I’ve searched high and low for a decent mani/pedi for a decent price in L.A., going everywhere from BH’s $30+ manicures to the $7 jobs in Westwood, and finally happened upon Main Attraction Nail Spa on Main Street in Santa Monica.

Of course every nail salon on Main offers a mani/spa pedi for $20 but Main Attraction is the only one with a decent nail polish selection (OPI and Essie) and they actually do a good job of scrubbing and massaging your feet. But this also really depends on whom you get. The attention I get ranges from a cursory rub to a thoroughly stress-relieving foot (and hand) massage. I actually found a good team of manicurist/pedicurist there and had them write their names down on a card, but the thing is, they don’t work there every day and I usually like to just walk in to get my nails done without having to make an appointment.

That’s the other great thing about this salon. If there is a wait (which there usually is), they’re great at moving through everyone, and not in a careless, hasty way. Or you can run across the street to Starbucks to kill some time and get a frappucino. The longest I’ve ever had to wait was 30 minutes and that was on a Friday evening when EVERY girl is there getting ready for her weekend.

You could also treat yourself to a paraffin wax for your feet for $10. I’ve also tried their lip and brow wax treatments and they were pretty good at decent prices.

The salon is attractive with its art gallery-like lighting and it looks clean but I question the fact that I don’t actually see the beauticians take the utensils out of containers of anti-bacterial solution but rather little plastic tool boxes right before they work on me. Maybe they clean them in the back?

Just a concern after the whole Paula-Abdul-infected-thumb-from-a-bad-manicure news blip last year and the creation of a bill this year requiring more stringent rules for disinfecting tools after three mycobacterial outbreaks at Nor Cal salons left over 200 people infected in the last few years. Yeah, bummer. (Here’s a site about how to get a safe manicure.)

Hmm, next time I think I’ll ask them about how they clean their tools. But, suffice it to say, I have been going there every week for the past year and I have almost always walked out of there happy — polished and pretty.

2654 Main St
Santa Monica, CA 90405-4053
(310) 450-1688
Cross Street: Hill Street
Metered parking lot off Hill