Giving two stars because they (1) fit me in for a same-day appointment and (2) changed nail technicians when I insisted that I did not want to finish my powder dip manicure with gel top coat/UV light. I will not be back.
Visiting from LA for the holidays, I was unable to get my nails done at my regular place and needed a nail trim and polish change. Happy Nails was only 15 minutes from me, whereas higher rated places in Palm Desert were nearly 40 minutes away. Plus, I had called for a same-day appointment and they were able to fit me in. There's a parking lot behind the salon, which is also accessible from the front on Palm Canyon Drive.
Upon arrival, I was seated immediately. There were four other patrons getting pedicures. The gentleman who had taken my call greeted me and gave me a selection of colors to choose from. The technician who sat in front of me had AirPods on and appeared to be on the phone with someone as she asked which color I wanted -- that was the only question she asked before starting the manicure: she did not ask if I wanted a cut down or file only, or what shape of the nail. I understand a certain shorthand for regular customers, but these are basic questions I expect, especially as a new customer. The other technicians seem polite, having conversations with other customers, but this one was all business -- unfortunately, the quality of her work did not make up for her lack of congeniality.
She places a UV nail lamp on the table and gel base coat, so I confirm that I'm in for a dip manicure, to which she says, yes. She then starts removing the old polish with an electric file aggressively close to the cuticle, causing the skin to break. She pauses to find two (dirty) bowls, which she wipes down with a paper towel and fills with acetone. As she moves between hands, placing one in a bowl to soak while working the drill bit over the other, it took me by surprise when she starts cutting the nails of my left hand. By the time I could say something, she had already cut the nail too short. Without acknowledging the mistake, she continues cutting the nails on my left hand before returning it to soak in the acetone. For the right hand, she takes out a nail file and "asks" if I prefer the nails to be filed instead of cut down. I said I don't mind the nail being cut but want to confirm the length and shape. She continues cutting the nails and filing, all while taking phone calls over her AirPods. Afterward, without asking, she begins to add an acrylic tip to the nail she cut too short -- I said I did not want the tips, she had cut the nail too short, and it is what it is. When she started prepping the dip and gel base, I reiterated that I only wanted a dip manicure, not gel and no UV light. At this, the first gentleman and another tech who was sitting behind mine weighed in that they usually use gel top coat with a UV light to cure and finish dip manicures. While I may have allowed this in other circumstances, I insisted that I did not want to use the UV light (my nail beds were already sore from the technician's filing) -- the technicians all started speaking in another language and confirmed with me in English that they would use a regular clear top coat.
When the technician (sloppily) finishes the dip, she stands up and lets the technician behind her replace her. He explains that he will finish for her as she moves to another customer's pedicure. This second technician confirms that I do not want the UV light before he cleans up the color; he engages in some small talk, asking about the holiday and volunteering details about his. He offers to add tips to "fix" the short nail, which I declined again. When he finishes, the color is decent but does not extend over the full nail on all the nails. When he puts on the top coat, he says I should let it dry for 10-15 minutes and that he would be back.
While I'm waiting for the top coat to dry, another customer gets up from his foot soak and says he has to leave as it was getting late (I'd been in 90 minutes myself). After he's left, the technician comes back to check my nails, turns off the fan and says I'm done but "be careful" since it was not finished with the gel top coat.
I ask if I can have cuticle oil, which he agrees to. There's an added fee to use credit, and an ATM in the corner, so I pay cash and leave a 15% tip (they charged me $45, even though it was unclear if that's the standard cost for a dip manicure or included a fee for polish change or cuticle oil or what, since their website says dip manicures were $40, while gel manicures are $30).
I can't speak to the quality or longevity of the color, and I don't doubt the other positive / 5-star reviews. Just wanted to give others perspective if they're trying to decide between one place or the other. read more