Holly and Hudson Nail Lounge — Local services in Irvine

EDIT: I visited a second time for a fill and was charged only $10 less than my previous visit when I had a full set removed, reapplied, and manicured...so, I got overcharged. This time the quality was much lower, too. There's gel paint on my skin and the top coat missed whole streaks on my nails, I will have to apply another coat myself. If you visit this salon, make an appointment with Terri, otherwise I recommend choosing another salon.

I had a great experience at Holly and Hudson! I walked in without an appointment on a Sunday evening and was seated right away with Teri, who has been doing nails for 20 years! She was very personable and professional, I really appreciated the fact that she listened to my concerns about the health of my nails and adjusted our manicure accordingly (I got acrylics by another salon that were lifting around the edges - she was going to repair the existing acrylics, but after further examination decided to remove them and start fresh). She put a lot of time and effort into shaping the nails perfectly and did a great job with the paint. I chose one color for one hand, and an identical color for the other, but shimmery! When she applied the shimmery color, she saw that it was less pigmented and decided to apply a coat of the solid color, then shimmery on top to ensure the color was as vibrant as it could be. She also applied more coats to my thumb, which were not curing under the UV light at the same rate as my other nails. Total I was billed $65 + tip, which at first was more than I expected since I went in for a fill (Unique Nails in Irvine the month prior I had new acrylics applied plus a unique design and color on each nail and it cost $90 + tip, it was a lot of work and I was shocked by how cheap it was), but once I considered the fact that she did the acrylic removal, applying the new set, plus color, it made more sense! It does likely cost a bit more than other, less premium salons, but it seems to be worth it. I could see the back of the salon where they disinfect their tools, and it seemed more robust than the usual nail salon, which is important to me. I highly recommend Teri and Holly and Hudson Salon at...

I wanted to get gel extensions but for some reason I couldn't so I had to get acrylics instead, I asked and never got a straight or cohesive answer. I told the stylists I wanted gel extensions (a service they said they provided over the phone when I called in) and showed her what I wanted, a simply ombre, and she immediately starts telling me acrylics only, that she'd have to do a dip ombre and some other stuff. I've never had acrylics before and im not nail savy at all so I thought what I was asking for could only be done in acrylic (i found later it totally could be done in gel with better results) over the phone they told me it'd be about $45-$50 for gel but because she was doing acrylics now it be $65 for the set, I feel like she saw an opportunity in me not being nail savy and took advantage of it so I'd pay more. If she couldn't do a gel ombre she could have gotten someone who could or simply told me she couldn't and I wouldn't have gotten them, but she told me acrylic only with no other explanation making it sound like if I wanted the ombre I'd have to get acrylics. According to friends and co-workers what I got was over priced and they've gotten similar sets for a lot less then what I paid. The stylists wasn't the nicest either, she seemed disgruntled and in a rush. That was evident in the set, the shape differed from nail to nail, some were longer than other and just not even shaped properly. When laying the acrylic down she did it haphazardly and got it all over cuticle and skin. At the end of the appointment I had to wash/peel it off leaving jagged edges and sides. Her brushs weren't even cleaned properly so I have random pieces of chunky glitter stuck in the acrylic. When she was putting on the final top coat she rushed and left bubbles and dips in it. Like I said I'm not nail savy but I know enough that this wasn't right. I'm extremely disappointed and will not be going back. If I could leve 0 stars I...

My sister and I had been regular clients at this salon for several years, primarily for manicures and pedicures. Unfortunately, due to repeated negative experiences, we have decided not to return. The receptionist at the front desk is consistently rude, unprofessional, and unwelcoming. Despite the salon’s official closing time being 9 PM, she routinely refuses to accept any clients after 7 PM often with a dismissive attitude. On one occasion, I arrived at 6:30 PM for a pedicure, and she abruptly told me they were fully booked, insisting that "it’ll be 7 soon and we don't accept anyone after that." Her tone and behavior made it clear she simply did not want to accommodate anyone. What’s even more concerning is how she treats the other staff. I’ve personally witnessed her speaking to the employees who are doing their jobs professionally and respectfully in a harsh and demeaning manner, as if they’re beneath her. This kind of toxic behavior creates an unhealthy work environment and reflects very poorly on the management of the salon. It’s extremely disappointing to see one staff member’s poor attitude tarnish the reputation of the entire salon. Her behavior is not only unprofessional, but actively drives loyal clients away. It’s a shame, because the services themselves used to be excellent but the front desk experience now makes it not...