I started as a customer at Velvet Waxing Studio several years ago, starting at the original…read moredowntown location where Tracy, the founder/owner, set the gold standard right from the start. That means A++ skill, professionalism, efficiency, and attention to detail. More recently, I've been seeing Emme at the Fitchburg location. I'll leave out the personal details of my services, but I appreciate that they work quickly, maintain truly exceptional cleanliness throughout the spaces, and are very good at reading the room--friendly enough to make you feel comfortable, but absolutely able to match the customer's preferred style. For me, that means less chit-chat and more "get down to business," especially since I go through these appointments without pain suppressants. Velvet continues to earn 5 stars.

I usually come in for a Brazilian with Whitney, who is phenomenal, but last night, my appointment…read morewas with Idalys. I was a little nervous purely because of routine and familiarity. Idalys did such an amazing job, she was great! She used a mix of hard wax and soft wax. She made the experience really comfortable and safe. The service was done after 20 minutes. My favorite thing to do every appointment is go to the bathroom and look at the new affirmation card by the light switch.

For more than two years, I've been visiting Adeline for my waxing needs, and she's an absolute gem…read more Her sweet demeanor is matched by her extensive knowledge. Each time I have my waxing session, it turns into a pleasant experience--I often forget I'm even getting waxed. Adeline's gentle approach ensures that I'm always comfortable and never experience any discomfort during the process.

Adeline is very sweet and professional. I've been a client for 4+ years and have never been…read moredisappointed with my wax services. She is gentle and works quickly. Her prices are great in comparison to other wax studios in the area!

My hair didn't turn green or anything, but it was really expensive to ultimately look like a single…read moreall over color, darker than what I wanted, and is not similar to what I asked for... so now waiting hoping it fades. I share this- if you're trying to gradually move back to a brunette- this probably isn't the right salon. Below are photos after the initial service, after the correction (photos after initial service were shared with salon), and the inspiration photo. I reached out to Rooted Culture regarding my correction for advice and was told "we're not a good fit". The person delivering this message was very nice- but not what I expected. While I agree, it's left me to navigate the aftermath alone. I had a consultation with Charlie regarding what I wanted to accomplish, reviewed pinterest photos, etc. I brought a singular inspiration photo to the service appointment. I was candid about the over highlighting of my hair historically and my desire to get back to a brunette with highlights vs dark blonde with highlights (which is where I started). When my hair was dried- 1/2 of my head had more highlights than the other half. There were chunky very bright blonde pieces at the front and the distance from scalp to initial highlight was very long. I mentioned the dark roots and uneven highlights, but I slept on it. I called back to correct on Wednesday. They fit me in the following Monday- awesome. I should have slowed this appointment down- so we were on the same page. Because I was slotted between clients, it was rushed. Charlie started adding low lights- I mentioned focusing on the bangs because that was my greatest concern- the heavy contrast. Charlie then started to ask me what we should do- I told her I didn't know. a gloss was suggested. Ok sure. Charlie showed me some hair swatches- "which one?" She recommended not going below a 7, but again I told her I don't know. I'd like my hair to be more blended vs high contrast. So she mixed a 9 and 8 (was that the right choice-idk- my head was in a wash bowl). So the gloss stayed on for 4songs- 12-15mins, but was applied to my whole head vs just the bang area. I mentioned that to Charlie that I thought we were only applying to bang area., she mentioned wanting the color to be consistent. End result is the dark hair color in the photos. Again not the end of the world or blue, but nothing like the inspiration photo or my expressed desire to keep some dimension.

I needed to get in outside of the place I normally go and was happy to find that there were some…read moreoptions available within a reasonable timeframe. The space is modern and stylish. My stylist was able to assist with what I was looking for. I felt the process was a bit high for the level and was different than what I thought I'd selected but I appreciates that they confirmed what the process would be before moving forward. I guess maybe what I wanted was a little different than the options available on the site. I'm always a little unsure what to select when I book hair appointments online.

I came here on a referral from another service because I was looking for a certain type of wax…read more Corie offers nufree wax (different than sugar or hard wax) which had me sold in coming here. This being my first time, I can say this experience exceeded my expectation. She was warm and welcoming. Very thorough in directions. When it came to waxing, it may have not been the most pain free, but what really sold me was her time to explain everything-definitely showcased how knowledgeable she is in the field. She gave plenty of recommendations on post care with my million questions and also didn't pressure me into rebooking. I'll likely return here the next time I need a wax.

Corie is professional, knowledgeable and friendly. I look forward to my monthly waxing…read moreappointments and that's saying something! She works quickly but thoroughly and her soy wax is gentle on my sensitive skin. The Spa itself is beautiful and relaxing and she sells excellent, high-quality skin care products that I now use daily. The moisturizers in particular have really improved the look and feel of my reactive skin. I wholeheartedly recommend Corie and Refresh Skin Spa.

Lavish Nail Lounge -- Deeply Disappointed…read more I came in this morning for what should have been a simple gel manicure on my natural nails -- removal of old gel, manicure, and reapplication. Unfortunately, the experience was one of the worst I've had at any nail salon. The person who worked on my nails was clearly not a trained nail technician. The polish was applied unevenly, with streaks and color all over my skin. He literally cut off polish from the sides of my nails to make them look halfway decent. When I politely shared my concerns, no one offered to fix them -- even though another technician, who did my daughter's nails perfectly, acknowledged the poor job with a scoff. To make matters worse, they still charged full price with no offer of correction or adjustment. Now I have to go elsewhere today and pay again to have them appropriately redone. There's a difference between a small mistake and a complete lack of professionalism. Sadly, Lavish Nail Lounge showed neither care nor accountability. I won't be returning, and I'd caution others to look elsewhere for quality and service that matches the price.

It's love month!! Victor is so creative and can do anything you ask! I am very happy with these…read morenails!!! The best ones yet!

I had my first appointment with Gosha today and it was phenomenal. She treated me like family and…read moremade me feel so comfortable. The studio was clean and welcoming. Gosha went above and beyond in her service and I loved chatting with her! I've been to plenty of waxing studios but this one takes the cake. I will definitely be back!

I am so thankful I found this place to get sugared. The process was seamless to book via text and I…read moregot an appointment when I needed it too! I was directed to their new location at a posh salon and Gosia was absolutely amazing! She was so kind, gentle (especially with my Brazilian sugaring hair removal) and explained the entire process with me. She made me feel very comfortable and did an amazing job with my first vajafacial too! It was so relaxing and I highly recommend it! You will be thoroughly impressed and the ambiance was relaxing too! Book them now :)

I've been a loyal client at the Algonquin Sugaring NYC location for almost two years, and I've…read morealways had good experiences, including two previous 5 star review.. until this week. This was the worst service I've had since my early days at European Wax Center, and I actually left my appointment crying. I had booked my usual Brazilian + butt cheeks. Last week, I called to reschedule and learned--only because I called--that the waxer I've been seeing for the past year was no longer there. Management never informed me ahead of time, which I found unprofessional. When I rescheduled, I was told there were two other stylists available, so I agreed to book with anyone. When I arrived, I found out mid-appointment that my waxer had only started a week ago. She was very nice personality-wise, but the process was extremely messy--sugar in my hair, on my legs, all over the table, and on my clothes. She went over the same area 10-15 times, causing intense pain and burning. The service, which normally takes 20-30 minutes, dragged out to an hour and 15 minutes. I left sticky, covered in powder, and feeling awful. When I got home, I discovered I was bleeding, raw, and still had numerous hairs left. I immediately called and went back today for a "retouch" with Kristin. She was kind, professional, and quick--exactly how it should have been the first time. At checkout, I brought up the situation and requested a refund for yesterday's service. Unfortunately, the front desk employee was too new to process it, so I was told management would call me. As of now, I'm still waiting for that call. I used to love coming here, but all the skilled waxers seem to be gone, and management's lack of communication and follow-up is disappointing. For such a personal and vulnerable service, clients deserve to feel safe, respected, and cared for. Sadly, I can no longer recommend this location.

Kateryna was amazing! Very professional, quick, and left me feeling great! I felt very comfortable…read moreat my appt. 10/10 would recommend!