Since the other location where I had a terrible experience closed, I felt like I should share my follow-up experience at this newer location here...
I am all for a business where the ownership sees the value in "making it right". It's with that said and with great pleasure that I write this update.
Shortly after having written my initial, not-great review of Blink, I received a message from them here on Yelp, asking that I give them another try at no cost to me. I'd be re-lashed by the owner (Tanya) at their new, now fully-functional studio location on Union Square. I'll admit, I hesitated. I liked the fact that they offered, but the flashbacks of eyelid tightness slowed my response. Would I be getting my hopes up only to have them dashed away with squirts of glue and clumps of (fake) hair?
It took a while... but I shook off the silliness and made my appointment. I needed to be fair. And what if things really *had* changed?
In the name of not treating Blink Fancy like one of Taylor Swift's exes, off I went.
And then I got stuck in the PATH train for 45 minutes, making me half an hour late for my free appointment. I tried calling multiple times once I was above-ground, but no answer. I got there and the only member of staff present was another Lash Tech. Tanya had run out to grab something to eat once I had passed the 20 minute late mark. It wasn't totally my fault (as I mentally shake my fist at Hurricane Sandy), but I still felt like a Super-Sized jerk.
I took a seat and waited, knowing I'd need to reschedule, but wanting to apologize in person. At this point I took in my surroundings, which were a MAJOR upgrade from what I'd seen at Bleu Sur Bleu. The space isn't huge, but it's clean and modern/ industrial, warm (comfortably so - not a sauna or anything) and the music was good. Tanya arrived, I explained, and she was lovely about it. She apologized about the fact that she couldn't still take me, and we then compared calendars. She wanted to ensure I'd be able to get them applied before Thanksgiving, and we settled on a day and time. She said there was a chance another Tech might have to do me, but assured me that said Tech was one of her most trusted, and that my experience would be wonderful.
I left feeling hopeful, and returned a couple of days later for my appointment. When I arrived I was greeted warmly, then introduced to Karolina, my Tech. She and I headed back to the lash application area, we discussed what I would like length-wise and shape-wise. She said she could remove some of my existing lashes and apply the news ones in such a way so as to give more of a "cat's eye" look - nobody had ever asked me about what shape I wanted before! Yay! And so, we were off.
Karolina talked me through the first few steps, checking to see if I was comfortable on a few occasions. It was just enough, and then she continued to work quietly while I enjoyed Florence and the Machine in the background. I don't think I fell asleep, but that's more because it was early and I was caffeinated than anything else - had this been a late afternoon appointment, you can bet I would have knocked the hell out.
The final product was fabulous, comfortable, and had been applied as gently as I would have hoped (more so, in fact). I thanked Karolina as she walked me to the front to check out.
At that point, I got to talking with Tanya. She asked me a few questions to make sure I had enjoyed my appointment (a resounding YES), and then about my prior experience. I filled her in, then explained that by comparison it really was night and day.
The thing that really tells the story? I'll be back there next week for a refill with Karolina.
While Angel Lash is certainly serviceable, Blink Fancy offers a more personal experience -- friendly and warm, where "everybody knows your name", but not smothering. Tanya knew what was lacking and corrected it. If that's not a great example of how a business should be run, I don't know what is. read more