Tend to your tips and toes with our guide to the Bay Area's chicest and safest nail salons, best products, treatments and more.
Best Polish Assortment @ LuxSF
The services at this cozy Hayes Valley salon are top-notch to be sure—those of us who love an outside-the-box mani will find plenty of glitter and sweet decals from which to choose. But LuxSF is positively unmatched for its selection of 3- and 5-free cult nail varnish brands (think Deborah Lippmann, RGB, Smith & Cult, and Treat Collections) in every shade imaginable. They also offer luxurious hour-long manicure or pedicure rituals that include a salt scrub and massage. —Brock Keeling // Custom Manicure ($60) at LuxSF, 490 Hayes St. (Hayes Valley), luxsf.net
Everyday Manicure @ All About Nails
While not exactly the most luxe manicure experience, All About Nails is the affordable go-to nail salon that every woman needs in her life. The family-owned salon on Oakland's Grand Avenue is staffed by friendly women who remember your name, listen to your woes, and will even order specific polish colors just for you—all while shaping your nails to perfection. —S.M. // Manicure ($13), gel manicure ($25) at All About Nails, 3606 Grand Ave. (Oakland), yelp.com
Gel Mani @ Haight Street Nails
A community fave, we love this cute little nail salon on Haight Street. Stop in for an express mani or indulge in the full luxury treatment with a Milk & Honey Pedicure or Citrus Manicure—owners Stacey and Kay will make you feel right at home. Their gel mani application is damn near perfect. —Anthony Rogers // Gel Mani ($28) at Haight Street Nails, 1795 Haight St. (Lower Haight), haightstnails.com
Zodiac Polishes @ Floss Gloss
It's in the stars with local vegan brand Floss Gloss, whose collection of zodiac-inspired polish sets captures the enigmatic vibe of Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) with shades called Candy Paint Job, Smoke on the Nail, and Partybruise. There's a trio for every sign, and each set comes with a ring that calls out your sign, handcrafted in Brooklyn. // Zodiac polish trios ($27 for polish only, $72 with ring) at Floss Gloss, flossgloss.com
Milk Soak Mani-Pedi @ Milk+
Known for its signature organic Milk Soak mani-pedi, Milk+ integrates the healing remedies of essential oils with soothing aromatherapy. For a twist on the original, try the Blossom Jasmine or Pearl Tea mani, which offer scented soaks and massage. Plus, the stylish spa offers complimentary tea and has an extensive collection of colors from OPI, Chanel, and Essie—all 5-free, we might add. // Milk Soak Mani-Pedi ($39) at Milk +, 2500 Polk St. (Russian Hill), sfmilkplus.com
Hot Stone Manicure @ Mizu Spa
Sporting a modern atmosphere that literally turns heads, Mizu Spa is perfect spot to get pampered before an evening Giant's game. Add to the fun with circulation-boosting hot stones and hydrating oils. Pro tip: If your polish chips, head back in and get touched up for free. —A.R. // Hot Stone Manicure ($50) at Mizu Spa, 1150 4th St.. (Mission Bay), mizuspasf.com
Nail Art @ Sparkle SF
At Sparkle, owner Mia Rubie and her team of experienced nail artists (and we mean artists) will take your nails on a hella magical journey. Whether you're down for Japanese 3D nails or a stylish French tip, let these ladies lead you down the rabbit hole. They offer gel extensions, luminary nails (between polish and gel), and encapsulated nails for displaying confetti and chunky glitter. We're not sorry. —A.R. // Nail Art ($65 and up) at Sparkle SF, 2390 Mission St., Unit 8 (Mission), sparklesanfrancisco.com
Safe services @ New York Nail
New York Nail owner Van Hoang is a recent poster child for the safe cosmetics movement, having advocated for the government regulation of personal products before Congress. She is also the protagonist of the documentary "Painted Nails," which looks at the effects of toxic chemicals in nail care products. Hoang prides herself on carrying only 3-free varnishes, including the celeb-approved line Butter London. —A.R. // 3483 Mission St. (Bernal Heights), 415-285-8679
Signature Manicure + Wine Pairings @ ZaZa Nails
A hometown classic, ZaZa is our go-to for all things organic—the nail spa was even recognized by the San Francisco Green Business Awards. Schedule the signature manicure with house-made mango scrub and massage and emerge the freshest girl on the block. They also offer wines by the glass, therapeutic CBD-oil manicures, and B-12 shots. We give it two painted thumbs up. —A.R. // Signature Manicure ($34) at ZaZa Nails, 543 2nd St. (SoMa), zazanailspa.com
Sit & Lit CBD Mani/Pedi @ La Petite Nail Shop
Only the 21 and up crowd need apply for the Sit & Lit therapeutic manicure ($65) and pedicure ($85) at this appointment-only nail boutique. Your fingers and toes will relish the CBD-infused scrub, soak, and hot cream massage—they even provide CBD-infused edibles for primo relaxation. // La Petite Nail Shop, 601 Kansas St. (Potrero Hill), lapetitenailshop.com.
Also check out 7x7's Best Hair Salons for Cuts, Color, Blowouts + More.
