Sanctuary Nail Spa

I have the worst nails in the world. Bridget makes them look fantastic! She is a miracle worker. This small, friendly and intimate salon is so refreshing, not the 20 station nail factories where no one speaks to you and you can’t even ask a question.
Simply the best, I travel in from the suburbs to see Bridget. I have tried many in my area but none compare.

I purchased a groupon for a mani/​pedi and tried multiple times to schedule an appointment but time after time was told that they had no availability and that their next appointment was in 2 weeks or something ridiculous. Let’s be real, when you want a mani/​pedi you want it now not in 2 weeks! My groupon expired and I finally went in this weekend to redeem the credit and decided on a no chip manicure.
Upon walking into this place I quickly realized why they were always booked — NOT because it’s a super cool posh nail spa but because they only have 3 pedicure stations, 4 manicure stations, and only 3 people working, It’s a very bare bones nail spa that has likely not had any renovations for the past 10 years. The pedicure area is essentially a bench with a small cushion for lumbar support (or to sit on?) and a basin to put your feet in. No spa chair and it looks very uncomfortable. The pedicure stations are pretty standard but the service and quality of my no chip manicure was sub par compared to other nail salons in the area. The nail technician was very focused and seemed to be paying attention to detail but when I left the salon I realized I had no chip polish on my cuticles not to mention she didn’t even polish all the way to my cuticles so on day 1 it already looks grown out.
There are atleast 3 other nail salons within 1 block of this place that are much better and cheaper ($ 45 for a no chip mani). I will definitely not be returning.

Have been to Sanctuary before for no chip mani/​pedi and service was meh the first time around. Figured I’d give them another try with groupon, but when I called to make an appt today, they wanted a credit card # to hold my appt. The guy I spoke with said I could make a non-​groupon appt without leaving credit card, but not if I want to use a groupon.
Really? Unfortunate to treat groupon customers this way. If it were standard practice for all, ok. There are too many other fabulous nail salons in this city to waste time with this place. Won’t be going back.

I have been going to Sanctuary for almost 4 years now. I swear by their no-​chip manicures. I could not imagine having my nails any other way. Over the past year or so I know any other salons in the city offer this service but I have heard so many stories about other no-​chips coming off and not lasting. NOT Sanctuary. My nails stay on 2 – 3 weeks and Jessica always does an amazing job. Prices are reasonable and they are always accommodating with schedules too.

There are plenty of nail shops in Old Town — go somewhere else! I don’t mind a budget nail shop, but this one is too much. No dryers, sloppy polish application, no cuticle cutting, unprofessional banter. Pretty sure I’d rather do my nails myself… or go down the street to Magnifique ;)

I tried it because of Groupon. I will not go again. There are too many salons nearer to me that actually do good work. I had to wait 30 minutes and I felt like it was a rushed job. No cuticle work was done at all. I am giving it one star because there was electricity.

1. I was a groupon customer and they extended my appointment to fit me at my convenience beyond the deadline.
2.They were ready for me and I didnt have to wait at all.
3.I think her name was Bridgette and she did a fantastic job on my hands and legs. She was extremely meticulous and really seemed like she wanted my nails to look pretty !!
4.the best part is this is the first salon where the «no chip» manicure really comes true !! I didnt have to wait more than 3 mins after the last coat to leave the place and didnt have to fumble with driving and wearing my coat to make sure it does not get ruined !! I waited for 2.5 weeks to write this review and my nails still havent chipped !! they still look shiny and glossy as ever and the only problem is that my nails have grown !!
5.I will definitely be going back to this place !!
and yes they only do have a long padded bench to sit on during the pedicure but I thought that not having a massage chair was worth it when I see my nails still looking good after almost three weeks !!

This is a no frills place. They did an adequate job. I would’ve chosen 3 stars if it meant ‘ok’ but ‘a ok’ implies that it was a better than average experience.
If you’re looking for a basic place to get a mani/​pedi give them a try. 2 stars doesn’t mean bad it just means it was nothing special.

All in all, I was disappointed.
Yes, I was a Groupon customer, but no, I don’t think I should be given poor service. I actually live in the area and was really excited to learn that there was a nail salon nearby. I won’t be going back for several reasons.
I made an appointment a week in advance, and received 2 phone calls in-​between. One was to request a schedule change b/​c a nail technician quit (TMI) and the second was to confirm. I agreed to push my appointment back by 1 hour. I showed up 20 minutes early and planned on reading a magazine. When I announced my name the technician goes, what did I tell you? Ok. That was rude. I knew I was early, but I wanted to relax and read a magazine. That was a bit of a problem, because there wasn’t a waiting room. Fortunately, I was able to jump in early.
I went to pick out my mail polish color and all of them were practically empty. In fact, there wasn’t much to choose from. Is this salon doing so poorly that they can’t make sure their colors are in stock? That was a bit strange.
I was told to go sit on a bench (yes, a bench) for my Pedi. There was no massage chair. FYI — the reason I like getting Pedi’s is for the massage chair. That was disappointing. However, the technician did an excellent job! She really took her time and my feet felt brand new when she was done.
I had to pick out a new color for my hands, because the color for my feet ran out. I thought was strange as well. Definitely the first time that ever happened before at nail salon. I picked out a new color and she began the Mani. However, another customer was getting a touch up on her no-​chip Mani and needed to head out the door. My technician asked if it was ok to stop mine and help her. I felt rude saying no, so of course, I said sure. She was working on both of us at the same time. Again, very strange. I also noticed that the towel the technician was using is the exact towel I bought at Wal-​Mart for my kitchen. Pretty low budget, but normally a very expensive place. The décor wasn’t anything to speak of, and there was hip-​hop music in the background. The other technicians were actually signing to it while working… again, strange.
My technician did do an excellent job on my Mani. It’s only the 2^nd day, but it’s holding up well. Obviously, this tech is the best asset this studio has.
Another strange thing, there weren’t any fans or lights to help with drying. Isn’t that a fundamental in a nail salon?
All in all, disappointing but great technician. I don’t plan on going back.

The resin why I gave two is the nail tech hurt my nails and cut it into a weird shape. She realized that also. Lol it’s kinda funny. The guy do my meni and maybe is a goupon, they r not offering a good service? I cannot expect a good service? I mean the reason why u open a goupon is to bring more business, you can’t just treat customer bad only bc they hold the groupon but paying regularly. Ppl won’t be happy and won’t go back then u lose business
They charge total as 45 for a meni+pedi which is pricey in a vintage salon
But to be honest, the service is OKOk, except the pedi lady mess up my nail shape. lol

As soon as I left, I was planning on giving this place no more than a two star review.
They had a good selection of colors. As people have mentioned, no salon chairs for the pedi, but the bench wasn’t uncomfortable. They didn’t offer me any magazines like they did the girl who walked in minutes after me… That was unfortunate. The guy who did my nails was good enough, but he chatted with the other nail tech the whole time which was a little awkward. He also repeatedly picked up his phone to text his friend while giving me my manicure and pedicure… Seriously? I noticed he scrimped a bit as well. Maybe it was because I had a groupon, or because it was the end of the day, but he only massaged one leg! Lame! I should have said something.
The Pedi looked good by the end. The manicure was also a little too short for my taste — definitely a little more scrimping. But it looked good when I left, and it was only $ 20, so whatever. I tipped him well anyways. He was friendly enough.
Now the reason I’m giving this place three stars instead of two is because the manicure lasted amazingly! Seriously, it took almost a week before chipping! And this was just a plain mani, not the no-​chip one. My pedi still looks fantastic! I don’t know how they did it. It’s expensive, so I probably won’t go back without another Groupon, but anywhere I get a regular mani that lasts a week before chipping deserves at least three stars.

As far as this salon being convenient, it is not! I’ve been waiting for three weeks to get in (thanks Groupon) for my no chip and pedicure. And this place is not open on Sunday or Monday!!! WTF! They did not return my phone call to confirm my appointment.
Overall, I’m super annoyed and a little pissed that I bought TWO of these Groupons. I really wish that they would get that since they sold over a 1000 groupons that maybe it’s a good idea to open on days like Sunday and Monday!

This place is hard to find, but it was an excellent experience.
Pros:
–No Chip Manicure: they have lots of color options and use the good kind of «polish» that strengthens your nails and doesn’t ruin them. I can’t remember the name of it at the moment.
–Staff: they were really friendly and attentive. Bridget was my technician, and she spent lots of time on my nails making sure that they were perfect.
–Space: it’s small, but it’s peaceful and quiet and you don’t have people walking down the street looking in and staring at you.
Cons:
–Chairs: for pedicures, there are no massage chairs. It’s just a long bench that is padded. It’s definitely not uncomfortable, but I like having the massage chair.
–No razor: I know that the razor is technically not good for your feet, but for those of us that wait a while between pedicures and want all those calluses gone, this was a bit disappointing. However, they do a good job filing the bottoms of your feet, so if your calluses aren’t too bad, this is an excellent option.
Note: This place is hard to find. It’s at 1500 Wells, and it’s basically in the building with the Northern Trust ATM. You enter, buzz for Sanctuary Nail Spa, and then go up the stairs and to your left. There’s also a hair salon in that same building, and if you haven’t been there before and say that Sanctuary Nails recommended you, the hair salon will give you 20% off of your first service! I haven’t been yet, so I can’t comment on how good they are.
Overall: I would definitely go back for the no-​chip manicure.

I’m obsessed with Groupon, so when they ran a special for a no-​chip mani and pedi here I decided it was time to try this much touted manicure. My nails are PERFECT! The pedicure looks awesome too. I was the only client in the spa during my appointment because there was only one technician working. I’m not sure if this is how it normally is, but it made for a quick and easy visit. I did not have anything to take off my nails when I got there so I was in and out in an hour, but I have heard that having a previous no-​chip to take off can add a few minutes. Final bonus: they have at least 40 no-​chip colors to choose from!

I had purchased on of the deals for a $ 35 no chip mani and regular pedi.
After trying no chip at a few other salons and many times at each, I figured why not? I could not be happier!
They were able to squeeze me in the day I called even with their busy schedule. I had Brigitte and she was fantastic. Super nice and attentive. I had to rush her a bit (my meter was going to be up) and she was still nice about it and still did a high quality job.
It has now been two weeks today and my nails still have no chips! Everywhere else I have been I have gotten chips in a week and a half or less. I’m sure I could even go another week.
Parking is super hard and expensive (it’d old town after all). I initially thought that this was going to deter me from coming back, but after seeing how amazing my nails STILL look I will drive around and pay extra for parking!

I have patiently waited 2 weeks since my first trip to Sanctuary Nail Spa to write my review because I have had bad experiences with no chip before, and I wanted to make sure it’d last before I gave a positive OR negative review. I’ve gone to three other salons to have the no chip applied and within 5 days I had chips. When no chip chips, it’s worse than when regular polish chips because you can’t buy the stuff to correct it yourself, and it’s a process to take it off so you can’t just rush home and remove it.
I had read good reviews on Unilocal of Khrystina’s service at Sanctuary and when I went as a walk in and took the first person available, who happened to be Khrystina! I’ll say that all the technicians there seemed to be favorites with many regulars, so I assume they are all very good.
I got my no chip 2 weeks ago today, and just returned from my second visit. I had zero chips, and could have definitely gone longer before a touch up except for the grow out. Khrystina is incredibly efficient. I had an appointment at 11, her previous client got up and left the chair at 10:59 AM and I slid right in. The process to remove the polish is quick, much less of a hassle than I had expected. With removing the previous color and another manicure it was exactly an hour. It is definitely worth the extra few minutes and extra couple of bucks it costs to have beautiful, flawless nails for 2 weeks. No chip has far fewer color options than other polish brands, but Khrystina is very skilled at mixing colors and can make almost anything you envision.
It really isn’t much to look at inside. The door is hard to find, and the salon is tight. There aren’t individual stations, but 3 long tables with 3 stations each. You walk in and the pedicure stations are perched just to your left, and there isn’t much room to wait. The lighting is terrible, and the chairs are just typical office chairs. But who cares?! If my nails looked like crap and the no chip didn’t last, maybe I’d care about the décor, but I don’t. Plus they always offer me coffee, tea, or a mimosa! Can’t go wrong. I highly recommend you make a trip to Sanctuary Nail to try out the no chip.

I’m OK with blue nails if I pick a blue nail polish, but besides that I find blue nails to be pretty icky. And after almost 2 years of no-​chip manis at Sanctuary Nail Spa my nails turned blue. Yikes!
When Christina does my nails they are awesome. They last for weeks, which is afterall the whole point of the no chip manicure, and they certainly don’t turn blue! And she’s fun to chat with!
However, when Christina is booked or traveling I’ve often tried other nail technicians here and it’s just not the same. My nails chip within a week and the last few times they’ve turned an icky blue under my pink nail polish.
I’ve decided to give up on Sanctuary Nail Spa, but haven’t given up on the no chip manicure. Most recently I tried another brand of no-​chip at the East Bank Club spa. It’s the same price as Sanctuary Nail Spa ($ 40 for a no-​chip). It’s been 2 weeks of no chips and they are still pale pink, which is what I was going for. If I wanted blue nails I“d pick out a blue nail polish!

I can’t believe I have not heard of this amazing thing called the «No-​Chip Manicure» until now. Where in the world have I been?
Let me start out by saying that I AM the chick that chips her manicure immediately, I mean like in the time it takes to get from the nail salon to my car… yep, I am really rough on my nails. I had stopped getting manicures because it was starting to become a waste of money.
So as soon as I found out about the No-​Chip, I looked up nail salons that specialize in it on Unilocal,and thought I’d check out Sanctuary. I took my mom along because she was having the same chipping problems as I was.
The process is really interesting. They put some type of gel on your nails and let it dry under a UV light, then apply the polish (with a paintbrush type tool) and put your hands back under the UV light. The end result is fantastic. I am so happy with my manicure (my mom is too)! It looks great. I think the most awesome thing is that you walk out of the shop and your nails are completely dry. There is no having to be delicate with your hands for a couple of hours just to make sure your manicure doesn’t chip. And the whole process only took about an hour. It’s been three days since my manicure and not a chip in sight!
I also noticed that some people docked stars because they said the inside of Sanctuary doesn’t look very spa-​like. It’s small, but very comfortable. And no, it doesn’t look like one of those big, expensive downtown/​loop spas where you’re most likely paying for the ambience. Maybe it’s just the type of person I am, but as long as a place is clean and neat, the service is the most important thing to me. And my No-​Chip manicure turned out great! I’ll be back!

Just call me «Chippy.»
Why?
Because my seemingly beautiful red holiday manicure chipped within hours of getting it, and after 3 days…3 solider digits down. Oh, sadness.
Overall: A nice-​ish place in Old Town, specializing in no-​chip manicures. (I just got a regular one, perhaps my biggest blunder?). Good color selection, pretty clean, crazy 80’s music and some super pastel décor. All fine and good, I’d have my nails done in a barn if they looked perfectionx10, so… it’s all good.
Timing: Made an appointment for 1pm, didn’t leave til 205. Got a late start, my girl was running behind. Then a pretty laborious (and unenthused!) manicure ensued. It was all fine, but probably chipped because it was put on a bit thick.
Would I go back? Sure.
Would I get the no-​chip instead? Yes.
$ 15 manicures. I’ve had better!

I came here to get a full set of Brisa gel tips. I have a severe acrylic allergy, and my nails are terribly short and flimsy making no-​chip a non-​starter for me. Brisa gel are touted as hypo-​allergenic and acrylic free, and happily, I did not develop a blistering rash like I did with my last acrylic set 7 years ago!
My nail tech (Shauna?) did a great job. She was very methodical but efficient, and the nails look great one week later. No chips, no allergic reaction. My friend came for the no-​chip mani and a pedi, and had an equally good service experience.
I left off one star because it is a pretty average looking salon with distractingly bad music.