I found a wonderful pedicure place, Bisou, on Collage Ave in Oakland. They use a lot of natural products including a line of nail polishes that are phthalate- and formaldehyde-free. The basic pedicure was $26 and it was well worth it.

They have nice comfortable leather lounge chairs and they put flowers and lemon in the water for our feet. They do not use the pedicure chairs but that's good as they can harbor bacteria. It’s very clean and nicely decorated. Their tools are autoclaved and come sealed in a bag for each client. I usually bring my own tools so this was a nice change from most salons and gave me a lot of confidence in the place. They used a chocolate mocha body cream on my feel and calves that smelled delicious.

The women did a great job on our feet, I went with a friend and they did not talk the whole time in Vietnamese. The atmosphere was quiet and soothing. The owner, Keina Kataoka, was there and she is very nice and very attentive to everyone.

We felt pampered at a lot less than a real spa. We will be going back.

They are mentioned in an article in the Monthly in the April issue on the dangers of parabens. The article is well worth reading.
There is a coupon in the back for 15% off.

www.themonthly.com/health-04-08.html

Bisou Nail Lounge
5292 Collage Ave (between Bryant Ave & Clifton St)
Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 655-6363

* Hours: Tue-Sat 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
* Accepts Credit Cards: Yes, but not for the tip
* By Appointment Only: No, but it is a good idea to make one.

Here are some reviews from Yelp:

“There are so many nail salons on College Avenue that it's hard to decide which to go to. I've been to several and Bisou is the only one I would recommend.

The salon is very cute and everyone working there was very welcoming to me. They do not have the usual spa chairs, but they do have comfy leather chairs and have you soak in large bowls with hot water, flower petals, and lemon.

The pedicure itself was fine. I didn't give the salon 5 stars because I thought she could have scrubbed my heels for a little longer. She did a good job trimming and sanding the nails and trimming the skin. The massage felt great and the polish was perfect. The pedicure was $26, which is definitely less than you would pay at a full-service day spa, and is definitely worth it.

Bisou Nail Lounge is the best Nail Lounge I've been to. You feel relaxed the very first step you walk in the door. Everything is so peaceful there, it's the best place to go if you want to relax or even escape from whatever you are doing for a little bit. There service is top of the line, everything is so clean so comfortable and you feel it's all about you. I strongly recommend this place if you expect more out of what you pay for.

Of course, for the average mani-pedi girl we need to make sure the bases are covered in terms of 1) cleanliness, 2) attention to detail, and 3) client service. I can say with certainty that Bisou excels at all three. The tools used were sealed in a sanitary packet that is only used once per person. The file was new and was given to me to take home when I was done. The soaking bowls are large metal bowls with flowers and limes in them that are hand drawn for each person. I got a basic mani-pedi which was $39. I added 10-minute foot massage because my feet ache from wearing heels all the time. Both of my services were performed when I was in the lounger. Sometimes this can be uncomfortable, but not here. As I was talking to the nail techs I had a feeling of great contentment. My nails and toes were painted perfectly. I was not rushed out of the lounger.

All in all, I felt VERY comfortable paying $39 for what could be a $50-60 mani-pedi. I felt genuinely welcomed and pampered. All I can say is you gotta try this place!!

FYI - Bisou is French for KISS.”