Best nail salon in Birmingham! I always get my pedicures from here! Ori always takes care of the customers amazingly!

Updated: Management reached out to me after seeing my reviews and provided a compromise. We came to an agreement. I am grateful they were responsive and willing to talk and even reconsider some parts of their policy. I am updating my review to reflect this update. 12/12/2025 I used to be a regular at this nail shop and this review does not reflect the nail techs, they are always nice. Unfortunately their lack of flexibility with their cancellation policy, particularly for long standing customers that have had multiple appointments is frustrating. I had to cancel my appointment same day due to an emergency and was immediately directed to the policy and given a cold shoulder when asked about rescheduling. After sending them a follow up message via their very active social media asking if there is anything they can do, my message was read and ignored and I was charged the full fee for my appointment despite their policy noting you COULD BE charged the full amount. You would think there would be a willingness to have a conversation or a professional courtesy to at least respond to a message you read. Given my numerous appointments (at least once every 1-2 months for the last two, maybe three years) and an obvious willingness to reschedule, a conversation could be had. I have referred friends and family here and it is unfortunate that the long standing relationship has to end because of their lack of warmth with customers. I get it, missing an appointment causes missed funds for the techs but if its a first offense or a long standing customer, you should value maintaining that relationship and business over a one time offense. read more

Essential did my wedding nails and they unfortunately began to chip off immediately due to being poorly done. They refused to refund me and would only offer me store credit, which is very frustrating. It is highly overpriced and nail artists are very hit or miss in terms of both skill and attitude. read more

I enjoy the service. The pedicure lasted for over 3 weeks. The young lady was good and neat. I highly recommend this place.

I had such a wonderful experience at Essential! The atmosphere was a vibe and relaxing, and the staff were incredibly welcoming and attentive. Niti was not only talented but also took the time to make sure everything was perfect. The attention to detail, cleanliness, and overall service truly stood out. I walked out with clean looking nails (manicure & pedicure and a big smile. I recommend the hot oil manicure + buff shine and the organic pedicure. I can't wait for my next visit! Highly recommend to anyone looking for top-notch nail care. read more

ESSENTIAL NAIL BAR - Nail Salons Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

Such a great spot! See my photo for an inspiration pic turned reality! Fast service with great results. read more

ESSENTIAL NAIL BAR - What I asked for vs what I got - Nail Salons Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

I tried to be kind and give this place another shot for a visitor in town due to the location and was absolutely disappointed yet again for the worst customer service. Not only did I walk my visitor in there to make sure it was paid for, but I also tipped the person taking care ahead of time. Come to find out they pretended there was not a tip sent and she got TIPPED TWICE essentially intentionally double charging us. On top of this the receptionist also was aware of this and all she could say was "oh apologies.." like get over yourself with the ignorance and this place does not deserve the clientele. My recommendation - go ANYWHERE else within the next block or three. read more

I really enjoyed my first time going to this establishment. My appointment was on Sunday, July 7 and parking was available. I requested a gel mani with nail art and Darlene did an excellent job. The place is small but cozy. It's very professional and I hope to get a chance to come back soon. Thanks again! read more

ESSENTIAL NAIL BAR - This is the inspo for the nail art. - Nail Salons Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

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I appreciate the ease of essential's appointment booking system, that they have a solid rewards system and the people at the front desk are friendly and efficient (I wish I knew her name but the redhead woman at the check-in counter is always super personable and helpful). I've been to multiple techs here with mixed results but Porsha gets five stars. I now see her exclusively as she is super thorough and my nails always look perfect when I leave. I cannot recommend her more highly. She's the best tech I've seen since moving to MI! read more

I have had the pleasure of going to Essentials since they opened and can honestly say after 20+ years of getting my nails done in Birmingham there is no nail salon in the surrounding area that even comes close. Their services are 10/10, their manicures and pedicures (dip, gel, regular, acrylic, nail art no nail art, I think I have tried it all) are 10/10, and their staff is 1,000,000/10. I go every 2 weeks like clockwork, recommend them to anyone who will listen to me, and insisted there was no where else I would take my best friend when she needed her nails done for her wedding day. Even though they are by appointment, they always make time for me when I inevitably break a nail before a business trip, and as long as they are around, there is nowhere else I will be going! No star rating is high enough, if you haven't had a chance to check them out I HIGHLY recommend it. read more

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Porshia did my nails. Did the gelx extensions the first time, they look great. Can't wait to come back read more

ESSENTIAL NAIL BAR - Porshia did my nails. She spent time to make sure each nail looked great. did gelx extensions for the first time. Can't wait to come back ! - Nail Salons Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

I'm not one to write reviews but I have to say something. I went in for a Russian manicure with gel.. well instead I got two nails that drew blood, lady slapped alcohol on it after which stung SO bad... not to mention I thought I was getting gel not just gel polish on my nails?! Horrible horrible experience.. in tears because of my overall experience. I would rate this place negative stars if I could. read more

Possibly the worst customer service I've ever experienced. Made appointments for me, a Russian manicure with gel, and my mom, a pedicure, for her birthday this past week. Confirmed the appointments and was so excited to hear that someone local was offering Russian manicures, the day came and unexpectedly had a health issue come up, and tried to call the salon to see if we could come a bit later or what we could come up with to resolve the issue, but we were met with an answering machine and no call back. We made it to the appointment 10 minutes late, to which they took us still and started on my mom right away. On the other hand, I waited around for about 15 extra minutes for my girl to start on me, and when she had I was met with excruciating stomach pain, causing myself to have to go to the bathroom a couple of times during my appointment, and then finally speaking up to say that we would NOT be able to finish my service because I just cannot stand the pain sitting here. All she did was cut my cuticles, no filing, no cutting of my nail length, and definitely no polish. I had asked the front desk receptionist, who was on her phone, why they didn't have anywhere you could get a hold of someone for last minute emergencies? And she replied to which I could have texted the number we get our confirmation texts through, and it goes directly to her. I told her they should make that more clear on their website or through their cancellation policy. After going home and reading the text receipt I got, I had noticed a full charge for a Russian manicure with regular polish, I had reached out to the nail salon via text, as advised per their receptionist, for a manager or owner to call me, and still no one has gotten back to me! Staff was unwelcoming and music was not relaxing, I will definitely not be back and spreading the word. read more

ESSENTIAL NAIL BAR - Other hand.... Nail ended up breaking. Again, 3 days later - Nail Salons Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

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Porshia did an absolutely wonderful job, and I'm exceptionally happy with the services that were provided. read more

ESSENTIAL NAIL BAR - Porsche did an absolutely wonderful job and I'm 100% happy with the services I received. - Nail Salons Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

Christine always does amazing job on my nails!!! The staff is amazing too!! I always enjoy watching the shows or movies they have on read more

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My tech did a great job. I did my nails there for my engagement. I showed them a picture I found on their own yelp page and I love the shape and my cuticles look great! The place is clean and beautiful. They have high end polishes too! They offered me a drink and it looks like they sanitize their equipment. Would come back for sure. read more

ESSENTIAL NAIL BAR - Nail Salons Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

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The best from start to finish! I've been going to Essential for the last couple of years. Super easy to make an appointment and I have never had to wait to be seated - always right on time. The place itself is clean and the staff is very helpful and polite. Highly recommend for dip and pedicures. read more

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I'm going to update my review. They killed me with kindness. And made the situation better. So I'll give another chance. Nancy is super sweet. And helped me feel better about my nails. I know we are super sensitive about our nails, hair, etc. they went above and beyond. Thank you so much. They have amazing customer service.! read more

ESSENTIAL NAIL BAR - Nail Salons Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

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Whenever I visit Detroit I always find my way to Essential Nail Bar. It's so nice inside. Since I only visit when I'm in town I don't have a favorite technician, but everyone I've gone to does a really good job. My two critiques are1) I'd love to have a longer massage with my pedicure. I mean if I'm spending $80-85 on the service I'd really love a good pamper (which includes a nice long massage) and 2) it's really hard to get an appointment. They only take appointments via a web platform and I find it difficult to schedule two services for the same time slot AND if you don't schedule more than a week in advance it's really hard to get in (perhaps if I timed making my appointment two weeks ahead I wouldn't have this problem but that, to me, is a long time to plan a mani/pedi. Bonus: the coffeeshop next door has the best apple cider donuts. read more

Mai is the absolute best nail tech I have ever had the privilege of being pampered by! I have had gel extensions that lasted over 1 month. Same with regular gels nails! I have never had such long healthy pretty nails! I absolutely adore her! Great conversation incredible technique and works super fast and clean. Thank you Mai! read more

ESSENTIAL NAIL BAR - Nail Salons Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

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The setup is amazing. I was in and out. I did ask for a pedicure but they were fully booked which is understandable. I highly recommend this place though. My nail tech took her time and my nails looked great. read more

Updating to 5 stars. After 2 weeks, this gel manicure has held strong better than any Ive had. It looks and feels like I had it done yesterday. Thank you! I'll be back. The place was spotless, very modern, and they probably have a thousand color choices. My nail tech was very sweet, and did a great job on my nails. So gentle! I often experience techs who jab my cuticles, or clip the side skin too short. But he was incredibly gentle. He was very soft spoken, i had an incredibly hard time hearing him, esp with masks. Quiet atmosphere, with pleasant pop music playing at an acceptable level, and TVs playing various movies without sound (closed captioning was on) Covid protocols were good. You must have an appt, temp taken upon arrival, plastic gloves required to handle nail polish (when choosing your color). Everyone wore masks. I had the hot oil gel manicure, and it felt divine. My hands felt warm, pampered and so soft. Only drawback is the design of the bar itself. Hi top stools were not very accommodating, esp if you are plus size. I had to really lean over to allow my nails to be worked on. My knees kept banging the bar, so i had to sit uncomfortably with my knees apart. Overall, Id be back. My manicure looks gorgeous and my hands feel amazing. read more

ESSENTIAL NAIL BAR - Gel maincure with hot oil treatment - Nail Salons Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

One word ... NANCY She is always busy, she is sweet, she is a perfectionist and she does the best job, she makes me feel right at home. I cannot give her enough compliments, I hold her to the highest regard. I am a nail biter (30 years) ... acrylics aren't an option as when they come off my nails are in shambles and I want to bite them even more, I don't have enough area surface for dip, but I found that they do Apres gel x and she nails it every time. I'm going on 4 months of NO BITING! She leaves no flaws behind and she paints my nails and shapes them as if they were her own. I can't not say enough good things about her. I am forever a client of hers. Make sure you make your appointments well in advance because she is a busy lady, rightfully, I make my next appointment as soon as I walk through the door. (2-3 wks wait!) I've hesitated writing this review in fears she will just get busier but she deserves it. The salon is cleaned, it is organized, the quality of products the salon uses are definitely high end. They offer so so so many options for everyone, it's pricey but it is worth it, you get what you pay for here. My only thing I dislike is that I have a tough time with is the booking, I cannot call and I cannot easily access my appointment or call and talk to someone about it without jumping through hoops online, or physically going in. Which is pretty important when you need to be able to talk to someone immediately in a crisis as a nail biter. read more

ESSENTIAL NAIL BAR - Apres Gel X Extensions - Nail Salons Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

Wow! I love how clean this place is. Had a gel mani / pedi and I must say the experience was great. They take their time and do quality work and make the experience enjoyable. read more

I usually don't do reviews but I'm so excited about finding this nail salon. First of all the atmosphere is fabulous, it's beautiful and very welcoming. and very Covid compliance. I've been to many nail salons looking for the "perfect" nail dip and I found it! Elna did Such a beautiful job on my nails. They are shaped exactly like I wanted and my nails look natural. read more

ESSENTIAL NAIL BAR - Nail Salons Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

I have given this salon multiple tries but each time (4 times) I have been cut by the nail tech. Each nail tech has managed to cut my cuticles each time I have come in. I even complained to the manager and got compensated, but when I came in this past weekend to use my compensation, I still get managed to get cut cuticles. For this being displayed as a "high end nail salon" , no one should be having their fingers cut each time they go in. Do not go here and spend your money elsewhere. read more

ESSENTIAL NAIL BAR - cut my cuticle on my ring finger. - Nail Salons Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

I went to Essential Nail Bar for a shellac manicure this afternoon as I was in the area and had some time to kill. The salon is very modern and nice, also super clean. The nail services are done at a bar and they have a few pedi chairs behind the bar. Immediately when I walked in I noticed that the salon carried ultra designer polishes like Christian Louboutin, YSL, Chanel, etc. I have not seen those in a nail salon before so that was super impressive. I was taken immediately but I got the sense that it's best to make an appointment here and that I got lucky with availability. My manicure was fine, my nails look great. I was a bit thrown off by the $50 price tag when it came time to pay. I don't think I've ever paid more than $35 for the same services elsewhere, although I acknowledge that this salon is a bit more upscale and in the heart of Bham. That, plus a tip, plus parking made this a rather expensive outing and I'm not sure I'd want to spend that much regularly. read more

I've been looking for a new nail place. The one I used to go to was always in a rush and couldn't get my shape correctly, I ask for soft square. I was really excited to find one with such great reviews and the pricing was the same as my other salon. The inside of the salon is beautiful. I love the venus et fleur flowers (they're my favorite), it was very new, very modern, very clean. The owner was really nice and cool, he's actually a fellow yelper! I loved the set up and all of the designer polishes on the wall. The nail bar is such a cute idea and the workers seem to love it too. I chose a powder color that I thought I would love. I wanted an opaque pinkish/white due to my previous color being pretty transparent (I had wanted opaque then too). The girl was really nice and patient. She applied 3 coats and then buffed some of it off so it wouldn't be too thick. Unfortunately, it's still transparent but it's ok because it looks really good. I really hope it lasts, my last powder lasted me over 2 weeks. I love the shape so much and I cannot stop looking at my nails because of this. I think it's the first time that I've gotten the shape that I wanted and all of the nails look even. I love my length too, the girl understood me perfectly. I wish that I had gotten some lotion at the end. I'm used to getting lotion and a hand massage, even though I don't really like hand massages, after every manicure. Also, there are some fuzzies on my nails, which can be seen in the picture. I guess that's inevitable, it's just in a lot of them unfortunately. I hate being really picky and the girl had to redo a couple already due to being too transparent from buffing or smudging, so I felt too bad to tell her about them. There are a few other minor spots, but I'll just be more aware next time. Overall, I think this is a great salon and I don't plan on going elsewhere. I'm definitely going to refer everyone that I know, I've already told a few of my friends about it! Also, they have a rewards program which is really nice if you go often! The salon is beautiful, has endless colors and the environment is so welcoming. All of their staff is really nice and professional. This is probably due to them having such a cool boss! Update: This time I had Nancy and she was sooo sweet! She knew what shape I wanted without me even asking her and she got it perfectly! I decided to go with gel because powder seems to damage my nails. I love my color and I love how careful she was. She kept checking my nails to make sure that they were perfect. I'll definitely be scheduling with her again :) I loved how they provided masks to everyone and made sure everyone had hand sanitizer and used gloves when picking a color. Also, they did a good job of social distancing clients and disinfecting every I also really like how I arrived 20 mins early and they were able to take me then. Also, the construction on Maple is a bit annoying so make sure to come a bit early so that you're not late! read more

ESSENTIAL NAIL BAR - Powder natural nails - Nail Salons Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

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Once again, amazing Signature Pedicure and Nail Polish change from Porsha. Essential Nail Bar is not only a beautiful, relaxing, and customer centric salon, it is consistent in its excellence. read more

Updating my review from 2020 due to the dumbfounding interaction I had with the owner yesterday. On Tuesday 6/4, using their booking platform, I selected the option to reschedule my 6/6 appointment for a later date. On the morning of 6/6 I received a confirmation text for the appointment I had canceled. I called the salon and left a message immediately, as well as texting to address the matter. Net-net, the owner proceeded to admonish me via text about my error using the app, even offering to provide a tutorial for correct usage. Honestly, I have never encountered such condescension from a business. After I posted a 1-star review yesterday, including the screenshots of the conversation (which Michael has somehow gotten Yelp to remove) he texted: "We've reviewed the review you left on Yelp. As a loyal client for over four years, you've never left us a review praising everything we have done for you, your daughter, and many of our clients during COVID-19, and up until now. However, as soon as there's an issue, you decided to post screenshots of the messages exchanged and left us a 1-star review. This truly shows your character and level of respect and appreciation you have for us. Please take some time to reflect on everything that has transpired. Also, re-read the messages that were sent to you. If we have offended you in any way, we sincerely apologize. We understand that you may have left the review out of pure emotions and we appreciate our honesty. If you could kindly remove the review, it would be extremely appreciated and helpful for our business." I did indeed include screenshots of the exchange when I posted a new review yesterday, as, not surprisingly, I anticipated Michael disputing the review. I won't bother to post the screenshots again here. Let's see how long this review stays here. Yelp is meant to support consumers with real-life reviews. If business owners are able to remove truthful feedback, what's the point? Lastly, the owner claims I never showed appreciation to his business, even though I was once of the first reviewers for the business back in 2020. Loyalty for over four years and literally thousands of dollars spent isn't appreciation? I'll show my appreciation with my wallet elsewhere. read more

Essential mail bar never disappoints. You get what you pay for here. They are always on time with appointments. I love seeing Darlene for pedicures. She and the other staff I've booked with have been super friendly and listen to my nail vision. read more

Jenny is the best. She takes her time and my pedicures have never been better. Thank you Jenny for your service and being welcoming. I appreciate you. xoxoxo read more

Do not go to this salon! If you are sick or have an emergency and cancel within 24 hours they will charge you $175. I had to cancel my appointment because I am sick. I literally woke up sick and called immediately to cancel. I have never canceled before and I called, left a voicemail and emailed them and they still charged me $175 for a no show. I would not recommend this salon. They didn't even have the decency to respond to my email or call me back or show me any grace. Know that if you go to this salon and you have to cancel unexpectedly in the event of an emergency or illness they will charge you regardless. Terrible customer service. I'll never go back. I have referred many people to the salon and I reached out to all of them and they aren't going back either. They not only lost 1 customer, they lost many. There are other salons that care and will treat you much better and this place isnt one of them. This review is not a reflection of the nail technicians (they are wonderful) this is a review on the front staff and management. read more

I rarely write reviews for places and was just going to bite my tongue on this one but I want to share my experience for the next person who decides to get a pedicure from this place. I wanna start off by saying I also work in the beauty industry and will not be naming who did my service due to the fact that she might've been having a bad day or wasn't feeling well etc. Starting off, she was not friendly and all she asked was "do you want them cut down? square shape is okay?" and that was all that was said the entirety of the appointment. As soon as I caught the vibe, I was glued to my phone since she seemed like she wasn't in a sociable mood. I understand as someone who's in the industry, maybe she wasn't in good spirits or was just tired. I'm totally understanding of that. BUT, when she was done shaping my toes she didn't ask me if the shape was okay or if i liked it. She never asked me if anything was hurting while she was digging all up in my big toe which I've had problems with before due to my job. In my opinion, it's not my job to say how to do your job. It's the techs responsibility to ASK me about my toes during the service. She used the buffing file way too close to my cuticles and they are STILL burning and stinging as i'm writing this review. I understand my toe nails are very small so I'm used to some stinging after the buffing file but it's never been this bad before. I know I could've said all this to her at the appointment but she NEVER made me feel comfortable enough to say anything because of the initial vibe I got it from the moment I sat in the chair. I was just going to pay for the service, leave a tip and just forget about my experience but I'm really upset that my cuticles are STILL burning 2 hours after my service. The lack of communication and customer service is the main reason why I'm leaving this review. My toes look great but I'm paying for more than what my toes look like. I'm paying for an experience AND good service. I hope the tech or an owner will read this review and do better for the next person. UPDATE: Owner reached out to me right away and offered a refund and credit to come back again. Highly appreciate them contacting me even though that wasn't the point of my review. I can see they truly want to make it right and I'm willing to come back and give them another chance! I would give them 3.5 stars just for contacting me to make it right after my 2 star original rating. read more

The best nail salon in all of Metro Detroit. I've been coming for over a year and am so happy with the service and my dip powder nails every time. It's an amazing place for self care Nancy is the best! read more

Literally the best place ever !!!! My nails look bomb every appt, they always give complimentary drinks/ mimosas/ champagne. So friendly and clean. I love this place so much! read more

ESSENTIAL NAIL BAR - Nail Salons Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

Loved this place! My husband and I kicked off our day date with pedicures and I scheduled a manicure for myself. Very clean, sanitary and professional. They check temps at the door, everyone wears a mask and the staff wears gloves. I got a pedicure and gel manicure and was very satisfied with the service. Not to mention, they have every shade of nail polish imaginable! You wouldn't believe how many times I've had a "manicure" at other places where they didn't do anything more than push back my cuticles. This time, my fingers were soaked in water, cuticles clipped & pushed back. I mean, I was impressed. I can't wait to go back. They are even open on Sundays! They offer wine, mimosas, and other beverages while you're being serviced. But, I have no idea if it's complimentary or not. read more

This place is awesome and amazing! The vibe is superb and the quality of the work is top notch. Nancy is definitely the person to see here. Great pedicure and manicure! I have been going here for over 5 years and I will continue to support this place. Nice relaxing atmosphere. read more

This place gets it; people want a relaxing, quiet experience. The technicians are ALWAYS ready for you at your scheduled appointment time and they will spend the entirety of your visit focused on YOU, not chit-chatting with one another or running from customer to customer as they try to manage what is simply overbooking. Essential Nail Bar is NEVER chaotic like nearly every other salon. It costs a bit more than your typical joint, but it's worth every penny if what you're looking for is good service, good work, and a truly relaxing experience. I don't buy the negative reviews on here...yes, you need to make an appointment and show up on time. If that's too difficult for you, go elsewhere. ‍ read more

I came here for the first time this week and had my nails done by Nancy. They are perfect. I've been to a different salon for my last 6 times getting my nails done. I'm extremely particular with how my nails are done and shaped. These are probably the best they've been done in over 8 months. I will definitely be back read more

ESSENTIAL NAIL BAR - Dip powder Nu genesis First Class 191 - Nail Salons Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan