Kim Nails & Beauty Lounge LLC Emeryville — Attraction in Emeryville

I contemplated making this review for a few days but I think it's definitely needed. I want to start by saying I will never come back to this nail salon ever customer service was horrible. Extremely rude, unprofessional, and gossipy...

I came here yesterday to get a full set and gel pedicure and seen that there were about 3 other women waiting when I arrived at 4:30 p.m . They asked me what I wanted done so I told them a full set and a pedicure. I was told that there would be a wait of about an hour if I wanted to wait, they could still help me, so I waited with no problem. I kinda feel like they forgot about me because about an hour into waiting, one of the women that worked there looked at me and asked, "are you waiting for someone?" I responded "No, I'm waiting to get my nails and toes done " and she goes "Oh okay I thought you were waiting for someone" and then about 20 minutes later they tell me they can get my pedicure started. I get my pedicure done and that goes fine. Then Alex comes up to me and asks to see the picture of what I wanted on my nails so I show him the photo. He asks, "do you want the shape on the photo or the shape you already have?" Referring to my previous set that is on my fingers still (which are shorter ) and I respond saying I want the shape and length on the photo. He instantly says "okay so Im gonna have to file the sides of these but I don't know if it'll look like the picture" I asked "I can't get new nails? I didn't come in asking for a fill I came in asking for a full set but it seems like he wanted to do a fill so he could hurry up and leave and he was trying his hardest to keep it that way. He says "you can but I'm going to tell you now, it's not going to look like the picture" I'm like "wait why?" And he says "everyone's fingers are different so I'm just letting you know that it's not going to look like the picture. Look at my fingers for example, I have fat fingers so it wouldn't look like that"I say, so you can't do it or are you saying you just don't think that shape won't look good in your opinion?" He says "I can do them, I'm just telling you that shape is gonna look bad because you don't have the same fingers" I say "I've got this shape before and I liked it. So however it'll look on my finger is fine. Whatever version of those nails are on my fingers, that's what I want." He says "here watch I'll show you one of your nails, you can see for yourself" and (with an attitude) he files my pinky nail into a point and says "See?" I tell him well yeah these nails are way shorter... I want the length in the picture.

The whole time he has this really aggressive attitude and he raises his voice at me and goes "okay I'm not gonna argue with you so you want a full set yes or no? Because you never said that" (But I did actually a few times at this point) and it got to the point where I was feeling embarrassed because I was being yelled at, overwhelmed, and gaslit. I couldn't do anything but cry in that moment and tell him "you're being so rude right now" and then he stormed off to the back.

I asked if I could get my nails soaked off at least and one of the ladies said yes and began using a plastic nail tip and cuticle scissors to forcefully pop my nails off. I got stabbed under my nail in the process and started bleeding... Obviously I jumped and said "Ow that hurt " I wish she would have said she didn't have time to soak rather than pop my nails off (I coulda done that). When I expressed that she responded "I'm trying to hell you. Do you want me to stop?" I let her finish the last 3 nails, paid and left....

Honestly this is the best nail shop in all of Oakland. I've been coming here for a year and customer satisfaction is their number one Motto! For Gel x I recommend Le. She is a beast on nails and design, a perfectionist who has never batted an eye or said no to any of the many designs I bring her for our appointments. Anne is the best if you're looking for a pedicure. Obviously like any adult you have to speak up and tell them if you don't like something, or what you expect for your nails, I usually do this when I sit down in the chair...kinda like a consult! Communication and transparency is very important to a successful nail shop visit and that all depends on you, the client!! Anywho literally best bang for my bucks, left my old shop who is no where near this talented and charged dang near the same, to this shop that delivers every single time. What are you waiting for? Go book. Oh and if you don't like sitting and waiting call ahead a few days and make an appointment or text them! Obviously sometimes things happen and even for an appointment occasionally you'll have to wait ten to five minutes or so, but it's never bothered me. Have grace for others and your karma will be rewarded.

Picture included is of my most recent set on 8/21/24, you wouldn't believe me when I say that my ring finger nail under this nail is gone except for 1cm, I asked for Le to work her magic and she was able to sculpt me a nail from scratch, prepping my small nail bed and adhering the gel x onto it after laying a small layer of acrylic.

There is NOTHING this shop can't do!!!

Price listed as $200 as I paid for gel x take off, gel x install, medium length, extensive filing for shape, design, gold pedicure (their top Pedi),...

EDIT: the nail originally broke from your work because it was done extremely thin, and then yes it ‘accidentally’ got ripped off a week later. i can’t say i’d want to go back to the place that made the error in the first place let alone pay for the same work as much as i appreciate the policy. as for the comment about not removing all the gel, why was i charged for a gel removal then? lastly, the tools had debris and the uv light had an accumulation of product where one would put their hands - so much so it’s noticeable to the eye and didn’t feel great to put my hands on. thank you for your response and i wish you the best in your business!

sadly disappointed in this spot :( my regular nail girl is out of town and i needed a hard gel fill. here they removed all my previous hard gel, redid it just to drill it down to a super thin layer of hard gel. less than a week after the appt my nail broke and on week 2 it ripped off altogether (painfully). it was busy & i didn’t feel it was very clean in comparison to other salons in oakland i’ve been to in the past. i wanted to love it based on other reviews but it's just not for me. upside it’s really easy to make an appt and they’re nice! also heads up if your service is over $50...