On the one hour wait on this busy Sunday afternoon, but well worth it. The owner Nancy was very attentive, even though she was running around, taking care of business. Eric did my pedicure and gave great color. suggestions, and his attention to detail was phenomenal. He was quick, efficient, friendly, and very professional. I've been coming here since they opened years ago and I wish them luck in their business. The place is clean, ambiance is cozy, they all wear masks even though they really don't have to and everyone appears to be so nice. The price is excellent. The selections and variety of services are phenomenal. I come here every month and wish I can come more. Thank you Happy NAILS folks for taking such great care of us especially in this lovely high Park neighborhood. read more

I went in to have a no chip manicure removed. The receptionists/tech at the front desk was friendly, as was the manucurist at the table closest to me. However, the salon is very poorly ventilated and the fumes from the acrylic are strong enough to knock you out. After a brief pre-filing to prep my nails for the polish removal, I was asked to place my hands in a bowl of hot fluid. Little did I know that it was a BOWL FULL OF HOT NAIL POLISH REMOVER. That's right...they heated some polish remover, put it in a bowl, and told me to soak my hands in it. No foil, no cotton, nothing was placed on my bare hands as I was told to place them in the bowl. As the towel covering the bowl fell away a bit, I noticed that the bowl with the hot polish remover was dirty, and it was sitting inside of another dirty bowl. I sat there and tolerated it because I was desperate to have this old mani removed, but the FUMES from that bowl were so strong! Along with the acrylic fumes, I was outdone and tried not to inhale. The tech told me to soak both hands in the bowl and left me there for a good 15-20 minutes to ponder the fate of my SKIN. I sat there wondering how dangerous this was. I looked around me and observed a dirty table, dirty supplies, dirty beverage cups, a big bottle of Suave lotion with stains on it...ugh. Not a clean environment and I will not be back. read more

I'M UNHAPPY On three occasions I visited back to back & they've opened 10 minutes late and there's generally a line at the door. The opening staff will always just be 1-2 people. It just goes to show how starved this neighborhood is for an adequate nail shop. I hesitated to post this review, but the cultural barriers are mystifying, with a mostly African American female customer base, the staff's interaction with clients borders on reckless disrespect. When clients ask questions they are responded to curtly and consistently with agitation. It's upsetting seeing that our dollar is proudly accepted but equitable treatment is not. My hard earned dollar deserves better. read more

They do a rush job n ask you bro pay cash app or Zelle they prefer n I do t like to be hurried out because they need to take the time to do a thorough job not a rush job they does t last longer than a week there after for manicure .... read more

I hate that there are not any really good nail salons that offer good service on the south side of Chicago. What I like about this shop is during the pandemic they were taking appointments now they stopped. No one wants to sit in that shop and wait forever. read more

Great nail salon! clean, lots of color options and quick to ft you in. Jenny is SO good for nail art! I'll be back next time i return to Chicago read more

This nail shop is supposed to open daily at 10am, but they are never on time. Yesterday they were 30 minutes late and no one seemed to care. The customer service isn't great, and my nail tech was super slow. It took her an hour and a half to do my no chip manicure and pedicure. It's a shame that there are very few nail salons in Hyde Park. However, I will travel back to the north side because I refuse to accept terrible service. read more

Very nice pedicure. My technician was meticulous. She noticed a small cut on my leg, cleaned it and put on a bandaid. It's been three weeks and my pedicure still looks perfect. read more

good service! left satisfied! customer is very good, everyone is polite. The service is fast too! You'll enjoy your time here, listening to enjoyable music while Getting your pedicure and manicure! read more

They did a good job with my nails, but I watched them put the tools used on me into a new sterile bag after just rinsing them off with water...won't be going back for hygiene sake read more

The person who I usually want is the young girl at the front desk. She does nails the best but is usually booked booked! Every single time I've gone and gotten my toes and/or nails done something was wrong. One time my fingers were in so much pain from them taking my cuticles off I had to put an ice pack on it. Another time I got my toes done with no chip, even after a few coats it seems like the polish still was coming off and it's almost like the white polish was disappearing from my nail. I'd say go if you want basic colors. They rarely do complicated designs because they just can't. read more

I've been to this place and the service was just ok, but this weekend they changed their business practices. The Nail Technician offered me a dirty foot file that was included in the price or I could pay an extra $2 for a clean disposable foot file. The Manager confirmed that those were my 2 options and of course he pushed the option where I pay more. I will never be going back. There are other salons with better service and no surprise costs once they get you in the chair. read more

I was supposed to receive a mani pedi at this place. The pedicure was good however they definitely did not complete my manicure. I asked for a light pink color and the rude nail tech only gave me clear. I told her I wanted clear with a hint of pink! The nail tech was also rude while she gave me my manicure. Her loss because I normally tip well...not this time though. They also have incorrect pricing on their wall and when I questioned it they pulled out a sheet with higher prices. I stopped going to these types of nail salons during the height of covid. I will be returning to this practice. I would avoid this place. Hyde Park does not have a lot to choose from in the way of nail care but I've heard independent nail techs may be better. I would try that if you don't want to do your own nails. read more

I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so take my review with a grain of salt. I came in this evening for a manicure and a polish change on my toes. This was my first time here and the salon is clean so that's always a plus. Unfortunately, that's really the only thing positive I can say about the salon. The customer service was standard...nothing above and beyond. My nail tech was seemingly nice, but the manicure was so quick it was ridiculous. She barely pushed my cuticles and only soaked my right hand in water. I just let it go because I was tired and not in the mood for confrontation. Also, her polish job was rushed and she messed up a couple of my nails. Instead of removing the polish, she just polished over the smudges to correct the error. Her technique was sloppy and her coats were too thick. So I had to stay about 30 minutes to allow for my nails to completely dry. I should've listened to the negative reviews and took my business elsewhere. The only good reviews are about Jenny, the owner. However, when I requested her, she told me she only does acrylic and gel nails, not standard manis and pedis. I guess that's beneath her. If you need a quick mani/pedi etc. in the area, then this place might be fine (as long as you're not picky). However, if you want awesome quality and like your nails popping...I suggest you make the extra commute to a more reputable salon. read more

Poorly maintained...DIRTY. Will never go here again. Technician was average. Wait times are ridiculous with no appointments available.

Today was unfortunately my last visit after being a consistent customer since November 2017. After waiting for almost an hour, I was taken to a pedicure station and left to soak. I asked before I took off my shoes if I would be done within 40 minutes as I had somewhere to be. Yes yes I was told. 15 minutes later I'm still soaking with no sign of a nail tech being available for at least 5 minutes. Then someone else who had recently arrived begins to receive her pedicure. I object, repeating that I have been there for over an hour. I am told that the other customer has an appointment. I say I need to be somewhere, which I clearly stated, and I don't want to pay for a pedicure that lasts 20 minutes. Goodbye. Parting thoughts: 1. Manage your wait list better. Tell people how long it's going to take. Show up at opening time. 2. If you take appointments, why is there no appt book out? I go 2x or more a month for over a year and always tip well, and you don't offer to book an appt? 3. Soak off quality varies dramatically by nail tech. Some soak your fingers in a bowl of acetone which is incredibly drying. One tech scraped off my old set with their finger nails - gross. read more

Jenny is the best nail tech there! No shade to the other nail techs that work there. I have never set in her chair and left disappointed. The wait times can be long, but I don't mind waiting. I block out my schedule for my nail appointment because I'm very particular about my nails. If you are pressed for time I suggest you pick another nail shop. Jenny is so worth the wait you won't be disappointed. read more

See all

I heard how the tech was talking to a lady in the chair before me, which was rude told her she was to much and she was taking up her time. I get in the chair for a mani and at the end asked her to buff my nails she said that would be an extra charge because it's special, I turn to say to my partner the other place buffs my nails for free Nancy interjects and says then you should go there. Never again will I go to happy nails. read more

Don't bother setting up an appointment here. They will double book and you will end up waiting 45-60 minutes after your set appointment time. I've been here twice (once on a Tuesday and once on a Sunday), same scenario each visit. They have to do better. read more

To be honest I'm a bit confused by the low reviews here? It's totally fine. Some people here seem to not like waiting, but I've had so many experiences at so many salons where I had to wait. I think it also has to do with when you come in. I went on a Sunday morning just after opening and it was still busy, but I was quickly waited on and gotten to a seat. The staff are super friendly and the techs do a great job,. The operation is also perfectly sanitary, like all the tools are in new bags etc. Don't let the negative reviews keep you away cause this is a perfectly good salon and a great option for the Hyde Park area. I don't usually even review places but the low review here almost scared me off and I want to tell people to give the place a chance! EDIT: Two months later and I'm starting to see some of these issues. Lately it seems like it doesn't matter what time you show up, as there is a line before opening. The place seems vastly under-staffed for the demand, with not nearly enough techs available. For being one of the only good salons around, I'm a bit disappointed. It feels like I need to go downtown for my nails! read more

I've been here before and never know if my experience will be good or bad! Never know what time they are open....when you do finally get in there is onlyy one or two tech with a long wait. Not a good way to run a business but they are quick to charge you. read more

So I called before I came and asked them how much an acrylic color fill in was. They told me $28. When I finally got seen Amy did my nails. One of my real nails had split horizontally. She put nail glue on it and began to do my nails. She tells me she is throwing in gel topcoat for free and the price is $40. FOR A FILL IN?!?! I told her that I was quoted $28. She told me because I had to fix your nail. I said, "you didn't fix my nail- you just applied glue across the crack." She came down to $35. Shady practices. I don't like when people change prices. the job was nice. She did a good job- but tried to over charge me which made me not want to tip. read more

Jenny is amazing !!! Perfect work, awesome personality. Very kind! Will be back ! Love her artistry and attention to detail.

BY FAR THE WORST EXPERIENCE EVER! RACIST UNPROFESSIONAL. SLOW SERVICE. AND NO COMPASSION FOR PREGNANT CUSTOMERS. I filed a complaint with BBB. I walked into the nail salon around 11am and was not greeted. Minutes later I was asked about which services I wanted and was told that it would be a 45 min wait for a no chip manicure and pedicure. In response, I told them I'll come back. Another associate yelled for me to stay and said that she will be done in 15 mins. I replied and asked is she sure because her coworker said otherwise. She hurriedly began to run water to soak my feet. Without knowing 30 mins flew by, this is where I became confused and dissatisfied , I thought maybe she forgot about me. I'm currently 7mo pregnant so my feet began to swell due to water pressure. I felt the lack of integrity and empathy played a significant role of me becoming uncomfortable. 45 mins have gone by and she came to me hostile, placing a bowl and towel of acetone over my phone, I wasn't the happiest. She did not apologize for the wait, nor the acetone. Instead, she yelled and asked, "which one you want done first your nails or feet?" I requested for an apology and she declined. I expressed that this treatment is not equitable and I'm pregnant in a room with harsh chemicals. The only reason I stayed is because this was the only off day that I had before my maternity shoot and I need them done. I already sat here for quite some time so I figured to stay. Now I see this was a bad idea. She took my response as if I insulted her and stormed off. Another customer walked in and the lady completely ignored me and immediately assisted her walk in. I sat there looking stupid. I'm offended about the service, how I was treated, and the refusal of the apology. I began crying and no one still assisted me. The other customers that came in after me were white, they were greeted and they were told 10 mins for the wait. And ironically the customer before me was also white. I WAS IN SHOCK. All of this because I was holding them accountable but it was no problem with taking my money! They said the wait would now be 2 1/2 hours and that I should come back later. They pushed everyone before me and my feet were already soaked in the tub! I requested for a manager, they told me Nancy is not here today. I asked for associates' name; she refused. Other customers that witnessed looked silently in disbelief. I won't be back. read more

I really do not want to give one star but have no choice. My 90 year old mother came into Happy Nails . There was no one waiting. We picked out our colors and they sat us in the tub for our feet to soak . We were both getting Manicures and pedicures. We were told it would be only a 10 minute wait. Two white girls come in and they were told that 2 people were ahead of them. Next thing I see one of the white girls being seated at a manicure station. I asked the technician why she did not take one of us . She stated, she didn't do pedicures". I replied, " why not do our manicures first ''. She shrugged her shoulders and proceeded to attend to the WHITE GIRL. Then I see the second WHITE GIRL sit at another technician's table. I proceeded to take my feet out of the bowl and a technician came running over to me saying she was going to give me my pedicure now. I told her NO THANK YOU, and proceeded to tell her why. Another shrug but she did say she was sorry for that. When the technician at the front desk who was oblivious to what was going on because she was on the phone the whole time, asked me my name. I told her what had happened. Blank stare. Will never be back here. read more

Rude service! We waiting a long time after our scheduled appt. quality was ok. They are soooooo ride and dishonest!!!!!!

I highly recommended specially if you're looking for pedicures. Great service very nice outgoing people

I was desperate for a refill on my nails and despite the negative comments about this place I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt. That was a huge mistake. I had my nails done at this place almost a week ago and yesterday one of my nails cracked completely in half. I have never had this happen before. I visited the store's location today to explain and to request that they fix it! The nail technician (maybe the owner) fixed my nail but charged me $7 to do so plus charged me a $1 fee for using my card. She was very combative and off putting and I felt as if she did not handle the situation in a professional manner. Gel overlays are supposed to last at least two weeks and this lasted less than one. The nail tech was very unprofessional and should have fixed the nail free of charge considering that I was there just a few days prior, instead of not taking accountability and shifting the blame to other techs who has done my nails over a month or more ago. This is the first and last time that I will patronize this terrible business. read more

Terrible customer service. Please avoid at all cost. The nail technicians are extremely rude. Absolutely disgusting attitudes. When they're busy, they rush your pedicures and your drying under the LED lights for no chip. I came back thinking that they just had a bad day, but they're completely the worst. read more

They let 5 people without appointments AHEAD OF ME...very ghetto!!!! The receptionist allowed this...it took ALL MY MIGHT NOT TO SNAP!

I want to give this place 0 stars. I went in Tuesday 11/13 for a fill in for ombré nails, nothing was wrong with my nails at all, I just wanted them to look more fresh. The lady is extremely rough and rude with my nails btw. Wednesday night my index finger nail was lifting up at the bottom already. Came back Thursday 11/15 because my index nail popped off. I came back with my nail that popped off and everything. The lady said that I would be charged if I wanted it fixed. Which is bs because I came back in the two day grace period. Mind you that nothing was wrong with my nails when I first came it. She laughed and said it'll be five dollars if I wanted her to glue it back on. These people are horrible. I've been in here three times, gave $10 tips and everything because I believe in tipping people just because I'm a good person. The service is terrible though, the prices are high for mediocre work. My original set of ombré only cost $40 somewhere else. I got charged $35 for a raggedy fill in and horrible customer service. Ladies and gentlemen please save your time and money. Go elsewhere. read more

See all

Terrible customer service and mediocre skill. They overcharge for everything! The workers are extremely rude to the point you never want to go back. I needed 2 nails repaired and she told me $15. I asked why and she made up an excuse because my white tips were curved and there was a silver line. I literally had a French tip manicure. She got mad and told me to go back to whoever did it then... I said huh?? You don't know how to do this basic nail? She said in so many broken English words, no. Do not waste time here read more

This was one of the worst nail experiences I've ever had. I asked for a fill in and polish change. I showed a woman a simple picture online, one glitter nail and the rest a solid color. I got a tech and the woman berated me and said to pick a color from the wheel and be quiet. She then roughly took off ALL of my acrylic so I was then charged for a full set, not a ffill in as I had requested. The nail tech completed my FULL SET and POLISH CHANGE in 15 minutes. As expected, my full set was sloppy and she left stray polish all over my hands and reefused to let me take off my wedding rings while she was workinG. So now, my thousands of dollar wedding ring has polish set into it. Save your breath and money and go to A Polished Work located about 10 minutes from Happy Nails. They do an amazing job and care about their customers experience! read more

Happy Nails - My nails. This is after I had to scrape the excess polish off myself. - Nail Salons Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Go there for cheap and fast nail job only. If your looking for something quick to wear for vacay or wedding or something. Not a lot of colors to choice from unless it's no chip. read more

Terrible experience. I went in for a basic mani and pedi. The regular polish selection was basic and disorganized. A lot of bottles but not a lot of variety. The pedi was decent, not the best but the manicure was the worst I've ever had. I had to keep pointing out things to the tech that needed fixing - things such as shape this nail like the others, clean up these cuticles, this nail isn't polished all the way, the polish is streaky, that polish is not smooth, clean up the polish from my skin, etc. After she finished I was very unsatisfied and went to the front desk to explain. I told them everything I experienced as above. The woman's response was that is as good as it's going to get because I chose white polish and that it looks pretty good to her considering. I told her that I didn't think it looked good at all and wanted to remove the polish and just get my money back. She told me that I had to go tell the tech that myself. She refused to refund me and instead suggested that I try a different color. Reluctantly, I did (desperate for polish and strapped for time). I wish I hadn't. The end result is no better. My cuticles are still terrible and the paint job is only decent because I chose a color that hid more of the imperfections. Overall a bad paint job and even worse customer service. read more

Happy Nails - Right hand - Nail Salons Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I agree with the previous reviews that say go here if you need a quick, last-minute nail job. The fumes were strong, and the gel removal was very harsh (soaking my fingers in acetone!). I am a little suspicious of the cleanliness practices here. The end result of my gel manicure was great, but the experience was not particularly relaxing or enjoyable. read more

Rude. Let's start and stop there. I have given this salon about five chances. Four out of the five times have ended with my no chip service chipping within a few days. Every time I return to the shop, I am offered a redo. However, it does not feel like a sincere offer. Elevated tones in another language are used and attitude is given to me. Isn't the point of a no chip service to not chip....? (Did I mention I use gloves to wash and handle dishes at home. Thus, I am uber-sensitive to maintaining my no-chip, too.) I will always support local businesses that seem to want my business. Unfortunately, Happy Nails will not receive my repeat business. I plan to take my happy money and gleeful business back to my original South Loop salon. read more

Definitely hit or miss. Overpriced and they rush. Not friendly at all. My gel fill in chipped the next day. I will not go back.

I was very disappointed In my last pedicure. Their water was off, and they still chose to continue the pedicure. As a result of the dry pedicure, the bottom of my feet are messed up. They continue to crack and peel. They should have offered to refund my money but charged the full price. I will not be back‼‼‼‼‼‼ read more

I would give zero stars if it was possible. This place is absolutely terrible. I waited almost an hour to be placed in a chair. Then I had my feet in the water for over 45 minutes and was ignored. Finally I said something it was all shrugged shoulders and no one knew how much longer. If you're going to go here for proximity sake it's a waste. Just drive father away and you'll actually save time. Also they do not properly clean the pedicure tubs and tools in between use. read more