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La Jolla, CA

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The Nail Shop

4.4 (1.1k reviews)
PriceyNail Salons
Closed • 9:00 am - 7:00 pm

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Services - The Nail Shop

Manicure

Manicure and pedicure

Nail fill-in

The Nail Shop Photos

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Recommended Reviews - The Nail Shop

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Reviews With Photos

French... they did my cuticles wonders
Amal A.

Kim & Mai are amazing! They got me in last minute when I was looking for a nail service in La Jolla. They were highly attentive and such a pleasure. Id recommend The Nail Shop to anyone and intend on returning in 2-3 weeks!

Full Set, Gel with a chrome finish
Brittany W.

Kim was great! Her and her team went above and beyond to help one another out. The quality of service was the best I've had. Kim is a great salesperson so I didn't exactly realize I was getting additional services other than the ones I went in for but I'm so glad I did! Well worth the added expense. Parking took a couple minutes but that is to be expected in a very touristy area. Would definitely recommend!

​If you want to feel like a princess and get gorgeous nails, come here and ask for Kim! She is so attentive and amazing at what she does. She went over the cost and time before starting, was incredibly gentle, and checked in throughout the whole process. When I asked for a quick fix on a nail, she was so gracious and thanked me for speaking up. The customer service here is unmatched, and my nails look absolutely phenomenal! Highly reccomend this GORGEOUS and tranquil salon is a MUST!!!!

my daughter's nails
Marla A.

the nail salon is super clean. Melissa the owner did a Manicure and Pedicure to my daughter and came up amazing. I'll definitely come back.

Classy nails. I highly recommend this area they are very sweet and kind. Very attentive and quick service upon entrance.

Classy nails. I highly recommend this area they are very sweet and kind. Very attentive and quick service upon entrance. I specifically recommend having your nails done by Michelle and Kim . To be honest quickest service I've had and very affordable. Area was also clean and spacious.

Seriously the best manicure/pedicure I think I've ever had! I called last minute and they did EVERYTHING!

Seriously the best manicure I think I've ever had! I was absolutely pampered today with Mai, Kim and Michelle. I called last minute and they did EVERYTHING! I felt incredibly relaxed and refreshed. The only thing that would have been better is if they would move to St. Louis so I could go to them all the time!!

Kim did an amazing job on my nails! Very thoughtful and careful, beautiful results. The whole team is very welcoming! Will be coming back.

Melissa is such a great nail artist and takes the best care of me while I'm there!!! I usually get a signature red with polka dots but switched it up with white polka dots and pink chrome and I am obsessed!

Jenny L.

Kim, Mae, and Michelle are attentive, sweet, professional, and so welcoming. I love the positive energy in here compared to other stressful factory type nail salon. Kim helped me with my design and she is the pro. I only do my nails a few times a year and I always walk out pleased. Nothing is too difficult for Kim, and she is a great listener to what you want. She's a stickler for perfection. Love coming here and supporting a local small business.

Absolutely adorable! Mai did an amazing job with the design
Monica O.

I am not one to get their nails done. I felt uncomfortable wearing them and when I would get them done my nails would hurt. But I walked in this place and all of that changed. Kim and Mai were THE most attentive people ever. They welcome you with open arms and are truly willing to listen to what you want and sit with you to really make your nail goals come true. I wasn't a 100% on what I wanted to look like but I know what I wanted. They made my nail dream come to life and gave me exactly what I wanted. 10/10 am coming back

Another great set from Kim!!! She mixed up a custom yellow for my nails and did exactly what I asked for :) super quick and reliable as always!

Hard gel natural nails

10/10 recommend. My experience with Kim is always so pleasant and enjoyable. I can tell she really cares about wanting me to get the best experience. Before meeting Kim I would get basic gel acrylics at other salons and they would last 2.5 weeks MAX. I've expressed to Kim that I wanted my natural nails to grow out and to figure out how to make my nails last at least 4 weeks. She then introduced me to hard gel which is what I have in this photo! Never been able to grow my natural nails out this long and I am soooo happy. Thank you Kim!!

can't say enough good things about this nail salon! From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed and well taken care of. The salon is clean, stylish, and has a relaxing vibe that immediately puts you at ease. The staff is incredibly friendly and professional, and they genuinely care about making sure you're happy with your service. My nail technician was a true artist-she took her time, paid attention to every detail, and made sure my nails looked flawless. The shape, color, and design were exactly what I wanted (and even better than l imagined). Plus, they use high-quality products that last-l've had no chips or lifting, even after a week! Whether you're looking for a classic manicure or something bold and creative, this is the place to go. It's clear they take pride in their work and go above and beyond for their clients. Highly recommend-you'll leave feeling pampered, polished, and already planning your next

Nude with chrome blue, obsessed

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1 year ago

Awful! My nails chipped after a week. They pumped up my service to $100, I was from out of town and needed service. Terrible!

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Great pedicure! Will definitely be back! Everyone was so nice and welcoming. Lots of colors to choose from.

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1 year ago

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3 years ago

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7 months ago

would definitely come back. nice people and experience. quick but accurate. Easy parking

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5 years ago

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1 year ago

I felt welcomed and taken care of as soon I stepped in the salon. The women there are very sweet and the service was great!

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2 years ago

Great experience, friendly and accommodating. Able to get me in and out quickly. Recommend the pedicure

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5 years ago

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The Nail Shop Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - The Nail Shop

Do you have a child pedicure chair?

Do you do Gel X / gel extensions?

Yes

Do you use OPI dip powder?

Yes

Do you pluck/thread eyebrows and if so how much? Thanks in advance :)

No we do not

Is your store pet-friendly?

Yes

Do they offer Apres Gel X extensions?

Yes we do

How much would it be to take gel off and do a new set?

45$

Do you do anc/sns/dipping powder nails? They look like acrylics but are actually real nail.

They are gels!!

View All 21 Questions

Review Highlights - The Nail Shop

“I've expressed to Kim that I wanted my natural nails to grow out and to figure out how to make my nails last at least 4 weeks.”

Mentioned in 421 reviews

Read more highlights

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Lilah's Nail Spa

4.5(38 reviews)
2.1 mi•Bird Rock, La Jolla

I'm so happy I found Lilah's Nails in Bird Rock! Vicky does amazing work and is so thorough. I tend…read moreto pick at my nails, so I really appreciate her patience and attention to detail. She makes my acrylics look beautifully natural, and they actually last! The entire staff is kind and welcoming, and I had one of the best pedicures I've had in a very long time. You can tell this team truly cares about quality work and making their customers feel taken care of. Another big plus is the convenient parking right outside the salon! They're new to the neighborhood and absolutely worth a visit. Please support this wonderful team--you'll be glad you did!

If only I could give 0 stars. Hardly ever will I write a review; however, I feel extremely…read morecompelled to speak the truth about my experiences here. The first time I came, they accommodated me since I came in near closing hours on a weekday. The female worker who answers phone calls in the front and also work on customers, were already gossiping about me with another coworker who was doing my pedicure. I came back the second time only because I like the gel polish color they had. However, I truly regret coming back. That same female worker who works in the front, receiving clients' phone calls, spoke very badly about me. I can understand Vietnamese very well, and the whole time she gossiped to the lady who did my pedicure about how fake I look, if my breasts are real, how weak my appearance is. It was extremely hurtful, but I held back the tears until I got home. Not only did they bad-mouth me to their other co-workers, but they were also speaking poorly of other customers who seemed to be their returning clients, referring to them as "cunts" or "witches." Please, please avoid coming to this awful place. Their quality of work is not great either. Her gel acrylic work is subpar, and the nails on my left hand were shorter than on my right, so I had to file them down at home. The lady who did my gel pedicure the second time made my left toe bleed. She also used her fists to pound my calves very strongly, which was not pleasant and felt painful. The workers here are very rude, mean, and unkind humans. Please do not waste your money and business here.

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The Nail Lounge of La Jolla

The Nail Lounge of La Jolla

4.0(447 reviews)
0.4 mi•La Jolla
•$$

After many futile attempts at finding a nail tech that would not only deliver top-notch results but…read morewould also be personable and customer-forward, I'm so happy to say that I've finally found one that checks off both boxes and more. I scheduled an appointment for an acrylic fill with Katie from the recommendation of another staff member over the phone, and am so glad that I did as Katie nailed ;) the design I was going for. I typically experience slight annoyance from nail techs when I bring in inspiration photos that involve a plethora of colors, but Katie was extremely accommodating and was determined to deliver on the design that I had showed her. There were plenty of colors to choose from, and she was kind enough to assist in my color selection when I had trouble finding one of the shades that I wasn't able to locate on the wall. Throughout my service, Katie was not only personable but also extremely diligent and meticulous. After a horrendous experience at the last nail studio that I had visited, I was terrified of the drill and cuticle trimming process, but Katie was very gentle and paid considerable attention to every part of my nail. When it came to the shaping and filing process, she was exceptionally meticulous and made sure to perform a side-by-side comparison of each nail to ensure that that they were uniform in both length and shape. Once she got to the design portion, she was very detail-oriented and took the time to ensure that it was perfectly executed. Needless to say, I'm extremely satisfied with my nails and the level of service that I received. Katie not only perfectly achieved the design that I had wanted but also delivered exceptional service that was both personable and professional. I highly recommend Katie, and will 100% come back for her artistry the next time I get my nails done.

Unfortunately, I'm very disappointed with both the quality of this manicure and the salon's…read moreresponse. Within only three days, several nails had chipped and peeled badly, leaving them uneven and unfinished. The photo shows how they looked after just three days. I contacted the salon and asked to have the problem corrected by a different nail technician because I was not comfortable returning to the same person. I was told my only option was a redo with the original technician. That did not feel like a reasonable solution after the initial service failed so quickly. I gave the salon an opportunity to make things right before posting this review. I wasn't asking for anything excessive just to have the work properly corrected by someone else. Unfortunately, they were unwilling to accommodate that request.

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Nails by the Sea - Nails design by Tracy

Nails by the Sea

4.5(154 reviews)
2.3 mi•Bird Rock, La Jolla
•$$

Great experience at this place today. Such a kind staff, quality work, and just a very calm…read morepresence there. Will for sure be back.

I've been coming to this salon for years, which is why this experience was so disappointing…read more I made a noon appointment for a manicure and pedicure. Before coming in, I called to ask if I could arrive at 12:15, but they told me they were too busy and that I needed to be there at noon. I arrived around 12:05, and as soon as I walked in, two employees told me they couldn't take me and suggested I come back another day. After I reminded them that I had an appointment, they asked what kind of nails I wanted. When I said I hadn't decided yet, they told me they didn't have time for long nails. I said I was happy to do short nails instead, and only then did they agree to see me. Once I sat down, I was told I couldn't use the same color for my manicure and pedicure because they didn't want to share the same bottle between technicians, so I had to choose a different color for my toes. Then I asked for my usual dip manicure and was told they only had time for gel. When I asked about dip, I was told they had already informed me of that, which they hadn't. If the type of manicure affected scheduling, someone should have asked when I booked the appointment or when I called before coming in. Instead, I felt like I was being treated as the inconvenience, despite having an appointment and being a longtime customer. I ended up skipping my manicure altogether and left feeling disappointed. After years of coming here, this experience was enough that I won't be returning.

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Svit Nail - LISA NAIL ARTIST

Svit Nail

3.8(24 reviews)
0.6 mi•La Jolla

I would not recommend going here. While the interior is nice and clean, I had a pretty concerning…read moreexperience. I paid for a hard gel removal and manicure with IBX treatment, but the removal was painful enough that I had to repeatedly ask the technician to stop and adjust. Within an hour of leaving, two nails snapped, several chipped, and my index nail split in layers near the nail bed. I also had warmth and sensitivity around my thumb nail beds and red, tender cuticles on both ring fingers. The salon did take steps to rectify the situation when I reached out, which I appreciate. However, based on my experience, I would be cautious about getting hard gel removed here and would recommend going elsewhere for that service.

Early experiences were wonderful - I had a great manicure and pedicure. I rebooked while paying,…read moreand let them know both appointments (separate days) were timed before a trip I'd be taking. So before my next manicure (scheduled for a Friday) on Monday (5 days before) I got a text saying the technician I booked is no longer there and nobody could take me until the following Tuesday, and that this is a newer technician that would take longer than the scheduled time (already like 90-120 minutes!!). Sounds insane for a nail salon not to schedule me for over a week! I was leaving town by Tuesday so to not have something sooner was nuts, I opted to try having these nails removed and a normal gel manicure but when I showed up I was told "we don't actually use normal gel polish so it will last maybe one week". Another wild moment. So we went with some weird hybrid approach of just shortened nails which honestly look terrible and are crazy thick. But let's table that, the next day I was scheduled for my pedicure, on Saturday. Saturday at 7am I get a text, now the nail tech that does pedicures is sick, once again I can't be seen until TUESDAY, the day I'm out of the country . But don't worry, I was offered $25 off a future visit. I let her know that was offensive, I was ripped off enough, this place is obviously falling apart. It's sadly a sinking ship. They used to treat you with a silly drink and snack. Last time I went nobody was working the front so I didn't even get that, and I just got janky overpriced trashy nails. Horrible. So sad

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Elite Nails of La Jolla

Elite Nails of La Jolla

4.3(111 reviews)
0.4 mi•La Jolla
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PERFECT NAILS!!! You have to come here and ask for Jackie:) everyone here is amazing at nails…read morethough; you wont be disappointed!!:) Also, come here rather than "perfect 10" salon which is just across the street... they suck. Elite Nails is WAAAAYYY better for customer service and results and fair prices!! Come!!

Saw that another Yelper also got a pedicure yesterday that they, too, consider to be the worst…read morepedicure they've ever received. I was just going to let it go, but seeing that this happened with the same nail tech more than once within a few hours, I felt it was necessary to write this. I do want to make it clear that this nail tech was kind to me, and wasn't rude at any point of the interaction. Everyone working yesterday was friendly and accommodating of my last-minute call to arrange a pedicure. I just asked for the basic pedicure with clear polish. It took a total of ~30 minutes. I gave an extra star because of the friendliness, and because even the most basic pedicure comes with a hot stone leg rub, which I've never seen at a nail salon before. That part of the pedicure was very enjoyable. I also liked the massage chair, which was firm and not yet worn out, but also not so aggressive on default that I couldn't keep my feet still. I mainly wanted a pedicure to help soften the bottoms of my feet and to have my nails evenly shaped. My last pedicure was about a month ago, so we aren't talking about anything crazy here. It should have been normal operating procedure. On the majority of my toes, the nail tech cut them way too short and filed them to the point she was only filing my skin, and I moved uncomfortably multiple times but it didn't stop her. Afterwards I saw that one of my toes was slightly bleeding, while several others were cut to the quick. She must have seen this, but continued to use the nail tools without hesitation. I'd say it's a health concern, as you never know if the tools are being properly cleaned in between customers. It takes a LOT for me to confront someone and tell them to stop doing something, so while it could be argued that I should have spoken up, I also feel that someone who does this for a living should know when a nail is too short. I am getting a pedicure to relax, not to critique someone on how they're doing their job. Additionally, I know I just asked for a clear coat, but this isn't the first time I've asked for that and typically the nails look shinier than they did after this time, so I'm pretty sure that just a primer was used. I was also very turned off to how all the towels being used were white and stained with who-knows-what beyond nail polish, and although I witnessed multiple employees cleaning, I noticed that the wipes they were using were extremely dirty, meaning they were either reusing them or the place just got that dirty between cleanings. The search continues for my go-to nail salon in La Jolla...

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The Nail Shop - othersalons - Updated October 2026

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