The New Era Nails — Local services in La Mesa

I hesitated to write this review but I’m really unhappy with services here. My friend and I were going to this salon every 3 weeks for months, but here’s why I won’t be going back. Originally, I liked it because the quality was good for the price. Currently I have 3 broken nails, 2 of which happened a little over a week after my last fill. They look terrible. The last few times I’ve booked my appt, they have written it down incorrectly and then either made us wait 45 min or, on one occasion, we booked for Sunday at 9am and they confirmed. We got there and they were closed. Booking is always an issue. Here’s what happened the last time that really upset me.

My friend and I were running 3 min behind and they called asking where we were as we were pulling into the parking lot. Fair enough, we were 3 min behind schedule, but typically when we get there it’s a 20-45 min wait with an appointment. So we sit down, and I had to remind them we were getting pedicures too. No big deal, they tell us they will move us to the pedicure section. Normally they do nails and pedis together. This did not happen and of course this means it will take longer. Again not an issue but already we have dealt with scheduling issues multiple times, so it’s frustrating when they tell us one thing and it never happens, making a 1 hr appointment double the time. For the price of hard gel, there is NO cuticle care. You have to ask and it’s extra. I didn’t know this was even a thing until last time when I asked and they said it was extra. That’s never been told to me before. During the pedicure, the tech was about to put lotion on my legs and I politely said “oh I don’t want that” and he said “are you sure” and proceeded to then rub lotion on both my legs. I was too tired so I just looked at my friend and said “guess I lost that battle” because I told him twice. What really soured me and made me never want to go back though was this. I ordered a glass of champagne before pedicure. They bring it. We have our pedicure and then they just leave us in the chair - they didn’t help put shoes on or tell us we were good to go. So we both pay, they just tell me the total and I pay it and then Venmo him the tip. 3 min after we leave, I get a call from the salon. I ask if there was an issue with payment (even though it was fine when we left) and the tech is demanding I venmo him $6 for the drink as he forgot to add it to my bill. I’m confused and a little put off, also I am driving so so I say ok no problem. As I’m driving, within the 15 min to get home I get a Venmo request, a Venmo reminder, a text reminder for the $6. I’m getting harassed for $6 that he forgot to charge me. And im driving so I’m not replying.

All around bad customer service. And as you can see in my picture my nails aren’t super grown out, still chipping.

Overall, the last time we went there they genuinely made us both feel like they hated us. I liked the tech previously but I’m...

I miss The Glam Bar. I miss April and some of the other great people that used to work there. I will not be coming back and here is why: When I started coming to the Glam bar a few years ago, it was one of the best places to relax and get an incredible salon experience. They were generally very well staffed, so I could get a gel mani & pedi at the same time. Not with new ownership, I must be there at a minimum of 2 hours. My time is valuable as well as the nail techs. April and the other techs from the Glam Bar spoke lightly to each other, not yelling across the salon as the new people do...The music was light & relaxing at the Glam Bar, a stark contrast to new ownership the music is loud (and with commercials) or it was the last 2 times I was there. No more discounts for frequent guests ? When it was the Glam Bar every few appointments, I would get a little reward of a discount, most often I would just tip my nail tech extra, big mistake for new ownership to no longer offer this. Pricing also seemed higher, and wait times with an appointment. Jenny is one of my favorite nail techs and I fear she will be next to leave. I saw her running all over the place as if she is now a grunt worker there, she deserves better treatment. For these reasons I WONT be back and I will NOT recommend the new ownership or the other nail tech staff who seem rude, young and not into providing the salon experience I was used to with The Glam Bar. Good luck New Era Nails, your gonna loose more...

I called for a last minute appointment and they got me in right away. My nails were in quite a state; all different shapes, sizes, 3 with extensions, the rest natural with 4 "repaired" with dip powder. Tanya did a beautiful job of cleaning up and shaping my nails without loosing length, she completely re-did one of the extensions that was particularly ugly (and didn't charge me for it what an angel). She applied acrylic to my natural nails just as I asked for a strong beautiful mani. It's been two weeks and normally (at my old salon) my set would be so grown out that I would need to return and often had lifting, this set? Still almost looks new! She had gotten it so close to my cuticle (while not getting on it). This place is deffinately out of the way for me but I don't think I'll go anywhere else from now on. Photos are from two weeks after the service! And believe me I am rough...