I've never gotten acrylic nails done before, and this was not a great first experience. First and foremost, Allison seems like a very sweet lady. Groupon led me to her "salon" (a desk in between a liquor store and a barber shop) in Spencerport with one of my closest friends, whose nails I've been envious of for months. Neither of us had ever gone to Allison's salon before. I had stated that I wanted acrylic nails while calling for my appointment.
She did an unsatisfactory job shaping my nails. I requested almond-shaped, and they ended up uneven, off-center, and my thumbnail had a horrible edge on it. She may be good at square nails, but as an "experienced nail tech" it should not be too difficult to create almond-shaped nails. I expected better.
I intended to get maroon nails, but without asking, she assumed I wanted them a traditional pink and white. Since I am not experienced with the process, I didn't know when it was appropriate to stop her and ask for a different color, and before I knew it she had applied a clear gel topcoat and it was too late. Granted, it was my fault for not being more assertive, but I would've appreciated her asking instead of assuming what I wanted.
The worst part was the thickness of my nails. I asked for them a bit thinner, and she took only a tiny bit off the top, so I gave up asking about that and hoped I'd get used to it. My nails felt heavy and painful. It looked as if I had some strange fungal infection. I am a designer and artist and the ability to use my hands fully is crucial. Using my tablet stylus hurt, as gripping the pen put pressure on my nails. I expected some initial pain/pressure, but it was overwhelming - and unappealing!
She also made several off-color comments about Vietnamese and Chinese nail techs and how they'll "rip you off." I went to a different nail salon soon after this experience to get my nails thinned, re-shaped, and re-painted. I was charged $10 there for fixing the mess that was my nails, and I'm incredibly happy with them now. They are all perfectly even and a proper thickness, with no pain whatsoever. Ironically enough, this nail salon was run and employed by Vietnamese women. If you are going to insult your competitors, at least have an equal level of skill to offer.
Additionally, Allison hugged me and my friends on our way out, which was a strange level of intimacy for someone I'd met several hours ago and moderately uncomfortable. I am not one that is a fan of being touched by people I don't know well, but I didn't want to be rude. This put me in an awkward situation that I did not like.
I would not return to her salon. read more