Essential Spa

My co-​worker and I went here and had a pretty good experience on a Friday evening. What we didn’t realize was the shoddy job they had done until later that night when our nails started chipping. Overall bad job.

This little salon/​spa definitely deserves a better rating than 3 stars. I was trying to kill time around the city and walked by this tiny salon. I searched their services and found out their classic manicure was $ 12. (Sounds like a deal to me!) They were able to take me right away and they were also very patient while I picked out a color. Ivy was my nail technician and was very helpful. I ended up going with an Essie color she picked out! Thanks ivy! The manicure went great and she asked for my approval on the nail shape before proceeding. That was nice. While she was massaging my hands she asked if I would like a 10 min massage for $ 10. Of course I would! After the manicure she brought me to the back for the massage. She brought me to those massage chairs you see at the mall. The massage was well worth the $ 10! She set a timer so I knew I got the full 10 mins :) she even went a min over !
Now for $ 12 I didn’t expect the place to be sparkling in gold, but I expected good customer service, and that’s exactly what I got! Thank you Ivy and the wonderful front desk guy, will definitely be back for a quick mani/​pedi.

Love, Love, Love this gem! This is my go to nail salon on a weekly basis. Amazing staff and service and amazing prices! I’m a forever customer!

I wrote a review for Essential Spa a while ago but it mysteriously disappeared (‘sup with that Unilocal?!) ANYWHO, I go here so frequently that I thought it was worth my time to post again. I work in SoHo and it really is hard to find great places to get your nails done… without breaking the bank. I go to Essential Spa because they are close to work, so well-​priced and they consistently do an incredible job. Their gel manicures last two weeks (yes I know they are supposed to but that’s not always the case!) pedicures are perfection and their massages are heaven. Only downside is that they have two manicure chairs and two pedicure chairs. There have been many times that I’ve gone and they couldn’t take me. My advice? Call ahead!

This review is specific for nails — I didn’t get any bodywork done.
I was looking for a place to get my nails done over my lunch break, and this was the closest to my work. And at 12 $ it seemed like a good deal.
I had multiple issues here:
1 — I had to insist that my cuticles be cut. The manicurist kept saying that she would only cut them if I explicitly asked, which I had to, 3 times.
2 — The top coat of polish was uneven, and when I requested that it be re-​done, was told that the polish I chose was ‘shiny enough’.
3 — While she was ‘rubbing’ my arms, she kept commenting that my right arm was larger than my left (how strange!) then insists that it wasn’t b/​c I am right handed, it must be something else. This was awkward and uncomfortable.
4 — While my nails were drying under the machine (and while sitting on those terrible tiny stools) the manicurist came over and POKED MY FACE and exclaimed, You’re Red! (I have a skin condition that reddens my lower cheeks permanently). I told her that I am uncomfortable with her touching me, and that I didn’t want to talk about it. She left and came back with a book of skin conditions, opens it to the ACNE section and proceeds to try to sell me a skin cream! I left immediately
And to top all of that off, my nails were chipping the next day — my regular place lasts a week!
I would NEVER recommend this place to a friend, and I will NEVER come back, .
Service — 0 of 5
Cleanliness — 3 of 5

I had a really wonderful massage by Ivy. I will definitely be back… affordable too!!!

Essential spa is my favorite spa in New York. And I have visited a lot of spas. The service is incredible. It is clean and relaxing. Their prices are so reasonable for the level of service it’s unbelievable. Tee and Mimi are also wonderful beauticians. I will return again and again.

If I could give Essential Spa less than one star, I would. I purchased the Groupon for eyelash extensions. It was a complete hack job. They use very heavy eyelashes that are not good for your natural lashes and a method that is supposed to be professionally removed in one weeks time. The method is called basket weaving. The eyelashes will not grow out normally, they will need to be removed. I tried to remove mine on my own after about three weeks before I did all my research and most of the eyelashes on my right side were torn out. When I went back to see what they could do for me, they glued lashes directly onto my eyelid. This is not a good place to get fake lashes.
Yuki at Butterfly Kisses Lash removed my lashes and is a total professional explaining what the other place did wrong. If you want to get your lashes done, do yourself a favor and go to her.

I make an appointment for a Gernetic Facial. It’s hard to find facial in NYC using Gernetic products. This brand of skincare is very popular in Europe but hard to find here.
The aesthetician that does my facial is pleasant and not rushing at all. The environment is nice and quiet. There are not much customers so the noise level is low. The price is reasonable for this part of the City.

Just had my first MANicure here and they did an awesome job. I would not have tried this without a recommendation so I feel good passing along the good word about them.

I just used the groupon I purchased for a set of eyelash extensions. I really wish I had ready these reviews before going. I would have rather wasted the purchased groupon than have sleepless nights with pinching pain near my eyelids. When she was done, I told the technician something was hurting on the left side and poking me and I couldn’t close my eyes. She reassured me 3x that there was nothing there and I chalked it up to it being my first time and not really knowing what to expect. I went home and asked my friend if her experience involved scotch tape and serious discomfort during and after. She said the didn’t even feel it at her place. They look ok, not great, but the sleepless discomfort is something that makes me wish I had avoided this place all together. I urge anyone considering this to look elsewhere.

I recently purchased a Groupon for eyelash extensions at Essential Spa. To be fair, the staff were nice. However, I was highly disappointed in my experience there. It took 2 + hours to get my lashes done. Other places I’ve been to take 1 hour… maybe 1.5 hours tops. If my lashes came out amazing, I would have been fine. But it was an extremely painful 2 hours. They use cheap tape under your eye and jab you to death with a toothpick and the cheap lashes. I kept telling the lady that she was hurting me. When she was finally done and I opened my eyes, my lashes were going in 20 different directions. My eyelashes look like the bottom of a broomstick! And they were falling off as I was speaking to her. I don’t know what kind of glue they use, but it’s still hurting my eyelids as I’m writing this review.
I wanted to tell them to remove it right away, but they do not offer services to remove lashes here. I’m going back to my old eyelash place to remove these horrendous lashes tomorrow. After this experience, I would not trust this place with any other service, especially facials. Needless to say, I will not be coming back even if it was free.