Soleil Tan & Spa

I got a mani and pedi ($ 42 and tipping is cash only) so not sure about the other services but my nails and toes look great. Highly recommend Kim she was very attentive and super sweet. Even helped me put my shoes and socks on while my nails were still drying so I could get to my car before the meter ran out

$ 56 gel manicure + pedicure
Manicurist paid great attention to my toes and made me feel comfortable in the space
Amazing selection of colors, too!
Receptionist was easy to talk to and schedule an appointment just a few hours in advance.

A virgin to the world of spray tan, I decided to give it a try. I am one of those white people with an eerie ghostlike complexion, not unlike a stale marshmallow or glow in the dark silly putty. My fabulous cousin is getting married in two days and when it came to my spooky epidermis, I just wanted to take the «edge off».
Standing under the fluorescent lights in front of the mirror at Soleil Tan and Spa was my first rude awakening. After having two kids and a Christmas full of chocolates shaped like pagan winter items and delicious gingerbread cookies, I looked a bit like the marshmallow mentioned earlier– but I took a deep breath and ventured on, determined to look beautiful and bronzed for the upcoming wedding.
The quiet young woman who sprayed me was as pleasant and polite as can be expected when your job is to spray an orange stain onto naked pale people. She couldn’t mask her laugher at my (charming) naivety when it comes to the spray tan experience. I learned that a spray tan involves a lot of goosebumps (not in a good way) and quite a bit of attention to detail in the crotch area (not in a good way). After a few angry directions at me to turn left («the OTHER left!») I stepped out of the claustrophobic misty cage that was my tanning booth.
The polite angry woman directed me again to the harsh realities of the full length mirror before me. I was forced to look again at my unclothed postpartum body (ok, it’s been over a year postpartum-​SEMANTICS people) under the brutal fluorescent lights. This time, I was slightly more tan (just as I wanted) and the shower cap I was made to wear had been blasted back to the crown of my head by the powerful spray tan device (which by the way had resembled the backpacks the Ghostbusters wear). The shower cap looked a bit like a mushroom cloud atop a tall, tan (cellulite-​ridden) mountain. Kaboom.
When I came to the front to pay, a young woman with a bowl cut looked at me with disdain. She had one of those bowl cuts that has come back into style just to show people like me I’m too old to get away with one. She was not amused by my earnest question about whether or not I was supposed to swallow during the spray tanning process. She rolled her eyes and said «you’ll be fine.»
Will I?

Ummmm NO!!! Save yourselves! There have to be better tanning salons in Cambridge. I was in Boston for business and thought I looked like a ghost so I walked a mile and a half to this place as it was the closest to my hotel that was open late in the evening… or so I thought. I get there around 7:30pm and the door was open, lights were on. I start to look at tanning packages and the lady gives me the spill on pricing. When I decide on which one I want she says, «Oh we’re closed»… BIH then why did you waste my time! And why is your door open! And why does your website say you’re open until 8pm? I ask her what time they closed and they said 7pm. those are their winter hours! I’m going to them to update their hours before people hunt their place down for service, which it looks like they’ve done… Furthermore, if you’re closed, lock your stickin door and don’t amuse me by giving me pricining. And then she was rude about it… the nerve!

I read the reviews and realized that a lot of the bad reviews for this place seemed to happen during rush times (ie, after work or on weekends, when salons often have more appointments), with other customers saying that they felt like their procedures got hurried.
I have a more flexible schedule, so I went during the workday when there was no crowd. My pedicure was a solid 40 – 45 minutes. I walked in, and they had no trouble fitting me in. The lady at the desk had also mentioned to me before that they don’t usually have a crowd during the weekday.
The prices are OK, but not particularly cheap (Granted, this is Cambridge, and $ 30 for a pedicure seems to be at par for the area). The facility is clean, and the staff are super friendly and accommodating. By and large, the pedicure was standard BUT — as mentioned in other reviews — the leg massage was amazing! If it weren’t for the leg massage, this would be a three star review, but the leg massage was awesome! I’ve been to a ton of pedicure places in the US where the massage is a total afterthought, and that was not the case here! Jen gave me an amazing two-​part massage. She did a great massage while putting the sugar scrub on, and then she gave me a really nice long lotion massage afterwards. The lotion massage included what might have been reflexology. I honestly haven’t had such a good leg massage (with a pedicure) anywhere in this country, and it’s one of the things I’ve been craving. If you do pedicures because you like the massage part, you will love this place!

I’m new to the area and thought I would have to shop around to find a good nail place. One appointment here and I didn’t need to look any further. I’ve been a few times now and there is never a wait. I have never felt rushed. The pedicure was wonderful with a long massage. My regular manicure looked like gel and lasted perfectly for over a week. Only minimal chipping after two weeks (and I’m a nurse so that says a lot!)!
I can say enough good things about Lisa. Her manicures, gel and pedicures are truly perfect! The rest of the employees are welcoming and nice as well. They remembered me and my name even after my first visit. I’m happy to live so close to a great place.

I liked the pedicure that I got at Soleil but their prices are too high. $ 40 for a half hour pedicure (even if it were an hour I think it would be too high)? No.

Incredibly nice, honest about wait times, tons of color selection. Pedicures are great. Long leg massages, very clean. Shelac manicure was great — definitely have found a regular spot to go!

Great place! :) i was afraid to come here because of some of the reviews i read on here. But im glad i made it! — love love this place and i am always happy with my mani pedi. Also staff is friendly and just everything is great in general! 100% recommended

DON’T COME HERE!!! $ 42 for a mani and pedi for less than a half hour for the whole process. I’ve never felt so rushed out of a salon in my life. I was never asked if the water temperature was okay or even if I was happy with the service. I’d understand if there was a wait but there was NOBODY!!! My manicurist hurried me off to a dryer and went off to chat with her friends. Never once checking with me. Get your money’s worth elsewhere. I’ll never come back again.
Try 159 Nail Salon in Inman square. It’s clean and the service is great. Mani/​pedi is only $ 30 there. I’ll never cheat on you again 159 Nail Salon.

They were close by so I decided to give them a try. A basic cheap nail place. I called around 10:30 am on a Saturday to make a reservation assuming there might be a lot of walk-​ins. They told me 11 would work & when I arrived they took me right away. Shockingly there was no crowd. I felt my lady took her time and did a great job. I do not do gel nails so it was just a basic nail service. About $ 40 for a mani/​pedi. Tip needs to be in cash but they have an atm there. I would proudly use them again if I’m in the area.

I’m glad to have a good nail salon so close by. They do a good job every time. I often get pedicures and gel manicures and I’ve been happy almost every time. The few mistakes that have been made over the past two years were simple human error and they’ve always been very apologetic when anything has gone wrong. Overall it’s clean and they seem to do a good job.

My cousin & I came in at 7pm from a previous recommendation to Soleil. The receptionist had an immediate attitude, did not appreciate it, especially after a long day. The place was basically empty with maybe 5 women doing manis/​pedis, it did not seem packed at all. The same receptionist told me and my cousin that they were packed due to other appointments. Its 7pm, going on 8pm and you close 8pm, but you’re packed?!
Yeah, Definitely will not try this place again.

I had a really good experience at this place and felt compelled to write a review to make up for some of the bad (hopefully outdated) ones! I got a manicure and pedicure here on a Sunday late afternoon and it was great. The pedicure was relaxing and long and both the manicure and pedicure were really high quality. They weren’t in a rush at all. The staff were extremely pleasant. They even put my shoes on for me. I would definitely go back here for the nail service, though it was a little on the expensive end for me.

DO NOT get a gel manicure here. I got the manicure on a Monday which actually looked pretty nice… by weds there was a big chip on one of my nails and looking at the tips of all my nails they didn’t looked sealed like they could all peel soon. I went back to the salon and they fixed the one nail for free. I told the person doing my nail that maybe she should do a quick coat over all the tips bc they all look ready to chip and its been 2 days.
She fixed only the chipped nail and told me with gel manicures they chip at the end but its near the cuticle that doesn’t chip. Ok sure, I’ve been getting gel manicures for years and I’ve had them last almost 3 weeks w/​no chipping just the growing out part started to peel.
Well by Friday 4 nails have completely chipped. its not even worth going back. It lasted as long as a regular manicure for over 30 dollars plus tip ugh.

Awful awful place. The technicians are in such a hurry and two of my fingernails started bleeding. They don’t even remove the old nail polish properly. I paid $ 40 (mani and pedi) for this crap place.
Do not go here!!! Go to Nail 159 instead.

Not a bargain-​basement place but not super-​luxury, Soleil is cleaner, brighter, and more professional than your typical mom-​and-​pop place. Prices are acceptable. I got a Deluxe pedi (~40) and a regular manicure (~15) and thought everything was really good. My mani-​/​pedicurist was Lee (Binh) and she was really thorough and did the right amount of chit-​chat with me. The leg treatments that come with the deluxe pedi were great. She really went to town on my cuticles! The chairs all have the massage option and aren’t mix-​and-​match with cheap plastic tubs at the bottom like at some places… Strangely, though, there were no magazine anywhere! Maybe they had some if you requested them, but I just read my kindle. I didn’t see any unsanitary practices going on and there was equipment in all those microwave-​looking things or in fresh packaging.
The pedicure and manicure both looked great and have held up very well. They have your typical ranges of Essie, Opi, and gel colors. I asked if I could get nail art and they said yes, though Lee didn’t seem like she had a lot of experience in it, so I decided to try it another time. Tips are cash only. The front-​desk receptionist was really nice and helpful.
I’ll be back for sure. I wish they offered massages/​spa treatments instead of tanning, but I guess you gotta go with what the demand is! Still, tanning is really useless for all of us women of color in the area.

Always on the hunt for the perfect nail salon, I am thrilled with Soleil! I’m not sure what happened with those who gave less than stellar reviews, but I’ve always had a great experience, and Kim is just as sweet as can be.
Great selection of colors and my nails always come out perfectly. It’s definitely not a place to go if you want a quick mani or pedi. They really take their time, and are gentle but detailed. Best massages ever– I could fall asleep in the pedicure chair. The atmosphere is relaxing and I love how the staff gets along so well. Fun, adorable group of women. Can’t wait to try a facial.

I love coming here for manicures, pedicures and facials. The employees are mainly Vietnamese and as your service is getting done, you’ll hear music and a lot of Vietnamese communication in the background. Kim is amazing at facials. Even though she doesn’t speak fluent English, she will understand what you are saying.
The only thing that I don’t like about this place is that it’s barely relaxing. The music was pretty much pop when I got in.
In the end, I got fabulous nails so I guess it’s worth coming to this place!

This is the only place close to me in Cambridge for tanning, so I wanted to try it out but was skeptical after reading some bad reviews, citing bad customer service as the major complaint.
I could not disagree more. This was my first time tanning ever, so I had a lot of questions. The girl at the front desk was so nice, answered everything I asked, recommended a lotion, specific machine, and tanning time to me, and explained how to work everything. She also explained their various tanning packages, and recommended the best value to me. I have signed up for unlimited one month, and will definitely be back.