Twinkle Nails — Attraction in Lower Paxton Township

I’m sorry but I have to share my real experience here because not everyone has the same one. I just left here and I had really poor service. It was my first time ever, trying a nail salon in Harrisburg. I read the reviews and went based on that and the convenient location. It started out okay. I walked in and they were already full. The lady in front told me to take the last chair, but she didn’t point me to the polish wall, which I found in the back room corner. I was a little disappointed that their nail polish brand is an unrecognizable one (not like OPI or Essie) and looked cheap. Every bottle was filthy and covered with grease from working with other customers and never wiped. I came for a pedicure and they told me to sit in the last chair, which was tight to get into. There was a man sitting next to me but he wasn’t even getting service done. He just sat there to wait on his daughter. They could’ve at least sat me in the first chair. Nothing was set up in my chair. The sink was empty, no towel, no one came up to me for at least 10 minutes. Until the owner showed up and greeted me. He was very friendly and we started talking and making good conversations. He did the first half of the work, which was exfoliate and massage. Then he got up and stood around like he was waiting or looking for something. Suddenly, he switched with his wife and she sat in the chair and looked at me without saying a word. Confused by this switch, I asked if she was his wife and she said yes. Well, she was the total opposite of her husband, she wasn’t friendly or warm. She didn’t talk to me nor ask me questions. There was another man with tattoos who was giving a pedi to another customer and he asked the client if she wanted her toes squared. So I asked my tech if I could also get round (because she didn’t ask me) and I barely got a response. After she was done painting, she told me to wait there, so I did. Now, I’ve been to enough nail salons to know the routine which is they to move you to the drying station where they turn on a fan for your feet or spray it for a faster dry. I sat there for another 10-15 minutes and asked if I was good to go. They didn’t have a drying station. I dabbed my toe to see if it was dry and the tattooed guy yelled at me for doing so bc he said it’s still wet. He told me I should’ve gotten gel because it dries faster. Well, I’ve never gotten gel before and my toes lasted long at other salons. They use a cheap polish which is probably why it won’t last. Anyways, he was really rude to me in his tone. Then the wife owner told me I could move to the manicure desk to turn on a fan for me. I asked her if she had foam slippers because I didn’t want to walk barefoot. That’s another thing that other nail salons do, they put on foam slippers for you before they paint. This tech did not, nor did she wipe off the debris from her clippings so my feet weren’t clean. I’m just shocked that they don’t do half the things that other salons do. I’ve paid $35 or less at other salons and got more out of the service. So honestly, I’m not getting any value out of this. That man that I spoke to in the beginning vanished and didn’t say anything after he switched with his wife, which was strange to me. I don’t know what happened there. It was a weird experience and I didn’t feel like I was getting the treatment that I would at another place. So unfortunately, I won’t be back. I will try...

I have been to this salon twice. Twinkle Nails was highly recommended by women who answered my NextDoor post seeking recommendations for a reputable nail tech within the Lower Paxton area. My first visit was on Labor Day. Corey did my toes and and refill and I was very impressed at the time and I left satisfied with my nails. However, I noticed a few days later that a nail on my right hand was coming off and green fungus was forming on that same nail. I have never experienced green fungus in all the years getting my nails done and I also noticed that the acrylic around the edges on some of the nails on both hands were lifting. I thought this was probably because the refilled acrylic on top of the work from my previous nail technician was the problem. While he was working on my nails he asked where I went previously and I told him and he recommended that on my next appointment I get a new set. I explained that although she was sloppy she is sweet, accommodating and polite. While I have only been living in Harrisburg for about 3 going on 4 years moving from Lancaster, I was still traveling to Lancaster for my nail appointments but due to health issues now driving for long periods of time takes a toll on my legs and resulted finding a new nail technician in Harrisburg. My second visit was the negative highlight of my experience. As instructed I requested a new nail set, as per Corey’s recommendation and I also wanted a pedicure. The buffing of my nail was not done correctly, it should be smooth and not bumpy, the acrylic is thin and chipping and the pedicure on one of my toes was not painted thoroughly. I type for a living and I don’t do hard manual labor. And it hasn’t been 2 weeks since my last appointment with Twinkle Nails and the pics I am sharing are pics I took today. Now the edges are lifting again. So what I previously thought about the edges lifting from my previous appointment was not the result of acrylic on top of the work from my previous nail tech. At my second appointment, Corey was late for the appointment and Lin started the preliminary work; removing the gel, buffing and removing the old set and getting the spa chair ready for my pedicure. Although they apologized for his lateness, he seemed out of sorts and not focused and I understood the lateness and I willing to overlook the late start, what’s upsetting is the poor nails and sloppy pedicure and meanwhile, I paid $108.00 for this. During my session, he was not focused on his phone making/receiving calls. The work was far worse than what I ever encountered with my previous nail tech. Lin did text me later in the evening and apologized and offered to repaint my nails. But after thinking about this whole experience I have decided not to go back and search for a new nail salon. Getting my nails done is the only luxury I spend. Everything is expensive nowadays and if I am going to spend/pay $108.00 then I expect to be wow’d and expect immaculate nails, someone who is focused and I should have the desire to want to go back. Unfortunately, I do not. Thank you Lin for reaching out and wanting to make it right but I will not...

First let me say that I have never written a negative review before so the fact that I'm writing this should hopefully mean something. Additionally, I have given this place THREE separate chances, each time thinking my bad experience must have been a fluke...

The first time I went I had an appointment and still waited 50 min before being seen, even though walk-ins were being allowed in. The manicure was good though so I thought it might have just been the day.

The second time I walked in without an appointment. I was seen right away but the woman who did my nails had an attitude and did a pretty messy, rushed job. If you don't have time for walk-ins, just say so! I'd rather that than have a bad job or rude service and cause other people who actually have appointments to wait (like I did the time before)

The third time was by far the worst, and will be the last time I ever go to Twinkle Nails. I had an appointment but received a call and text about 25 min early to see if i could "come now." I rushed to get there and was able to arrive about 10 min before my appointment... but then ended up waiting for 30 min (20 min past the time of my original appointment) anyway! Then, when I sat down for my manicure, I asked for a natural shape and they guy just kept filing my nails into a point, making them look like daggers. I asked him to stop after the first two, and showed him a nail that was the shape I wanted. He said he understood but then just kept on doing the same thing. Another woman came over and tried to help explain what I was asking for, but he slapped her hand away and kept messing up my nails. I again asked him to stop and he ended up having to put acrylics on the ones he had messed up, which then looked equally terrible because they turned out thick and bubbly. By that point, we were not on great terms so he rushed the rest of the job and they all turned out rough, with file dust stuck in the paint and some spots missing top coat. He also told me that I was "picky," which I found extremely rude even though I was making an effort to be polite while he continued to ignore what I was asking (and if I'm paying $100 for a mani/pedi, then yes, I'd like my extremely simple request to do LESS and just not file my nails into a stupid shape to be considered).

So, after three highly unprofessional experiences, I will definitely not be going back. Hopefully this review can save you the...