Buff & File Nail Bar

I got a mani/​pedi here and it was fantastic! Everyone was really welcoming and professional. The salon is beautiful and I can’t wait to come back for another mani/​pedi! It’s been a few days and my nails still look flawless! Best nail salon in Portsmouth.

We had a wedding around the corner and booked gel manicures and pedicures for the bridal party (5 in total including Bride). Buff was very accommodating and even though I called a week before they made sure we were taken care of! Without requesting it they brought out champagne for everyone which was very nice and set the relaxing mood for all of us that were stressed from planning mode. My nails held up great so far and they even made recommendations on what colors they would recommend for the dress color. Highly recommend!

What a disappointment. I had a shellac manicure on a Thursday… by Sunday two of the nail polish completely come off, not chipped just popped off. I went in the next to day to get the manicure fixed considering it was a few days old and the salon advertises a ten day guarantee. The rude receptionist told me it would cost an additional $ 10 to get my manicure fixed … I paid $ 28 for the initial shellac manicure which lasted a few days and didn’t feel it was necessary to pay another $ 10. The receptionist was annoyed when I told her it was poor customer service and left the salon feeling disappointed. I would never to back to this salon… what a rip off.
PS my pedicure polish chipped a few days later too.

I had a great experience getting a gel manicure. I was in Portsmouth for work and decided to get a gel manicure one evening. I think I had Erin but can’t exactly remember. In any case, all of the girls on staff were friendly and engaging with the clients. I asked them for restaurant recommendations and for more info about town. The salon is also conscious about the health concerns and chemicals involved in the materials which they are trying to address with better products. I would definitely go back.

Amanda is awesome, super easy going and friendly. My pedicure is going on 2 weeks and looks brand new. The manicure is a week old and still looks amazing. I will absolutely be going back. My only suggestion is to call rather than book online.

I’ve been wanting to try this place for a while. I recently went there for a mani/​pedi. They were quick to get me in which was nice. The place is clean. Not stinky smell of other salons… but I don’t know that their products last. I was disappointed to find no professional foot baths or comfy chairs. Just uncomfortable Ikea décor and water they heat in a tea kettle and pour into a bowl. It is cold very cold in there and when your feet are out of the tubs it gets chilly. Also there isn’t anything to look at in the backroom but a wall. Perhaps consider TV’s, music or a fish tank. I was told the pedicure I purchased included a scrub but that didn’t take place. My massage w/​my mani was little more then rubbing hand cream in. The gal was nice but not friendly or warm. However the other staff members were. The mani took place at the front of the business. At the front door and again it was chilly. The space was like an artists counter. The chair uncomfortable and too high. You have to reach across the expansive table to the technician which left me with a wicked back ache. I wasn’t relaxed when left there. Worse… my polish chipped and peeled the very next day. If the polished lasted I’d return if only for an express service but since it didn’t I probably will not return. Bummer.

Great place!

This was the first time I have had a gel manicure that chipped after one day! In addition, the staff was rude and belittling to the party I was there with for my wedding and offered «express» services but charged me the full prices. I was also told we would be provided with a pitcher of mimosas when I made my reservation, but that didn’t happen.
Definitely wont be back.

Super clean, fun and cheap for express pedi. Love that it’s in Portsmouth!!! Staff were great about getting my unscheduled teen in at the same time as my appointment.

I thought the place was very nice and clean. The women there as well we’re super friendly. I didn’t make an appointment and they were happy to take me. The only big issue is I had the gel manicure and it lasted all of maybe five days. I was really upset do to the fact everything was great there, I may or may not return.

Honestly, I was disappointed with my visit here earlier this month. I came to Buff and File with my Maid of Honor before my wedding for a manicure and pedicure. While my manicure came out fine, I was disappointed with the nail art done on my toes. It looked sloppy and not very professional (just a simple flower design I’ve had done a dozen times at other salons). Also, I wasn’t very impressed that the lady who did my nails made almost no attempt to make conversation with me during the process (I was a bride! I was so excited to talk about my wedding… but didn’t get the chance). I was there for 2 hours and she finally started chatting with me in the last 20 minutes. Just felt weird that she didn’t even try to talk with me before that. My Maid of Honor had a different experience (her manicurist was more chatty with her), but I wasn’t too impressed. The atmosphere was nice and my manicure was good, but overall, I didn’t enjoy my experience at Buff and File like I thought I would.

I got the express mani with Kim and I have to say I was really pleased with how my nails turned out. It did take a little longer than 30 minutes but that’s because Kim is very meticulous in her work and wanted to make sure my nails looked perfect. I also love that I can book my appointment online and that they already have my card on file to pay with. I will most definitely be coming back here on my lunch breaks to get a quick but awesome manicure.

First time here and really loved it! I had the Deluxe pedicure with Erin and it was definitely deluxe. She did a great job and I really got my money’s worth. The foot filing and scrub really left my feet baby smooth and the massage was amazing. Comfy chairs and perfect temperature water — I almost fell asleep! The pricey salon I had been going to had been doing a rush job and I left with uneven looking toenails and rough spots on my heels. Not today! I’ll definitely be back. Thank you Erin!

If this nail spa was open in May 2012, we would have had my friend’s bridal party here. My girlfriend and I took a day off from life and drove up to Kittery for a big of spring shopping and decided to get a little spa treatment to start our trip. We found this joint online and made reservations! It’s a really cute and simple space with great service. We both had pedicures, the one with massage and extras. They have cool buffing machines for callouses (no need for razors) and my callouses were definitely softer. We liked it so much that we plan to make this a periodic little getaway stop.
Of note, they advertise that they use nontoxic products and that is pretty evident when you enter the store. It’s nice to not feel the slight headache one gets from the fumes of a nail salon.

Fabulous! Friendly service, clean and my gel mani looks awesome. I’m an out of tower on a girls weekend & found this place on Unilocal as well. JUST GO!

Just moved to the area and have been searching for a new salon. This place is FANTASTIC! The ladies who works there are so friendly.
I called about 15 min prior to coming in to see if they had any appointments for a mani available. They were able to take me right away. Upon walking again I was offered a cup of hot tea. I hadn’t had my nails done in a while and they made them look great. Can’t wait to try a pedi next time I come.

I’ve been searching for a good pedi place since I moved up here last year. I was hoping this would be it… and I tried this place a few times to give it a fair shot, but overall not super impressed for the price.
First, the shop is clean and airy and decorated nicely. I love the online appt system and the nail techs are super friendly.
Now the bad (or maybe just not so good): The pedi setup is weird. Chairs and foot baths are not really made for pedi’s (or so it seemed). The chairs are low to the ground and the foot bath is at the same height as where you sit so you have extend your legs at a weird angle, esp when they are not in the bath. Both times I felt like I had to hold my leg up (vs resting it comfortably) when it was out of the water… hard to explain, but if you go, you will see. Also, the last time I went, it was cool out and I had yoga pants on (loose ones) — when my toes were drying, I rolled my pants down and the backs ended up hanging into the water basin (the half that wasn’t covered). Wet pants… awesome. Additionally there is no massage option on the chairs.
The foot baths are just bins that hold water — no drains, no massage jets. The ladies have to carry them out to a sink, dump them out, fill them and bring them back. It was awkward to watch and kind of disappointing to not get some massage jets.
Paid $ 60 for the pedi and it was pretty good itself. Not the best and prob not worth the high price but decent. They were running late though so I missed my meter by a few minutes and got a ticket which is a bummer as my not super impressive pedi that cost $ 60 now turned into $ 75 + tip.
I wanted to love this place and the people who work there are so darn friendly but I think I’m throwing in the towel and moving on to try somewhere else next.

I came in for a mani pedi and had a absolutely fabulous time. Janet my nail tech was very talented and easy to enjoy conversations with. She left me feeling exactly how I have wanted to feel after getting my nails and toes done… Pampered! I came in not knowing exactly what I wanted and she was happy to try on a couple different colors with me for an upcoming wedding. She took her time, explained about the products and the massage was the best. I am happy to FINALLY have a nail salon in the area where I am leaving happy and relaxed. Thank you for a wonderful experience!

Love this place! Really stylish and clean. I’ve had 3 different services, each with a different person and enjoyed them all. I like that they offer RGB and Chanel polishes, I feel like those are rare options in NH! My no-​chip manicure is still going strong after a few days, and look great after my pedi a few weeks ago! It’s a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere, everyone is really kind.

Had an awesome experience with Kim, complete with nail advice and lots of laughs. I’ll definitely be back!