keen

I love Keen so much! I tried it over a year ago and have not been able to go anywhere else. I love the intention of the studio and everything in the space. Regular nail salons can give me anxiety just due to the general sense of quickness and it always feel like it’s a rush to keep clients moving. But at keen, the appointments are booked to ensure clients have about time for each treatment and I’m never worried about my tech having to juggle more than just my service. The tea and incredible vibes and music are just icing on the cake! Oh and I think aside from how happy I always am with my nails and how easy it feels to speak up, it smells so good. Like you can genuinely smell the signature scent from several stores down. It doesn’t smell like you were just blasted with chemicals which is super comforting! My time at keen is my favorite form of self care!

5 stars across the board!! Keen is everything you want in self care moment, it truly gives a spa like feel for manicures and pedicures. From the music setting the perfect atmospheric tone, to the lounging chairs for pedicures, to the selection of beverages they offer during your service, you'll leave feeling rejuvenated with beautiful nails! I was not privy to Dazzle Dry before going to Keen, but it's the highest quality of nail polish I've ever had. I'm days into my mani and pedi and no chips in sight. I love when a place introduces you to new brands and Keen does just that across their nail polish selection, you'll learn of new innovative brands, not the standard brands you see in most salons. So again all 5s!! Do give them a try!

If you are looking for the best nail salon in Arlington, VA, this is your spot. I have been going to Keen for almost 3 years. It’s my favorite place to make time for “me” as a new mom who needs self care time. The staff are incredibly sweet, the salon itself is so clean, and everything they use in terms of product is nontoxic, clean, and feels so good. I love their homemade sugar scrubs the best and that they truly treat is as a self care safe space. Every time I leave, I have to book my next appointment because they’re in such high demand for builder gel appointments and booked far out which means you know they have a good product and team in place!! I highly recommend going to Keen and stop going to the other old nail salons who don’t prioritize cleanliness or nontoxic products. You will not be disappointed.

I am honestly shocked at how painful this manicure was. The technician started me 25 minutes later than my scheduled appt, and as a result was incredibly rushed. She was buffing my nails so aggressively she buffed off the skin surrounding my nails, as you can see in the photo. It was so painful and aggressive, to the point where she broke one of my nails in the process. The manicure as pictured is uneven, and I’m missing skin! I thought about getting up halfway but felt bad to the technician. I do wish I had just left. When I mentioned these issues to the staff, they offered me 10% as consolation. Not sure that’s a reasonable compensation for something as painful as this experience. UPDATE 12/16/25 The salon manager invited me back for a complimentary manicure with a lead technician given the poor initial experience. Becca did a great job on my nails. She spent 1.5 hours on the manicure (got a add on service I paid for - cat eye) Overall the experience was much better, and it meant a lot that the management offered this given the initial experience. See last photo for updated nails

Keen truly changed my mind on manicures. After bad experiences at other salons, leaving my nails in worse condition than when I came, I had given up on getting my nails done. Until I came to Keen! Their attention to detail, clean processes, and thoughtful technicians has always left me blown away. Getting the Builder Gel manicure has helped me finally grow out my natural nails after years of breakage. Never going anywhere else for my nails!