Essence Nails and Spa

I’ve been to a lot of nail salons in Wilmington over the years and this one wins. The people are so personable and my shellac nails last for 3 weeks. The facility is clean, spacious, and comfortable. I’ve never had an issue and I’ve been going there for two years.

This gel polish stayed on for 4 weeks+!! I don’t have to come back for a month because it stays on that long lol seriously, michael does the best gel manicure! I swear by this place come see Michael!

Very disappointing, I have had some amazing nails done in this town and two very bad ones.
Unfortunately this salon was a bad experience.
I was surprised at the demeanor of the staff, once I told her what I wanted that was the last word she spoke to me without me trying to initiate conversation… very uncomfortable indeed.
I asked 3 – 4 times if she understood the shape I wanted my nails to be and showed her several photos on my phone. Yet instead of square she kept making them oval and by the time she finally listened to me they were too short to have them fixed.
It is important to listen to your customers — especially new ones.
After reading some other reviews (and your very bizarre responses) I am confident this is not a salon I will visit again or refer any of the 45 women that work for me.
As one person said this is the internet and people can say what they wish regardless if it upsets you or not.
Seeing you threaten someone with an attorney is laughable at best and shows a very childish response.

We will NOT ever return to this place. My daughter and I just got «Royal» pedicures which was $ 36 each; however, due to getting Shellac polish, we were charged an extra $ 25 a piece for that! Ridiculous and NEVER AGAIN!

I stopped in to get my nails done while I was visiting Wilmington for work. I’m not quite sure about why some of these reviews are bad. This place is nothing short of wonderful and I’m very picky about where I get my nails done. The salon was very clean and the nail technicians were very nice/​professional. They have several selections you can choose from in pedicures. I got a pedicure and gel polish. They lady who did was pedicure was great and Michael who did my nails was wonderful too! Everything was sterile and came in sterile packages. This is a top notch nail salon and I highly recommend it. Don’t listen to these other bad reviews. You don’t find much better than this. I will be back the next time I’m in town.

I went this past Friday and got a pedicure. I walked in without an appointment and had to wait less than 10 minutes. Faviola did my pedicure and she did a great job! She was fun to talk to during my experience.
The chairs are wonderful and I loved the liner in the bowl. It was blue so it felt very tropical and sanitary! Faviola did an intricate design on my big toes that I showed her from Pinterest. She took her time and did a great job! Next time I want to try the pedicure with herbs!

The actual pedicures are pretty good, but they have no concept of time. I have been there 3 times. The first time I was a walk in, so I expected to wait. The last 2 times I made an appointment, but still had wait 40 minutes, and then it had to be rushed because I had another Appointment, which I was late for because it took them so long to start. it should have been relaxing and instead I was stressed out because I was late for my other appointment. The receptionist/​managers should not be making appointments if they do not have anyone to do the work at the scheduled time. I will not be back. if you have a schedule to keep this is NOT the place for you.

UPDATE: After threatening me with a lawyer, let me be clear.
I have a right to free speech, to describe my feelings upon visiting your establishment.
I am glad you have cameras, you can use them to improve your customer service.
Treat your customers (especially first time ones) as though you want them to return and are happy to have their business. I am not sure how threatening your customers will encourage other potential customers to give you a try.
I did, even though you bullied someone else who gave an opinion you did not like.
I thought I would give you a chance. Your staff person gave the impression that they did not care to have our custom. It was evident in the demeanor. I hope you use your cameras to improve on your service.
I don’t write many one star reviews. I don’t have time to be mean spirited. I do however, take time to comment when service does not come even close to what I have PAID.
You mentioned I should have said something about dissatisfaction.
This was difficult to do if the «manicurist» did NOT ask until after the damage had been done. You will notice, with your excellent cameras and microphones that you mentioned that you have, that she did not ask. I did have to tell her that I wanted them short as I had gardening to do. And it is standard that a manicurist shapes ovals for women and squared off for men.
DAMAGE.that I did not mention.
I did not mention that my friend had been punctured. My friends first ever manicure experience… she was supremely disappointed also.
Her nails looked AWFUL after being done. I did not show pictures of hers or mine.
I took pictures though. Out of deference. I was trying to be nice. Happy to post if you would like.
IN ADDITION
I did not mention that the edges that were left behind on each nail were so sharp that I cut my skin by mistake. That is when I noticed how bad the manicure was. And while you have reminded me to improve on my review, let me also state…
CUTICLES CUT TOO SHORT. PAINFUL. SWELLING FOR TWO DAYS
EACH NAIL HAD ROUGH SPOTS AND VERY SHARP POINTS.
I HAD TO REDO MY OWN MANICURE the very next day. That is how poor it was.
And yes, I will clarify the butcher statement.
I did not see any scars on her arms and did not make my comment in reference to her.
I made the comment as how I felt she treated me.
How she made ME feel.
I would never want to be considered disrespectful to someone for injuries and I apologize for that. As my comment was how I feltI was treated.
I felt as though i was a piece of meat.
That is what I should have said.
And maybe should clarify that my nails felt butchered not pampered or cared for as one should expect at a SPA. I have visited many and this place was NOT up to par.
Oh and cleanliness… I didn’t mention the stiff, stained towels at the bay I was in. Not very appealing.
I am sorry if your mother/​auntie/​family member had a bad day. Or suffered in her life. This is also true for the customers who come in and may have only been touched or cared for, except by the hands of your staff. Being handled like an slab of meat with no care or gentleness only obligation is a sad way to offer business. I do wish your staff nothing but goodwill and peace. However, when I am paying hard earned money, I hope your staff realize this fact that visiting you was supposed to be a treat.
It was NOT.
THE REVIEW IS NOT A WEEK OLD. A week has not even passed yet as I write even the addendum.
——
I wish I could have minus stars.
I should have turned around when I read the negative review and the haughty reply while in the parking lot.
But I wanted to give the benefit of the doubt.
You know those hunches you listen to… but kinda ignore…
Well don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Please by all means have your manicure done here if you like:
1. A sullen middle-​aged woman who seems to hate her life, and massaging your hands and forearms with undetermined white goop, with a demeanor similar to someone who might have been a butcher in a past life.
2. The olfactory ambiance of a bag of Fritos mixed with contact cement.
3. Frantic bustling about for tools when you say that you only want buffed polished nails (twice).
4. Given squared off «man» nails in derision as you state that you’d like to be short manicured as you are going to be doing lots of gardening work.
I am a woman. I have short hair. I do not want or need a man’s manicure because you have judgement issues.
Nope. Not again.
Not for the price.
Not for the attitude.
Next time, I’ll go to the car wash to have my nails done. They are way friendlier.

In town visiting and found this place on Unilocal,and I’m glad I did. Vanessa was great! $ 30 for the gel manicure and she did a fantastic job :) would recommend!

One if the best I’ve ever had!!! Went in for a mani — pedi. Called ahead and was taken right in. Great price too

I have never consistently gone to a salon for so long. My girlfriends and I decided to try this place in February and I have been back every 2 weeks since. They are quick to do a gel polish change but take their time with full manis and pedis.

Took her time during my pedicure and massage. Very detail oriented and polite. Equipment and space seemed very clean. Only negative was the inability to leave a tip on my card. You must have cash for that.

This is the best place I’ve been in Wilmington. Always clean. Pedicures look good on week three. Highly recommended.

As someone having 20 years knowledge of sterilization and autoclave, I witnessed a nail tech «fake» sterile instruments. She put instruments in to a bag… but the bag had never been sealed or sterilized. The bag still had its removable strip that exposes the seal strip, and the bag did not have the dis colored markings that should be present when a bag is sterilized.
I was told she was new and didn’t know what she was doing. To which I told them she DID know if she is LICENSED. Secondly, if she was lacking knowledge, why would she stick the instruments in the bag and FAKE IT?

They use a liner in the pedi spa which is good but it’s super annoying when you’re trying to relax. They seem to be under staffed for Sunday’s as I saw many people come in and have to leave. I asked for callus treatment, didn’t get one and had to ask for it again at the end but all in all it wasn’t too bad. I’ve had better treatment for better prices at other places. It is a very clean place and they are super friendly.
~~~~~it has been 21 days and my toe nail
Polish (shellac) is still on and still looks great.
I’m super impressed!

From out of town and loved this salon. We got the royal pedicures which felt amazing and manicurist did a great job! Very friendly staff!

My favorite place in Wilmington! They use a new plastic liner in the foot bath tub for each customer! Its a busy location so an appointment is best unless you have time!

I got a gel manicure from Pat, and she did a wonderful job. I have also had a pedicure here from the owner months ago. The service and quality always meets my expectations, and they are very sanitary! They also have high quality popular/​modern nail colors to choose from. Picture is from over a week after service, still looking good!

I had a terrible experience here! The staff is very friendly, but the shellac polish on my nails peeled off the day after I had them done! Then, when I called to try to get them fixed, I was told that they were booked up for the rest of the day – could I come tomorrow? When I explained that I was leaving to go out of town at 7am the next day, they told me to have a nice trip. When I returned to Wilmington, I went to talk to the owner, and he said I was lying about what happened.
I thought businesses today valued their customers and would try to make things right. The prices are quite high, too.
VERY DISAPPOINTED!!!

Mani-​pedi review — came here with the hubs for some pampering:
2 upgraded pedis with sugar scrub and hot towels — $ 35 ea
1 Classic manicure — $ 15 ea
1 Gel manicure — $ 30
Locally owned, brand new, reasonably priced, very clean with great products
Things I loved:
1. HUGE selection of OPI products, I’m partial, what can I say? They also had China Glaze — overall very trendy colors available and also an impressive color selection for gels
2. Immaculate — the instruments are sterilized in what appears to be hospital grade packaging — they literally open a blue/​white envelope with your tools in front of you — brand new pumice stones opened for you as well, and a nice plastic liner for the inside the foot soak
3. They offer various complimentary drinks
4. Select your own scent of sugar scrub with matching body butter
5. Great service — everyone was super friendly, fast, and excellent
Tips:
–This place was PACKED on a Sunday afternoon, so call ahead to make an appointment, everyone is great
–Bring cash for tip, they don’t put tip on cc swipes. We definitely came back with tip because we felt awful!
Having lived in a huge spa town and tried several different nail salons, I have to say that Essence Nails and Spa really is the best experience I’ve had. Needless to say, I’ll definitely be back.