This is the first review I've written in years- but my experience was so bizarre and uncomfortable I felt it warranted a review.
I was in dire need of a mani/pedi after a week of yachting in Croatia. To my delight, I was able to book an appointment online with only 90 minutes notice! I arrived one minute early, and ended up waiting only a couple of minutes and was greeted by a friendly face. They offered me a refreshment and I accepted a green tea they gave me on a nice little plate.
A friendly black woman with long red braids gave me a pedicure. She did a really good job getting all the dry skin and calluses off my feet - if I was reviewing solely on this she would have received 5 stars. She did an average job with the rest of the pedicure with the exception of burning me very badly on the right side of my foot with the machine polisher thingy. She apologized and we continued. It wasn't a huge deal, and these things happen, so I wasn't terribly upset by it.
Overall, for just the pedicure, I would have returned if not for the bizarre behavior of the Bulgarian (owner??).
Now on to my manicure. It was one of the most bizarre, uncomfortable experiences I've ever had. I was given to another woman who asserted she had just returned from Bulgaria the day before. Her behavior can best be described as slightly veiled hostility. It was VERY clear she didn't want to be there and didn't care how I wanted my nails. She asked me if I wanted my nails short, and I said yes. When she asked me if they were short enough and I said I preferred them shorter, she told me that wouldn't be good. She eventually filed them slightly shorter, asked me again if they were short enough, and I responded I'd prefer them shorter but whatever. She didn't go shorter. To be honest, I just wanted my nails low enough to get rid of the white stuff at the top of my nails (pictures to follow). Anyways, she continued with my manicure and informed me not once, not twice, not three times, but FOUR TO FIVE times that the way I liked my nail was not good and "she didn't like it." I didn't realize I was paying over 60 euros for someone to insult the way I like my nails. She wasn't really saying it under her breathe, but I feel like maybe she thought that she was. It was truly irreproachable. I like my nails rounded, not straight up like a french manicure (I'm a straight male). Halfway through, she asked me if I liked my nails, and I responded no. She was aghast. I explained I wanted them rounded, and she again told me she didn't like them that way. I politely informed her that this is the way I like it, and I understand that she doesn't like them that way. I then informed her it was "unnecessary" to tell me so many times that she doesn't like my nails. Her hostility was oozing from her body language and words. The final thing she did was inquire if I wanted my nails shiny and I politely declined, adding that I thought they would look a bit feminine. For some reason, this offended her and she again was aghast.
Overall, it was a painful experience from the most expensive mani/pedi I've ever received (I've had around 100 mani/pedi's). The hostility of this woman was pervasive and uncomfortable and I got the vibe the other women working there walked on eggshells around her.
One last note, she made me bleed in 3 different spots on my nails and blamed my "dry skin" (I have oily skin, always have), and every time I started bleeding she'd get a huff and become angry. read more