Nail Kitchen - Raleigh

I had a great experience the other day with Thi! I will definitely be going to her again. There were no appointments available online, but I was able to call and get an appointment the next hour. Friendly staff and Thi did a great job.

I still really like this place but the prices. It always feels like a moving target when I check out. Ugh!

Updated review: December 2nd 2023

After several visits, I've come to the realization that driving 35 mins, passing a multitude of nail salons to come here to get treated like I don't exist amongst another ethnicity group is not worth it.

I stayed around this long bc I enjoyed the convenience of booking online.

Miss Receptionist here has demonstrated her discriminatory views more times than I've like. Today, I've had enough- This will probably be my last time coming here.

Off to WRAl to report

0 stars if I could, don't come here.

I came in and sat down - nail tech was fine but he just meant business. I showed him a picture of the design I wanted (originally I had signed up for a gel set) and he told me he was going to add acrylic to make it stronger. I hesitantly said yes & then he told me the total would be $105 which I agreed. Throughout the appointment, he seemed to get annoyed if I made comments asking for something to be different (I only commented twice total).

I had previously read reviews saying there have been hidden fees when people go to checkout, so as I walked to the register, I was hyper aware. They told me my total would be $115, to which I said he quoted me $105. It seemed as though they thought I was lying and replied, "well did he quote you that BEFORE he added something," and I said "No, I showed him the picture and we agreed on things and THEN he quoted me $105. Nothing additional was added."

They printed out the receipt and did not budge or apologize. I shouldn't be made out to be a liar for holding someone accountable & it was a very uncomfortable situation because I hate being confrontational.

Absolutely will not return.

I stopped by Nail Kitchen a few days ago for a last minute/super quick manicure. They were able to get me in without an appointment on Saturday afternoon, which was impressive considering how busy they were!

Location is great - in a shopping center that has multiple lunch, dinner, and shopping options. The salon is huge, which is really nice. It's a pretty relaxing atmosphere and everyone seemed friendly.
There'a a full bar area near the check in/out. Pretty extensive bar for a nail salon. Not sure if you have to order/ask for a drink, as they didn't offer me anything at all.

On to the reason this place got three stars. I would be willing to go back as I was in and out and only got a basic manicure - ad basic as they come. I hadn't even planned on getting one, but wanted to "clean up" my nails. No taking gel off, no polish; literally just a clean up. For this, I was charged $35. THIRTY FIVE DOLLARS for a manicure that took 20 minutes, which is absurd. It states "$27 and up" on the prices and I'm assuming they charged me $35 due to the nail buffer they used to "shine" my nails. The man that did my nails was very friendly, and I do like that they do a quick exfoliating hand scrub.

Because of the location and atmosphere, I'd possibly go back depending on what I have to get done. However, I'd never get a "classic manicure," again at this place. It's twice as much as any other place, if not more, that I've been to.

The WORST experience EVER!

I went to nail kitchen located in Raleigh, NC. This was my first time going there. I normally do my nails myself but wanted to be pampered for the day. I thought this would be a great place based on the reviews and the over all aesthetic of the images on google.

I must admit the inside was beautiful. I went up to the bar area to check in. The receptionist had me check in on the iPad where I was able to spin the wheel to get a discount. I won $5 off of my service. I provided my information and told the receptionist that I wanted just a regular acrylic full set. She sat me with the first available nail tech.

The nail tech sat down and got her tools out without saying a word. I told her I wanted a full set of acrylic nails. She began working on my nails and within the first 10min she had cut me twice and I was bleeding. She did not stop to wipe the blood off or anything she kept working while I was bleeding. The only time she spoke to me was when she asked me the length I wanted my nails.

She gave me the color samples and I chose two colors one glitter and a blue color. By the time she was finished I had 4 bleeding cuts. I went to pay, and the receptionist told me my payment was $100!!! I thought to myself $100 for what but before complaining I wanted to look online to see the pricing because I thought I missed something.

The online price for a full acrylic set is $30+, the length was $5+ and I got square for the shape. I called to ask for an itemized receipt of what I was charged for. The receptionist told me the tech said she gave me "colored powdered" which for one I never asked for and the power she used was regular white acrylic power which she charged $75 for. She charged me for length which I could understand but then she also charged me for shape which I did not get anything like stiletto or coffin nail shape. The kicker was she charged me $15 for using glittered nail polish! I have never heard of a shop charging for nail polish with glitter that they offered as apart of there sample colors.

I was not satisfied that the tech did not relay that to me, and I felt like she was trying to get over. They also did not even apply my $5 credit. I was provided with the mangers email. I wrote her explaining the situation and provided her pictures. She told me she does not know what I was charged for and that she can offer me a $20 credit on my account. She told me that next time I should ask the tech what she is doing before having it done which is insane because I told her what I wanted before she even started. I advised the manager that I do not want a credit because I will not be coming back to that establishment. I have not heard back about my partial refund and the manager was no help.
Warning: Be careful when going to nail kitchen in Raleigh they will hustle you if you are not careful!

I have been going to Nail kitchen for a while now and I think after my experience yesterday and today it will be my last time going. I noticed when I got home last night that it looked like the topcoat was a different color than the white I wanted. I called in this morning asking for a refund just since I'm leaving to go out of the country Tomorrow and had a lot to do including work today. They said they didn't do refunds which was disappointing but nothing to cause me to write my first bad review for.

Today I had to go in during work and get it fixed. I was very nice when I got the same lady who did my toes yesterday saying "thanks so much for fixing this I appreciate it" she ignored me. After finishing getting my toes "fixed" you can tell the second picture they somehow look worse.

I unfortunately will not be coming here anymore due to the waist of time I spent and the experience cost to end with a result like this.

Ok.. Today marks a week since I had my services.. I tried this spot based on the concept and location of business. I must say the customer service was fair.. I had the Ultimate Pedicure, and I added the wax treatment.. Plus, the classic manicure. Day 2 I noticed the heel of my foot was extremely dry.. Added additional moisturizer... Same thing day 4.. Well, now I can see that what is typically removed at my "normal" location was not? So, after I look on there site and see the service I paid for the description, reads as:
Ultimate Pedicure
$45
After your heels are buffed and scrubbed, nails are clipped and trimmed, cuticles are conditioned, legs and feet are scrubbed and treated with a mask. Top it off with a luxurious hot stone massage.

Now, I typically do not require any extra heel treatment? And, it looks as if the "normal" scrubbed is included. I did notice there was no initial soak of any sort and the Pedicure was done in like 25 minutes.. So, the $55 service - done. I would have been okay with that if the back of my heels didn't feel like sand paper! Just the back and not the bottom? I contacted the Nail Kitchen and was told my service did not include any treatment for my heels? Now I'm confused because does buffed and scrubbed mean? Something buffed should not feel like sand paper? Seems like I received scrubbed AND NOT BUFFED? The individual I spoke with did not want to hear what I had to say Case I didn't purchase the additional heal treatment. Wow.. I've never had an issue with a Pedicure... And, no.. I didn't have anything from the bar, I've posted photos that don't seem to do justice.. But, touch the back of my heal and you'll need a band-aid.

For the price and for it not to include your heel even though the description indicates what sounds like some form of service to your heel which is part of my foot? Darn, back to my original folks..

I slipped on this one.. Should have read ALL the reviews and not allowed the "glitter" of things make it appear better than the VALUE and SERVICE I already receive. What I am going to do is eat this one.. And go back to the Garden Nail Bar for my: Signature Spa Pedicure

SIGNATURE SPA PEDICURE $52
Our salon's most popular pedicure which includes everything from the deluxe pedicure with an choice of lavender, mandarin, or green tea sugar scrub plus a thermal masque treatment.

PEDICURE $37
Trim and shape toe nails, cuticle grooming, callus removal, sea-salt scrub, lotion massage, hot towel wrap, and polish.
$37

SUGAR SCRUB SPA PEDICURE $42
Trim and shape toe nails, cuticle grooming, callus removal, sugar scrub, lotion massage, hot towel wrap, and polish.

DELUXE SPA PEDICURE $47
Includes everything from the sugar scrub pedicure with an added paraffin treatment.


Side Note:
When I tried to call back to speak with a manager.. My line was blocked? I initially spoke with someone named Nicole who seemed very kind? She didn't seem to care for me not excepting "there"standards.. Meaning, the definition does say scrubbed and buffed.. But, one still needs to purchase the "extra" treatment for a full service?

Never received a way to follow up with anyone. Giving them a full star is sad.

My daughter and I just came here for the first time and we had a wonderful experience! This is the first time we were able to sit next to each other and get our nails done together and talk. The establishment was clean and our nails and feet look amazing. I also like that they had hooks for our pocketbooks! My only reason not forgiving a five star review is that I didn't find the nail technicians very friendly.

This nail salon was a complete disappointment. It did not look clean, the chairs had visible scratches, rips, and one of the pedicure chairs did not drain. The staff hurriedly performed my pedicure along with others. My nail polish was not evenly distributed. It was extremely underwhelming to say the least. They cut my friend's finger, nicked my toe cuticle, and they talked about the customers (it helps to speak the language or you can use a translator app)! It was one of the worst experiences I've ever had at a nail salon. If a zero was an option, I'd definitely given them no stars.