I went to try this place because it had many good reviews. I never write reviews but I paid too much for the experience and my nails (both disappointing) to not share my own review.Experience: My nail tech was rude. She told me that I did a bad job removing my nail polish. She felt so strongly about this, she repeated it twice to me and then told someone else its because she did a horrible job removing nail polish. Ive been doing my own nails for many years - my removal was fine. Then, she cut me with her rough filing and I was bleeding. When I told her I was bleeding she told me I wasnt even though there was clearly blood. I asked her to swab it with alcohol and her response was fine, I wont pain that nail. After I left, I wondered if the techs talk to the same way to their other customers (who seemed to be predominantly white). My guess is not.Nails: I got a gel manicure and the polish is bumpy and uneven. They also began chipping the day after I got my manicure.

We appreciated that you accommodated us for mani- pedis on a busy Saturday morning. Ashley btw is terrific!

I was a first time customer today and so enjoyed the experience. I will return! Garage parking is next door; metered parking is available but tight.

Clean, quiet, and with great nail techs. Best nail salon in town.

We had a wonderful experience at Varnish. The staff was extremely conscientious, and I was so appreciative of the precautions they’ve taken to keep a clean, safe environment. I got a manicure and pedicure, and she was so professional and efficient.

Addicted to this cozy, clean, tranquil and trendy place. Mana was soo amazing, very detail oriented and has magic hands, I fell asleep, because I was soo relaxed . Crystal was soo good too, so diligent and creative and fun to talk too. Can’t wait to be back in 3 weeks !!! Bravo Varnish Lane ! Bravo!

Emily did a great job on my lash tint! Before and after photos! Super affordable, will be back once this fades

I dont know if Ill ever get my nails done at any other place!

Titi was amazing - she was super sweet and kind and did the nicest nail art for me to celebrate The whole salon was clean and professional. Couldn’t recommend it more!

Maya was very professional at the same time welcoming and provided a friendly atmosphere. Great representation of the company for first impression.

A truly decadent experience! Relax in a reclining chair while sipping a complimentary drink during this amazing pedicure with natural polish brands

Super service, great COVID safety procedures, wonderful atmosphere.

An amazing experience at Varnish Lane Mt. Vernon Square, as every other time.Minimalist decor, clean salon, very friendly staff and nail techs (have never had a bad experience with one), and highly satisfactory results.

Varnish lane is where it’s at! The space is beautiful and serene and the service is impeccable. It was clean and very spacious which made me feel safe!

Great atmosphere and excellent service!

2/9/2020Charming on the outside, tarnished on the inside. This is the second time Ive faced disaster at the front desk that got in the way of me even GETTING the appointments I had long ago scheduled. And Ive been going there for years, so my patronage obviously didnt mean anything to them either. Todays challenge: After arriving within 3 MINUTES of my appointment, I was critiqued for being late (?) and told the appointments I scheduled were not in the calendar. I showed them their own confirmation email that listed ALL the appointments I had booked, and one of the receptionists literally REFUSED to look at the confirmation I showed her, saying All I need to know is on my computer, and youre wrong.). Seems like theyd booked too many appointments and wanted to cut mine short to make room for others. When I told them I had been going there for years, and found it troubling they didnt want to provide the services I scheduled, one receptionist leveled an AGEIST comment, saying I was not just wrong but that I must not be very savvy online. Their suggestion for how to fix their error? Call another time. And to add insult to injury, they tried to charge me for not showing up. I wouldnt recommend it to anyone who doesnt have infinite patience for a client service business that is unwilling to acknowledge or fix their own simple (and eminently fixable) mistakes.

I had my first post-COVID mani/pedi today at Varnish Lane in friendship heights and it was so amazing. I normally go to one of the dumpy places in DuPont and this was just another level. I walked in and the place was spotless, the receptionist greeted me and was so friendly, I got started immediately and the entire service takes place in a big comfy leather recliner. Plus they did a great job and everything was so clean. Re:COVID the closest person to me was 3 chairs away, they’re definitely taking it seriously. Can’t recommend this place enough, it’s definitely my new go to.

Great spa...unique experience

Relaxing and positive atmosphere, comfortable seating, excellent service from Maya, very friendly staff, highly recommend (Mt Vernon Triangle location)

My experience was just awesome! Beautiful decor, friendly staff, very welcoming nail tech! I’m never going anywhere else!

Absolutely wonderful experience and the salon is beautiful!

FINALLY! A nail salon that doesn’t use toxic products AND has a wonderful, professional staff. My feet look terrific and Jane was lovely. The West End location is convenient to Georgetown and it feels more like a spa than a salon. I will never go back to a typical nail salon! Thank you, Varnish Lane, for making nail beauty healthy. 🌸

Super relaxing, clean, safe, distant, high quality and friendly service.

A wonderful experience with Ms. Karuna today! Truly the nicest pedicure I can ever remember having. Relaxing and thorough. I thought I would miss soaking my feet, but turns out the waterless service, including a rub with warmed oil, is much nicer. I highly recommend and will be back!

I LOVE this place! Been going for nearly 4 yrs. The atmosphere is welcoming and fun! I have been going to the same manicurist the entire time and we have developed a true personal connection! Remember, self care is essential!

I like this place. It is spotless, and everybody is so friendly. The chairs are comfortable, they offer you different drink, sand they were very attentive all the time. The parking in the street was not bad at all.The nails look fantastic, I would recommend it!

Varnish Lane is such a wonderful place to get your nails done. Its relaxing, beautiful decor and such a nice and welcoming staff. I highly recommend.

Such a wonderful, calm, and clean experience! It was also one of the best looking pedicures I’ve ever had. Gima was awesome! I will definitely recommend Varnish Lane to all my friends.

Loved the mani I got, immediately sent pics to my friends! The place is beautiful and the prices are comparable to much more typical, no frills salons. This is my new nail go to place!

I’ve tried other nail salons closer to where I live and work, but none come close in service, level of expertise, cleanliness, and relaxing atmosphere. They are waterless to reduce their footprint and keep it clean. They are open to trying new nail designs the clients bring in. They offer complimentary beverages like coffee, tea, juice, and champagne. All of the nail technicians and front desk staff are super friendly and helpful. They also offer fresh flowers for purchase some days a week and feature some great local artists’ paintings.

Had the best experience at VL with my mom this morning. Service was incredible and they had the best color selection. Best nail spa in the DC area!

The best way to insure a clean and safe pedicure! You will think your in Nantucket....really..really a great way to spend an hour...

I love the atmosphere at Varnish Lane. Very relaxing, comfy reclining chairs, super nice and helpful reception staff. Ive done the FastLane and MainLane manicures I like both, but think the MainLane is with the extra $8. Amy has done a couple of my manicures. She is meticulous in painting nails and the Mani lasts for weeks. Highly recommend her!

Cozy + comfy vibes, happy + welcoming staff! Super talented nail artists, that were accommodating, creative and willing to fix my nail when I messed it up on the way out the door!

My nail technician was wonderful and did a great job! She took her time and paid attention to every detail, making my manicure very relaxing and enjoyable! Thanks Varnish Lane!

I love this place. One of my friends has been going there since it opened and I am now a customer. Very relaxing environment. Great service. Been to a lot of nail salons in the DMV and this is by far the best.

I would give this place 0 stars if I could. I came in on a Saturday to get a gel manicure for a wedding I was in and by Monday 4 of my nails had completely come off. Since I dont live in the area I asked if they could give me a credit that I could give to the bride but they refused and said they could only redo the nails. I explained that I was already at the wedding and it was an hour away from the nail salon so this was not possible. Again they refused to do anything to remedy the situation. So not only did they do a horrible job on my nails but they also are lacking in the customer service.

Sarah did a great job and it was a lovely, sanitized space.

Set aside time for yourself at VL: its an experience and an escape from your everyday obligations. The staff are kind and welcoming and they treat all customers, new and old, warmly. The products are healthier for both the customer and the nail technicians so its a win-win for everyone. I highly recommend VL.

I thoroughly enjoyed my waterless pedicure at Varnish Lane. Its so relaxing to sit and recline in the chairs, and the women are so meticulous. No complaints at all, and the best part is, three weeks later, my toes still look manicured and chip-free!

The kind of place you always dreamed of every time you go get a pedicure and wish you didnt have to put your feet in the gross tub that you know they never really clean between clients.A very clean and whimsical place to sit back relax and get a professional manicure and pedicure. All staff is very qualified and pleasant. Cliental is respectful and doesnt talk on their phones. A very calming and wonderful environment to go experience or alone or with your friends. Ever since I started going there I cannot go anywhere else. Nothing compares!

Very disappointing. While the place is very cute, that is the only positive. The only reason I decided to get my nails done here was because they kept sending me 10% off emails, but when I paid they tried to apply the discount to only one service despite the email not specifying that at all. They did my manicure and pedicure at the same time; my manicurist was unfriendly and kept pulling my hands to a better position for her so my body was twisted uncomfortably while trying to keep my toes still for that technician. At the end they didnt have me move to a spot to dry the nails or offer to wrap them when I got up, so I had to walk out to my car in the snow in the flip flops. Even with the discount it was very overpriced for the basic services received, and my gel manicure chipped after two days.

Wonderful manicure from Karuna last week - she is always smiling, thoughtful and professional and does a fantastic job!

When googled waterless manicure and pedicure that how I found Varnish Lane. The staff were very nice, but their works were not good and way overpriced. When I got home I had to file my nails my self. Also the shaping of my nails were terrible and they were all different shapes and sizes. I came here for the waterless experience manicure and pedicure. I took a chance on this place but I dont think I will be returning. Groupon just informed me waterless manicure and pedicure deals at Our Day Spa in Alexandria, VA that I cant wait to try. Now I know there is another place provides waterless manicure and pedicure in Northern Virginia.

Good waxing

Spa like escape for a few hours. Great little accessories / lifestyle goods up front too.

My manicure was not satisfactory. The shaping was very uneven and polish had many bubbles in it. My pedicure was amazing!**Update: The gel manicure chipped after 3 days, very disappointed. Other gel manicures have lasted weeks for me.

Vanish Lane in Friendship Heights is a charming and cozy spot. However they provided the worse manicure I have ever had. This is my first yelp negative review but given the quality of the service provided I felt I needed to share my experience. It seems I got my nails done a week ago by the space between the beginning of the nail and where the nail polish starts. The professional barely pushed my cuticle even though I specificly asked to push and remove the excess. The painting job was very poorly as well. The photo was take shortly after I left the salon and the nail polish was still wet. Even my husband who never notice my nails made a comment saying “It didn’t look like my usual manicure”. I went to this place because it is supposed to be non toxic manicure and I am pregnant. Maybe I was just not lucky with the professional, but I cannot encourage anyone to visit Vanish Lane.

Love it! The space is very clean / modern and the products are amazing! Can’t wait to be back

I am pretty disappointed about my gel manicure from Varnish Lane. My nail technician didnt paint up to my cuticle which left my fresh manicure looking like it had already grown out. The polish was uneven on the ends and sides of my nails, and there was a noticeable knick on one. My appointment was on a Saturday and by Tuesday the edges of my polish were beginning to peel. $70 (including a basic dot design on four nails, tax, and tip) is outrageous to pay for such mediocre results.

Very disappointing. The salon is beautifully decorated, and my daughter and I really liked the waterless approach as well as the brands and colors of polish. Unfortunately, the rest of our experience was very disappointing. While my daughters technician was friendly and helpful at the beginning of the pedicure, when she completed the pedicure, she simply disappeared. She didnt say a word- she just walked away. The same was true of Narie, my technician. In fact, Narie was even worse. She did not speak one word to me during the entire time she was giving me a pedicre and came across as quite unhappy during the duration of the appointment. It was the strangest experience Ive ever had in a salon. I will not be returning and do not recommend this luxury nail care destination.

Awesome ambiance. Complimentary wine or mimosa. Nana and Karuna do a great job.

It was not an enjoyable experience. Chairs are so crowded close together, you cant help but feel like a sardine. Not soaking your feet is not fun!

I’ve been a customer since this VL opened! Best mani/pedi in town! The mani’s seem to last much longer than any other mani. The products the techs use are fabulous—great spot, excited about their new location in West End!

Ill start with the positives: the decor is flawless inside and out; the color options are fantastic for mani/pedi. This is what the 1 star is forNow below are the reasons why my girlfriends and I will never go back and why I canceled all my future appointments. I would like to say that I gave them 2 visits as a try.1) The customer service is horrific. I even interacted with both of the owners in my two visits. They are judgmental and rude. Their business acumen is extremely poor. As someone very interested in entrepreneurship, I tried to ask friendly questions and was met with rude and unintelligent responses.2) Overpriced. I tried both nail services for mani + pedi and got my eyebrows done the next time I visited. The only reason I can see why its overpriced is bc its a really pretty salon. There is nothing special about the actual service.3) They are operationally inept. We scheduled our appointments well in advance and they made many errors. First, they had the incorrect time and second they forgot one of the services. They blamed us for the mistake and one of my girlfriends was refused the additional service that they forgot.The second operational issue was with the service itself. During my eyebrow treatment, I made two requests. The first was to have the area of treatment cleaned and makeup removed. The second was to have the post treatment redness alleviated. Upon both requests, the associate performing the treatment seemed confused and showed a lack of understanding of my request.

Beautiful salon for waterless manicures and pedicures

Great service, beautiful salon, great experience