Nails by Chau

Eh. They are cheap which is lovely, but quality is questionable. Nails look like they may have been painted by my 3 year old. As much red paint on my skin as my nails.

I’ve had Mani/​Pedis in so many Philly Salons but just can’t match California experience. Nails by Chau reminds me so much of home. My 3^rd visit each different people not remembering you but good quality. The Salon is small but clean. Everyone welcoming and seem appreciative of your business. My last visit polish was flawless and perfect until visit today.

This place is great for a hassle free mani/​pedi. They do an awesome job and my manicure usually stays a lot longer than when I get my nails done at other salons.
Typical walk-​in type place and is a smaller salon, but the space is utilized well.
The staff is polite and friendly. Even though they are often bustling with business, I never have to wait too long They give a great pedicure and make sure you are comfortable, and relaxed!
They take walk in’s as well as appointments and are very clean. As I said before, they are usually busy, but even so, they try to get to everyone in a timey manner and I have never felt forgotten about or rushed either.
The prices are pretty great too! Very inexpensive/​comparable to the other salons in the area.
I usually bring my own nail polish, but they do have a huge collection of polish to choose from and they are often available to purchase if you need the color to touch up your nails! I highly suggest Nails by Chau if you don’t mind the walk in type places, they do a really great job!

Today was my first time coming to the salon. I was charged $ 28 for a mani/​pedi for my natural nails. The woman who did my mani/​pedi did an okay job but I could’ve done without nail polish on my skin. She also seemed to have an attitude. I’m gonna give this place one more chance but I’ll be sure to go to the other lady whom was doing a pedi next to mine. She seemed very focused and did her clients toes really well.

I really like this place, its close to work and I come all the time. I have gotten acrylic nails as well as gel multiple items.
I usually don’t have any complaints. Price is relatively good, and they are usually able to take me in right away.

I got the $ 10mani. Very fast. But I believe it was too fast as my nails chipped 3 hours later. Bad cuticle cutting, poor paint job and not very focused. Also, an older man getting a pedicure yelled out in pain while I was there. May go back in a pinch … but probably not…

I’m on a hunt for the best nail salon in center city. Price wise and the whole package intact. This came pretty close! Good job on the nails! I do wish the place was a little cleaner, sanitation wise– but $ 10 mani down the street? I dig it. I’ll be back for sure :)

Nails by Chau has gone uphill. I’m not sure what’s changed, but I’m a fan, now.
They do amazingly precise shellac manicures, and very thorough pedicures.
I’d absolutely recommend them.

Loved this place! I’ve had all types of acrylic/​sns nails but this was the best price, great service and my nails look phenomenal and natural!
Definitely will use this as my go-​to nail place!

OMG!!! I’ve been in Philly a year and have been paying almost double for my mani/​pedi in Northern Liberties, but I ventured out to the city with my friend, and I was pleasantly surprised! My mani/​pedi was only $ 25!!! And I love it! Judy was my tech, and she was awesome! I’ll def be back!

Horrible! It was a painful experience and she did a bad job! Just please find another place to go — just the worst place I’ve ever been!

Absolutely fabulous neighborhood nail place! Perfect for a quick polish change or pedi. Ladies are very friendly and sweet. As for their other services, I would not recommend waxing or any «advanced» nail services. But for the basics, they’re the best and they have the best mani/​pedi combo price in Rittenhouse!

I have been going to Chau for years and can’t relate to what some of the other reviewers wrote. I go to Anne. she and Tran are the best manicurists there. I have gotten hundreds of manis/​pedis and have never been cut or made to bleed. I have gone in there without an appt and since Anne wasn’t available, had to go to someone else. They weren’t as good as Anne or Tran, but my nails looked fine (I have bad cuticles and Anne tends to spend more time on them than the other manicurists). They’re always friendly (but maybe it’s bc they know me). If you go ask for Anne (my favorite) or Tran and see if you have a different experience.

HUGE selection of gel colors! So that was awesome. Pleasant interior.
My gel pedi was $ 40. It took an hour and it seemed she was trying to do a good job, but the result was just decent enough. Not ideal (I did bleed), but good. Overall, not disappointed with the experience and they had a killer selection of gel colors, and that’s good enough for me.
Just not spectacular or cheap enough to warrant more stars. I would continue looking for a better nail spot to be a regular at. Also a little disappointed because over the phone they quoted me $ 45 for gel mani-​pedi but actually it was $ 65 or something. I think this is overpriced.

I come here with my ladies — for a girls day out — about once a month. We get the works, mani, pedi and eyebrow wax (yes — I’m obsessed with my brows :) I’m not sure how we originally found Chau’s but we enjoy the experience. The people here are friendly and always ask about how our friends are doing, that aren’t there that day. For a mani– pedi combination, its only $ 25 + tip. They do a good job, especially on the brow waxing, and the cost is really good for Center City. Nothing fancy, but they do it right.

I have been going here for years and continue to return. The prices are in line with other nail salons. It’s a little bit dingy, but I have never had a bad experience. In fact, my nails always look great when I come out of there. Tran is spectacular and really takes care of you if you are her regular customer like me. She is one of the few nail specialists who really knows how to repair a broken nail. I do go to other salons for manicures occasionally, but if I have a broken nail and want a wrap, I only go to Tran.

I go here every time I need a manicure. I’ve gotten acrylic nails here and they’re amazing. They looked really nice and didn’t actually *look* like I had acrylic. Reently, I switched to gel nails and they’re really good here too.
They’re corwded at the lunch hour but that’s to be expected since every lady in center city seems to be running in on their lunch break. They have enough staff to handle it. In my experience, they don’t seem to like having people sitting and waiting in the waiting area so they will sit people at stations and have their hands/​feet soak as they wait insteed.
They are quick, they do a great job, and they are friendly.

I used to frequent this place years ago when I worked in center city. Hong was my person of choice; however today she was off and chau rushed through my nails. I got an acrylic overlay which is apparently the same price as a full set. Anyway in between stopping to check her phone and talk to the neighboring worker she did a pretty bad job on my nails. They were too thick and screamed rush job. The pedicure was just ok. $ 45 wasted. Never again.

I am updating my review to give a GREAT recommendation. Go see Mai and ask for CND Shellac — the relatively new no-​chip gel lacquer. It claims to last 2 weeks (mine lasted 9 days cip-​free, 11 days with some edgewear — by day 14 it was cashed).
I just had a spa pedi, eybrow wax and a Shellac Mani (in a rich red shade) all for $ 67 ($ 77 with a $ 10 tip).
I am re-​thinking Chau’s. I will be back.

I have been to many places to have my (acrylic) nails done but this place is the best. The prices are reasonable and they offer pink and white, no-​chip manicures and more.
When you go ask for either Hong or Tina but Hong is the best technician there.