I no longer recommend this place. I used to be a regular with the Japanese stylist but since she left, the quality of the place has deteriorated pitifully:
1 The senior Filipina stylist DOES NOT WASH HER HANDS prior to doing lashes!! How do I know this? The moment her hands come close to my face, I can smell that they reek of cigarette smoke. I had to tell her to clean her hands and she wouldn't have otherwise. No soap and water. She just doused her hands in rubbing alcohol.
2 The senior Filipina stylist has a negative personality. It's only natural to let out an "ouch!" because of my pain from her heavy hands and the fumes from her heavy application of lash glue, right? Nope, she is not apologetic and instead angrily blames me for having naturally short lashes every single time. During the first of two times, she even vented to me about all her problems with the Hide2A/Ales management and boss. (About how they deduct from her salary due to her tardiness, among other things...) Imagine having to listen to it for hours... How many hours?
4 Painfully slow application. What took the Japanese stylist an hour took the senior Filipina stylist available FOUR HOURS of my life!
5 The first set of lash extensions the senior Filipina stylist did on me started to fall off after just 2 weeks as opposed more than a month when done by the Japanese stylist.
6 Going back to the senior Filipina stylist's heavy lash glue application... Today, after bearing her slowness and the pain, I COULDN'T OPEN MY EYES!! There was so much glue that my upper lashes stuck to my lower lashes. So after lying down restlessly for hours, she had to re-do some parts.
7 Now, I can see some lashes drooping and it has only been 2 and a half hours since my appointment ended with the senior Filipina stylist. I had not washed my face or exposed my lashes to any sort of moisture. This is just the result of her work.
Why I allowed myself to experience this more than once? Since I had such a positive experience with the Japanese stylist, I hoped that the staff that she mentored would uphold all their learnings from her. The first time, I assumed perhaps she had a bad day and hoped that was a fluke. But I was disappointed.
8 It is impossible to relax while getting your lashes done since the staff gossip and chatter loudly. Plus the Hide2A salon pantry is connected to the Ales Lash Salon area and is only partitioned by a divider. The staff have become so loud and rowdy - yes, with yelling and shouting - unlike when the Japanese stylist was around.
9 Also, the first time the senior Filipina stylist did my lashes, she didn't issue me a receipt!
It is unfortunate that what I had thought to be the best eyelash extension place in Manila has come to this. All because of the lazy staff. read more