Panda Nails | 8th Ave, Chelsea

"I had an appointment on June 2 at 11:45 AM while visiting New York City for the week, I was super excited about getting my nails done. I chose Panda Nails after reading several positive reviews and specifically booked with a technician based on those recommendations. Unfortunately, I left very disappointed with the quality of my gel manicure and pedicure, especially considering I paid $100 for the service. The technician spent a significant amount of time drilling around my cuticles, yet my cuticles were still not properly cleaned or removed. As a result, my manicure already looks grown out even though these photos were taken only a few hours after my appointment. There is noticeable space around the cuticle area, making it look as though I had the manicure done a week ago rather than the same day. I kept checking my nails during the manicure to give off a hint to the technician because my cuticles weren’t removed and dry from the drilling, they were so noticeable! The technician ignored what was evident and started the gel… She simply put oil and lotion to blend the cuticles in. She never pushed my cuticles back, all that drilling, and not even a minute actually using the cuticle cutter for its intended purpose. She basically spent 10 seconds “clipping” the cuticle of 5 fingers. What is even more frustrating is that the same issue occurred with my pedicure. Despite the amount of drilling and cuticle work performed on my toes, the cuticles on my big toes were not properly removed. My feet do not look like I had a fresh pedicure today, which is disappointing after spending the time and money on the service. I was also surprised by the timing of my service. When I was seated for my pedicure, another client was already at the polishing stage of her appointment. By the time I completed both my pedicure and manicure and was ready to leave, that same client was still having her manicure worked on. Given the amount of time spent on my service, I expected a much more detailed and polished result than what I received. For $100 and the 2 hours I spent there, I expected much better attention to detail and a finished look that actually appeared freshly done. The staff was decent, but the quality of the manicure and pedicure did not meet my expectations. Unfortunately, I would not return based on this experience. I’d save the money and go somewhere else. I’ve included photos so others can judge the quality of the work for themselves."

"Our experience was exceptional! My daughter had a manicure and pedicure, and I treated myself to a beautiful cat-eye manicure. Everyone was friendly, helpful, and highly skilled. They were incredibly gentle and attentive throughout our visit. The salon was spotless, with a calm and relaxing atmosphere enhanced by soothing music. Hygiene was clearly a top priority, and all instruments were properly sterilized. We truly found a hidden gem and can't wait to come back!"

"Amazing experience at Panda Nail Salon in Chelsea, and this review is especially for Tina. She did a beautiful Russian manicure and even added a Gel-X nail to make everything perfectly even. She helped pick the colors and they came out gorgeous. I’m extremely happy with my manicure, and they were also able to fit me in for a last-minute pedicure, which was amazing as well. The salon is clean, beautiful, and very comfortable with a great ambiance. Tina is wonderful to work with — she listens, understands what you want, and makes sure you leave happy. Definitely my new go-to spot. I’ll be back!"

"I went to Panda Nails in Chelsea for the first time. The salon itself is beautiful, very clean, relaxing vibes, and they have a great range of colors. I booked the $85 promo package (express gel manicure + scrub pedicure). That said, I was a bit disappointed with the results. My cuticles weren’t cleaned or trimmed on properly either my manicure or pedicure. The gel polish on my toes looks uneven, with bumps and streaks, and one toenail already looks rough and worn down after only a short time. On my hands, the polish wasn’t applied smoothly to the edges, and the finish isn’t as clean as I expected. The pictures are taken on the same day that i got them done. I usually do Russian gel manicures where the cuticle work and overall finish are flawless, so I wanted to give Japanese gel a try. I completely understand this may not have been my nail tech’s best day, but for the price, even as a promo, I expected a better experience. Honestly, if I needed to pay $20–30 more to get a cleaner, more polished look, I would. But in that case, it defeats the purpose of booking the promo package. The salon is lovely, but I’d suggest making sure every tech provides consistent quality, especially with cuticle care and polish application, since that makes all the difference."