Update (Jan. 12, 2019): The shop has been sold, but
IT'S STILL OPEN
The rumors going around that the shop has closed are untrue. See Vee for nails (she and Sam are the new owners). I had Diana for a pedicure recently. Will try Vee next time. Ann and Michael are still there; also Casey.
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I am new in the area, and Island Nails was recommended by several people.
I have always been leery of going to an Asian nail salon because of their iffy reputations with hygiene and quality of products. I have heard (and seen reported on TV investigative reports) horror tales about hygiene (as in: county health department visit and finding bacteria colonies in the drains of the pedi tubs) and use of cheap Asian product (nail damage). The artistic quality of the work tends to be very good, however. And the price is very low, compared to non-Asian salons...thus the appeal.
I decided to try Island Nails since it came so highly recommended (but not necessarily cheap!).
Hygiene is just fine. Clean tools, etc. Products are made in the US (not Asia).
Here are the services and prices (as of Sep., 2016):
* They hand you a "menu" of services and a color chart. You tell your technician what service and what color number you want.
* A set of NexGen nails is $30; $35 for French. Manis on natural nails are $15; I imagine a French is more. I didn't make note of the price for gel polish because I am not interested in this. The price is probably in between. Manicure service concludes with a hot wax treatment (liquid purple wax brought in plastic bags, one for each hand) and a back massage done by your tech. (Next time, I'm going to ask for concentration on my shoulders near the neck.) Some of the young techs just pound on clients' backs with the edges of their hands, like chopping wood. Not everyone, therefore, stays for the massage!
* Pedis are $25 - $35 - $45. The difference in the pedi price seems to be what kind of & how many soaking and massage products are used. I went with the $25 pedi (lowest price) and was perfectly satisfied! Back massage by the tech, but no hot wax; I suppose you could pay extra for hot wax. I saw one lady getting a NexGen pedi, but I have no idea about the price.
* Nail art is $5/finger. Or maybe it's $10 for both hands. Ask.
* They offer brow waxing and some other stuff, but I don't know anything about prices or exactly what the other services are.
* I tip 20%. You can give cash to the technician at time of service; or add it to your check/credit card.
I saw male techs: a young man and an older gentleman (Michael). There may be more guys.
As far as I could tell, for everyone, English is a second language.
If you are having mani and pedi services on the same visit and want them done separately, make sure you say so. Otherwise, you likely will have your mani done concurrently with your pedi. I didn't like having a mani in a pedi chair. I had to twist my body so I could reach across with the arm that was on the opposite of the chair where the tech was sitting. I want a manicure table, so I always ask for that.
The salon offers you something to drink. And there are plenty of trashy mags! (And that's another reason we go for manis and pedis, right?)
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