I have been here 3 times now for Dip manicures and I love it. The women and men here are skilled professionals and provide great service. I have not found any other places that do Dip, but I love it because it barely weakens my nails and lasts for a bit over 2 weeks. I miss having my hands massaged with lotions and oils but I find this method far superior in other respects. Vivian is a sweetheart, love this place! Read Less

I have been a long-time customer of Vivian's and initially gave a 5-star rating. However, after the last year or so, this salon has gone downhill. They overbook clients which leads to long wait times way past your appointment time. I've had to wait 20mins past my appointment and ended up walking out. I went back a month later (October) and was promptly seated. I got a gel manicure and I wanted a simple design but they refused to do it. (I wanted a glitter ombre topcoat which they have done for me before). I was told my nails were too short which has never been the problem before. A week later, my gel was peeling and cracking off and I was left with weak, thin, shaved down nails. My nails have finally grown out long and strong enough to get a manicure but I wanted to try dip because I was told they don't shave down the nail like they do with gel. I was sitting at the chair and they brought out the drill and I asked if they shave down the nail like they do gel and they said yes. I told them I don't want to do it because it ruins my natural nails and Vivian said no, this is better because the dip has vitamin E and calcium so it actually makes your nails stronger. But at this point, my trust is broken and I still don't want this service. Vivian and my manicurist then tell me that dip doesn't include the manicure aspect of the manicure. Meaning, no cuticle trimming, no soaking, no massage, no lotion, no nothing! If you want that, it's an extra $5. I'm sorry, but if I'm taking the time and money to get my nails done I want the whole experience. And as someone who uses my hands a lot in work and washes them constantly, my cuticles need some TLC. Lastly, there is no price list of services so I have no idea how much anything costs. Seems easy for them to add a few extra dollars here and there. I am sad to say that I will not be returning to Nails by Vivian. Read Less

Bad custmer service , i asked for special color, and they did a total difrent thing , when i told them it was not what i asked , they were so mad and they tried to blam it on me knowing that i payed 50$ 😫 Read Less

Vivian is the shop owner and is usually always there. She had many people who work there and from what I have seen, they all do great work. I only get my grows waxed here, as they get incredibly bushy when not done frequently. Vivian is the ONLY person I know can do my grows the correct way without trying. I'm always astonished by her work. She do walk ins but make an appointment if you don't have time to wait. This is not secret gem. Everyone knows they do fantastic nails. There's never a long wait, but expect to be seated upon entry, it's worth it, so be patient. The 2nd time you go, you'll be anxious for your turn, I'm sure! Clean stations and positive vibes. Oh, and if you pay cash, you get a discount. Read Less

I've had dip nails done at one other salon (in SF) and Nails by Vivian is head and shoulders WAY better! They really know what they're doing, and you can tell that they are on top of all of the latest nail designs and tech. When I was leaving, Vivian told me that when I come back in two weeks they'll have over 200 new dip colors on top of the 100 or so they already have! So many choices, so little time! I am seriously impressed with the way my nails look and feel, and I could not recommend them more highly! Convenient location in El Cerrito, good prices, friendly staff! Read Less

I love this place! I used to get my nails done at Julie's Nails in Pinole, however, I stopped going after noticing that my manicure would only last a week. It's been almost three weeks since I got my gel mani at Vivian's and it has yet to chip. This will be my new go-to place! Read Less

I love this place I've been going here for a really long time and about a year ago I moved to San Rafael and tried changing nail places but could not find any salon that treated me like they do here plus there work is great .! Recently I've been doing the dip powder on top of my natural nails and I love that the color doesn't chip off . Definitely the place to go ! Read Less

It's literally the BEST nail salon I've ever been to. Hands down. Be prepared to be there for awhile though, it took an hour and a half for my very detailed mani/pedi, but it was very much well worth it. Read Less

Another great job ! This little gem is the best nail salon I have been to in El Cerrito hands down ! And when I say that trust me I know I have been on a mission to find a great nail salon with great service great customer  service and overall cleanliness.. this salon not only does a amazing job on their nails but makes you feel like a friend and a customer weather it's your first time or many times they treat you like a long time customer very nice friendly staff salon is always clean a spa chairs ready for the next customer to be pampered this is truly a great nail salon trust me you won't be disappointed !! Read Less

Best nail spa in the Bay Area Kevin and Vivian and the girls are all amazing I've been coming here for two years and I've always had a wonderful experience they do dip powder here which is amazing for your nail I used to bite mine and Kevin has transformed them into long healthy nails. If your looking for a new spot you have to try them out Read Less

My review is long over due. I love this place! Vivian is super sweet, friendly and funny. She's done manicures, full sets, and dip powders on my nails and has never failed to please me. My pedicure has been done by Cindy and Ana and they have both done exceptional work. I love this place because they truly do care about the customers satisfaction. I believe the price is pretty average so I have no complaints there. They do get busy on the weekends so I would make an appointment. During the week you may have luck walking in but I would still schedule an appointment if you are in a hurry. I would definitely recommend this place... they're all great! Read Less

I've been frequenting Vivian's for some years now, everyone is great and friendly. I've never had a bad experience here. Kevin is amazing with the dip manicures, they always come out flawless! Make sure you bring cash so you get a little discount. I recommend calling ahead of time to make sure they can fit you in, they always do their best to try and accommodate everyone. Anyway, they're amazing, I don't get my nails done anywhere else. Read Less

My favorite nail salon in the neighborhood! Kevin and Vivian have such amazing talent! I've had acrylic, gel, dip powder manicures + pedicure done here and always leave satisfied. Kevin is my go to nail tech, the attention to detail and creativity is phenomenal. I usually book my appointment in advance but they're able to accommodate walk ins. I'm very pleased with the services they provide here and the employees are always friendly. I'm currently loving my dip powder manicure- my hands are constantly in water for work and the mani holds up for 2 weeks without any chipping or peeling. What are you waiting for? Go get your nails done at Nails by Vivian! Read Less

Vivian is the best!  I'm new to Berkeley and was lucky enough to have someone refer her to me.  I get my nails and waxing done here regularly.  She is highly organized and always on time with my appointments.  Thank u Vivian! Read Less

I absolutely LOVE this salon. Vivian and Kevin, the owners, are so friendly and crazy talented and the staff are friendly and treat you like family. They can do the coolest stuff with your nails too, like gold foil and dried flowers and lots and lots of glitter. Plus, they're dog friendly and always keep up with the latest trends! I would recommend this place to everyone I know! Read Less

This was my first time going to Vivian & I came in 30 mins before closing. They were so sweet, attentive, & fast! Felt very welcomed. The owner is very sweet & Hue is bomb! She made my nails look so beautiful & was very patient especially considering the fact that it was time for her to go! Highly recommend this place & im for sure coming back! Read Less

Busy and very popular. My first time trying dip powder. Kevin was my technician and he was so nice and really informed me of the process which was great! Everyone is very nice and welcoming though. The whole process was pleasant compared to most nail shops. It was worth the drive for sure! Read Less

Didn’t say a word the entire manicure, was rushing like she had to leave and to top it off, she literally pulled her tools out of her drawer then put them back in when she was done. Unsanitary and not cordial. Will continue to go to my normal nail salon and skip this place. Read Less

This is my 4th time at nails by Vivian and I've loved my nails each time. Kevin does an amazing job and I've gotten dip at another shop and a place in Philly and I definitely prefer how Kevin does my nails!I normally don't add tips unless I break my own nail...but this time I added tips since my natural nails aren't too long and I want the look of longer nails. AND I LOOOVVEE THEM. I feel fabulous with these nails ‍ Read Less

This place gets 3 stars for the following reasons:1. I called to ask if they had chrome, which they do. However, the chrome they have is only silver or gold on top of any color you'd like, but it all pretty much looks the same. They don't have legit different chrome colors. They told me this once they had taken off all the nail color and had me pick a color they would put silver on top of.2. Two of my nails chipped less than 2 weeks in, one coming off completely. This tells me that they didn't use glue to seal or they are using inferior products.3. The price. $50 for a gel fill with the outcome including 2 broken nails and no true chrome colors is expensive.4. Once the chrome was complete, the lady at the front told me next time I should get cat eye and a lighter color as it would show up better with the chrome finish than the dark purple I had chosen. I'm not sure why she didn't recommend this in the first place when I asked to see her chrome colors and instead after my mani was complete.The woman who did the nail job was very nice and efficient, which was a plus.I probably won't be back. Read Less

I have been going to Nails by Vivian for 3+ years and Vivian and her team ALWAYS take care of me. I Love that they cater to the young looking for Chrome, Dip Powder, Acrylic, and Shellac. But they also have a regular crowd of older people coming in for a mani pedi. Vivian and her staff are always accommodating and remember their regulars by face and name. They also have a frequent customer card, which I always refuse because I want to support small business at every possible opportunity. But really it's because I loose them...  Service is Excellent Super CleanFriendly and Accommodating StaffExtensive Polish Selection Wide Range of Services (nails, feet, wax)Hot tea and bottled water offered with Every service. Massage chairs while you get a pedicure (Try the Deluxe) Read Less

Every woman that has done my nails at Elite has done such an great job. They are knowledgeable, and I believe truly care about the job they are doing. The salon is so clean, and they have all the recent nail trends and products. I will not go to any other nail salon in West Des Moines and Des Moines area. Thanks Elite! Read Less

I typically don't like to write negative reviews, but this public service announcement is essential. I really wanted to like this place since it's close to where I live. The woman who did my manicure was overeager though and snipped off a good chunk of skin, making it bleed quite profusely and leaving a scar and inflammation even a couple days later. (Photo attached) My fingers are also extremely dry and peeling since the mani. What's the point of nicely painted nails if your finger is throbbing red and peeling? What's worse is that they were not very apologetic and did not offer any sort of discount, which imho is part and parcel of good service. Read Less

Love my nails done by Kevin! He's the best but I don't always get him. I used to get gel mani/pedi but now switched to dip and I love it! It makes my nails healthier and I can grow them out much longer than before! Unfortunately, recently, my mom and sister's person clipped their toe nails badly and they were both bleeding. The one that helped my mom was very rough, the one helping my sister was very apologetic though. They are pretty packed most days so I suggest anyone to make an appointment. Read Less

I have been to this place for 4 different services but my favorite has been the dip powder!! I get it on my natural nails and to my surprise it looks better than acrylic and gel nails. My nails are stronger and longer than they have ever been. The colors were plentiful and the removal of old powder required almost no harsh drilling at all not to mention my last set didn't peel lift or lose its shine! My new set of ombré dip nails are the bomb as well! Ditch the gel and dip the nail... lol Read Less

Got a pedicure here. Technician was super nice, gentle, and even got + helped me put on disposable sandals when she noticed what I brought wouldn't preserve the paint .. but ultimately, I wasn't satisfied with the work. Once I got home, I noticed that she didn't clip my nails all the way down (or ask me how I wanted them trimmed) and the polish was sloppy. I also still had plenty of calluses that I wanted the pedicure to address -- to be fair, my feet are pretty beat up, but I've had other salons handle it fine. Had higher hopes for this place than the surrounding salons due to other raving reviews mentioning great attention to detail, so I'm disappointed and don't think I'll be back. Place was filled with regulars that were getting manicures, so maybe they do better for those. I would reach out to owner, but looks like there isn't an option here to contact on Yelp. Read Less

I'm convinced this is the best nail salon in the Bay Area!  I absolutely adore this place. In addition to doing a phenomenal job on acrylic and gel nails, the staff here are some of the most lovely, sweet people around. I moved out of the state 3 years ago to attend college and today was my first time back at Vivian's; my tech still remembered my name and the shape I liked for my nails! I can't wait to come back soon! Read Less

I've been seeking out the best dip manicure in San Francisco for a while, and it feels like there are hardly any places that offer it at all. Do yourself a favor: stop wasting time in the city and hop a BART over to Nails by Vivian! Kevin did a fabulous job giving me a blue and white ombre dip manicure. The place is very nice and relaxing, and I was super happy with my nails. You get a slight discount for paying cash, so I recommend it. Read Less

I was there when the person I'm sure was Joss walked in and asked Vivian how long the wait was, Vivian was working on me at the time and asked her how many, they said one, she said she could do it now and the other girl said, no how long is the wait, Vivian said pick your color I can do it now. The two girls stormed off and then made hostile comments to the customers because we were all looking at them like they were crazy.Vivian is sweet and there is a reason her place is always packed. Read Less

Best place for waxing in town.Vivian gets all the hair, always has comfortable temperature wax, and is gentle. She is also very nice and quick. I usually call ahead to make sure she can see me soon, but there's no need for an appointment.Read Less

I brought my guy with me for much needed pedicures for $21/pair of feet. The salon itself is situated in a pretty compact space, but it's elegantly decorated so I didn't feel claustrophobic or squished. They did a great job on our tootsies. I absolutely cringe and hold my breath when they are cleaning my toe nails from a past traumatic experience, but she did a great job and took her time. I wish she spent more time buffing my feet, but I'm severely ticklish so that's my bad. She was sparing me from peeing in my pants. They did talk some shiz in Vietnamese, but it was slight ribbing on someone's hair. Nothing that would prevent me from coming back.Overall, make sure to make reservations otherwise expect to sit and wait a bit. Read Less

Hands down one of the best nail places I've ever been to -- so sad I only discovered this place a couple months before I'm moving away :((( Vivian is so bubbly and welcoming, and Kevin (who also co-owns the place) has been doing my nails the last two times I've been here and I cannot recommend him enough! He introduced me to dip nails which I've now become OBSESSED with because they don't start chipping at all until at least 3-4 weeks!! Kevin is also super friendly and takes care to make sure your nails look on point :) The first time I did my nails here he suggested a light sparkle over my pale pink nails and it looked so cute! The second time, I came in wanting to get the same thing again (lol boring I know), but he suggested a white/nude ombre which I ended up getting and I'm so happy with!! Peep my picture hahahI've also been really pleased with my pedicures here! The ladies who have worked on me are very detail-oriented and give great foot massages! Cannot recommend this place enough for their superior service!! Read Less

Update: The last few pedicures I've had here have been lackluster. Paint job is acceptable, but both pedicurists I worked with did NOT take their time on quality care (scrub, massage) and felt like a rush job. Places often packed and overflowing with people waiting, so it seems like they're more interested in turning a d burning customers through the chairs now. If you go, I suggest making an appointment first. Preferably during nonpeak hours so they're not rushed. Read Less

Went in on a Friday (had appointments) and they did a great job! I got a pedicure and a shellac fill. The next day all of my nail polish was bubbling up and chipping off, I called them Monday to let them know, the manager told me to come back in on Tuesday I told them I work until late and live an hour away and can't make it to them by 8(closing), she told me I could come in Saturday and they would fix! So I went in this past Saturday. They fixed-after he told me it was my f...ault "I didn't hold my nails under the light correctly" when I got done I went to the counter. I was going to give him a tip for taking his time- he told me it would be 22.00?? After he messed them up-I told him no and asked the lady why she was charging she told me because I didn't come in on Monday? So they are now fighting on whether to charge me or not. Finally he said he would always charge for this-but this time I won't, but it wasn't our fault?? So I threw a tip down and started to walk out where he just started dying laughing? Very unprofessional and did not do a good job. Will NOT be returning. Afficher la suite Read Less

We made an appointment a week in advance for 3 manicures & pedicures. The salon became very busy as we were getting our pedicures. My pedicure & manicure felt very rushed. Also, they left my daughter sitting by herself for 45 minutes after her pedicure was done before they would do her manicure. Either they placed walk-ins at a higher priority than us or they over-booked themselves. They kept saying that they were short staffed. They had around 8 or so people working. Looks like they need to start turning people away or spread their reservations out so that the people who are in there get better service. Prices seemed way higher than other places for what you get during the pedicure. Definitely won't be spending our money there again. Read Less

I love this salon. Peaceful and all are very welcoming and accomodative. Love having my own set of instruments! Incredibly clean and well managed. Located SUPER convenient next to Jethro's BBQ in Johnston. English language is very well (and most often) therein. I feel like a priority (not a dollar sign) when I walk in. Read Less

Wonderful spa like experience! Love the atmosphere , no big screen TV or constant chatter; extremely professional; classic music; calming experience. Attention to detail and customer service ! Best salon in the Des Moines area based on my experience in trying many salons. Definitely now my go to nail salon. Technicians are awesome; spa smocks, attentive and great execution! Sunny especially rocks!! Read Less

Walked in there for a manicure pedicure and was greeted so warmly by the owner. The thing cost only $23 but the experience was wonderful! Luxurious spa pedicure complete with a foot massage. Surprisingly they sell a variety of gifts from around the world. My favorites were the genuine 4 leaf clover jewelry & the real leaves dipped in platinum or gold pendants. I love the ambience of this gem of a salon Read Less