Rainbow Nails

Right after I first got my eyebrows waxed here, my sister said, «Whoa. That’s the best I’ve ever seen them!» Usually my eyebrows are unsymmetrical and straight, and I’ve tried so many salons (cheap and expensive) that I had pretty much resigned myself to having bad eyebrows until I found this place. They look exactly the same and actually have an arch now! Thank you guys!

I had a nice experience in Rainbow Nails yesterday. I haven’t had a pedicure in literally years and years but due to back surgery recently I cannot do my own. I had forgotten what a treat it is. Ann did a super job on my feet with exfoliation, as well as adding very cute decorations on each toe. She took her time and it was very relaxing. The shop is is much older, it has been there for 25 years. Couldn’t believe I’ve never noticed it in all the years I’ve lived here. It is not fancy; it is quite small, and there were only two ladies working there. What I enjoyed the very most was the SILENCE. it was just wonderful, there was no forced conversation or lots of chatter from other areas. Perfect place for me! I will definitely go back.

The attention to detail is amazing at this salon. The lady took so much time with my pedicure. My feet were long over due for some serious exfoliation. Afterwards, my feet were so incredibly soft. The chairs looked new and delivered a really strong back massage. If you only care about ambiance, this place is small and possibly looks dated. The service is top-​notch and both the manicure and pedicure were done to perfection.

5 stars for relaxation. New massage chairs and no music and no tv. And no chatter. Complete silence.
4 stars for cleanliness. They disinfect the old fashion way w/​quatz (hospital grade disinfectant) like most hair salons use. Although I did see them going thru the steps of sanitization. Im a stylist so I know what to look for.
4 stars for the exfoliation. She got down w/​her bad self on my dead skin.
3 stars for massage. The quietness of the shop out shined the lack of deep massage.
3 stars for polish. No top coat???

Love this place. I come back with my friends almost every 2 weeks for manicure, pedicure, and massage. Bought some blouses here too. There are only 2 ladies working there. They are sweet and professionals. The place is nice, quite, and relaxing. Will take my mother to here next time.

Though it’s perhaps not a large, high-​end nail salon– I still come back when I’m in town. It’s small, friendly, and quiet, and I reliably get good service in a fairly convenient area.
Didn’t get a mani-​pedi this time around since I didn’t have a lot of time, but I would love to go to Lani and Ann more. Lani’s one of maybe two people (out of the four or so cities that I visit regularly) that I trust with my eyebrows. How she makes my shapeless, directionless eyebrows a natural look– I’ll never know. And her waxes (elsewhere) are really efficient.

I’ve been trying to find a decent nail salon close to work and came here based on other reviews. As I walked in, I immediately lowered my expectations. There were two dinky nail stations and two spa chairs and everything in here is really old and not even up to the basic nail salon. As I sat down in the spa chair, it rocked so far forward that I almost fell out. Once I sat down I realized it was a regular chair and didn’t even have a massager. During the service, my eyes wandered around and I became even more confused about whether I was at a nail salon or a cheap shoe/​clothing store. I’m not quite sure if this place is merely having an identity crisis or trying to save itself from going out of business but either way, I sure won’t be coming here again. While the two employees were nice, a mediocre mani/​pedi for $ 40 in a crappy nail salon just doesn’t do it for me. I’m still trying to figure out how this business has survived in an area like Solana Beach.

This salon in Solana has an even column of pros and cons.
Pros! Its quiet and relaxing, small, so its staffed by just two or maybe three people at a time. The ladies who work there were super sweet! Plenty of magazines but no TV, music, or crowds. The manicurist was extremely gentle and took intense care in shaping and cutting my nails. She did an impeccable job on cuticles and buffing, and I wasn’t pinched, cut, or scratched once!
The selection of colors wasn’t huge but sufficient, however most were a brand I’ve never heard of, not a lot of my Opi favs. They did carry Gelac, a gel nail polish option, in just a couple colors and I opted for that! No chippy!
Cons! For the area and location the shop is a bit on the shabby site. No massage chairs and the cleanliness made me a tinsy bit nervous. I really prefer it when I can see the tools being taken out of some sort of sanitation and Rainbow Nails just brought them over in a tub from the back… errrr, definitely nervous.
Both ladies in the shop worked on me at the same time and it was really uncomfortable. Gelac requires placing your hands under a UV machine, which they brought over and precariously set on the hand rest of my pedicure chair. To get my left hand into it I had to sit twisted to my right… goodbye relaxation, Also it took FOREVER to dry… and I mean like 40 minutes… long after my toes were done. I’ve had gel before and it was nothing like this, I feel like either the UV machine wasn’t working or they did something wrong. Le sigh. my toes turned out perfect tho!
Mani=meh
Pedi=hooray!
PS: if you’re randomly looking for some pretty dresses, sandals, or bags, check out the items for sale in the shop!

This was the BEST! Just the best experience I’ve ever had at a nail salon. I was so relaxed I almost missed my train. Amazing exfoliation, beautiful mani buffed to perfection. No tv, no chatter, just solitude. It was unbelievable! I don’t live there but I’m going back every chance I get!