H & L Nail Spa

Sadly, I feel that H&L has gone downhill since they opened their second «spa» location across the street. I feel that all the experienced technicians have moved across the street and left those training or just beginning at H&L. I went there to get my nails done for my wedding, and it took almost 2 hours to get a french manicure, of which it chipped that day. I also have stopped in to get an eyebrow wax, and was told that nobody could do it, but I could go across the street and have it done (for $ 5 more, by the same person that used to do it at H&L). Despite still being one of the cheapest places around, I have sadly moved my patronage elsewhere.

I’ve been coming here since they’ve opened. I’ve tried a few other salons, but H&L is my favorite. Their price point is just about the same as other nail salons in the neighborhood and they do a great job. I’ve never been bombarded with add on requests as others have mentioned. They just ask «spa pedicure?», I say no and that’s that. Minus one star because even when they’re packed, they practically hold you hostage and say «5 minutes» when the wait is clearly longer than 5 minutes. I love their new non-​shellac shellac collection. An extra 3 bucks, but lasts for two weeks, without the agony of getting and removing a gel/​shellac mani. It’s like shellac for toes. Brilliant!

I’ve been to this place many times for the past 5 years and really liked it, until the last few experiences which had gotten a little worse each time. Today was my last time going there. I came by and asked if it was too late for a pedicure and they said it wasn’t, the girl who did it was actually good, but seemed a bit rushed, particularly when her boss turned off the air conditioner and music. Then when I was waiting for my nails to dry (they said they weren’t ready yet) they turned off half the lights, while I waited uncomfortably till I just had to walk out. Never again!

I had acrylics that needed to be removed due to other nail salons carelessness & inconsistency and luckily H & L came to my rescue! Nicole was my manicurist and she was extremely patient, attentive and kind while she removed my gel painted acrylics. At the end of it all, she gave me a little shoulder massage (w/​o me even asking) while my nails were drying. It was overall a great experience– word to the wise, if you take care of others, they will take care of you… leave good tips to workers that deserve them!

This is my go to nail spot for a quick mani/​pedi. It’s no frills but good service. The staff is always friendly and attentive. The place is always clean. I’ve been here many times and have never had a bad experience.

Rushed, sloppy work from this salon as usual. Even on a slow Saturday, the nail technician was rushing through my simple manicure. I paid for quick dry, but 90 minutes after I got home the polish was still sticky to the touch and smudged too easily. After that amount of time, polish should be dry, so the only explanation could be too much nail color was layered on too fast. I have learned my lesson about this salon and will not be returning.

Can’t say enough positive things about Helen and her entire staff. I’ve been a loyal customer since the week they opened and am always treated with kindness and professionalism. Helen is an eyebrow shaping GENIUS and one of the warmest, most lovely people I know. Even during a brief time living in Chicago, I always visited H&L during trips back to Brooklyn.

I went here to get Shellac/​Gel. I have been getting this on my nails for years so I am quite experienced. She didn’t talk to me to tell me she has to do one nail at a time under the drye. I’ve heard this before its due to the nailpolilsh. I would have picked another color as it was «shrinks».
She cut my cuticles even after my nails were done and I told her to stop it was enough. They also charged me to do my ring fingers a different color. I’ve never had this charge and was not aware prior till the end. I also noticed the other workers unwrapping used tin foil removing someone else’s cotton ball with nail polish and saving the tin foil. This is not sanitary and disgusting that they need the tinfoil that bad, it happened right next to me (no one else was in the salon but me).
She also had to touch up every nail with as she could not get in the nail without getting my skin??? And she was not young. Don’t go.

This is definitely going to be a girly post lol. H & L Nail Spa is my favorite nail salon ever. This is a spa with the right prices. H & L are very precise when it comes to their services. they do everything with care and patience. I’ve been to some nail salons that rush manicures just so they can get the next customer and ended up with a horrible job. What i like most is the attention and detail they put into their work. Most girls know went they get their nails painted, it can often be sloppy and you end up with nail polish on the sides of your finger tips, H & L takes the time to wipe off the excess nail polish, this is the first Nail that i have been to that does this.
All staff members are very nice and aim to meet your needs. Anything you ask can and will be done. They usually close around 8:30 pm, but if you come in at 8:20 and ask for a manicure and pedicure, you better believe they will do it for you (without rushing!).
They offer all spa services such as: waxing, threading, facials, massages, and various types of spa pedicures and manicures. The spot is always clean and smelling good! I like that they have a modern look to it also. The owner Helen is super nice and funny. She always aims to please and gets it right every time!
I absolutely would recommend this nail salon for any of your pampering needs. i always recommend to all my friends.
Amazing place Helen!

This place is ok, my massage chair didnt work, but the guy doing my nails was quick, friendly and efficient. I think the tools could have been sterilized better, like in indiv sterile packs, I believe that is why I personally wouldn’t return (unless in a real pinch), however, it did seem clean.
I am always lured in by specials like mani pedi for 22, but I never leave one of these places without spending 50 + 10 dollar tip. Damn it.
One thing I don’t get. I always spend the money on quick dry, but is 10 minutes under the dryer really quick dry? My nails always chip in 2 days anyway.

It’s a Friday afternoon. There is time to kill and there is always time for some love and self pampering. I am with a newbie salon goer so I convince him that we should get pedicures together.
As I push him through the door, we are greeted and asked what we came in for. I say «Two pedicures.» She points us to the two massage chairs towards the back. We sit and get settled. Wait ten minutes tops. We add a ten-​minute foot/​leg massage.
The women are quick, friendly and giggle at how ticklish the newbie salon goer is. They set their kitchen timer for the ten-​minute massage. The pedicure is the norm. Nothing special. The wait isn’t bad. The massage wasn’t, in any way, great. The massage chairs aren’t really massage chairs. More like vibrating chairs.
Two pedicures plus two ten-​minute massage total: $ 54. I didn’t think it was really worth it.

Cheap, friendly service, and usually very quick. No frills nail salon less than a block from my apartment… so why the hell not?

This is definitely my go to spot at the moment the last three times I have been my manicure has lasted almost a week with minimal chipping. (I also believe in doing 20 minutes under the nail dryer) When it is crowded it is crowded go when they first open.

i only ever come here for their $ 22 mani+pedi combo (with $ 1 extra for quick dry and a $ 1 for tax), and ive never had any problems in the past year that ive been frequenting this place — my nails typically last 2 – 3 weeks. it’s just like any other place that offers that combo in that price range — yes, theyll ask if you want extras. and yes, they also cost extra — you can always ask what the upcharge is. if you dont know what the service or product is, then you can always ask.
the ladies are all super nice and so is the dude (he’s also quite meticulous), and they always give a complimentary minute massage at the end of my mani pedi — short, but im definitely not complaining. it’s usually a pretty quick trip too, typically not lasting more than 75 minutes or so.
no frills but fast, cheap, and nice people. oh, and they take credit cards — and you can even put your tip on there too. 4 stars, and thank you!

NEVER, Ever, Ever allow someone here to wax you!
As other reviewers have stated they either double dip or use some waxing mechanism that looks like an electric shaver (that clearly can not be cleaned)
I needed a quick half arm wax for a party and decided to give H and L a go. HUGE MISTAKE!
The woman waxing me ripped sections of my skin off (along with a few hairs) and left broken capiliaries that would rival a junkie.
After blistering and bruising my arms her boss proceeds to tell me that this is «normal» and will go away within 24 hours. The discoloration lasted over a week and was quite painful.
I was given a coupon for a free waxing, after 5 more visits, and told I had to pay for the service.

Chip factor: 1 day! ONE DAY. Sad. That alone is just not redeemable or worthy of the AOK rating.
H & L is small. Like, massage chair in the aisle two inches from me, girls runnin’ into with their big purses, just a bit tooooo small to be doing chair massages, manicures, pedicures, and whatever else they do here.
My nails chipped/​smudged after one day. I’m out, too many other places to try… in addition, the massage experience wasn’t great, and I ended up feeling actually worse when I left? Is this possible? Yes.
$ 8 for manicure.
$ 15 for massage.
$ 1 quik-​dry. (FAIL, obviously!)
Unlike pizza (where anything is good enough and better than nuffin’) the same does not hold true for manicures or massages. I’d rather not have one than have a bad one.
No, I’d rather have good ones. So I’ll go somewhere else.
Strike this from thy list of acceptable manicures in Park Slope!

The constant up-​sells were a little confusing and overwhelming, so be prepared for those. I never knew if I was being asked for something that I would be included or if they were just being offered.
The «extra foot massage» I guessed to be an extra charge, and I took it, and it was fabulous, but other things, «would you like this product used?» baffled me. I just kept saying no to everything else to avoid a surprise, but I don’t like feeling like that.
There are cheaper places, just as nice, a few blocks away, but this is so close to my apartment I know that one day, in a pinch, I’ll be back.

After reading all of the reviews of the local nail spots on Unilocal,I thought this would be a good place to get my first NYC transplant from SF mani/​pedi.
I was totally wrong.
Maybe I’m alone here, but I get my nails done for the experience. I don’t go every week for the color change and cuticle cut. What I love is relaxing in the overstuffed massage chair, while getting pampered. If you’re with me, this is not the place for you.
After choosing my color, I get seated in the weakest excuse for a massage chair. The remote is Saran wrapped to the fold out arm rest table and I can barley read the buttons under all of the layers of plastic. When I finally figure out which buttons are which, I can barely feel anything. It might has well been off.
The young woman doing my nails tried to up-​sell me every five minutes. Blame it on being from San Francisco, but I expect a pedicure to include basic services, such as foot exfoliation. She asked me if I’d like my foot «erased» and after I said yes she told me it’d be extra. Then, she pulls out a callus shaver. I tell her I don’t want that, and to disregard it. She rubs my feet with a block pumice stone for a couple minutes (that she later «cleans» in the water my feet have been soaking in) and still charges me.
She transfers me to the manicure table and kindly moves my cappuccino as well. I had been drinking it without the cap on, but on her way to the table she put the cap on. I take a sip from my newly capped drink and it spills all over my lap! She just placed the lid on and set it next to me. Are you kidding?
I finish up my manicure, although I contemplated leaving after the spill. I notice a piece of fuzz drop on my nail and instead of taking it off, she tries to paint over it. I pointed it out to her and she had seen it, she just didn’t think it was a big deal. There are still stray nail polish marks on my hands from where she didn’t clean up her mistakes.
I get placed under the drying fans and get my complimentary massage. Really? You consider that a massage? I get rubbed harder and longer getting off the subway. This is after I had paid her and given her a tip (which I really didn’t want to give).
Next time I’ll just paint my nails at home. Better yet, I’ll have my 4yr old niece give me a mani/​pedi, since it would be the same quality.
Just walk past this place.

As the first reviewer said, they really do go out of their way to give you a great experience. They gave me a stack of magazines, hung my purse, gave me a bottle of water, stored my shoes in a woven basket, gave a leg and foot massage with the pedicure and a quick back/​shoulder rub while my polish was drying. All this without saying a word and I was otherwise left alone, which I appreciate. I got a pedicure only for $ 17.25 (not sure where the 25 cents came from, but whatever), although you can get a mani/​pedi for $ 22. It’s definitely my go-​to neighborhood nail salon.
FYI — They have Essie and Opi polishes.
Edited in ⁰⁸⁄₁₀ to change my review to 5 Stars. I’ve been going here for over a year now and have no complaints. They are the best!

Fabulous new nail place. It’s very small and you could totally walk by without noticing it.
The people there are extremely friendly, and go out of their way to make you comfortable. They are very thorough and do a fabulous job.
Right now there are all sorts of promotional specials. I got a mani/​pedi/​massage for $ 27. They were all great, including the massage, which was short, but more than like the 30 second shoulder rub type thing.
My only complaint (v. minor) is that they did not have my OPI pedi color (God, I am such a Park Slope diva).
Overally, I would highly recommend them. They really went out of their way to court us, and it totally worked.