Well, to start, the salon was very clean. The staff was polite, but did not engage in any small talk, which made them seem distant. The 50 minute pedicure lasted 40 minutes, with no lotion application or leg massage. Then they add a "service fee" which they said was in lieu of raising prices. ?? Why not just raise the price and be clear? They said it was listed on the website but I couldn't find it. So know that they will add $3 to your service. Will I go back? Maybe. Maybe not. Was hoping for a better experience. read more

First trip to Soak Day Spa. Mani/pedi was great! Staff friendly and professional. Will definitely be back!!

Before I begin my review, I would like to state I intentionally asked for no polish and short nails because I'm giving my nails a break from chemicals right now. Also, my normal technician was not available. I usually use Kinah and she's fabulous. I've also had pedicures and massages here before, and they were fabulous. However this review is for my manicure. All I wanted was a basic manicure because my cuticles were a mess. This photo was taken an hour after my manicure. I say that because the last step of a manicure is lotion, so I did not notice the poor workmanship when I left the salon. I came back about an hour later when I realized the my nails not done to my liking. On my right hand, only the left side of my nails were taken care of - the right side of the nails look as if nothing was done. They were not able to correct my manicure because they were all booked. There was no manager on duty. Poor customer service. Disappointing manicure. Not cool when you have to fax your nails at home after just having a manicure read more

Soak Day Spa - Only the left side had a manicure - right side appears to be completely neglected. - Nail Salons Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

This ia a nail salon I went for my 53rd New year to get a body wrap n facial . What I got was a half body moisture and laid in a cold room on a cold bed that my rep Melanie told me was suppose to make me sweat. She DID NOT turn on the heat blanket and knew it after I asked her WHERE IS THE HEAT!! She told me it differs for each person. If there is a human that can lay in a cold azz roo. Naked n sweat..I would love to meet them. DO NOT SUGGEST FOR ANY SERVICE!!! SAVE UR MONEY N TIME!!! read more

While the nail technician was courteous, I am absolutely blown away at this establishment's policy. I came in wearing powder nail polish and they charged me $50 to have it removed on top of the $45 fee for the gel manicure. I have never paid such and outrageous fee for a service before and will not be back. read more

Had a beautiful manicure service performed by Faith. She was very caring and gentle and my nails look absolutely beautiful. Very happy with the service and the salon was a lovely oasis. Will definitely go back. read more

The best facial Ive had in awhile!! The bed was warm, I was so relaxed I literally passed out! I cant wait to return to get other services they provide like a manicure. Thanks for the amazing experience ever!! read more

Hands down the best pedicure I'be ever received. My friend and I went today and will for sure be back again. Tons of OPI colors to choose from, clean facilities, and very professional nail techs! The bench seat is not a massaging chair like most places, but I prefer that, and was actually comfortable. I did not feel rushed out the door and they took their time on our tired feet. I would book by either calling or trying to schedule online. Definitely worth it!! read more

I've been coming here for about 6 months now, and I have been very pleased with the service that I have gotten. I've used numerous nail technicians, and they have all been great. They've made my visit very comfortable and done a great job. Very friendly place to visit also! I've had a facial and it was wonderful also. I'll definitely keep coming back and I highly recommend. read more

2/15/2020 Sarah at Soak deserves a shout out. She really nailed my massage today. I asked for upper body only and she stuck to the plan, included just the right amount of pushing and pulling, and even added some percussion movements (which I honestly thought was something you just saw in movies, but it was my favorite part!) 7/27/2019 Just had a spa pedicure with Tia and it was AMAZING! She gave me the best foot massage I've ever had and my toenails look great. I'm with 4 girlfriends that also raves about their services. Love this pla read more

I loved my experience at Soak, I got a Hot stone massage and a mani/pedi. My service was very professional and the staff was super friendly. I also would like to point out that I was concerned with some of the reviews listed here but I found out that Soak has a new owner that completely remodeled and changed the business structure. read more

There is not much soaking going on at Soak. First off... I was so nervous going here since I'd seen the other reviews on here. I too had a Groupon. When I called I was told they only accepted one Groupon client a day so I did have to wait about 3 weeks before I could get a convenient day to schedule an appointment. I called yesterday and today to confirm my appointment. The staff I spoke to during these 3 phone calls was not very professional. It did not make me feel welcomed or like I was a valued client. Everyone was very polite when I arrived and while I was there. When you walk in you check in and then wait or you can peruse the handful of items they have in the store for sale. I didn't wait long and was taken into the next room pretty quickly. I did like that the area for the manicures and pedicures was separate from the check in area. It was very quiet in the mani/pedi area but they did have some music playing. It was relaxing. My manicure was first. This was a bit odd to me as every other place I've ever been did the pedicure first. The technician did a fine job on my manicure. The only thing that I felt was missing was any kind of hand massage. A light emollient was put on my hands but typically I've received some kind of massage during my manicure. Apparently at Soak you have to pay an extra $5 for this. We then moved on to my pedicure. I was offered a beverage. I barely got my feet in the water before I was told to pull them out so they could be worked on. I don't know about you but I like to SOAK my feet in the warm water and just relax for a minute. They do the whole one foot in the water, one foot out getting work done thing but I still like to have a few minutes at the beginning. Now, I had been neglecting my feet a bit and they are worlds better now. I do have one "wonky" toe nail due to an old salsa dancing injury. (No really... it happened. A medic was called. I'm totally clumsy in a Liz Lemon kinda way.) It takes a little more work to trim up but only the bare basics were done on it and I had to ask for it to be shaped a bit more. The technician did use a brown sugar scrub on my legs and feet which was nice. Prices as follows: Manicure - $22 Gel Manicure - $45 Gel Removal - $10 French Polish - $7 (extra I'm assuming?) Pedicure - $52 Manicure/Pedicure combo - $71 Polish change (hands) - $15 Polish change (feet) - $20 Add - on Massage (hands) - $5 Add - on Massage (feet) - $10 Bottom line... it's ok. I wouldn't go back on my own but if someone gave me a gift certificate I'd be fine returning. I think the regular prices are too high for what you receive and the phone staff could be more inviting and professional. read more

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Super impressed! This space has been bought be a new owner, Dianna, and she has turned this into a beautiful spa ! The massage that I received from Sarah was HEAVENLY! I get massages at least once per month and she was the best masseuse I have found in Columbia thus far. The spa is relaxing, has a beautiful sitting area, they do not rush you and encourage you to spend time before or after your appointment to just relax! I will be trying the facial services next and I am looking forward to it! read more

I was highly disappointed in the service I received. I did not catch the nail techs name but she had a "lil Kim" tattoo on her arm. She took absolutely no effort to keep the nail polish on the nail and took the clean up brush to finish her terrible paint job in the first place. She barely touched my cuticles and I could have painted my nails better on my own. My toes same thing she rushed and had an attitude. I would not return. For the high prices you expect better quality and I got way worse! read more

Soak Day Spa - No cuticle removal and poor paint job. - Nail Salons Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

The spa's esthetics were gorgeous. The service was exceptional with knowledgeable technicians that were both friendly and professional. Denecia was a pure joy. The spa was extremely hygienic and well maintained, they don't use massage chairs with jetted tubs that hold bacteria. I will definitely be back! Do note that they usually do not do walk-ins. I would highly recommend an appointment, which I did. read more

I was taken by my daughter to Soak for a manicure by way of a Birthday present. I will not use them ever again. The manicure was hardly professional, I was rushed and then when I was finished, I was abandoned in the pedicure section to have my nails dried by a fan for 20minutes without any one coming over to check on me. I just stood up and walked out. I was not offered any refreshments. read more

Best pedi in town, a truly magic massage. My nail technician Tamisha, was super friendly , and my wife's technician Shatara was super professional. This place is very clean, and while pricey, you get what you pay for. Being a dude I just had the high buff instead of any polish, and they don't nickel and dime me by charging extra for it. I felt it to be a very classy establishment. The chairs could be a little more comfortable, and in a Military city it would be a good idea to have a small discount to make a Soldier feel appreciated, but definitely no deal breakers. Just make sure you make an appointment, as this place stays busy, and they don't overbook. Which is a testament to a customer centered business. read more

I got the spa pedicure. My nail tech was very nice and knowledgeable. All of the employees were great made me feel at home. The massage included in my service was excellent. I will definitely be returning. read more

This was such a relaxing experience! My girlfriend and I got couples massages and we'll definitely be back!

Absolutely love everything about it! Whenever I find myself in Columbia this is a must on the itinerary. Had the pleasure of Tanya's pedicure and as usual my expectations were not only met but exceeded. read more

Love Soak!! By far my fav place to treat myself. They have awesome products and everyone who works there is so sweet.

Inquired about having a bridal pamper party.... the response from the owner: "Unfortunately we are too busy with our regulars to accommodate ya'll. Good luck"...who talks to customers like this? Unprofessional and clearly not interested to even offer an alternative date/time. We will gladly take our party of 11 to a lux spa in the Vista.... that values customer service. read more

New location, new management and new decor & services. Recommended. This is a nice place for a mani/pedi :)

Great place very relaxing atmosphere the girls are great . Tia did my pedicure she was great and very friendly .

I received a gift card for SOAK. I did read some of the reviews and was a little concerned before going in. However, I have to say that, hands down, this was the best pedicure I've ever received. I also got a manicure for my daughter and she had a wonderful time. Everyone was so helpful and kind. The services were great. They are clearly excited about their grand reopening -- and we are too!!! This was more than just having our nails done, it was an enjoyable hour+ in a great atmosphere. We will certainly be back! read more

Knowing this place had some issues with previous owners I was skeptical about going there but I was soooooooooooooooo wrong. This place is awesome. I know it takes time to restructure and regroup but what an amazing turnaround. I would recommend this place to anyone, and anytime my travels take me to Columbia this is where I go. The excellent spirit with which this place is operated is truly amazing and quite honestly missing in most places. So glad things are looking up for SOAK and everyone that chooses to visit, awesome experience. read more

The staff is by far the most incredible people. There is a new owner, and she turned the place into a full day spa! So many different services, and such great customer service. 5 hour spa service including lunch, and total pampering. Love it. read more

I was skeptical of going after reading all of the negative reviews on Google, but I had won a gift card last year probably around November, and went 2 days ago and had an excellent experience! Everyone was nice and my gift card was accepted at least a year later. I had no problems and would definitely go there again! They are a bit pricey in my opinion but it is a nice atmosphere. read more

I have been going to Soak since Susan opened the salon. I have enjoyed every experience while going there for my manicures and pedicures. I have also purchased multiple gift cards throughout the years for my son's school teachers as gifts as well as many of my friends and family. I have been to multiple nail salons, and Soak is by far the cleanest one I have EVER been to, not to mention they do a great job The staff and management are top notch and I look forward to every experience I am fortunate enough to enjoy there! Great job Soak read more

The receptionist was so lame, and condescending. We arrived an hour and a half before closing and they could not accommodate two basic manicures before closing. The remodel looks nice though. read more

The new ownership has taken this spa to a new level. Absolutely the best nail spa in Columbia! The staff are all very professional and I have never felt rushed. Highly recommend! read more

The salon itself was clean, and my particular technician was very, very nice and did a good job. However, the first time I called to make my appointment the receptionist (or whoever answered) was very pleasant until I advised I was using a Groupon. Then she became very curt and disinterested. I had a scheduling conflict arise and attempted to change my appointment and was advised, again in a very curt manner, that I "was a Groupon and had to give 24 hour notice"...no attempt whatsoever was made to treat me as a valued customer who may have a genuine issue with keeping my appointment. Yes, I may have been a Groupon customer but I was still a customer who will now NOT use their services again because of this treatment. And after all, isn't that why a company offers Groupons? To get future repeat customers? The owner may want to advise her front-line staff of this. read more

Horrible customer service. I had gift cards that were given to me as a gift, I do not know when they were purchased. Apparently they expire after a year. The girl at the front desk was rude and unapologetic, saying it was "law" that they had to expire after a year (not true). A good business would honor their gift certificate anyway. I won't be returning, and will tell my friends not to either. read more

I went to Soak for a manicure, with no coupons or gift certificates (I mention this since some of the other reviewers perhaps suspect they got poor service because their service was discounted or pre-paid). This was truthfully the worst manicure I have ever received. There was no cuticle work, only filing and polish application. No scrub was offered. And they used drying machines, which I've been warned collect bacteria if not property disinfected between each user (and there was no evidence of cleaning between users). I had the impression that this was an assembly-line operation where getting high customer turnover was the objective. Never again. read more

Keep in mind this place is currently located at 3405 Forest Drive at the intersection of Beltline near the Walgreens! I am a newcomer to Columbia, SC. Moved here 3weeks ago and was in desperate need of a gel mani and regular pedicure. What I have come to realize is that unlike the nail salons in NJ there are like no places you can simply WALK IN which is silly! Secondly, every nail salon claims to be a SPA... like really?!? This is just a PLOY to raise prices for very basic nail services! My nightmare began when I called up one place in Columbia on Augusta Road and had some woman accuse me of being a stylist trying to take a peek at her nail spa because I simply requested to SEE her facility prior to making an appointment. I have to be honest I am very particular with every business I attempt to patronize because as a newbie they are foreign to me and have yet to win my trust. This is about business, if these establishments want my business then they need to be accommodating skilled and friendly.... which seems to be lacking greatly in Columbia! After having a spa service at StaceyO StudiO I noticed there was also a nail tech in the Gold's Gym on Forest Drive but she was out that day... I looked on Google and found SOAK... called them up and tried to walk in but no dibs so I made an appointment for today March 15th. And I am so glad things went that way. I came home and decided to look up Soak's website and was flabbergasted at their ridiculously high prices and poor reviews. $45 for a basic gel manicure? Nowhere on this earth will I pay $45 for a gel manicure with no designs no crystals no 3d art no nothing! And I am a woman who consistently gets gel manis/pedis, waxing etc. I am accustomed to paying no more than $60 for a gel mani $25, regular pedicure $16, upper lip wax, and eyebrow wax $13!!!!!! I see the cost of living is cheaper in Columbia but all that goes out the window when everything else is extremely higher than average! SMH.. One thing I can say about Soak's new location it did look rather cute from outside, but I will never know more than this. read more

I bought a groupon from soak and when I tried to make a reservation they said there "groupon spots" we're all taken up. So I asked if they were extending the expiration date since they were all filled up and they said they would not. Soak is a total scam! I would stay away at all costs. read more

I LOVE Soak! No, it's not for everyone. Those of us who care about quality and don't mind paying for quality service will appreciate SOAK. At other salons, I've been concerned about the possibility of infection from instruments that might or might not be clean, much less sterile. SOAK autoclaves their instruments and the packs are opened in front of their clients when the service begins. With my reduced resistance to infection, I very much appreciate SOAK's standards. Making appointments instead of being "walk-ins" makes it possible for us to "walk-in" when it is time for chosen service. There is little to no wait time with appointments here; this is perfect for people with busy schedules. I have found all the Nail Techs to be excellent. There are many walk-in salons in Columbia for those folks from NJ who haven't figured that out and who want that type of experience they'd expect in NJ. Yes, these are cheaper so if you want "Cheap," go for it! I'll stay with SOAK! read more

As another customer said, "there is not much soaking going on at Soak"...and I'll add: it's anything but a Spa! I actually quit right in the middle of getting a "manicure" because it was obvious I could do a better job on my nails. In my twenty years of getting manicures in different parts of the US (NY, CT, VA) and outside of this country (South America) I've never experienced someone advertising a manicure without it involving at least some cuticle work, hand soaking which is relaxing, and a hand massage...The employee just wanted to sparingly work on my nails and barely soaked them in the water... I don't know why these people think they have a SPA....A SPA provides a relaxing experience which doesn't exist there. The front desk customer service person was rude but I made the reservation anyway because it's close to where I live. I showed up on the day of my appointment and the woman who was supposed to take care of my nails gave me all kinds of non-verbal clues that she wasn't interested in taking care of my nails. She asked me to wash my hands in a dismissive way before I sit at her station. I found this peculiar but went ahead anyway to wash my hand. I then asked her if she had washed before touching my nails. She reluctantly got up and barely wet her fingers at the nearby sink...what is a customer supposed to think? I should have left right then and there but stayed. It occurred to me then that I had no way to know that her tools were sanitized: they were not in a plastic bag which would show that they were disinfected...She filed my nails: I mean really! I kept thinking what a waste of time...by the time she was done with lightly filing them and pushing back the cuticles I realized that she had no intention of doing anything more on my nails except apply polish on them...I asked her and she confirmed. When I insisted on knowing why that was all that was going to be done for $ 25 she then asked me if I wanted her to stop!!!! I didn't need to ask twice and went to the front area demanding a refund. You read this right: they had asked me to pay upfront supposedly so that I don't ruin my nails after the manicure.... Save your self time and money! There are other places in this area to do your nail if you're new in town as I am and if there are none, do your nails at home! read more

Had one of the best pedicures that I've ever had. Lovely atmosphere. Highly recommend.

I've visited Soak for years and adore them. I wouldn't consider going anywhere else. It's cute and very clean. There's a good selection of polish. They listen to my concerns and make every effort to make me comfortable, which is why I keep coming back. read more