nice. She offered a heated neck pad while I waited. Another lady came in after me (and mentioned she was late) was seen before me with Crystal. Cece walked me in so I can soak my foot. I didn't even know who was going to perform my service. I just sat there reading a magazine. The lady who ended up helping me was cleaning another station while I was just sitting there. She then came over to me. Cece came over to me and asked if she could bring me any water or food. The service was just ok, but my nails did not chip for over a month - now that's amazing! Parking was convenient as it was behind the building. You can definitely hear the train go by but it doesn't go by too often. read more

AvantGard Spa - Waiting area - Nail Salons Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Major props to Farzeena, who was the nicest, most enthusiastic ethestician I've ever had! She really listened to my concerns about my skin and told me what she was applying at each step during my facial to let me know how she was addressing my issues. The facial included pumpkin enzyme with a light steam, extractions, and a hydrating sheet mask. There was also a neck/back massage and it was over all too fast! The ambiance is beautiful here. Definitely give AvantGard a try! read more

Have been going to AvantGard for years. Initially went on a regular basis and then tapered off a bit over the years. During this time regular clients were clearly given scheduling preference and us, irregulars, were not. As an example, set up an appt. several weeks ago to go in for a 5 star mani/pedi. Last week was told they needed me to come in an hour and 15 minutes earlier. Okay, rearranged my schedule. Today received a text changing the appt time to even earlier. Called to say this didn't work for me. There was no offer of another day or even an explanation as to why the time had to be changed again. Clearly my appt was not important. In the past when there was an issue I'd get a call with options for other times or days. This time nothing. Really disappointing as the nail technicians do a great job. The front desk staff needs some customer service training. read more

Beautiful salon and very nice staff. However, I was not impressed with my manicure. The work was a little sloppy and when I got home I noticed the polish had formed bubbles read more

Unfortunately, I wound up with a fungal nail infection from the pedicure I got here. I love day spas, massages, and facials, but I'm not the manicure-pedicure type. To be honest, I have never had a pedicure done before. I have always "done my nails" at home only. But my teenage daughter wanted to do it, so I took her here last summer so we could have a pedicure done together. A couple of months later, when I took the nail polish off my toenails, one of the nails had turned chalk white. I've never seen this before. I have very healthy feet and have never had any problems with any sort of foot fungus. Fortunately, I caught it in time. My podiatrist gave me some prescription cream which I had to apply twice a day for two weeks. It went away and has not come back. However, I had to wash my socks in bleach for a few weeks, put anti-fungal foot powder into my shoes, and sterilize my nail implements in bleach to assure that I didn't continue to harbor and spread the fungus. FYI, bleach kills fungus, but alcohol does not. Needless to say, I won't be going back to Avant Gard for any sort of nail services. I do love the place and will be back for massages or facials, however. If I ever want or need a manicure or pedicure, I will probably go to the woman who is in Peace of Mind Pedicure -- where I can be assured that all the implements and basins have been properly sanitized. But to be honest, I'll probably just continue doing it myself at home after my experience at Avant Gard. And I'll finish by saying that it really surprised me that I got a fungal infection there. I had expected a much higher standard at such a nice place. read more

This was my first time at the Avant nail salon and my esthetician was Vanty. I chose the lavender pedicure. It was amazing! First off I love the zen feeling of the nail salon, the comfortable chairs, the privacy if your just by yourself, and the pedicure was perfect. Vanty really took the time to help me find a color that matched my already done nails. It felt like a relaxing spa experience which was a nice change from the loud and potent nail polish remover smells that other nail salons have. I will definitely be back here again for all my nail needs from now on! read more

Today was my first time at Avant's Nail Salon. I loved the experience. Vanti was my nail expert who was meticulous. She was extremely gentle, quiet throughout my pedicure, and soft-spoken/down-to-earth during my manicure. Her final results were beautiful. Thank you Vanti! The salon is gorgeously decorated; we're not talking plastic nail stations here! No way! Each pedicure station has been created to lend a certain amount of privacy, and is tucked away from the manicure stations. The manicure stations are set closer to El Camino Real, but I heard very little street noise because of the beautiful background music that is piped throughout the salon. The ambiance is such that one will feel as though they've escaped from San Carlos into a quiet world of relaxation. I must say, as well, the girl at the front desk who greeted me was just as friendly as can be; I'm sorry I do not remember her name, but she is from Hawaii. I highly recommend this nail SPA if you're looking for a completely different experience in the way of nail salons. It is definitely a treat! read more

I was here for a bridal shower, as the MOH decided that this was a great location for a day of pampering. It was my first time getting a pedicure so I was mildly apprehensive (I'm ticklish). They were great and very accomodating, as they closed the salon to the public until after we ate and were wrapping up. Each guest was assigned a nail technician who tended to our hands and feet. All were fantastic! They did not interrupt our conversations but asked questions and joined in when there was a lull. They were very attentive and checked to make sure we were comfortable. I now understand why women get mani-pedis! I think I'm a convert! read more

Ok, you have to be insane not to like to be pampered at this place, and I used to go often when I made a nice corporate salary. I don't like the products though- very unnatural, so in terms of facials, ask for the natural one. I've had massages, facials, special baths & scrubs. read more

My bridal party threw me a bridal shower here this past weekend and I had such a great time. We had the nail spa all to ourselves for our mani-pedi's and a little room for us to eat and for the gifts. I don't remember who I got as my nail tech, but she was great! She made sure that the temperature of the rocks and parrafin weren't too hot for me before applying. They have a small selection of polishes, but it was just enough to choose from. All staff were very sweet and helpful. I compare all of my pedi's to Burke Williams since that was the first place I've ever gotten a pedi from and they did an amazing job. AvantGard were just as great at scrubbing off all that gunk on my feet haha. They also carry a line of shoes/sandals that are super comfy, called Oka-B. I would definitely come back! read more

This place has the best nail spa and it's fairly inexpensive for a premium salon. They always do a nice job on my nails. Had a great facial here too. read more

The most expensive and poorly done shellac I've had in years I love the Spa at Avantgard,so I thought I'd try their nail salon. The pedi was fine. Nothing special tho. The shellac mani was a total disappointment for several reasons 1- It's been 3 days and the shellac chipped- i've been getting shellac for at least 3 years and this is the first time this has happened. I didn't even cook in the last 3 days. 2-Both the mani and pedi chairs were uncomfortable- no massage chairs either - and they don't have lumbar pillows to make it better 3- they don't have samples of all their shellac colors, so it's really hard to pick- I ended up not liking my color, so they added a different color on top- came out OK - except on the first nail- which came out different because it had more coats of the ugly color 4- the massage was more of a lotion slather than a massage - i had to ask for more pressure and the lady seemed annoyed at my request My recommendation- stick to the spa, go elsewhere for nails read more

The only thing I don't like about this Spa is when I go on vacation I cannot find anything comparable. From the moment you walk in to the moment you walk out you feel that ahhh relaxation feeling. I have some favorite people including Cathy, Monika and Stefan, but when they are not there I have not had an appointment that I've been disappointed with. Definitely try them out but don't take my appointment time ;) read more

While I had a wonderful experience getting my makeup done at the day spa, I was a little disappointed with the nail salon. The receptionist was lovely and attentive, the pedicurist was wonderful, but the ambiance left a little to be desired. When spending $65 for a pedicure, I do not expect to be seated across from the autoclave machine that screeched loudly throughout my appointment. While I am pleased they are sterilizing their equipment, the machine should not be located in a room that provides client services. I would certainly visit the spa again, but not for a pedicure. read more

For the amount of money, they could have more comfortable pedicure chairs, so you can actually relax your neck and head muscles, other than that very knowledgable staff re feet issues and up keep! read more

This is Avantgard's nail salon - it is brand new and gorgeous! I have been driving by the "coming soon" sign for weeks. It just opened and I went there for a pedicure. The space is very comfortable and relaxing, the pedicure was excellent and included a wonderful massage. It is a bit on the expensive side for a pedicure ($50) but totally worth it for the ambiance and cleanliness. This is not a place to go for a quickie pedi, it is more of an experience and you should be prepared to hang out for a full hour to enjoy it. The best thing about this nail salon is you don't feel like you're in San Carlos! It is as nice as any place you'd find in the City. Polished Lounge is stil my favorite but I am so happy to find a great place so close to home too. read more

Gorgeous Nail Salon! I was admiring the decoration and was very surpirse how well sanitize their equipment was. The staff was very friendly and my pedicure & manicure was the best 2 hour session ever! The only negative thing I can say about the place is too bad that it was next to a very busy and noicy El Camino street. But you soon forget about it =) read more

I love this place so why the 3 stars? You have to be rich to visit this place with any regularity. I found a place with similar sanitation practices for a lot less money. I usually go there when I receive a gift card. I wish I could go more often. Maybe in my next life? read more

I love this spa. I feel so well taken care of. My best friend and I go every month. Are use natural products so it's good for you and the environment. And the polish dries really fast. read more

It's 5 stars for Carolyn. I followed her from another nail salon. She is the best. She is friendly, professional, and does a beautiful job with my manicure and pedicure. I highly recommend her. read more

Avantgard is one of the best spas on the peninsula! coming from someone who neglects their skin, I was very impressed with my estetician, Diana. I have been to her a few times now, and she has given me some of the best facials I have ever experienced. She Is very knowledgeable, and gave me a wonderful massage as well. She educated me on products and maintenence without making me feel bad about neglecting my skin. I have to admit my skin looks radiant, and I feel wonderful because of It. This salon Is a very relaxing,peaceful, environment and a place that everyone should experience! Diana is also EXCELLENT at waxing! If you ever have had a bad experience, give her a shot, It will be well worth it! read more

It's a beautifully decorated well maintained placed, all aimed for serenity and relaxation. I might have enjoyed the whole experience, but I got such a perky chatter-box next chair client, that all I could wish for was my ipod or ear plugs. The client talked non-stop loudly, and the management have not made any attempt to avoid the "serenity" disturbance. There went my $105 relaxation hour.... read more

I've been going to AvantGard for about two years now for my pedicures. I like the serene ambiance and I don't mind paying a little more for their quality work. My low review is for my latest experience on Mother's Day. My husband booked me a mani/pedi and I was very much looking forward to a relaxing time. Unbeknownst to me, they only had room for an "express" pedicure and "classic" manicure. I don't think my husband knew the difference, so he booked me the appointment. Well, the express pedicure lasted 40 minutes and did not include a foot scrub or massage of any kind. The cost of this pedicure was $47. Yup. $47. That just doesn't sit right with me. The manicure was the same. No massage and cost $30. Would you pay over $50 (after tip) for a pedicure with no scrub or massage? Especially when the regular awesome pedicure is $55... And while I'm ranting, I hate that they got rid of their "trashy" magazines. At least have an up to date People... read more

My daughter gets her brow wax at AvantGard and she gave me a gift certificate for Mother's Day. I set up a Mani/Pedi with Jeannie and have been hooked ever since! My nails look so beautiful and natural that I can't believe I ever went anywhere else. And the massage she gives me with my pedicure is the best! I totally recommend her for a Mani/Pedi - you won't regret it! read more

I really like this place--their hours can't be beat and I've pretty much always had a great service when I go there. The four stars is because I think their prices are a bit on the more expensive side. That said, you do get what you pay for. read more

I go to AvantGard Nail Salon from time to time. The place is nice and clean. But the only reason I am willing to drive all the way from Burlingame to San Cralos is to have my nails and toes done by Jeannie Smith. I had my first manicure with her 13 years ago and have been going to her since then. I used to wear acrylic and gel for many years and have been always asked where do I go for my nails. Nobody could do it the way Jeannie would do it - absolutely natural-looking, beautifully shaped and lasting forever. Same goes about her regular manicures and pedicures. I travel a lot and occasionally have to do my nails and toes on the go. So I had a chance to experience other places in many other cities and countries. But Jeannie was and is simply the best and her results are outstanding. read more

AvantGard Spa is a most amazing day spa destination to receive the best spa services with exceptional professionals. Their genuine care and personal attention are much appreciated. We love how better we feel holistically after each and every visit read more

Incredibly disappointed. I've been a customer for a number of years. The last mani/pedi(4/23) I had was so bad my finger nails looked horrible after a few days. I have never had that happen before. I spent $99 for an extended pedi and mani that was very lackluster. I felt I was overcharged for a terrible job and I was quite upset. I went to Cindy's(5/2) and they did a much better job - my feet were very soft after wards unlike after AvantGard. I was surprised. I called today to complain and the response was 'I'm sorry I will let them know' - that's it??? If I didn't have about $25 left on a gift card I wouldn't be going back at all. Next time I go will be for a facial or massage but this very well may be my last time. This is not the same AvantGard I have known in the past. I think I will be looking for a new spa to spend my money and have told my husband not to buy me any gift cards from there. read more