Sophie's Nail Studio — Local services in Jersey City

The one star rating is not for my nails. I ended up paying 25% tip since i don't want to punish technician for mess up unrelated to them.

I am giving one star due to the mess up in scheduling, bad communication, misled in pricing and service provided.

I was getting ready for my maternity photoshoot yesterday and had booked mani and pedi care a few weeks in advance to make sure I'd get my nails done at a specific time followed by a salon appointment, make up, photoshoot later in the day. I confirmed with the receptionist when i booked that I could just do a regular pedi and mani with natural color instead of gel since I was pregnant and would like to remove my mani/pedi as soon as i can after the photoshoot to avoid chemicals. He checked with somebody in the nail salon and said they could accommodate. I also asked if I could enjoy the 10% discount of grand opening the for my appointment. He said yes. The total would be 55usd minus 10% discount, so around 50usd. I asked how long it took to finish and he told me around an hour. So i made the appt at 1015 amsince I had to leave at 1115am.

At 1013am, the receptionist call and said my appt was supposed to be 10am and ask if I could reschedule. I told her the appt was always 1015am and I even got the text confirmation that morning stating my appt was at 1015am. She then asked me if i was around and told me to arrive asap. I walked as fast as i could which could be a pain for a woman over 8 month pregnant (arrived at 1017am).Upon arrival, I ended up waiting for half an hour......

Finally, a technician was freed up and i could start at 1047am, I then ask for regular pedi/mani with natural color instead of gel. He then said their salon only do gel for finger nails and and either gel for toes or no color at all. I explained that I confirmed when i booked the appointment but in vain. After 10 min of back and forth discussion, it was close to 11am. I gave in since I would be late for my other appointment already.

By the time I was able to leave, it was around 12noon. I didn't have any time for lunch before I ran to my hair appointment. That was bad since I have gestational diabetes and am required to eat at a regular schedule to stabalise my blood sugar.

I rushed to check out and was told that the total was 95usd, instead of the 50usd which was what I was told when I book the appointment. I understand gel is usually more expensive but i didn't want gel to begin with and i only gave in because I didn't have time to argue anymore. There was also no 10% discount as promised. In addition, Gel mani and pedi were supposed to be charged 90usd but i got charged another 5usd. I asked the reception why and she said I got a massage (which was very short and nobody told me that's extra) and I felt so comfy that I fell asleep. I wasn't asleep at all and spoke to my technician periodically. I was however VERY annoyed and anxious about being late to my next appointment and no lunch time so I just wanted to close my eyes and hopefully time will pass quicker.

I just didn't have time to argue further. I ended up leaving 45 min later than i wanted to and paid more than double (usd117 including tips vs usd 50) for a very unhappy experience and service that i...

I’m leaving this 1 star review because I’m very disappointed in my experience I recently just received. I came in the week of Christmas expecting my nails to last until New Year’s, because they always last a month when I get them done by bee. I want to head and booked my appointment for a UV short sat with anyone. I ended up getting Melissa. The receptionist decided that her family member was more important than me a customer, so she switched my appointment to be with Olivia instead of Melissa, who I originally was with, and I know my Hispanic people because I’m Spanish myself and I know this was not an act of it was running behind on schedule. People couldn’t do certain things I know it wasn’t because of that I know it was because she wanted Melissa to do her sister’s nails so she switched me Same day. I told Sophie that I was not happy that my nails were done by somebody I did not request and I think she didn’t even do the design that I wanted fast forward next day my nails chipped I called they told me they only have a five day policy that I can get my nails done or fixed within the same week I live in Brooklyn there’s no way I’m going all the way to New Jersey for just one nail to be fixed Fast forward two days later I’ll nail pops off so now I’m one week in with literally peel the nails I’m missing nails and a horrible set before Christmas and before New Year’s. I paid a full price $100 and tipped the girls $20 so I’m very very upset that I paid all of this and I was not given any type of compensation to come back? I was not told that I was I would receive money off or anything like that. All I was told was I could get that one nail fixed and I could rebook if I wanted to. I will not be rebooking I will not be coming back to this nail salon. I unfortunately she lost a very loyal client that paid and spent a lot of money at her shop , unfortunately this was due to the receptionist, not being professional due to my set being horrible and not being able to get anything compensated or redo them and I don’t know I’m just so disappointed in my whole entire experience. I’ve never experienced this going there like I said I’ve been going here for a very very long time. My girlfriend goes here and spend like over $200 every time we go, so for me to not be able to get my nails fixed or get any type of compensation now that it’s been two weeks and I came into the New Year’s with horrible nails because of Sophie’s nail studio. I I spend my Christmas with my nails horrible because of Neil Sophie’s nail studio so you’re telling me that I won’t be able to get anything after my experience. It’s really really horrible. Just horrible. I do not recommend over priced...

I’ve been a loyal customer at Sophie’s for over a year and have recommended many women to this salon. Just an hour after leaving my most recent appointment completely happy with my nails—so much so that I even posted them on my Instagram story tagging Ann, the BEST tech there and the salon—I received a rude and unsolicited text from management.

The message told me that my nail length was “not allowed” and suggested I find another salon. This was a total shock. I’ve been doing structured gel here since the beginning with healthy, strong nails and no issues, even working a busy job in a bar. My nails today are no longer than they’ve ever been.

Apparently, there’s now a new policy dictating nail length for structured gel. When I previously tried to follow this new policy and switched to UV gel, my nails lifted and one broke (something that had never happened before). So I went back to structured gel with slightly shorter nails and had no issues. This appointment went great—until I found out that a photo taken during my visit was sent to management, who then used it to criticize my nail length and reprimand my nail tech.

I called the front desk and spoke with a very sweet and understanding staff member. But after she spoke to her manager, I was told I’m now blocked from online booking because I prefer a certain nail length. I was also told that Ann—who is incredibly talented and did exactly what I asked—was reprimanded for doing her job well.

This entire experience was unprofessional and incredibly disappointing. I’ve supported this salon for over a year, and to be treated this way—especially after promoting them publicly—feels completely disrespectful.

Treating loyal clients and talented staff like this is not how you build trust or community.

*In response to your comment

My experience with the structured gel has been flawless from the start, with zero issues regarding strength or quality. As a bartender working with my hands five days a week, I’ve always found it perfectly suitable for my needs, and my nails have held up every time—without fail.

Contrary to what you suggest, I have not been "insisting" on anything. When you enforced the rule to switch to UV gel, I gave it a try, but my nails lifted and broke off. I then switched back to structured gel and shortened my nails. They are now far from long, so your rule about nail length doesn’t seem to apply here. Perhaps a standard of measuring nails before service is something to consider if this is truly an issue.

I find this rule to be unnecessary and the way it was handled unprofessional. My previous experiences with your services had been great, but this interaction has left me...