Polish Nail Spa

Hello! Love the attention and the result. I visit Marin County a few times every year and I’m always in search for businesses that offer a good service and attention to my needs. This was my first visit to Polish Nail Spa (found via Unilocal) and I must say that the place is nice and clean, spacious, and offers a calm ambiance.
As an architect, I pay a lot of attention to the décor. I wouldn’t say interior décor is their forte but — Hey! — this is not the reason why I went there for. At any rate, I feel is good to mention it.
I was a walk-​in client and was quickly attended. While I was there I noticed so many people coming in and finding a spot too. Some had to wait a little bit though. I’d recommend you making a reservation if you know you are going there for sure– just in case.
Faster overview:
Cleanness: GREAT!
Tools used for the work: Hygienic
Chairs: Very comfortable
Workers and Boss: Friendly and ready to help you out or correct something if you point it out.
Color and Brand Variety: An OK selection of colors. I didn’t see Essie brand on display– which is the one I mostly use in NYC.
EXTRA: They gave me a lovely legs and arms massage, after doing my nails, using some type of oil and then wrapping the areas with a warm towel. :)
Suggestion: They could benefit from suggesting the client for extra exfoliation or moisturize if the skin is too dry. I definitely appreciate their attitude in no pushing anything extra, but also, if they are the expert and can feel that the skin is too dry, I’ll appreciate suggestions in that level.
Manicure+Pedicure (as a combo) paid price (June 2016) $ 40.00 + Tip
So you can have a reference point.
I feel that going there from San Anselmo was totally worthwhile. The drive was only 8 minutes and the service better than the 2 places I have used in S.A.
Hope you find this message helpful.

Had a great manicure yesterday! A little expensive for me but it was a nice salon, soothing music in the background, and nail techs who are good at what they do.

Meh. Not great service, two minute massage, 30 second exfoliation… seemed like they wanted to finish quick.

Honestly the best nail salon I’ve been to. They truly take their time and have amazing attention to detail. They are the cleanest and most sanitary place I’ve seen in Marin who goes by all the state board rules. They are very educated on how to properly give their clients a mani or pedi the right ways. I pay close attention in all the salons I’ve been to. They will have you walking out feeling relaxed and taken care of.

Was in the area while my boyfriend got a tattoo done so I walked all the way down to try and get a pedicure. I instantly felt judged and when I asked if they had room for anything she rudely said no. I’ve never had a place turn me down before so it was a little shocking. It ruined my day though honestly, you shouldn’t treat potential customers like that, even if I am in my comfy casual clothes :(

I came here yesterday after searching on Unilocal for a nail salon that did true gel extension manicures. Polish had great reviews so I came in around 2:15, and was pleasantly surprised to have no more than a 10 minute wait after reading about how busy they get. The salon is one of the cleanest I’ve ever been in, soft music was playing, I was offered water or tea, and the conversation was kept to a minimum.
I had the pleasure of having Chi do my nails, who was not only charming and a pleasure to talk to, but was the most professional manicurist I have had the pleasure of doing my nails in the 17 years I’ve been having my nails done.
Gel extensions are my new obsession and Chi was so incredibly meticulous about them. I shared with her my terrible experiences with gels and with acrylics before and she quickly made me a convert to these much more natural looking, less toxic, and long lasting alternatives to acrylics. She managed to make my extensions look like incredibly healthy natural nails, and was even great when discussing ideas I had for different designs and colors for future fills.
This is my new nail salon, and Chi is the only person I will allow to work on my fingernails now. Can’t wait to come back for a pedicure too and to take my mom who wants to get gel extensions now too!

Just recently got a gel manicure and it has lasted over 3 months. The owner is the best. It is very relaxing and quiet spot. Love this spot.

Synopsis: Still the best.
Dets.: Not much to add except that I recently visited another salon to have one of my French tips replaced (damaged in an unfortunate coconut oil incident). The tech said my remaining nails (done by Polish) looked «Perfect. Like fake nails.»
Well done!!!

Thank you Chi and Tai for all of your hard work and attention to detail.
Polish is my fav place for a manicure in San Rafael.
I have a crazy schedule, but they always find time for me.
I really appreciate the NO CELL PHONE policy.
I come to relax and enjoy.

I decided to give them another chance simply because they are one of the cleanest nail salons around but this last time, really frustrated me! My mother in law and I both got pedicures and I got a manicure. They are short staffed and you can definitely notice the difference. The new girls do not put in as much effort as the other girls, when it comes to our nails we are not stingy but $ 85.00 for two pedicures and a regular manicure? It’s been three days and my nails are chipping not to mention the «flower decoration» is the worst decoration I have paid for! They do not give you a long massage and your lucky if your technician takes the time to ask you how your doing. my girl didn’t even look at me.

My nails look great! However my hands are sore because they did not soak off the gel long enough instead they scrapped/​filed it off which thinned my nails. It also took over 2 hours!!! They asked me to come in earlier than the time I requested and I sat around for almost 20 minutes waiting… We could have saved time and pain had they soaked my nails during the pedicure which I requested multiple times. Left with perfect nails feeling annoyed with sore finger tips.

I’m sorry to have to submit this review, but my experience bears sharing. Consider yourselves warned.
The worst pedi I’ve ever received. Maybe it was my male nail tech? Here’s a list of reasons why I’ll never go back:
— poor selection of colors
— many colors old (too thick)
— 20 minute wait
— soak water was warm to start with but quickly got cold. Boo.
— the tips of my nails were not smoothed — and the edges weren’t polished. This is a rookie move. All pedicured toes should have the polish cover the top edge so there isn’t a white line
— didn’t trim my cuticles thoroughly even though I specifically told them I liked them trimmed thoroughly
— had to point out where he missed a little dirt under my big toe
— messed up my big toe after he was done polishing and then blamed me! Huh?
— never offered me water. But offered a regular who sat down next to me water immediately. And then looked at me and asked if I wanted some as an afterthought. At the end of my pedi? Really?
In a nutshell: obvious this guy is not a pro. So why is he working there? It was as if it was the first pedicure he’d ever given.

The next time you have a customer that is asking you something make sure you are not rude to them! I usually don’t like to write reviews but because the owner was rude and I was flabbergasted that this is the one and only nail place that doesn’t do acrylics I decided that it’s time to write this review. What’s the point in owning a nail salon and charging an arm and a leg for your services when you don’t do acrylics? There are SO many places in Marin who do a great job, but I thought you know let me see what the hype is all about and give them my business since they seem to be SOOOO great! Well NO thank you… On to the NEXT!!!

What the what ?!? My goodness, it must be nice to turn away business. I suppose when you are one of the highest rated nail salons in San Rafael on Unilocal,its not like you need every customer to leave delighted. On the other hand, if you aren’t trying hard for your new customers too, you may lose a few.
This is not a good a place to attempt a walk-​in. I had tried calling ahead (call not returned) and decided to chance it by going first thing on a weekday AM. As you can probably tell, I was turned away on a not terribly busy Friday morning at 10:30 am. I was told I’d have to wait until 5:00 pm same day to get a pedicure. What the what?!?
You and I know nail salons triage customers who don’t come for the full manicure plus pedicure. They want to make more money per client, and in this case $ 40 (and up) for their mani pedi combo is on the high end for a spot in the area. A nail salon though that will accommodate a pedicure, is a gracious salon. I can’t say the place felt very busy (five customers and seven employees) but they do have very limited chairs (just five pedi chairs.) Several customers were already drying and it seemed very doable to take a walk-​in, however, Polish was not able to make that work.
Certainly they could make room for one more? Nope. Maybe if I explained that I had called for an appointment unsuccessfully (call not returned) and then decided to drive quite a way from my home to try them out? Nope.
I’m not convinced Polish couldn’t accommodate a walk-​in, but they certainly chose not to. I’m afraid I won’t be getting a polish at Polish!

I love Polish. The workers are wonderful. They do excellent and careful work. I love that there is no chemical smell to the place, and that they request no cellphone use, playing quiet music and encouraging a restful experience.

Love. Love. Love.
Chi and her staff are amazing.
They are kind. Have an amazing attention to detail and client satisfaction.
I am in love with my feet again.

Place is busy on a sunday, and they keep asking you the same question because they are running all over to keep customers happy. So that is a plus and minus.
They do a good job, but a bit pricy for other places I have been to in the area. But if I was in the area and wanted a good mani/​pedi, I would certainly come back here.

Very happy with the gel manicures I have received here. Back where I grew up I could go and make an appointment with a certain lady I loved, but here you never really know who you are going to get, but that is ok because considering the various manicurists who I have had, it has always turned out really good. They give you a arm, hand, and neck massage when they are done and usually offer you water or hot tea.
Very pleasant and CLEAN experience every time!

I can count the number of pedicures that I’ve ever had on my non-​manicured hand, so I am definitely not an expert, but I think that this place would please all people who aspire to have pretty toes.
I came in September for a pedicure a few days before being a bridesmaid in my friend’s wedding, and I truly felt guilty for inflicting my feet on my gal. I had just come back from backpacking the Na Pali coast in Hawaii and my feet were tore up (almost literally) but if they were appalled it did not show and she was quite gracious. When my feet were put in the warm bath I thought that I would never leave. They even had a nail color that matched the wedding color scheme so for a novice pedicure goer I felt pretty lucky.
The polish lasted forever and ever and was expertly applied. I just removed the paint today and painted my toenails myself, and let’s just say that I find it hard to color in the lines and it looks like a three year old did it. Polish and pedicures may just have to become a regular in my rotation of treat yo’self splurges.

Today was my first time going to Polish Nail Spa. I hadn’t gotten my nails done in a long time, so I thought it was time to treat myself. I scheduled an appointment for a mani pedi which costs $ 40. The staff was very friendly and the girl who did my nails took her time and did a very nice job. The leg and neck massage was wonderful and very relaxing.
I will definitely return to Polish! The location is very convenient for me and the service was great (: