Elaine Nail Salon — Local services in Philadelphia

i came in with an appointment set by my partner, upon coming in the older woman ignored me while I said hello and asked a question but the woman next to her was open to answer them for me. the older woman gave me such a look that felt really uncomfortable. a few moment later they were ready for me , i received a pedicure by the man that works there. They proceeded to rush through my gel mani pedi doing the manicure at the same time while i was in the pedicure chair which was a bit overwhelming because I wasn’t asked or prepped for this. my partner who is biracial and lighter skin was met with so much kindness at the door , the older woman was super vocal and happy to take them saying how much my partner was so nice and even standing up by the door to talk to them. I am dark skin and not biracial so you could only imagine how watching this felt. they took their time doing my partners nails which look way better than mine, they barley filed me down. To say the least this did not feel good and i did not feel welcomed, i came in super kind and was treated as if i was an inconvenience. the shop was not packed. this felt like colorism but to say the least i will not be returning. I gave a $20 tip to everyone in there simply because i am a service worker as well, i work full time customer service and was hoping my one day off id be able to enjoy some selfcare but i left feeling...

I’ve been coming to Elaine Nails for a while now, and it’s easily my go-to salon in the city for gel manicure and regular pedicure. I believe they are a family-run busines, as I always see the same friendly faces each time, and they always remember me and greet me warmly, even if I just walk in without an appointment. They truly make an effort to know their customers, which makes every visit feel personal.

No matter which technician I see, the quality is consistently excellent. They’re gentle, attentive, and genuinely thoughtful in their interactions (something that sets them apart from so many other salons I’ve tried.) Their work is always top-notch, whether it’s a simple one-color manicure or designs. They have a huge selection of colors and are always on top of current trends, so they can do exactly what you ask for and make it look amazing. Also, I get gel manicures and regular pedicures -- my nails typically last 2-4 weeks (and mind you, I'm not gentle with them haha).

I get so many compliments on my nails after visiting here, and it’s a testament to the level of care and detail they put into their work. I can’t recommend them enough, if you’re looking for skilled technicians who truly value their customers and have meaningful interactions, this...

Listen to the negative reviews, each and every one, because they are valid I wish I had listned before going. The older lady and the older man were very rough with my hands, it's been 3 days and I still have deep cuts on 3 of my fingers that hurt. They also seemed a bit standoffs and rude as well. When I asked for stiletto acrylic, the lady complained that my hands were small. When I asked to make my nails a bit sharper she complained.

I understand that they may come across rude customers due to the location they are in so I made sure to go in the shop and be polite, I even showed up 30mins before my appointment. So to be treated the way I was, was just unacceptable, it wasn't until I tipped them both $20 on a $65 bill (the bill is less than what I normally spend on my nails every 2 weeks) is when they started trying to return the energy I was trying to give the entire time.

I only went to this shop because my friend was not be able to get me in to her shop due to it being booked up already. I'll never go back to this place, the only highlight is that the younger girl that worked there...