Natural Image

I have been to Natural Image twice in the last year (three times total if you count my first visit some years ago). The convenience of the location is amazing given that I work inside the same building.
First visit — 2 of 5 stars: The first time I visited this year, over the summer, I wasn’t that impressed. I felt that my appointment was achingly slow. I had a pedicure and others have commented on the fact that the pedicure set-​up is sub-​par. I agree. I do like that they use the disposable pedicure liners because that’s more sanitary, but the set-​up is still lacking. I also like that they use rose petals in the water for the manicure /​pedicures. On my first visit, I had asked for a French manicure with regular polish. The young lady doing my nails was taking a pretty long time and so another tech had to step in to try and speed it up. I was trying to do this on a lunch break and it took over 90 minutes for both the manicure /​pedicure. Multiple nails were messed up and had to be redone. The explanation was that a French manicure takes more time, which, of course I understand, but this was beyond a little normal extra time.
Second visit — 5 of 5 stars: The second time I visited, I had Tina for a gel manicure. A huge plus is that they use the fingerless gloves for the gel manicures. Protecting the thin skin of your hands during exposure to UV light is super important. Tina was meticulous in the manicure process. From start to finish, she did a great job. Paid specific attention to my cuticles, wasn’t too rough when filing or cutting back the cuticle bed. Her application of the gel was equally meticulous. Every single coat was applied carefully and she paid close attention to making sure the edge of the nail was coated each time as well. She cleaned up with acetone and a brush (rather than her fingernails) when she got a little polish on the nail bed.
I’ll give the salon an average rating of 3 stars given my two different experiences and hope that another successful visit will bump it up another star!

I had a great experience at this nail salon. Anna was detailed oriented from start to finish! The price was the same I pay back home in Wisconsin and I don’t get a neck and shoulder massage as well. The salon was neat and clean and the techs were all very friendly. It’s centrally located in the financial district for women who work there or who are shopping or visiting.

I’m writing my first Unilocal review about Natural Image because I feel that it is my duty to do so. I got a gel manicure here, and I feel like I lit $ 40 on fire.
I can look past the fact that even though I had made an appointment, I had to wait over ten minutes to get started. I can’t look past the fact that the woman who did my nails had NO IDEA what she was doing. My cuticles are ragged, she needed help from another woman to figure out how to use the nail file, and I have weird puddles of polish leaking over my cuticles on three fingers. Thank goodness I chose a light color and that I have gel polish remover at home to try to clean up the mess. I even noticed some polish on my knuckle. This was by far the worst gel manicure (or any manicure) I have ever had.
I work downtown and normally get my nails done in Somerville. My usual place does a great job and for much less money. Natural Image charged a premium price for this mess. Although to be fair, my friend had a decent manicure from a different technician. The woman who did my nails had not one word of English and clearly had no interest in being there.
Never again.

Round up to 3.5 for this place. A lot of the rating comes from the women who work there, who are all very nice and accomodating. The pedicure and manicure I got there were about a 7 on a scale of 10. The location is also amazing — right across the intersection from my building in the Financial District!
If you are looking for that quick, lunch-​break mani pedi fix, this is the place for you!

I have been here several times (as well as most of my coworkers) — Tina, who normally does my shellac, is hands down the best. She takes her time, does an amazing job and is friendly. I have always been able to get same day appointments and they always finish within my 1 hour lunch break.

Great nail salon located inside the pregnant building. The lady who did my nails, Tina, deserves all the compliments and more :)
Usually the nail salons from Downtown Boston are: a) overpriced and b) the technicians don’t do a good job but I can’t say the same about this salon.
Try it and you ll keep going back :)

I had great hopes for this salon. They are very friendly and helpful, couldnt be nicer but when it came to the nail service it was downright scary. First of all the gel polish began chipping in 2 days. The technician ground down my nails so much that all my fingertips hurt for a week. Within a week and a few days, 2 of my nail tips broke off, probably because the nail was so thin from the grinding. One of them split horizontally right down the center and I could fold it in half (gross). Several of the nails were different lengths (shorter than the rest). In other words my nails were a horrible mess. Needless to say I will stay far, far away from this place.

First of all, the business is located in the Bank of America building. You need an appointment and you have to provide a photo ID just to get past security. Something that was not mentioned to me when I called to ask if walk ins are accepted. I was on my lunch break and had limited time as is. Needless to say I didn’t get in for services and will never go there because of this poor customer service. It is too cold to be wandering around the city looking for a business only to be denied by the building’s security. If I could, I would give 0 stars.

I had my acrylic nails filled at Natural Image. The salon overall is convenient and has a pleasant atmosphere. There was no wait, but I made an appointment 1 hour in advance. However, my problems with the salon are as follows:
1. The conditions were unsanitary — none of the files or clippers were sanitized before or after their use on me… gross.
2. My technician completely botched my nails by grinding them down at odd angles. She used the corner of the drill peice, making long indented lines all over my nails, and did not make them even or flat. She ground down the acrylic so much next to my cuticles that it’s actually a different color there than on the rest of my nail. Trust me when I say that they look really silly.
3. The technician was constantly trying to pressure me into making another appointment. I understand they probably want repeat business, but come on!
Overall it seemed that the technician didn’t really care how the nails came out, and just wanted to make as much money as possible off of me. I won’t be back.

As promised — my update on chipping. Okay, so the polish lasted (solidly) for about 3.5 days. That is a little disappointing because I’ve had polish last for 1 week at least and 2 weeks at most.
Perhaps I should have asked for the ‘no chip’ base as mentioned by another reviewer. Still, I’d go back!

I’ve been here twice for manicures. Both times I was seen right away (without an appointment). The manicurist was not in a rush, which I was fine with. It may have taken a little longer than a typical manicure, but she was meticulous and it’s the only place I’ve found so far where my nails aren’t chipping the next day — ask for the No Chip base coat — it’s amazing! A little more expensive than most of the places on Newbury ($ 15), but worth it for the convenience of going during the day and no chipping!

I visited this place after finding it here on Unilocal in large part because it’s a 5 minute walk from my office. I called for an appointment to have a mani and pedi. They had one within 30 minutes… great, right??? Not! I get there and they are ready for me. They escort me to the back of the shop were I expect to find pedicure chairs and baths. No such luck. They had a very uncomfortable chair and one of those portable foot baths your Aunt Judy gives you for Christmas ;o (
I’m desperate, so I go along. The woman proceeds to be THE SLOWEST, albeit meticulous, nail tech I’ve ever worked with in my life! Mind you, this is my LUNCH HOUR. Sixty minutes later, my pedicure is done. At that point I have an internal debate «nails or not?» It’s right before a business trip and I want my nails to look good, so I decide to go for it. Forty-​five minutes later and I’m done. Agggh! Cost, $ 45. Now, I’m okay with paying a bit more considering we are in the financial district, but I did not get a special mani/​pedi nor did I get exceptional service. The same basic services near my apartment would have cost $ 35 max and taken no more than 75 minutes.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, the next morning, the polish on my right hand is beginning to CHIP! Needless to say, I was furious. Here is where things got better (thus my 3 star rating).
I returned to the salon and was immediately offered a polish change by a different technician. My schedule was tight that day and I was flying out the next day, so I declined. To save my business, the owner offered me an appointment the following week (right before Thanksgiving). I think she gave me her best technician.
When I returned for the polish change, I was very satisfied with the service and my polish lasted nearly a full week (unheard of with me because I am a hand washing freak). I will likely go back for a manicure… not likely for a pedicure unless they invest in the real pedicure chairs.