Iluminar exceeded all of my expectations!Customer service: Everyone I interacted with from reception to my manicurist was so nice and accommodating. Nail colors: They have vegan options as well as non-vegan options. Lots of colors to choose from as well.Pedicure: I got a pedicure and have no complaints at all. Massage was really nice and my nails look great.Comfort: OMG the chairs here are amazing! I had been going to other nail salons in the area where the chairs were cute but not comfy at all. The chairs here are soooo comfy.Other: They have drinks and snacks that they offer you too!Will definitely be coming back for future appointments! Read Less

I just got a simple pedi here, done by Vanessa. She was super sweet, gentle, a good listener (in terms of my concerns), and excellent nail technician. Communication was a breeze. This place is a few dollars more than the run of mill nail salon, but worth it. Super clean, super accommodating, and just an over all calming environment. I will be back! Read Less

Love the ambiance and service at this nail salon! I would have to say it's one of the best in Pasadena! Everyone was so welcoming and always made sure I was comfortable and happy with my experience. I had Annie do my pedicure and she was so sweet and did a great job! I love that they mainly take only appointments because you didn't feel like you were being rushed out and you felt that you were actually being catered too. I would definitely come back to this place! Read Less

Pretty amazing. I've been here a couple of times now, so far all the technicians are great. The pedicures are my favorite. The Coconut Pedi and Lavender Pedi is a must try! Parking is not a big deal, there is parking everywhere (garages, meter, and valet). Read Less

It's not so crowded, which is nice! And, the atmosphere is relaxing. I found the place to be clean, and the workers to be friendly. But, the downside is that there is no parking. So you would have to use public parking, which isn't cheap. Also, I was extremely disappointed that the nail technicians here were NOT as meticulous and skillful as I had hoped for. I came home with a sore toe after getting a pedi. It's unlikely I would go back. Read Less

It's not so crowded, which is nice! And, the atmosphere is relaxing. I found the place to be clean, and the workers to be friendly. But, the downside is that there is no parking. So you would have to use public parking, which isn't cheap. Also, I was extremely disappointed that the nail technicians here were NOT as meticulous and skillful as I had hoped for. I came home with a sore toe after getting a pedi. It's unlikely I would go back. Read Less

I was very disappointed with the customer service here today. I was looking forward to trying this nail salon. I booked my appointment well in advance, as I am going out of the country for my honeymoon. I used their online booking system. I booked a gel manicure at 2:15 and a pedicure at 2:15 with two different technicians. They made it clear that you need to be there 15 minutes early and if you are late you will be charged so I made sure to get there extra early. Parking was not easy, but I made it to the salon. It was completely empty, but two employees were behind the counter. When I said I am here for my appointment at 2:15 they said that they do not do two services at one time (gel manicure & pedicure). Since I booked two services, even though they were with two different people they stated that I would have to pick one or another. I have been to many nail salons and I have NEVER HEARD OF THIS! AND I HAD AN APPOINTMENT FOR BOTH. The girls at the front desk were not very accommodating when I asked if there was anyway to get both done since I am leaving for my honeymoon the next day. They did not offer any helpful information and asked if there is one I prefer over another. After that I left to take my business to another nail salon that I had a very pleasant experience at. I will not be returning back here. I am very disappointed in this situation. Also, if this is their policy they should make it clear on their booking website. The least they could have done was called me to let me know when they saw a reservation for the same person and information for that person at the same time for two services. BE AWARE so you are not shocked and disappointed like I was.**Update**It is interesting that this is the way a manager/owner replies instead of trying to accommodate and be truly sorry about a poor experience. I do see under spa policy that you do services separately, maybe it would just be more beneficial to say that they cannot be booked for the same time.I'm glad you looked at the camera, but that clearly does not show what they said. Of course it looked like 'attitude' to you, as that the way you want to see it to protect your business. I was more in shock that two services could not be done at the same time and I booked my appointment in advanced. The girls at the front said I can do one OR the other, not very accommodating in my opinion. If that is all that I needed then they would have been great, but it isn't what I needed. I just thought it would be more accommodating to somehow complete both services since the technicians were coming in for the appointment anyways. And actually this is the benefit of Yelp, so people can hear and see the truth about businesses and their employees. You just see it is unfair because you did not get the review you were hoping for.If anything I just hope this post helps others not make the same mistake I did. Thank you and have a good day. Read Less

LOVE THIS PLACE! The space is clean and inviting. I appreciate that they don't acrylics so you don't get that certain smell from typical nail salons. They offer various types of pedicures and manicures like milk and honey or lavender scrubs. We were short on time so we had to get the simple pedicure. It was great and relaxing! I liked how the pedicurist kept asking me if it hurt when she was cleaning my feet. Those tools to clean your toe nails can be brutal. She also took her time as she was working on my feet. The chairs were nice and comfy. Note: they're not massage chairs.You can choose from a variety of colors. I recommend making an appointment. Also, parking sucks around the area - bring coins for metered street parking or park in a lot.This is definitely a great nail spot especially if you want to have a some girl time with girlfriends. Read Less

I am so glad I found this place. I'm in the area for a "staycation" and I wanted a mani pedi. I got a suggestion from a friend for another shop but I didn't like the Yelp reviews so I started looking on my own. I came across this salon and hoped they could see me. I literally called the same day for an appointment and they were able to see me later that afternoon. The salon is bright and beautiful! Lots of exposed brick. One thing I love is the lack of chemical smells. No acrylics done here! They also have vegan polish if you're do inclined. Joy worked on me and she was so nice. We chatted it up during my manicure. She did an awesome job. I usually do my nails myself but definitely appreciated having someone else do them. Not sure of parking because I took the hotel shuttle over. Read Less

My first time coming here and I was pretty impressed. The service, color selection, the ambiance was superb. I wanted to treat myself to a pedicure and decided to try out Illuminar. I felt like I was in a spa having gotten their Milk and Honey Pedicure. This was my first pedicure of the year and my feet needed some TLC. The lady (I didn't catch her name) that worked on my feet took her time to make sure all the rough spots were taken care of. She even gave me a bit of moisturizer to take home which I appreciated. My feet felt smooth and free of calluses after the service. I was offered free water, tea and coffee as well as snacks which was a nice bonus. For parking there is the nearby School House Parking Garage as well as metered street parking. You get 90 minutes free at the garage which could be a con if you want to explore the area, but hey, this is Old Town and you usually pay for parking. If you check in at Yelp, there is 10% discount for your service. I definitely will come back to Illuminar in the summer for my pedicures! Read Less

Love this place!! Got a gel manicure ($29) and a pedi (somewhere around the same price- I can't exactly remember) but the quality of work they do is amazing and the atmosphere is so relaxing and nice! This is definitely my new regular nail salon- I highly recommend it to all! Read Less

Very clean beautiful nail spa. Attentive staff and highly skilled nail artist. I came in for a treatment they offer to strengthen nails and was very satisfied with the results. Need to bring change for parking meters and make an appointment online or by calling in. Read Less

Sanitary foot basins so you don't pick up anyone's foot coties. They know how to file nails correctly. No bacteria catching pillows on your lap while filing. No crossing your hands over to where the technicians sits while you're in pretzel position. Manicure before the pedicure to give your hands time to dry. Complimentary snacks. They're not taking appointments while working on you.  They think of everything so you can actually relax and enjoy. Ahhh! Read Less

Solid 3.5 stars for this place! Here's why:PROS:- The place is super clean and the atmosphere is super relaxing compared to many other salons. I loved the earthy but also elegant colors they went with (e.g. copper, bronze, dark brown). The chairs were also super comfy.- Service is on point! The lady at the front was super sweet and always had a smile on her face. She helped me hung up my jacket and purse and always asked me if I needed anything. When I wanted to run out to add more coins into my street parking meter, they were super understanding and even gave me some quarters.- Two words. SNACK. CART. That was probably the coolest thing I've seen in a nail salon.- The manicurists were definitely experienced.- 10% Yelp Check-In Deal (only from Tuesdays-Thursdays), made my gel manicure and pedicure around $50.CONS:- My nails looked really beautiful right after my appointment but almost a week later, some of my the color on my gel mani and my toes started to chip- My two big toes are broken and usually when I go do my nails, they will do something to help me fix it so there isn't a weird looking crease when it gets paintedOverall, I did enjoy my experience at this place but will probably come back when my nails aren't broken and right before a special event where I feel like treating myself. Read Less

Today is my first time coming here for a nice relaxing pedi. Great things about this place:1. This place does not smell like melted plastic!  They don't do acrylic nails so no smell. Which is a big plus for me as I am preggo! I always dreaded the smell in nail salons.2. By appt only, means they don't rush you so they can take care walk ins or you have to wait past appt time bc some walk ins came before you and bump you down the line3. Good care from staff and nice decor/ ambiance4. Easy to make appointment. They have an online interface through the website that is very user friendly. Minor Things they can improve:1. The foot soak set up is a bit awkward - either the tub too small or the foot stand too big or the water sprouts too close...2. Morning sun hitting the nail stand so some polish is warm/hot to touch. I am not a chemist but I don't know if that would affect the quality of the polish when it gets beat down by the sun like thatOverall a great experience. Read Less

MY GEL MANICURE IS STILL GOING STRONG. It's been three weeks.Street parking. I missed the location because it's kind of non-descript. Missing it meant I had to traverse through Old Town's one way streets. Just know that you should try to find street parking before your GPS says you've arrived.The interior is nice. It felt very clean, modern and had NO smell. I love that it felt like a spa and not a nail place. I was greeted by friendly staff and assigned to Deanne. She was great! Very gentle and soft spoken. She made sure to let me know what she was doing through each step of the process. I paid $39 for a gel manicure and massage which was well worth it.During your services, they'll offer you drinks and snacks. Swoon!They will NOT do gel pedicures as they have a strict policy of not offering services if they detect nail fungus. Major kudos for that. I was very impressed by their standards and appreciate that consideration for the health of all customers.Definitely my new go-to spot for manicures. Read Less

Iluminar sets the bar for other nail places in service and decor! They definitely have more of a spa feel rather than some typical nail salon. The decor follows the lines of industrial/warehouse chic, which  I think is super cute.I love that you can make an appointment online and request a technician of choice. You can also get a email confirmation as well once you schedule online.For today's pedicure, I chose their Simply Illuminating Pedicure with Mirian, which was amazing. When I arrived, the receptionist greeted me with a warm smile and was super nice and helpful in helping me pick out a color. They carry only Essie and a vegan brand that takes a little while longer to dry. When I went to the seating area and prior to the start of your service, Marian checked for any type of nail fungus or infection, and they will not service you if you are infected. This is great news because cleanliness if a number one must for me! They use fresh tools, a plastic covering for the basin and they use 'green' products for cleaning the tub. A+ from me! The pedicure was relaxing and exactly what I needed. The process took around 40 minutes, as it was estimated when I booked my appointment. I wish I opted for their more deluxe pampering packages instead because I wanted more!  My pedicure was $27 before tip which is pretty comparable to pedicures in the area. Iluminar also offer beverages - tea, water, sparkling water, and coffee. If they offered wine as well, it would have the icing on the cake. There is free 90 minute parking on Green Street but on weekends, this can fill up quick. I parked about 2 more blocks north at the paid parking lot. Make sure to give yourself lots of time to find parking! Read Less

Really good customer service from everyone at the reception and nail techs. I've been here twice for special occasion nails and will come here again.I recently got virtual nails for the first time and they came out beautifully! Feels a lot lighter than acrylics and looks more dramatic than just regular polish or gels. Both the receptionist and Vanessa did a great job with helping me pick out the nude and gold glitter colors I was looking for. I would recommend to definitely pamper yourself a bit and try this place out! Read Less

Let me start by saying...what a nice spa! I'm in town for a wedding and urgently needed a mani & pedi. Yelp to the rescue!This place truly feels like a spa, the girls are super nice, and the service was well worth it. I just wish I could find a place like this in Atlanta.Mirian did both mani & pedi with tons of care. Loved it!Will definitely recommend it to local friends. Read Less

Name another nail salon that calls you the next day to make sure your polish is still intact, pulls up a cute little snack cart while you're getting a service that includes sparkling water and coffee, and actually recognizes the sanctity of appointments, and I dear Yelpers, will give you all the gold bricks I own. Shouts out to Elsa for the soothing and enjoyable pedi, and Marina for taking extra care with my cuticles and helping my digits shine through the new year. Read Less

Had a great first experience at Iluminar for my nails. I did a Simply Gel Manicure & Simply Illuminating Pedicure with Mirian.Atmosphere Spa like. Very clean, nice, and relaxing. I went over the holiday season and the place was decorated well with relaxing Christmas playing music in the background. Loved the simple and elegant decor. The chairs were comfortable and the salon smelled really nice. NO strong chemical smells like other places.ServiceThe receptionist (I wished I asked for her name) was really sweet and helpful. She gave me feedback on nail polish color I was debating about, offered me tea, and checked up on me during the entire time I was there. She was very pleasant and made the experience more wonderful.Nail ServiceMirian worked on both my pedicure and gel manicure. I liked that they have one technician work on you for both services. Even though it does take close to 2 hours to complete everything, I felt that I was able to communicate my comments and needs to her easily. Mirian did a very thorough job and constantly asked me if I liked my nails as she went through each step of the process.QualityHigh-quality nail polish. I used OPI and Essie during my service. Clean and good tools used for nails. My polish had lasted me through my first day as I am typing this review. They have a 3-day post-service policy where they help fix your nails without charge.Only negative is the location being in old town Pasadena. Parking is not the best as you will need to park on the street or the 90-minute free lots nearby. After a pedicure, I prefer not to walk so much to my car...OVERALL experience as a first time customer was pleasant. I would return again and bring a girlfriend with me next time so we can both be pampered.Thanks for the great service Iluminar. Hope you ladies can keep up the high-quality work and customer service. Read Less

This place is awesome! I was tired of popping into cheap nail salons - so I searched yelp for something not too crazy expensive but more upscale with service offerings. Found it!!!Vanessa did both my mani & pedi and what I loved about her was her attention to detail & thoroughness PLUS she had a great personality. I booked the MILK & HONEY mani & pedi and it was so good I plan to make it a regular treat for myself. Smelled amazing & felt even better being scrubbed on. The copper bowls & cups used for hand washing are so pretty tooEveryone there was so nice. Elsa was helpful even though she wasn't giving me my service and Brenna at the front made sure I was taken care of from start to finish.They even had snacks available & I received 5% off as a first time customer - something I didn't expect.Make sure you have quarters for metered street parking or the lot prices can be expensive. Great little gem! Can't wait to go back :) Read Less