Happy Nails & Spa of Scripps Poway

I was given a gift certificate for a manicure and pedicure. I came here today. The place was packed. I picked my colors and waited. The manicurist kept trying to up sell me, which I understand. When I asked for a nail dryer, she was rude and said they didn’t have them. They used a quick drying fan. It worked well.
I am updating my review because it’s been 5 full days and my polish hasn’t chipped or cracked and my nails look great. I am totally thankful I tried this place as its restored my faith in regular polish!

I am shocked by the negative reviews. I have been going to this nail salon since 2012. I have tried many others, but this place is the best. John (the owner) is serious but friendly. Whenever I call, he knows my voice already, lol. Nancy does my gel nails. Love her! Such a sweet, sweet person. I am not picky about who does my pedicure, they are all good. The place is clean, the employees are friendly and welcoming. Do not let the negative reviews deter you, give them a try. They are service oriented and your comfort is their top priority. Happy mani/​pedis!
Lisa

The only place I go around here. The best. I won’t say my girls name as she is the best and I want her all to myself. Lol.

STAY AWAY!!! I came here in a pinch to get my chipping gel taken off before I did a number on my nails peeling it off myself at work. I also wanted a regular mani to give my nails a little break. I should have checked Unilocal first — no pinch is pinchy enough to come here. After not even bothering to buff off my gel topcoat, she made me soak my nails in a bowl of acetone for about 15 minutes. Shocker: since none of the acetone could actually penetrate, she then had to scrape at my nails with a sharp metal implement for another 15 minutes. So instead of me destroying my natural nails myself, Happy Nails took care of it for me. After a half-​assed file job (like, so bad — and how do you mess THAT up?), she puts oil on my cuticles and rubs one hand for about two seconds and doesn’t even pretend with the other hand. She then asks me to pay ($ 5 for take off and $ 15 for a mani) so I give her my debit card. She then comes back asks me to wash my hands. I’m a bit confused at this point as my cuticles have not been touched and there are still gel polish remnants abound. I sign the receipt… She sits back down and proceeds to OPEN UP THE BASECOAT. What?! Wait, what about my cuticles? «I did them.» Um, when exactly? I can see where this is going and I immediately ask for my money back and said that I’d pay $ 5 in cash for the takeoff. She tells me no, she did the manicure and I have to pay. WHAT MANICURE? So a whole verbal scuffle ensues. Another girl was nice enough, after I showed her the hackjob the other one was about to start painting, to offer to «finish» my manicure (when did it even start?), but I had already been there nearly an hour and clearly the lack of quality at this place is pervasive. The owner finally agreed to refund me, I paid for the takeoff (the only service I actually received), and hightailed it outta there! What a joke! How do places like this even stay in business in such a competitive market?! Beware.

I’ve come here a couple of times because it’s close to the vons where I shop. They did my eyebrows once and ripped my skin. I’m giving this place 2 stars only for the pedicures. Other services are not so great. The gel nails they do comes off in a week max. It’s not worth it. The massage they do is also very short. It’s like they are in a hurry to finish their services. i Do not recommend this place if you want to relax.

Expensive, bad customer service and I could have done a better job on my nails myself.
I will NEVER be back.

I can deal with a little attitude as long as I get FAB nails but if they are both bad, then that was a waste of time. Oh well I will just get new nails in two weeks.
I called the man that manages the place told me to walk right in. + for taking me at 515 on a Sunday when most people are closed.
Amy did my nails. Normally when I do a fill, the drill all the acrylic off and apply a new layer. At every salon. Different every single time because I can’t find a great nail gal. She looks at my nails, I told her it’s polish. She proceeds to grab cotton and acetone, I told her it’s solar powder under it so she might as well drill it off. She said thanks for letting me know before hand. She says she has to charge more because that is no long considered a fill it’s a new set. Whatever charge me whatever you want, it’s coming out of your tip.
She starts doing my nails. Some are more squared some are more rounded, slanted. I didn’t say anything because she cut them short enough already. I wasn’t gonna let her file away til I had nada left and still crooked, so I just slightly reshape them when I go home.
She was so incredibly rude. After drilling off my powder, she starts talking crap to her Co worker saying I’m charging her more for this. I’m all dirty. Look at all this dust on my arm, shows her Co worker her arm. Dusts off her pants. All in Vietnamese. Thankfully I do understand but do not look Vietnamese at all.
Her polish job was very mediocre. She didn’t get the edges and I had to let her know. She had me pay before of course. She started talking shit again, I paid $ 25 in cash and she gave me $ 3 back. I left the $ 3 on the counter. I was actually gonna leave her $ 8 with another $ 5 in my pocket. She said to her Co worker, look and she’s only giving me $ 3 of a tip too.
Then she puts top coat on me and her previous client is leaving and hands her $ 3,she takes the $ 3 and flings it into her drawer and starts talking shit again saying only $ 3. You got all that done, have a Louis Vuitton purse but only tip $ 3. She is very ungrateful. Have you ever thought maybe it’s the quality of work why you only have $ 3 tips? So instead I kept my $ 5 and let her be with the $ 3 she thought I was only gonna leave her.
Terrible service and no quality. They do not sanitize those spa chairs. I saw her wipe it out with rubbing alcohol. No end of day thorough cleaning, NADA… alcohol does not kill HIV, fungus or any other diseases.
Will not be coming back here. You will not leave happy.

I am in this salon every 2 weeks like clock work. I have lots of different technicians however I prefer and have been with Queen & Katelyn for some time now. They always take great care of me and if I have a goof up with my nails or toes, they are quick to fix it for me at no charge. I love feeling beautiful & recommend them for gel nails, pedicures, & eyebrow waxing.

Usually have my pedicures done here, but when my son’s wedding was approaching my daughter and I went to get tips and acrylics. We each had different manicurists. Here is what we got for our money and time.
My daughter: Hair in the acrylics, bubbles and the french tips were pink, due to the brushing of pink powder over the white acrylic.
Myself: 3 crooked nails. all the nails on my right hand (and 1 on the left) came off 72 hours later. The acrylics were covering my cuticles and you could easily see the tips under the pink acrylic.
I would avoid this salon if you want nice looking acrylics. They don’t have the skill or the attention to detail.
I had my nails redone somewhere else and they now look wonderful.

Kaitlyn is who i go to see, she is the best over there, she rocks when it comes to doing nails and pedicures. It took me months after moving to San Diego to find a good nail technician, my stylist goes to her and she was awesome enough to hook me up with her. I’ve left always satisfied.

My sister and I came in together for a gel mani and spa pedi. My sister chose the most expensive pedicure but I’m sorry, I chose the cheapest and the lady asked me multiple times and I know she understood what I said. From there they treated me poorly and rushed me out of that chair so fast. The lady who did my pedicure was rough on my feet it hurt a lot. She made no effort to massage my feet or calves and as I write this review my sister is still getting her calves massaged and I’ve been done for the past 15 minutes. This is the second time I’ve been here and had a bad experience.

I have been coming here for years… years. Always clean, always polite (including the front desk greeter). The staff is so not loud and chatty. Just the way I want my time in the chair… relaxing atmosphere can be a busy place on a weekend. A few techs are better at gel then others… get to know who to ask for. Chairs have been upgraded and whethercI ball for an appt or go «walk in» I have never had a bad mani/​pedi. If you want to save a few $s, go mid weeks and check your Vons grocery receipt for a coupon.

I absolutely love this place. The girls are all very welcoming and professional. Julie and Jasmine and do fabulous job on pedicures especially if you have ingrown toenail’s. The gel manicures always come out great and usually last 2 to 3 weeks. I come every two weeks and will continue to come every two weeks. They recently got new chairs that are wonderful.

I will never go here again!!! I made the mistake of stoping by since I needed a manicure for an event. Everyone is so rude and they do not take there time at all. The whole time I was sitting there I felt as if the lady was rushing me the whole time. She cut my cuticle and started to bleed. She laughed and said you do really need a manicure. Thats VERY rude. I would expected an I’m sorry. That being said after my ten minute manicure was over as soon as i got in my car to put my seatbelt on my nails smudged!!! She put layers upon layers and rushed me out without letting them dry. I didn’t want to come back to ask them to fix it. Do yourself a favor and drive a little further to get a quality manicure.

Do Not go here such crappy service and the guy receptionist is SO rude.
I paid 30ish for a fill acrylic and left happy. Then the next day I noticed that there was a bad spot so I go back and the lady fixed the gel. By the way it was my bday.
Then 2 days later my real nail disconnects from the acrylic nail so I call and go in later in the day and the guy starts saying nothing like this has happened before and practically insulting me
Very sad for a place Expecially In scripps Poway parkway.

Dirty… I got a pedicure and shellac manicure and the woman put the cuticle nippers that she used on me back in the same «clean implement» container without disinfecting them… Add that with the fact the girl doing my nails seemed to be a complete moron who cut the hell out of my finger, and they charge way too much for such crappy service in a dirty salon and use unsanitary equipment I think it’s safe to say this place should be avoided!

I’ve only been here once for a pedicure and it was a good experience. They are very hygienic, so this is a super plus to me. It was your average pedicure and of course the nail techs talk more to each other than to you, but hey, I don’t go there to socialize, I go to relax haha. I like that they didn’t try to up-​sell services or push me to get flowers, designs, etc. I’ll be going here again.

This is my go-​to nail salon! It’s only $ 18 for a fill on my acrylics (without getting shellac on top) plus tip, so $ 20?! YES PLEASE. The service here is great but definitely make an appointment. They are so busy on weekends and after work on weekdays. But everyone is really nice, my only comment is that they need to be more careful with their sanitation.
Other than that this is a good place!

I went here recently to get a half-​leg wax. The menu clearly states $ 20 for a half-​leg, upper or lower, but when asked how much, they told me it would cost $ 45 because, apparently, my legs are big, because I’m a guy.
Nothing else to say, but — LAME!

I am here a couple times a month getting my nails done. I am always happy with the service I get when I come. I usually get a gel/​acrylic manicure and a spa pedicure. I am never disappointed, even thought I have a different pedicurist every time.
My usual lady is Donna. She turned me into a regular when I came in one day several months ago… with a botched acrylic job from another nail salon. She calmly told me that she will do a great job and that she ACTUALLY cares that I am happy with her work. Good job Donna… because I am very loyal and will always come see you!
The atmosphere is always busy here. It is a nail salon… not a day spa!
Think of it like a restaurant. If there is no one in the restaurant… that is a BAD sign. DO NOT EAT THERE.
The same rule applies to a nail salon. If there is no one in there, you know they aren’t any good. IF they have all their chairs full, you know you are in the right place!
Oh– and in regards to any of the ladies that work their speaking to each other in Vietnamese… You really can’t be mad or annoyed with that behavior. Would you want to keep your mouth shut all day long at work or be judged if you want to speak to your coworkers?! NO. Just enjoy getting your nails done and stop sweating the small stuff.