I've been here about a dozen times and had a very mixed experience. Moving onto someplace else now.
For background, I am a former nail tech and have performed these services or a similar services for customers probably hundreds of times. I've also received nail services about as many times. Overall what I can say is this is THE most expensive nail salon I have ever been to and I have had the most inconsistent experience of anywhere I've gone.
First of all, expect the service to take about 2 hours, something I definitely wasn't prepared for the first couple times when I stopped by on my lunch break. Second, you will pay about $80 for a gel which lacks a spa experience of a soapy soak and massage. Just so you know what you're getting into.
About half the time I walked out of there with amazing looking nails that were impeccable for a solid 2-2.5 weeks. They like to say these last 3-4 weeks, but realistically they look unbearable towards the end because they grow out. So, IMO not exactly worth the up charge. I was still getting my nails done about every 2 weeks and paying $20-30 more than gel at other salons. We all know gel polish is hard on your nails, but the way they do them is extra damaging. Not a big deal if you intend to keep up with them, but it is maintenance for sure.
Everyone who works there is very pleasant and I believe sincerely wants to provide excellent customer service. However, communication is a struggle. It was frustrating how difficult it was to convey basics like the length and shape I like my nails. After struggling for a while to get this across, I'd just let them do it however they wanted and didn't always end up with the look I was going for.
Most of the techs are good, but not all. Some are still learning and it takes about 2 hours to do a manicure. Others are experience but rush to do it in about 45-60 mins and get a little sloppy with the work. I found that after several months my nails were overly thick with built up product. They simply didn't achieve a full removal of the product every time and they got longer and thicker (and I couldn't communicate that I wanted them shorter and thinner). I finally had them remove everything and I'm in nail rehab now for a couple months while the damage grows out.
Finally...one very strange and frustrating experience was about half the time I ended up with a very different color of polish than I asked for. I like to think I'm not TOO picky on this point, but it happened so many times that I'm just over this place. I mean a pink is a pink right? Any old light pink will work, right? But the color in the sample and the color in the bottle and the color on the nail often looked wildly different. Like pink looking like orange, etc. Surely they must have their polishes catalogued incorrectly. I don't know how else this would be such an issue.
They are nice people. Most of the time they do a pretty good job. But if I'm going to pay more than I've ever paid for a nail service, I want something else. I want to have the shape and length of nails I prefer. I want to see on my nails the color I pointed to on the sample. And maybe a little TLC with the experience. For about $30 less I get all that at Pearl's Nails across the street. Or a half a dozen other spots in the neighborhood. I gave the a fair shake, but it's just not worth the up charge. read more