Strong Nails

Best acrylic manicure I have ever had! Great service and a friendly staff. Two thumbs up! These guys know how to do a really great fake nail manicure that looks natural.

Both my pedicure and my no chip mani look great! Only downside is that it cost around $ 60 which is a little pricey! The two people helping me were both attentive and great :) I came from out of town so the prices might be standard for a big city.

A really nice salon. I went with a friend for pedicures. They have a great color selection. The staff is attentive and pays close attention to how your nails look. I would have liked a little more massage and scrubbing but they did a really good job overall. The massage chairs were also really comfy and the place was nice and clean. Price was very reasonable, especially because a mani/​pedi is only $ 35. I would definitely go back.

I’ve been going to Strong Nails for over 10 years and in the last few months they changed owners and management. When I asked them about it, they denied that it was true. I decided to continue, but don’t feel that the vibe of the staff is as personable. My manicure also don’t seem to last as long. I wonder where My and her family went. It doesn’t feel the same. The only thing that remains the same is the price.

I have been going to Strong Nails for almost 8 years. They were the best in Chicago! But they recently changed management and staff in the past 3 months. I would love to know where the owner, My, and her family Victor and Phong are now working. They were dedicated and committed to their profession!!! I will follow them to any salon.

Love this place but where did the employees go? The last time I went there I didn’t know anyone!

This is the best nail spot in the whole city. I’ve never had a better pedicure, they do an amazing job and make these toes look amazing. Also this is the only place that my manicures last forever. Best place ever!

I’ve been to a few nail salons in the area and in different neighborhoods, but Strong Nails
is by far the best bang for your buck. Their no-​chip lasts forever, and they really take their time to make sure the job is done right.

Excellent job. I came in here for the first time today for a pedicure. I am very happy with the results. She took her time and did a very complete job. This place is walking distance of my house and I will definitely be coming back.

I’ve been looking for «the one» in Chicago. The one nail salon. I finally found it after trying 15 – 20 places in Lakeview. After 5:30 My is there and her no-​chip manicures last for over 3 weeks. I’ve never seen anything like it! Also she does great nail design. And they are very friendly :) Not your standard «spa» nail experience but if you’re looking for solid work at a quality place — Strong Nails is it.

I must say, I was quite skeptical upon entering strong nails for the first time this afternoon. The décor was questionable (think lots of random paper signs hung on the wall, fake flowers, empty white walls), it was seemingly very small, and there was an old man sitting in the front window.
That being said, I think they did a good job on my nails. I’ll update in a couple days with how they hold up :) and the old man in the front window ended up being SO friendly, and generously applied a top coat to both my nails and toes before wrapping them in Saran Wrap.
It was $ 35 for mani/​pedi on a Tuesday, which I consider a pretty decent deal. I would probably go back!

I am seriously overdue in writing a review for Strong Nails. I have been a customer here for 5 years. They are truly the best place for a manicure and pedicure in the area. I try to see Phong when I go but all the techs are good. It seems like everyone has been trained to follow the same high standards. Strong Nails is very clean, quiet (no music or TV audio)., and the massage chairs are awesome.
I really appreciate that they are not judgmental about the state of your feet. Don’t be embarrassed to come to Strong Nails if you have tons of callouses or other issues. They are very kind and will simply get to work. When they are done, you’ll be amazed at the transformation! I live in Logan Square and have tried other places that were closer to my home and work. No other shop has come close to the quality that you get from Strong Nails. I highly recommend them.

I recently moved to Chicago and need a good nail salon. I had intentions to go to Pearl’s Nails right across the way since it had such awesome reviews. Since they couldn’t take me in without an appointment I stumbled into Strong Nails to get a no chip manicure and am so happy I did. I had only had a no chip manicure once before at Kinzie Nails and was so dissatisfied with how thick the nail polish was on my nails and the color I had chosen (a whole another review). I was contemplating getting a regular manicure since I had such a bad experience with my no chip else where. The specialist I got was so incredibly wonderful. Not only was she so detailed and did exactly as I said, but when I told her how unhappy I was with my previous nail color she swatched my nails a few different colors to be sure that I left happy. She made a great recommendation on a polish that was exactly what I was looking for (a nude/​pink tone) and my nails were so beautiful. I couldn’t believe how perfect and neat the gel looked that all I could think about is the tech who did my nails at kinzie nails. They clearly didn’t know what they were doing because getting my nails done here made a world of a difference!
Not the prettiest place of the bunch but truly a hidden gem!

I feel like the quality of work has went down. I have yet to have my manicure last more than 1 day without multiple nails chipping. The man that does nails seems to be the best, but I haven’t seen him around forever (could be the times I go).
I’ve been to two other women a few times and have been fairly disappointed. It feels like they rip off my cuticles and I’ve gotten a swollen finger two times due to her poking my nail bed so hard.

BEST MANICURE EVER! You have to get ‘My’ to do your nails, she only does manicures and it takes a long time, but it is so worth it! She is there after 5pm during the weekdays and all day on the weekends. Honestly she is the best manicurist I have ever been to, she is so attentive to every detail. The salon itself doesn’t have the fanciest atmosphere but I don’t really care about that. I’d rather have a good manicure that lasts.
They do charge a fee for using a credit card so bring cash.
I live 45mins away and only get down there every couple months, but so worth it! Just prepared to spend some time there, because it does take a while.

Just moved to Chicago recently and was in need of a nail salon who did acrylic nails. Let me tell you, difficult to find in Chicago. I tried out a few places which all ended up with the nails lifting after a week! I found strong nails and will NEVER go anywhere else! The owner is the best there is when it comes to acrylic nails. She is a perfectionist and insists you look at your nails and tell her of you like the shape or if any of them are too long. It takes longer than most salons but you are guaranteed a perfect job in the end that will be worth ever penny!
Even if you come in later in the evening, the owner will stay and make sure you are satisfied. This is a family owned salon and they always make me feel welcome when coming in! If you’re looking for a new nail salon go to strong nails!!!

Out of pure love and devotion to this place I’m writing a review for Strong Nails.
I have been to all the nail places right around that same Diversey/​Halsted/​Sheffield area and this place is by far the best. The prices are fair, the work is excellent and it’s a family owned business that values its customers. I have the world’s worst nails, yet they clip, file and paint them into submission until they’re beautiful. My nails have never looked better.
Strong Nails is getting so popular that at times they can be under-​staffed, but if you bear with them you will never be disappointed. It does take them longer than a normal nail salon, so bring your reading material. As long as you plan for that, you won’t be disappointed. I never go anywhere else!

Hands down best nail salon I have EVER been to. I get the gel manicure that is supposed to last 2 – 3 weeks. Mine lasted 4 weeks and not one chip.
Typical looking nail salon, but wow best mani/​pedi ever, I wish I lived in Chicago! Oh and you can BYOB. lol

I wanted to update because they have definitely taken the top spot as far as quality mani/pedi’s go for me, and to fix some other people’s notions.
I noticed someone’s complaint that they weren’t warned about the $ 1.50 charge for using a debit or credit card in advance. Having written my review before that person, I say bunk. There IS a sign on the wall that says it, and before that sign, there was one sitting on the counter. There has been notice available since at least my first visit (which was before this person went). I knew about it in advance, however, because I read reviews. If you miss the fact that it costs $ 1.50 for debit/​credit transactions, you only have yourself to blame. Mine is not the only review that mentions it the charge, and the sign is in plain sight.
Anyway, I’ve had nothing but positive experiences here, and you really can’t beat the price. Everyone is friendly, though not super talkative. That’s okay. I like to relax when I’m having my nails done. Recently, they got new chair covers (possibly new chairs-​I don’t remember what my nail tech said earlier) and some new décor. Looks great. Massages in the chair are $ 10 for 15 minutes. Something I’ll skip, but only because with my bad back, massage chairs just make it worse.
They are a bit far for me, especially in winter, but I find the trip worth it. My new ruby slipper mani looks awesome, and you really can’t beat $ 13 (Don’t forget to tip)! There are plenty of colors to choose from on the wall (they have a better selection than most places I’ve been to with the same pricing), though I’ve only ever brought my own.
As far as the person who waited two hours goes, once it got to 30 minutes and they were stil busy, I’d have just left. I obviously don’t know when she went, but it’s always a good idea to find out when a salon’s busy hours are and either avoid them like I do, or make a reservation. I’ve never had to wait more than a few minutes here when I had a reservation during busy hours, but I prefer to just walk in during less busy times anyway.
I’m going to keep going to Strong nails until the day I move out of the city (read: a while). Keep up the awesomeness guys!

As you all know, the AW is a man that takes care of his feet!
Attempted to go to Paint to only realize they were shut down, so we chose the closest place, Strong Nails.
I liked the fact no one made a big deal about me getting a pedicure. They seemed a little backed up so I had to wait a little while for a seat. After maybe 20 mins they told me it was my turn. They sent a guy over to give me a pedicure, but since I am a guy that does not enjoy a man touching and carressing his feet, I requested to have a woman. He totally understood.
The woman that took care of me did the damn thang on my feet, not that they were in bad shape or anything. She took her time and covered all bases… she also gave a great foot and leg rub down. This was the longest I had ever sat in the chair for a pedicure, but it was time well spent.
$ 25 a pedicure… they charge an additional $ 1.50 for Credit/​debit card transactions, so bring cash