When I used to work in town, I shopped around the local salons, and just kept coming back to Vida…read moreas the quality of work, beauty of the atmosphere, and cleanliness blew everyone else out of the water. I still drive pretty far to go there even though I work further away, because it's so hard to find a new salon that's consistent and that you can trust. I'm shocked to see so many negative reviews as I have always felt very pampered here and impressed by the attention to detail that all techs, regardless of who you get, have. I've very rarely had a negative experience here and have come over a dozen times over a few different years! I am a little jealous that other customers seem to be greeted as regulars and get an extra special warm treatment and are remembered by their techs, as even though when I came regularly for months in a row, I was never remembered this way - but oh well, I'll still come back for the pampering.
Their dip gel manicures last 4+ weeks on me and are indestructible! Their regular gel manicures last a little less on me, more like 3-4 weeks which is still much more than other salons, but less than dip. Sometimes they've charged me extra for certain services, which frustratingly adds up quickly (chrome finish was an extra ~$25+ I believe, which seems high, sometimes they charge you to remove your polish, but not always, which is a bummer and is confusing since it's not always consistent - I think this mostly happens when I switch from powder dip gel to regular gel?, French is an upcharge, adding a tip if you broke a nail or two but want them to match the rest of your other nails (each tip was $3 or $5 each if I remember correctly), etc. - you can easily rack up a higher bill depending on what you ask for, but I've always had them ask up front).
The massages they offer during your manicure service are simply DIVINE, and I'm always really sad if they aren't offered on the day I go - this has happened a couple times and I wish I knew what days this wasn't offered so I could avoid them, they truly are deep tissue. I don't know how the manicure techs keep doing work on your hands when they are getting into your muscles so aggressively - sometimes I have to brace myself against the desk, but it's needed and feels amazing - so that part of the service always cracks me up and impresses me that they can keep clipping my cuticles while I'm moving all over!
The work is always very shiny and lasts longer than manicures at other salons I've tried, and very rarely do I have a flaw with my manicure when I leave. Shaping is done well and only once or twice did I have some nails filed that looked a little crooked, over 15+ manicures here.
My only complaint is that if you come in the last 1.5 hours of the day they are open, which I often have to do because of my work schedule, the staff goes into crazy cleaning mode (which is good for the cleanliness factor!), but with so many staff members rushing around, it's less relaxing and the cleaning chemicals they use have a very strong smell that gives me a slight headache. The techs seem a little more rushed towards the end of the day too, but I come here to relax and feel pampered, so this doesn't help me reach that goal. I wish they'd be conscious of the atmosphere and experience for all guests, regardless of the time of day they are there. The good part of this is that they will typically squeeze you in, even towards the end of the day, instead of turning you away, but your experience may not be up to their usual relaxing standards, head's up. They do also occasionally get a little upsell-happy and try to push additional services/products like builder gel, saying 'it's very popular and people love it,' even after I repeatedly say no or that it's hurt me in the past and I'm not interested, so that can get frustrating. Most techs will back off after the first no, though, but I've had a couple that continue to bring it up - ugh! I know what I want, knock it off.
Their reward points system also changed a year or two ago, and it's not spelled out easily how often you can redeem rewards. It seems I've come a couple times and been told I can 'redeem rewards on my next visit,' yet every time I'm still told I need more points to get money off....very odd.
I have a lot of love for this place and it's my go to, but just wish they'd tweak a couple small things. Yoyo was incredibly friendly on my last visit and I hope to have her again - she absolutely SLAYED the perfect French tips, not too thick and not too thin - although I usually never have the same tech twice. Worth a try if you're in the area (or in my case, even if you're not!) I'm dying for someone to get me a gift card to here so I can finally book a longer massage, too. Some examples of my past manicures are attached! Thanks for the good times, Vida!
