Aura Beauty Spa

CLOSING.
I will be following Titi to Nailtique!

Mani/​pedi Thursday afternoon.
Two other ladies were in there getting the same done, otherwise it was generally quiet.
Not sure who worked on my nails, it didn’t really matter because I was there to relax for a few while my nails were made all pretty.
The mani was kinda quick, massage was decent. Trimmed cuticles, no blood, so she did a good job in my book!
Pedi was a little longer, good job too.
Nails look great! :)

First i felt really bad giving this place 1 star but after you hear my reasoning, i think you’ll understand.
I came to this spa back in february for a manicure and was pretty satisfied so about a month ago i really wanted to treat myself to a mani+pedi and walked in at around 3 pm on a monday. I guess thats a plus, they took me in, not that they really had a choice because the place was empty lol.
Well ok, so there was one lady working on my nails and one on my toes and they were watching tv the whole time… this is where i should’ve known there would be a problem. First off, they cut the edges of my nails a few times and tried to hide and seal up the wound (gross). But the thing that really just made me go crazy was that i got an infection on my big toe! Three days later i noticed a blister-​looking liquid filled pocket on the side of my big toe and i was like huh?! and a day later it popped (sorry i know this is gross) and basically left this gross wound on my toe for the last month. Thankfully i know how to take care of myself and i disinfected it and have been treating the area so its almost dissapeared but it was just ridiculous.
I don’t know what to tell you guys, but it seemed like they definitely were at fault in this situation and i will NEVER ever come here ever again.

I came here again for Hot on Unilocal.HOY HOY! :) …I booked myself for the deluxe pedicure. I don’t usually make appointments for these casual spa places because they are good about taking walk-ins…But I made one ‘cuz I was instructed to do so by the Hot on Unilocal flyer and wanted to make sure I got the $ 21 deluxe pedicure deal. Which I did receive, hooray!
I walked in, was promptly seated because no one else was there. It was very quiet. It was just me and 3 workers — the owner and two ladies chilling, watching Asian TV/​dramas.
The overall experience was relaxing. The massage was really good. I tend to like more pressure for foot massages and my pedicurist seemed to know what to do. I wish I got her name!
The mint lotion really made my feet feel clean and the exfoliation, though rough, made my legs feel clean too! I do not think one’s legs really get that dirty on a daily basis so that was an interesting feeling. I think she did a thorough enough job to make my leg hairs come out of their pores ahahaha…
The lacquer application was just OK. You get what you pay for. I picked a light pink Essie polish and apparently light colors are hard to make even. I get light colors all the time I never heard of that but oh well. I understand… my toenails turned out fine.
I’d totally go back for just the foot massage portion if I can get the same lady.
I feel happier with this experience than my previous one. Perhaps I just got lucky with a better pedicurist. I don’t know. If I’m in the area and need a pedicure, I’ll probably come back :)

Got the $ 20 Dealperk Spa Manicure and Pedicure combo but since I wanted French tips it was going to cost me an extra $ 8. The space is nice and the massage chairs are much nicer than the ones I usually go to and they did a decent job but it could have been a bit better, they didn’t brush away all the white paint so it’s a bit smoky/​hazy looking on some nails but I agree with the other Unilocalers, they go crazy on your cuticles, which I’m not really a fan of. I wasn’t bleeding (well…I think) but when they were putting on the different coats, one of my toes stung and then went I went to go wash my hands, some of my fingers stung. Definitely going to have to Neosporin my fingers and toes. Since they didn’t really try to win me over as a new customer, both my cuticles and I am are going to stick to my local spot.

The ambiance and quality of the salon is worthy of more stars, BUT my lady was very rough with my mani & pedi! And worst of all, she blamed ME for being sensitive.
I am uploading a picture of what she did, after about 1 week. She nubbed my skin really hard when she was removing my cuticles and DEEPLY cut me. I was bleeding and tried to brush it off but it was stinging for awhile. I didn’t realize how deep the gash was until it started scabbing, it was quite frightening that she could go THAT deep!
Later she was «dabbing» my fingers dry but she bent a nail backwards because she was doing it so fast. I said «ouch!» and she said immediately «wow, you’re sensitive huh?» Sensitive!!! Look at my picture!
Overall it was ok, except for those 2 incidents… but my toe STILL is sensitive and it hurt for a few days after.

I’ve been here a few times and always get friendly service and nice nails. They’re not pushy about the extras, but they will offer them. The place is clean and they have nice massage chairs and foot spas.
Most recently I brought in an example of a special nail design and they replicated the design perfectly!
They used to accept credit card tips, but now will take cash only for tips so be sure to bring some with you if you don’t want to feel like a jerk!

6÷30÷2010
This spa is located really close to my work and apartment. I found the employees to be friendly, but not overly so. They weren’t pushy while they completed my services, but just chatty enough to make me feel comfortable. I will definately become a regular customer at this business!
8÷15÷10
Update!
So, I was really excited about this place the first few times I went there. It seemed like it was going to be my new go to place. HOWEVER, two weeks ago, when I went in for my pedicure, the girl left my toe nails crooked, & really long, I asked her to file them down, and she told me that they looked «chic.» Flash forward two days, and I was getting up from the floor when my toe nail caught on the carpet (because it was too long) and Ripped half of my big toe nail off.
I went back to the salon, with half toe nail, and I asked the manager to speak to her privately (I really liked her and I didn’t want to cause a scene.) I told her the situation, and she said that if they put my old ripped off toenail back on me they wouldn’t charge me, but if they did acyrilic it would last longer and would only be $ 2…Then, I think she was trying to tel me that the nail must have already been cracked, and that wasn’t there fault, but I couldn’t understand what she was saying so, I cut her off. I said fine, let’s do the acrylic, and even asked for a polish change ($ 10) while they were at it… They fixed my toe, and then a week later I went back for a face waxing.
The same manager I had tried to be curtious to a week earlier, acted like she didn’t remember me, and then when she was waxing me hardly talked to me at all…(normally, we would have a chatty conversation.) Then when she was done, and cleaning me up using the tweezers, she dragged them across my skin, and gave me scratches RIGHT on my CHIN! I look like a cat got to my face!
Needless to say, I feel I was treated very unfairly for my attempts to be nice about something that wasn’t my fault. I will NOT be going back to this place… which is too bad for them, since I am a montly pedicure and twice monthly waxing person… SO for being jerks, they just lost a $ 150/​month client. Great job Aura Spa… Not!

So the last time I got a facial was about 15 years ago. So I think I was due one. Ti Ti was my facialist and she did a very comendable job. It was a very soothing experience expect for the humming of the A/​C intake right outside the facial room.
She used all sorts of scrubs, lotions, steamers, lights, needles, plyers, towels to clean my face of all blackheads and blemishes, she went all out and most of it… didn’t hurt.
Everyone in the spa was very friendly and the place was nice and looked very clean. If you’re in Irvine or in the Diamond Jamboree Plaza you should give this place a try for your facial, nail care needs. I would give it 5 stars if it was a little less expensive. My facial was $ 90 w/​o tip. Kinda pricey but thats Irvine for you.

3.5 stars
Since Unilocal advertised for $ 14 pedicures at this place, how could I say no? I took my friend with me for her manicure.
Decent, decent service. This place is super clean and the staff is very polite and accommodating. We set an appointment for 11 am online and they kept the schedule! I wasn’t sure how often they checked. My friend had acrylic nails done by Helen and she said Helen did a good job.
I had Jessica for my pedicure. She started me with the warm water right away. I’m not sure if this is supposed to be the standard for all pedicures, but are they supposed to pour in the blue powder to sanitize your feet? I didn’t get that and only got the sea salt stuff 15 minutes after my feet were soaked and prepped for the polish. $ 5 extra for a foot scrub, didn’t mind they charged extra but I also thought that’s usually included in a spa pedicure. Jessica was really thorough with everything though. No nicks, pinches, or bleeding. Always a good sign, not that it’s happened to me before.
Total for me was $ 23 dollars ($ 5 foot scrub, $ 14 pedicure, $ 4 extra for French tips). My friend’s acrylic nails were $ 40 ($ 36 for acrylic nails, $ 4 extra for French tips). Overall my pedicure was anti-​climatic, I was half expecting for free flower designs or something, but I guess not. Oh well. This place is one of the more expensive places if it weren’t for the discount. A definite plus is that they take plastic!

I would totally recommend parking on the second story of the parking garage since there’s a bridge that connects to the 2^nd story building (which is where the nail salon is located). Otherwise, good luck finding parking, not to mention maneuvering around all of the car accidents in that parking lot.
The place is very clean and nicely decorated. The people there are very friendly and do a very nice job overall with the cleaning and painting during a mani-​pedi and the massage chairs are pretty awesome. Very open and roomy. I would definitely come here again :)

3 STARS TO 5 STARS!
WHY??? I went in to get a fill for my nails yesterday and spoke with the owner Petty about what happened last time. She was a little defensive at first, but I told her to take a look at my nails and she sat me down at one of the tables. I thought she was going to have one of the manicurist work on my nails, but she started prepping the stuff and asked how I wanted my nails to be done. To my surprise, she worked on my nails and she did a fantastic job! One of the acryllic on my nails lifted and she took the time to match the same acryllic color I had on other nails before adding on another layer of the new acryllic color I wanted. Honestly, almost all manicurists will be too lazy to do that and that is why I’m giving this place a 5 star!!! Petty takes her customers seriously and she’s a very nice lady. 5 stars for her excellent service and work =)

I’ve been here quite a few times over the last 6 months and i feel that their service has gone down substantially. every time i come here they seem to not be that busy, which is nice, but then they act like I’m bothering them, taking time away from their precious gossip.
most recently i decided to treat myself to a mani and pedi for Christmas. they started the water for me and i brought my own color so i just took a seat. they girl that was doing my toes was very nice and polite, but i noticed she was reading a magazine while she was working. uh wtf? and the woman that was doing my hands got a phone call and stayed on the call for about half of my manicure. i don’t ask much, they don’t even have to talk to me, but i think its a little rude to be totally distracted by something else when you have a customer.
also the way the lady polished my nails was horrible, she didn’t go over the entire nail on the second coat so you can totally see the lines and the color difference in my nails.
i think I’m going to take a break from this place for awhile and hope there service turns around. =/

I went to Aura for a mani/​pedi. With the price ($ 30 for both), it was hard to pass up! The workers are relatively friendly although they don’t go out of their way to make a welcoming experience. Customer Service is a C grade. Place appears clean, but that’s the key word. No air-​conditioning so it was stuffy on a hot day but I guess that’s ok.
The problems arose while I actually started getting the work done. My manicurist files all my nails with an angle. That’s fine if I would always look at my nails at a slant but unfortunately, the world isn’t crooked. I pointed out the slant and she said she would fix it but never did. I finally took the nail filer and did it myself while she went to put the tools away before polishing my nails.
My pedicure experience was painful. I’ve had SEVERAL pedicures in my lifetime but this was the worst. The actual pedicure turned out aesthetically pleasing but the process to get there and the aftermath was unpleasant. I think the name of my pedicurist was Vi and she came recommended when I did my due-​diligence on-​line. After my manicure deboccle, I was hopeful, but she ended up jamming the tools into my toes. The end result, which I discovered shortly after leaving the salon, was an infection underneath my skin. I even required medical treatment to take care of the infection.
It’s safe to say that I will not be returning to Aura and recommend that you don’t as well! The outcome is painful!

Helen set me up with pink and white powder tip. I was very impressed with the first set and first couple of fills but after about the 3^rd or 4^th fill, you could see touch up lines that made it look like there was marbling on the pink part of your nail. I’m a novice to the nail enhancement world but I’m assuming this is normal? I just haven’t seen it happen on anyone eles nails.
Acrylic removal is incredibly painful. It literally feels like someone is ripping the nail off of your finger. I suggest being heavily sedated or on some sort hallucinations before removing your acrylics especially if you had them on for about two months. Your fingers will hurt for days! They take another artificial nail and slide it under your nail and flick it off! The experience makes me want to steer clear of nail enhancements for a very long time.
I’ve gotten a facial here with TT (it’s an abbreviation of her Vietnamese name?) and she was very thorough, extracting everything from my face. This was also incredibly painful but I’d already expected such. Plus it’s a great feeling knowing all the yucky stuff is being removed from your skin. The hour facial was $ 75. Reasonably priced compared to most skin clinics in the area.
This place offers discounts to Unilocalers so do some searching for deals on certain days and/​or services.

Well, I did go to test Aura Beauty Salon out for a wax later that month.
This experience serves me right for writing a review on a place after only the first visit.
I wish I could remember her name, but whoever painted my nails did a gross job.
I got a mani/​pedi and a Brazilian wax.
The mani/​pedi went fine enough but whoever did my nails painted them with some weird sticky substance that collected lint and produced a sticky goo until I took it off a few days later.
The girl who did my toes didn’t add a topcoat, and didn’t do a French nail like I had asked many times.
I was also annoyed when they didn’t seem to want to search for my nail colour for me (I was already in the chair getting my feet scrubbed) After directing her as to where the colour I wanted was on the shelf, she gave up and picked another colour instead, saying «Same thing, Same thing». Except it was a different thing, and the different thing was not cute.
Top this mani/​pedi with a Brazilian wax that left me with patches of hair and wide bloody scabs across my bikini line, and I am no longer a fan of Aura Beauty Salon.
One really good visit and one really bad visit averages out to, I guess a 3 star rating?
I would take the «!» out of «A-​Ok!» Because I’m not that excited about the mediocre service I received on my most recent visit.
And the search for my dream nail salon continues…

Ehh this place was alright.
Lookswise the place is very cute. Does not have your typical nail salon smell and vibe. But that is about as far as it goes.
They are overpriced, even for Irvine. and my acrylics only looked good for about a day or two. The girl did not use enough powder on my nails and four of them broke, two within a week, and the other two shortly before I was due for a fill.
My toes turned out petty good but by far not the nicest pedi I have ever had.

I’ve gotten both my facial and nails done at Aura Beauty Spa, and I am one happy customer!
The first time I went there was for a mani and pedi. Jane did my nails, and she was very nice and professional. She made sure she filed my nails properly (at other nail salons I’ve been to I usually have to point out that a nail is crooked). I like that she took her time to get everything right, because I can’t stand it when it seems like someone’s rushing to get me out and the next customer in.
I went back today for a facial with Titi, and I loved it! I thoroughly enjoyed her great massaging techniques on my face, neck, shoulders, back, legs, feet, arms and hands! I ended up getting a membership package (11 facials for the price of 10). FYI, they use Murad products, which are fabulous. I got the Resurgence Renewal Facial, and I definitely saw immediate results. By the way, the facial was supposed to be 60 min. but it ended up being 90 min. – I kid you not! Titi said she didn’t have an appointment after mine, so she took her sweet time. =D

For a luxurious pampering session, Aura Beauty Spa is definitely one place to stop by. Unlike most nail salons, Aura Beauty Spa doesn’t smell like chemicals. The staff is friendly and accommodating. Because the salon is in a secluded area on the 2^nd floor, the view is nice as well.
2 of my gals and I came together for either french tip manicure or pedicure. Each session includes grooming of the fingers or toes, arm or leg massages, and scrubbing (for pedicure).
After finishing the first nail, the workers ask how we like it to make any modifications. The workers are dexterous and did a great job on all of us. They also did the french tip close in toward your fingers/​toes, so that your nails will take a couple of days to grow out. I like this since your nails last longer. All three of us plan on coming back again for future pampering sessions.

My friend and I came here for pedicures and they greeted us warmly and directed us to some plush, comfy pedicure seats. When we came it was the middle of a workday afternoon so it wasn’t too busy… there were only about 3 people working. Unfortunately, they didn’t have enough people to do both our pedicures at the same time so they just asked me to relax and turned on the massage chair while I waited. Luckily there was a flatscreen TV right next to me so I watched The Matrix and dozed off.
My pedicure turned out pretty nice and they cleaned up my cuticles well. They offer OPI nail polish, which is a good thing… overall a good experience.