KandiLand

So after much debate I’ve decided to post my honest review from my visit on ⁰⁶⁄₁₇.
Pros: They were very accommodating! I called at 10am for a 11am appointment for a regular mani/​pedi and they said I could come on in. I ended up being about 8 mins late (they have a 5 min grace period btw) because my gps took me down the street to a different address. However when I called to apologize for running late and to help me find them they did so easily. I was greeted pleasantly as soon as I walked in, instructed to pick my color, and then waiting all of 2 mins before my nail tech (Saccia) came to greet me and take me to her station. Awesome! She immediately offered me water and helped me decide on what color I wanted (I was indecisive lol). For the pedi, Saccia did check the warm temp with me before putting my feet in the water. Checking out was smooth. Tip process easily added to the card. The shop (including the restroom) is very clean. The polish was neatly placed on the wall making it extremely easy to find a regular polish (left side) or a gel polish (right side). I also received a $ 5 off coupon for my next visit. The ladies have a great sense of humor and know how to engage in great inclusive conversations.
Cons: the mani/​pedi didn’t feel as pampering as I have received from various salons. I had to ask Saccia to correct the shape that she made on some of my nails because she filed them slightly crooked (she fixed them without hesitation). My nails weren’t soaked for the mani nor did I receive the massage (these two are listed in the description box on the booking page btw, I just checked). My cuticles were not groomed thoroughly (See the pics attached). For the pedi, I had to ask Saccia to make sure to clean under my nails. Once I left the salon the first time my pedicure was already messed up because the top coat wasn’t applied evenly throughout the whole nail and it dried with wrinkles. When I walked back in Saccia proceeded to fix the messed up nails urgently (which is great btw) and Kandi told her as well to apply the top coat evenly and all the way to the cuticles because the top coat shrinks (side note: Seche Vite is the top coat btw and it’s awesome and long lasting).
So needless to say all the corrections on my pedi was made and I was out of there. Yay!
20 mins later I get to Beverly Hills and stepped into the bright sunlight and was unhappy. Ahhhh! Aside from the uneven coats of nail polish (I’m not counting this because I know it’s difficult to paint light colors evenly) the top coat on almost all of my nails were not applied to the full nail so as it continued to dry it now looks as though I have a really old mani and pedi. There are black spots in some on my nails on my hands. My cuticles on my hands and feet didn’t look like they were just groomed.
This was my 1^st visit at Kandiland as a customer, can’t say it’ll be my last, however I can’t really say I’ll be able to put in the time to research their nail techs before I come back. I’m just disappointed that I have to get my fresh mani/​pedi fixed already.
I hope this review is taken as constructive criticism for future learning purposes. Saccia is very pleasant it’s just the overall result wasn’t great.

Despite my first visit they absolutely took care of me the second time around. Extremely talented group of girls working here. If you are thinking of getting a new set I would highly recommend coming here. You won’t be disappointed!

For the amount of money that it cost to get nails done here, I just want better quality. It’s the attention to detail that is lacking, and for $ 95, every detail should be perfect. The acrylic is uneven in spots where it has small bumps. 4 of my NAILS are cut uneven and slanted, 2 of them are pretty noticeable. I’m sure the manicurist realized it at the time. And the designs are just lacking the attention to detail that they should at the cost. The line work is bumpy, the areas that are filled in aren’t filled in all the way. It’s just not good enough. They’re cute nails, but I could get this exact design with acrylic that’s not bumpy and nails that are straight for $ 30 less, so why should I pay more for this? I wish I had known I was paying $ 100 for these nails, I would have made sure better work was done. The girl that did them was nice – she has a good artistic eye. I like the design, but at the end of the day the quality does not reflect the price.

I personally found the service way overpriced especially for the quality that was delivered.
When paying I found out there were these $ 5 hidden fees I wasn’t informed about.
Then the nail technician, I think her name was Saccia, took almost 2 hours to do a basic mani/​pedi on top of the fact that in removing my cuticles she made me bleed!
Not only that but they also double booked me, so I had to wait over 20 minutes when I had an appointment.
Oh and the color barely lasted me 3 days (it usually lasts a week or so).
Yep thanks but no thanks!
I think I’ll let Melrose be pretentious while I get my nails done for half the price in Thai Town.

This review is for Sharina. Brenda is usually my nail girl. I was in desperate need of a full set so I went ahead and booked Sharina because Brenda was not available. Sharina exceeded my expectations. She was very polite and made awesome conversation. Made me feel as I was hanging out with my girlfriend! Her shaping is also on point. I’m very satisfied!

I absolutely love this place! I get my eyebrows done with Brittany and she is absolutely AMAZING at what she does! I will never go with anyone else. She is an absolute artist with brows! The establishment is so adorable and chic. I just can’t rave enough about this place and Brittany! You have to try it out!

I absolutely love Kandi. She does a great thorough job and my nails always look fabulous. After searching for a good place to get natural looking acrylics I finally found one! The salon is also super cute, very clean and «candy» themed, and they also seem to always be playing good music. Booking can be difficult (she seems to have a large client base) so try & make your appointment in advance.

15 minutes late due to parking and told I won’t be able to have gel polish ill have to get normal polish due to them scheduling clients too closely. I’ll pass. the lack of professionalism and time management is just too much for me.
I came in for a soak off an full set with gel polish and no design. Kandi did my nails an they came out gorg. They also have a great gel color collection. The nail shop is on melrose and Is very simple and cutesy. The cost of my service I believe came out to 95 $ which is expensive but apparently a lot less expensive than the other reviews I’ve read. And at the end of the service I was 100% happy with my nails so I had no reason to complain about the price. (But that’s just me. It’s more stressful for me to walk out with a shitty set than pay a little more for a good one) Although I do also agree they don’t inform clients of prices before their service begins. The only complaint I would have is Kandiland nails is not the most professional. And They could definitely work on their customer service. Doesn’t help give the salon a relaxing spa feel like one would hope for in a salon. Which brings me to the pedicure chairs. Super cute really tall chairs but not the traditional pedicure chair. No reclining/​massage/​comfort. Just a heads up for those looking for a spa feel salon. all in all the shop doesn’t have your traditional comfortable nail salon feel but if you’re particular about your nails and are having trouble finding someone who will do your nails correctly Kandi is an easy recommendation. 5 stars for the nails though

My first time here and now I can confidently say I’ve found my nail haven and very skilled nail technician, Patricia. Lovely experience

This was my first visit to Kandiland and this will, sadly, be my last.
To begin, I was not well informed that nail designs for regular nail polish would produce a $ 66 bill at $ 5/​nail design plus the $ 16 manicure fee.
Yes, you read that right. I paid $ 66 for regular old nail polish. Not gel, not acrylics, polish.
Anyway, my technician Patricia is probably very talented in some other nail aspects. According to her IG, it looks like she does a pretty good acrylic set but and however, nail designs are not her strength.
At $ 66, my nails should not be uneven with the top coat not fully covering the very thick nail polish application.
So, when I called the owner, Kandi, to give her this feedback and to find solutions to rectify this piss poor nail job, she basically told me in so many words to just deal. She did offer to redo my nails but said that I would have to pay again and it would be sometime in the next week.
Girl, WHY would I spend more money with your salon?
I hope you continue to thrive with this excellent customer service that you’re offering. Best Wishes!

I’ve been getting my nails done exclusively from Kandi for 5 years and I’ve definitely noticed the difference. I’m extremely rough with my hands and constantly washing them. Because of this I’m prone to chipping, even with gel. Thankfully, Kandi has helped my gel nails last a minimum of 3 weeks and sometimes longer. Usually the issue is my new growth over chipping.
Unfortunately, at my current job I can’t have designs, but I used to get them all the time. The crystals last weeks and her hand painted designs are incredible. If that’s what you’re looking for, no one does it better.
What I also love about Kandi is her cleanliness and commitment to products that promote nail health and growth. Aside from quality nails, it’s also just fun to be around Kandi and in the shop. She’s definitely crazy but she’s the good kind and it makes for an exciting appointment.
I can also vouch for Patricia. I took my mom to get a mani/​pedi for her birthday in December and she literally still talks about it. She too is rough with her hands but it lasted 4 weeks before chipping and she raves about how much her nails grew and how healthy they were. She doesn’t live in LA so every time time she gets her nails done she compares it to Patricia. Nothing’s as good as Patricia lol. She also gives bomb pedicures. I got one a few weeks and the polish is still going strong and she made my feet look like new!
Overall if you’re looking for a guaranteed great manicure/​pedicure Kandiland is the best. It might be a little more expensive than the shop on the corner but you get what you pay for and she’s serving greatness. Do yourself a favor.

***Updated Review***
I’ve been coming to KandiLand since its grand opening at the Melrose Location the week it opened back in September. Each time I have gone, I have gotten nothing less than superior customer service and bang for my buck. Everyone here (from the receptionists, my nail tech, and the other nail techs) have all been friendly! I always leave here completely satisfied with fly ass nails! You cannot beat the price you pay here for the QUALITY you get when serviced at KandiLand. I’ve gotten serviced by both Kandi & Brenda. Both are super sweet and funny, and hellaaaa talented!
Tip #1: Walk-​ins are welcome but make an appointment instead (thank me later)
Tip #2: Try & bring cash if possible there is a 3% transaction fee for CC (there is a sign posted at the reception desk, so no surprises!)
Tip #3: ALWAYS Tip your nail tech & get there at least 5 mins early.
Parking– 1 $/​hour meter parking in front of the shop or park residential on N Alta Vista & N Poinsettia for free.

Loved it! Great experience.
Gorgeous interior.
Best color and brand selection.
Music is on point.
Very clean.
Go here!

The nieces love Kandiland and they’re from Virginia! And yes we travelled for more than an hour to get their nails done. Kandi’s shop used to be in Long Beach but this shop is a lot bigger and of course more fabulous. I even recommended another nail salon here in OC (my bad) but they refused because they love the quality and workmanship at Kandiland. Plus Kandi and her staff are all very nice, friendly and fun.

The woman who answered the phone was sweet. My nail tech wasn’t, said less than 10 words to me the entire time. She also took nearly 2 hours for a mani/​pedi, didn’t clean under my toenails, my finger cuticles look terrible, and I already have a chip. Their pedi chairs are fancy, but super uncomfortable. Just another disappointing Nail salon on Melrose.

Just want to start by saying I’m in love with my nails! I’ve visited this salon twice and had Patricia put me on my best nail game both times! I’ve been searching for a new nail salon since moving in the area in May and finally I’ve found the place.
I see reviews of people complaining about timing issues at this salon and with that i can honestly say I’ve had my nails done in an hour in nearby salons on melrose only to leave with poorly shaped nails, lumpy unsmooth surfaces, GEL CHIPPING within the first week and even a few broken nails over time from the acrylic getting to old sooner than usual.
That being said, I definatly don’t mind a little extra time for the quality of work that shines through. Patricia blessed my nails both visits I could not stop obsessing how perfect the shape was and while going well over the typical 2week fill time span they kept shape without dulling down too much.
Pricing is average for the area, some places even charge more for not nearly as good work so maybe the people commenting about pricing complaints have never had thier nails done on melrose before.

I love this place!!!
I’ve been here twice now, and both times have been amazing!
My cousin and I came in as walk ins and they took us in right away! Patricia did my nails and I adore them! I explained to her what I wanted and she made my design idea pop into reality on my hands!
She also took care of my dry cuticles and did everything she could to make sure I was comfortable while she did reshaping of my nails and all. I had an allergic reaction to something that another nail shop used on my nails… And when I got my nails done here, no reaction at all… I could only think that happened because at KandiLand, it’s all high quality.
My cousin and I had a ball and love our nails! As far as it is from my house, I will still make trips to KandiLand to get my nails done, it is do worth it!

Update: I just want to say that nothing in the response from the owners it KandiLand is true about what I was told BEFORE getting my nails done and I did NOT rip my nails off myself. The only reason I insisted on having them popped off is because they acted as if they couldn’t finish my nails beforehand. This place is so terrible and if you have any problem, prepare for the owner to lie and treat you like sh*t as shown in their response.
Here’s my analysis of Kandiland. Someone got their cosmetology certifcate and daddy bought them an expensive salon. This place is cute but it does not mean your nails will be done properly.
First, I walk in to a completely empty salon at 10:08 for a 10am appointment and Kandi tells me she doesn’t usually see clients who are more than 5 minutes late because she books back to back.
I booked for a full set with designs. I had a really old full set on so I asked her to just please pop them off. She was hesitant but I assured her I’m not worried about damaging my nails because they have been hiding under acrylics for years.
She started to pop them off and one was giving some trouble so she ripped it most of the way off and then got insanely squeamish and demanded I finish doing it. When I looked it was because half of my nail came off with it. Whatever, it hurt, but no biggie, I asked for it and that was the risk (although my lady in chicago has never done tis to me.)
So Kandi proceeded to half a huge dramatic meltdown saying SHE was going to be sick and pass out after MY nail got ripped off. Uh, what?
After sitting there for several minutes with half of my nails off she told me I have to finish dong it because she «just cant». I obviously couldn’t take my own nails off so we soaked the rest off which took forever.
From that point things got a bit more mellow except the fact that instead of continuing to file down my nails, she decide it was a good time to get on the phone with her insurance company so she kept just leaving me there to talk on the phone.
Finally we got new nails put on and everything was going fine until the polish. I wanted a mint and coral ombré. As she was putting on the top coat I noticed they werent that smooth but I had already been there three hours and just needed to get out of there. I was losing money by not being at work by the second.
So I go up to pay and for a full set, no design and a simple ombré it was $ 120! She said it was $ 5 per nail for this sh***y ombré with sponge bubbles in it still an white showing underneath. $ 50 dollars for POLISH — NOT EVEN GEL — regular polish that I needed to go home an replace.
When I said I was not happy with it she walked away to the back room with no offer for any resolution.
I was so furious about this massive waste of time, that I ran outside and taddled on her to my husband. Maybe some women can go waste half a day in a nicely-​decorated but under-​skilled salon, but I have a business to run.
So, he went back, and guess who wasn’t there. So the other gal gets her on the phone and he proposes half of a refund. The nails were OK (despite being uneven) but the $ 50 polish job was horrendous.
She refused to do ANYTHING and said she doesn’t «have to do anything about it».
This is what happens when children try to run a business. I will be disputing the ENTIRE charge with my bank. I’m so offended at the lack of customer service. Needless to say I won’t be going back there ever again.
If you want to sit in an expensively decorated salon for the day — Kandi has you covered. If you want your nails done properly and in a timely manner — go somewhere else.
If I’m paying decent money in this neighborhood, I at least expect decent customer service. Next time I will be finding a corner salon with some nice asian ladies to do a better job for ¼ of the cost.
Posting pix, you tell me if you’d pay $ 120

Sooooooo I have been a faithful customer of KandiLand nails for one year officially. It’s my KANDI-​versary!!! I originally found Kandi via Instagram and I have been hooked ever since. The business has definitely grown and expanded.
Kandi is an amazing nail artist and über talented. She has groomed her team to become the same. The level are artistic talent from these girls is jaw dropping.
You don’t have to have an idea of a design that you want, all of them are loaded with ideas. They will also guide you to an amazing idea if you have an idea but it’s a little fuzzy.
Glows:
Great color selection
Fun and joyful staff
Talented staff
Grows:
Management of walk-​ins vs appointments (prioritize-​reason for a 4 and not a 5-​they are a growing business and still learning)

I have been a client for two years and have had nothing but great experiences at Kandiland. The new shop is awesome and the nail techs are all great. I personally love booking with Kandi, Brenda, and Aubrey. I’ve read some of the reviews and felt a need to write one so that people know that this is the place to go get your nails done at. Don’t believe people who created an account just to write a review. The staff is professional and offers a relaxing experience.
I use to get full sets until Kandi turned me on to growing out my own nails. I never thought that I could go from nail bitter to growing nice long strong nails.
They also offer a great selection of colors and a healthier gel option (Bioseaweed).
Book your appointment NOW !!! You can’t go wrong.