Nails 4 U

Pricey, but definitely worth every penny. I went to Nails 4 U near Hilldale Mall on a Monday night with no appointment around 4:45pm. At first I was told that they wouldn’t be able to take me until 5:15pm, which was still ok! Luckily two other employees came in and I got to get right in the pedicure chair. I even had my feet getting worked on at the same time as my hands.
I’m indecisive with polish colors and both of the ladies were helpful and patient with me. I would definitely recommend nails 4 U.

I love Nails 4 U because the artists are wonderful people and they do a really fantastic job. I was a walk-​in on a busy day, but they were still welcoming and gave us great gel manicures. They also offered great nail and hand care advice.
Something about their shellac was easier on my nails. It was easier to pick off (because I’m terrible and do that), but it did not leave the same devastation that I’m used to. I will return– next time with an appointment.

My gel nails were growing out, so I looked up a place nearby to get them off. Searching Unilocal,I called Nails 4 U, mistaking it for another salon where I had had a regular mani/​pedi for a pretty good price.
It was a good thing I called, because Nails 4 U is by appointment only. While they take walk-​ins if slots are open, call in advance because there are fewer chairs here than at other salons. Luckily, they got me in that afternoon, and as I walked in I realized this was my first time here. Glancing at the wall, I saw prices were higher than expected, but I like trying new places so I stuck with my plan.
This is the best mani/​pedi I’ve had in Madison, not for the atmosphere or the price, but for the quality of work. Let me qualify by saying the space while small, is clean and organized and there are a couple of flat screen TVs to zone out into. They are open until 6pm on Sat and closed Sun.
Sounds mediocre so far? Let me break down for you why my experience was so great. If you prefer a more spa-​like experience and open atmosphere, you may need to find a different place, but for me this is always secondary to workmanship. The whole point of getting my nails done is for the detail, so when I see even a slightly crooked paint job at the cuticle, a polish gap on the side, or without wrapping the tips with polish, I feel like I might as well paint my nails at home. I’ve tolerated relatively sloppy work before, particularly at salons that lean more towards getting the job done fast rather than done well. At Nails 4 U, the service is conscientious, the staff are knowledgeable, and my interactions with staff felt genuine rather than transactional.
Thanks to my nail tech Shirley, I was schooled on the difference between gel manicures and SHELLAC®, because I had no idea. Apparently there is a big difference in the quality of materials salons can buy, though they often charge customers the same price. SHELLAC (a branded product by CND) is much easier to remove than «gel polish» (a 5 min soak for SHELLAC versus a 20 min soak with scraping…) and thus you’re able to maintain the health of your nails better without needing to rest your nails between manicures. FYI, for gel removal, if you got it done elsewhere it’s $ 15 a la carte, or $ 10 with service — around 2−3x more than the cheapest places.
They also carry CND and Opi «weekly» polish, which is between regular polish and SHELLAC in terms of drying time and lasting/​chipping power, but you can remove it easily at home like regular polish. There is a $ 2 upcharge for the CND weekly polish and $ 4 upcharge for the Opi weekly polish, but if you’re prone to chipping and still don’t want SHELLAC, you might find it worthwhile. They also have a great selection of Essie colors if you just want regular lacquer.
They’ve been open for 11 years and the fact that they’re still around attests to the loyalty of their customers. I regret ignoring this place for so long because of its generic-​sounding name. My final bill was 1.5 times more than what I was planning to spend, but was the extra cost worth it? For me, a definite yes.

This was the best mani/​pedi experience I ever had. My husband had his first mani/​pedi here and we both had a fun and relaxing experience. The first thing we noticed was that we did not breathe in noxious fumes like we do at other nail salons. The owner and employees talked to us about things to do in town and all about how they try to maintain a green as possible nail salon. The pricing was very reasonable for the quality of service provided.

The best place to get a real shellac manicure in Madison that lasts two weeks and doesn’t ruin your nails!

Everyone at this salon is extraordinarily welcoming. The place is clean and comfortable; service is personalized. I came once a few years ago and continue to come back regularly because of how friendly and reliably good the service is. I have never left with a bleeding cuticle here (which happens to me at almost every other nail salon I go to!)
If you’re looking for honey scrubs/​rose petal baths/​lots of unusual extras this isn’t the place. But if you’re headed somewhere nice and need your nails to look excellent, this is the place to stop by.
Call ahead: they can often accommodate same day appts but walk-​ins can be harder.
Bonus tip: Cecilia is great at helping select colors if needed.

You have to love a place that when you attempt to give your name to make an appointment, they wave their hand and say «I know you», even though you only visit a few times a year.
No fake nails are done here, so there is no toxic fume cloud to endure. The TV is on, but always muted with subtitles. Clean, quiet, relaxing, welcoming, husband and wife owners Aaron and Leanne and their associate Shirley have a gem of a salon here.
The shellac manicures are the best you’ll find, and the pedicures can be done with a special extra tough nail polish for a small upcharge. Worth it for summer durability. It never chips, even though I put it to the test with gardening and such.
You know you’re a valued client here, even being asked to weigh in on their future business plans. Can’t say enough good things.

I went to Nails 4 U on a whim as I was shopping at whole foods and I am so glad I did. I walked in and was scheduled immediately as an appointment had not shown up. I opted for shellac because their prices ($ 30) seemed lower than what I had encountered elsewhere. The lady was very friendly and an absolute pro at manicures. She paid attention to my cuticles, applied the polish diligently till my nails glowed coral. Awesome service and I am ready to schedule an appointment and go back again in a few weeks!

Took a bunch of ladies here for pre-​wedding nails recently and was pleased with how accomodating they were. The salon is certainly no frills and the manicures were pretty no frills as well, but they did a decent job and the polish has held up.
What I really appreciated though, was how they let us book the salon for a chunk of time and essentially take over the space, for no extra cost. They also let us bring in food and drink for part of the celebration, and didn’t rush us out afterward.

I live in Chicago, however I travel to Madison every week for work. I went to Nails 4 U earlier this week, and they did a fabulous job on my mani/​pedi! I got Shellac for my mani and regular polish for my pedi — all for $ 60. Prior to coming to this salon, I called a few other places in Madison and the prices were just ridiculous ($ 80+).
It’s well priced, the staff was friendly, the salon was clean, and it’s conveniently located. I scheduled an appointment the day of and they were able to fit me in that same evening. It’s not a fancy spa or anything, but if you’re just looking for a good mani/​pedi in a clean place that’s reasonably priced, I would defintely recommend! I will be coming back!

Great job on my nails! it doesn’t have the same calming and relaxing «spa» atmosphere as some of the other nail salons in town, but it is clean and the people are friendly. I have had two shellac manicures here and the polish was meticulously applied each time, which is really what I pay for since that is what I cannot do myself. Lowest shellac prices I’ve encountered in town.

I went to Nails 4 U to get a manicure with a friend. Both of us received terrible service. Our nails were barely filed and cleaned, the massage was non– existent, and it took about 3 minutes to apply the nail polish. The entire manicure lasted around 10 minutes and it cost us each $ 18. I would never recommend this nail salon and I will never be going back.