I came to C & D nails in hopes of buying a gift certificate for a coworker who lives nearby. I called earlier in the week to make an appointment to have my nails done as a trial before purchasing. Needless to say, I did not walk out with a gift certificate.
I arrived to an empty salon with three employees. I was promptly escorted to a set up and told to select a color from the samples in a basket. Before I could even look, my manicurist started working on removing my old gel. After getting me foiled she asked what color I wanted. A difficult task with no finger tips. I selected a base color and said I had a design in mind (green wreath) once I could get my phone out to show her. She said okay and went ahead with removing the polish.
While prepping my nails I was cut on my cuticle, which wouldn't stop bleeding. I also asked for my nails short and they were left longer despite a request for shorter, and squared off but with sharper edges. I had to ask twice to continue filing to avoid cutting myself after I left the salon.
Once this part was completed my manicurist was swapped for someone else and I assumed because I wanted a design. I showed this woman and she said she would attempt it. I told her if she couldn't to tell me and I would do something else. She went ahead and began the gel. She worked very fast and my hands were only under the UV less than a minute each time. They never cured for a full cycle of light. I asked if the manicure would be completely cured and she said yes, but I could come back if it chipped for a fix. While I appreciate the gesture, I want it done right the first time.
As she worked on my nails I watched her take out the top coat and before I could say anything one hand was done and I was directed to place it in the UV machine. I stopped her and asked if she was doing the design. She replied that it was too hard and she couldn't do it. I was never told she wasn't able to do it during the process, especially since she said she would try initially. If I had known I would have made a different plan. I promptly asked for a gold glitter to place over the white base and she was a bit frustrated seeming. She grabbed a polish (bright yellow gold) and put it on my nail without showing me first. I asked her to remove it and she went to find a different one. The second was more subtle so I accepted it only to leave that much faster.
While she gave me a lackluster hand massage, she made a comment about how busy they were now (a few people had arrived since I did) and they were short staffed. She reiterated again that I could come back if my manicure chipped.
When I went to pay, I was charged $28, which I assume was either a nice gesture for poor service or they forgot to add in my gel removal. Either way, I paid my tab and got out of there never to return.
One other thing to note, while tools were in one of the sterilized bags, the bowls for soaking your fingers and towel did not appear to be. After I had soaked my hands, the manicurist took it to the sink and rinsed it with water before placing it to dry on towel. I wish I had known that before sitting down or I would have left right then. Second, there was a towel the manicurist placed on the table while cutting my nails and it was pulled from a drawer. Once she finished cutting it was removed from the table and placed back in that general area. Not sure if she a dirty towel spot or it was being reused. Both of those practices are reason enough not to go back. read more