Polished Nail Spa

Flawless nails? Look no further! I’ve been coming to Polished Nails in Berkeley for a couple of years now, and they never disappoint. The spa has a warm, bubbly energy, with lots of regulars coming and going, and everyone does excellent work. My nail artist, Tran, is a true master. She’s attentive to every detail and always keeps my hands looking beautiful. I typically get a dip manicure with nail art, something that can look chunky if not done correctly. But Tran’s work is flawless: my nails stay thin and last for weeks. Her nail art is exquisite and endlessly creative. She never ceases to amaze me, and I get compliments everywhere I go. I couldn’t recommend Polished Nails—or Tran—more highly. 10 stars!

Very careful and detailed. Asked a lot of questions to make sure they came out the way I wanted! My nail tech was also very friendly, and exceeded my expectations. I've been coming for 2 ish years now, and always have done a great job! I can't find all pictures but here are some.

I’ve gotten 6 acrylic sets from this salon and one overlay. The sets each lasted a month with no lifting which is amazing. I’ve never experienced that before (keep in mind this may also be due to the shorter length). It speaks volumes for the quality of the sets! I appreciate how they make recommendations for my natural nail upkeep and accommodate my requests for the style of french tip I prefer. I don’t think many nail shops can give you a nail tech finish so I’m happy I’ve found that here. I love how they can shape the nails the sharp square style that I want. I think the price is super reasonable as well. When asking for a soak off ensure your hands soak long enough to ensure comfortably when removing the acrylic. I would recommend coming here when you have a free schedule as the wait time for walk ins can vary 0-1hr and there may be an extended wait time even if you have an appointment. Overall would recommend they do great work.

==== 2-week update ==== I am SHOCKED that my nails still have not lifted or chipped at all, and it’s been 18 days since I got them done. I wash my hands a LOT, do the dishes, shower daily, and have even went to the beach and in the ocean, and they’re still in amazing condition. Seriously do yourself a favor and get your nails done by Trianna/Kha, because she works magic on your nails! ==== 1-week update ==== Nail are still in amazing condition, no lifting (photos included). ASK FOR TRIANNA/KHA for your manicures! ==== original review, the day of the manicure ==== Amazing prep work, attention to detail, wonderfully friendly people! I’ve been coming here for a little under 3 years, and I won’t go anywhere else because of how great the service is and how much care and detail they put into their work. I usually schedule appointments over the phone, but when I’ve walked in, they were always able to take me within 30 minutes. For manicures, I always ask for Trianna/Kha!!!! I usually do a full set of acrylics with gel and design, and she always amazes me with her skill! She is incredibly detailed and takes her time prepping my nails so that they last a long time. I needed to get my nails done at the last minute before leaving for a trip, and she came into the salon on her day off to work with me. We stayed way past closing time, and she still took her time to make sure the prep and the artwork was perfect and made sure that I was happy with her work. The prep and design were IMMACULATE! (See the picture and video.) For pedicures, I typically work with whoever is available. They’ve always done a great job cleaning my toes and feet and make sure to get off all the dead skin and cuticles. I’ve gotten a pedicure from Nancy in the past, and she’s always such a joy to work with.

Hey girlies! Just wanted to share my experience — I wouldn’t recommend this nail salon. This was my first time visiting, and while the staff were very friendly when I first walked in, things went downhill pretty quickly once I sat in the chair. The nail tech spent over 30 minutes just rubbing my nails over and over, which already felt excessive. When it came time to glue the Gel-X tips on, she left visible bubbles under them. I pointed it out, and she responded a bit aggressively, saying “10 more minutes” before walking away — which I found pretty unprofessional but funny at the same time. The whole appointment took an hour and 20 minutes, even though she originally told me it would take only 45–50 minutes. I also asked if she could take care of my cuticles, and she said it would be an extra $10 — which I was totally fine with — but as you can see, it doesn’t look like she did anything at all. So if you’re specifically looking for proper cuticle care, this probably isn’t the place. To be fair, I’ve seen so many gorgeous sets come out of this salon, which is why I gave it a try in the first place. It’s likely that the quality depends on which nail tech you get. Just a heads-up for anyone planning to visit!