Ok, get ready for the first less-than-glowing review of this business. But please read on, because my situation and the reasons for my rating are a little atypical in nature.
Situation: I do my own nails (natural, long nails with acrylic overlay). I've been doing them myself for a couple of years now. Just as some people take great pride in, and even view as their "signature" some feature or ability, for me it's my nails. I love having nice looking, well manicured nails. They're just my thing. And I also very much enjoy taking care of them myself. The other night I broke one of my nails on my dominant hand and, because the nails on this hand are shorter and in slightly varying lengths than the other hand, I figured I would just go ahead and sculpt a nail for that finger and even up the length of the other fingers on that hand. All of this transpired after a long day at work, it was getting late, and it takes me longer to work on this hand because I'm using my left hand to do the job. In the interest of convenience and time I decided to just go to a shop and let them fix it for me. I chose to go to this business because of the great reviews here.
So I go in after work the following day. There was one woman currently working on a customer, and a gentleman who was not. There were also two other women in the back somewhere without customers. I explained the entire reason for my visit and they decided that the gentleman would perform my service. From the moment I sat down and he examined my hands, he treated me to snide remarks about the current state of those nails and bemoaned what he was going to have to do. He also continuously talked to the woman doing nails next to him, and about me, I'm sure, in their native language. She would steal a glance at me from time to time as he spoke, often shaking his head or stopping long enough to remark to me about something or the other I did or that he was going to have to do. If I didn't want to have my hand done so badly at that point I would have just said nevermind and left, but I let him go ahead and finish. I did let him know that I believe that I do an excellent job on my nails otherwise (and I really do), and that what he was seeing on that one hand was not representative of my usual work and was a result of making them "presentable" for the following day until I could tend to them. As a matter of fact, my left hand was very nice looking. I constantly have people, even nail technicians, tell me that my nails are lovely and then they're surprised to hear that I do them myself.
One would think that I would have come away from his table displaying the workmanship of the Nail Tech to the Gods. NOT. As a matter of fact, as tired as I was I could not *wait* to get home and tighten up the work he'd done (which I did). The nail that he sculpted on the finger where the nail had broken was laughable. I honestly could have done a better sculptured nail myself. Instead of being grateful for the assistance of a competent, understanding nail tech who assisted a paying customer I came away insulted, offended, frustrated and overall feeling like I had been a complete burden to this guy.
I do know this: some nail techs are often put off by customers who do their own nails, especially when the "non-professional" does a good job at it. Even experienced nail techs will tell you that it is difficult to do one's own non-dominant hand. But I could tell from the moment that I mentioned that I do my own nails that this guy was already in resentment mode. He even looked at my other hand and asked "are you SURE that you do your own nails?"
And one more thing: I have a great appreciation for all people and cultures. And I do know that there is such a thing as "cultural differences" and respect that. But I do not agree with the commonly accepted assumption that some people in Asian cultures often exhibit what we Americans consider to be rude behaviors and that's just the way it is. If you are living, and especially doing business in, this country, rudeness and other unacceptable behaviors should not be, and will not be, tolerated by *this* customer. You may have gotten my money this time, because you did perform some kind of service, but you can bet that I will take the zero on you the next time and go spend my cash elsewhere.
Now I will say that if you come to this establishment for regular services you will probably enjoy them. The salon is nicely appointed and appears to be kept very clean. The Tech who was preparing to work on a customer who came in while I was there offered her water, a soft drink or some wine so I know they do offer that as well (even though the guy who handled my service couldn't apparently care less in my case). I'd venture to say that, unless you come in to have something corrected and admit that you normally do it yourself, you should enjoy the services provided here and be treated very nicely. read more