The Best Nail Salons
We graded 67 companies on seven things customers actually report: satisfaction, reliability, workmanship, value, momentum, track record and how owners handle complaints.
From 22,644 Google reviews of 67 top-rated nail salons nationwide. Updated October 29, 2026.
Find the right company for your job
Pick the job — we re-rank companies by how customers rated that exact job.
Best nail salons for balayage
Clear ✕Job match = this company’s ★ on reviews Google tagged “Balayage” (shrunk toward the category average when there are few), how many such jobs it has done, and its overall Experts Score.
What customers said about balayage
Mary is easily one of the top hair stylists I've ever gone to. She listened intently to the overarching look I was going for (to make my hair look more natural) and instead of just bleaching my head, as most others have, she reintroduced my natural color back into my hair and walked me through the process of what it…
Got a long layered curtain bang haircut by Claudia. Very good service, very kind, friendly and skilled. Then got a balayage by Grace. It is a masterpiece. The color is exactly what I wanted. She's so kind, helpful, and dedicated. Overall loved my experience, would definitely recommend. Just make sure to book in…
[posting it again as the owner requested me to take it down for a third Balayage revision but something just doesn’t feel right] Here’s my original review - I dont recommend this place for a blonde balayage. They must be good at other things I’m sure. I got a blonde balayage almost a month ago and still wearing my…
I've been a customer of Grace Cheng since before the pandemic. She's really professional, patient and a great person. Highly recommend! They are raising price for her haircut but I think it's still worth it.
I really like Grace's hair-cut service. She is professional and most important is that she listened to me and communicated well before the service. Her technical skill is quite well and very smooth. I am pretty satisfied with the final result since it made me not only good but also younger. I really liked it. All…
Bring Master hair stylist of the salon speaks itself about the skills of Jennifer. I’ve had seven fails with hair stylists after moving moving to California however Essence salon never failed. From customer service, hair wash / cut to style, they did an awesome job. Jennifer also is sincere to know her clients as well so she can customize each haircut.
Overall ratings
Experts Score 0–100Experts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. and a letter grade per factor (A = top 20% of nail salons).
| # | Company | ScoreExperts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. | FactorsFactor grades, in orderSatisfaction (54%): Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.Reliability (24%): How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.Craft & service (0%): Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.Value (14%): Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Momentum (0%): Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.Replies to reviews (7%): How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.One letter per factor score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = below 20. | ★Google star rating as shown on Google Maps. | Typical billMedian bill customers of this company reported in their reviews (needs 3+ priced reviews). |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A 99How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 59%99+58.1Reliability 26%97+25.3Value 15%100+15.2Craft & service penalty99−0.1Experts Score= 99Not enough data for replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAA– | 5.00 | $69 | |
| 2 | A 98How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 69%99+68.5Reliability 31%97+29.8Experts Score= 98Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––A– | 5.00 | $69 | |
| 3 | A 98How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 59%99+58.1Reliability 26%96+25Value 15%100+15.2Craft & service penalty99−0.1Experts Score= 98Not enough data for replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAA– | 4.98 | $96 | |
| 4 | A 97How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 69%98+67.8Reliability 31%95+29.2Experts Score= 97Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––A– | 5.00 | $110 | |
| 5 | A 96How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 69%96+66.5Reliability 31%95+29.2Experts Score= 96Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––A– | 4.97 | $73 | |
| 6 | A 96How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 69%97+67.2Reliability 31%94+28.9Experts Score= 96Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––A– | 5.00 | $66 | |
| 7 | A 95How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%94+51.3Reliability 24%95+23Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%100+7.1Craft & service penalty98−0.2Experts Score= 95Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAAA | 4.91 | $86 | |
| 8 | A 95How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%96+61Reliability 28%99+28Replies to reviews 8%70+5.8Experts Score= 95Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––AB | 4.97 | $66 | |
| 9 | A 94How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%94+51.3Reliability 24%94+22.8Value 14%90+12.7Replies to reviews 7%100+7.1Experts Score= 94Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAAA | 4.94 | $66 | |
| 10 | A 93How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%93+59.1Reliability 28%92+26Replies to reviews 8%94+7.7Experts Score= 93Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––AA | 4.93 | $66 | |
| 11 | A 92How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 69%93+64.4Reliability 31%89+27.4Experts Score= 92Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––A– | 4.94 | $66 | |
| 12 | A 91How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%92+58.4Reliability 28%87+24.6Replies to reviews 8%94+7.7Experts Score= 91Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––AA | 4.94 | $83 |
What jobs cost
What customers paid, from the price Google asks reviewers to report.
| Job | Low25th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid less than this. | TypicalMedian of the bill customers reported in their Google review (Google asks reviewers for a price range; we use the middle of each range). | High75th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid more than this. | FairOf customers who rated the price, the share who chose “Great price” or “Reasonable” rather than “Overpriced”. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pedicure | $45 | $58 | $73 | 100% |
| Manicure | $45 | $56 | $73 | 100% |
| Nail art | $58 | $76 | $93 | 0% |
| Acrylic nails | $50 | $63 | $79 | 0% |
| Foot massages | $48 | $63 | $86 | 0% |
| Gel manicures | $50 | $68 | $93 | 100% |
| Nail painting | $45 | $61 | $79 | 0% |
| Nail extensions | $61 | $71 | $88 | 100% |
| Nail designs | $68 | $80 | $94 | 0% |
| Sculpted nails | $45 | $58 | $79 | 0% |
| Dip powder | $45 | $53 | $64 | 0% |
| Nail polish changes | $29 | $43 | $59 | 0% |
Nail Salons at a glance
How the 67 nail salons we rated compare, and what customers praise most.
Experts Score grades
A = score 80+, F = below 20.
- Grade A3451%
- Grade B2639%
- Grade C710%
- Grade D00%
- Grade F00%
Google ratings
Average stars per company.
- 4.90★ and up2030%
- 4.80–4.89★1928%
- 4.60–4.79★2334%
- Below 4.60★57%
What customers praise
Share of Google review highlights.
- Quality67530%
- Professionalism65929%
- Responsiveness00%
- Punctuality45620%
- Value47921%
Was the price fair?
All price verdicts left with reviews.
- Great price1144%
- Reasonable1456%
- Overpriced00%
- Not sure00%
Price verdicts by year
Share calling it great / reasonable / overpriced.
How we grade
Satisfaction (54%) — Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.
Reliability (24%) — How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.
Craft & service (penalty, up to −10) — Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.
Value (14%) — Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.
Momentum (penalty, up to −10) — Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.
Replies to reviews (7%) — How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.
