Although I've moved to Sacramento County, I still come into the city regularly. I USED to go to Noe Valley Nails but switched to Tip Top Nails just down the street (@ Duncan). Why? This last visit cinched it for me. I was at Tip Top waiting w/a friend but the wait was too long (I wonder why...great place) so we walked down to Noe Valley Nails where they seated us right away. I'd stopped going to Noe Valley Nails before then because I found the place dirty, the treatment rushed, and was not pleased w/their procedures. However, due to my time constraints, I thought what the heck. I paid for my and my friends mani/pedi on my credit card (total $44) and put a zero in the tip section because I like to tip in cash and totaled the bottom at $44.
You can imagine my surprise when my credit card bill came in for $64! On my next visit to SF, I brought my receipt and VISA bill. They put up a fuss, said they couldn't do anything, had to wait until their manager returned from Las Vegas!!! They wanted to make a copy of the receipt and VISA bill but were unsuccessful to I went to MY bank and had copies made. I returned later. Still, no cooperation. I went back two days later, still no cooperation and they insisted that it was the bank's fault, not theirs. So, I called my bank and was assured that NVN had submitted the charge and filed a report against the charge. About two weeks later I get a call from their owner--aaahh, they DID make the mistake on the tip (remember, I'd zeroed in the tip column and totaled the receipt to $44). She offered me a credit on my next treatment. I said no, that I lived in Fair Oaks and to please send me a check. They did.
I'm not very happy with many of these salons and the treatments that the nail techs do, although it's hard to turn away from a total charge of $18 - $22 for a mani/pedi. First, the nails should be shaped before going into the water. The water should be warm with an oily/sudsy solution, not plain. A cuticle softener should be placed on the cuticles before the soak. After soaking, cuticles should be pushed back with an orange stick wrapped in cotton, not a metal stick that peels away layers of soft nail tissue. Then apply a nail oil. Ideally, cuticles should not be clipped, only hangnails. After a massage with lotion and smoothing the surface of the nail for ridges, the nails should be cleaned again w/either remover or alcohol to remove any oils so that the base coat will adhere! Clean under the nails with the orange stick and then paint--1 coat base, two coats color, 1 coat top coat. Let dry between coats.
For polish to really last, there should be a 3 to 5-minute wait between coats and the coats should be put on in three strokes. First place the polish on the center of the nail near the cuticle. Then, one stroke on the left, one on the right and the final stroke down the middle. If polish gets on the cuticle, the manicurist SHOULD NOT use their own fingernail to remove it! Instead, it should be removed w/an orange stick wrapped in cotton that has been soaked in remover! Then, sit at your spa chair (or not...it's cheaper to not sit in the spa chair) and have your pedicure.
Nail polish doesn't dry with a fan! Lacquer needs to "cure" to dry, that's why it's better to have heat. Think of painting kitchen cabinets. So, if you can have that 3-5 min. wait between coats (INSIST on it! I do!), then you'll have a longer-lasting manicure. In fact, ask for your manicure to be done first, at the desk, where you can sit and really look at what's going on. If need be, ask for a clean work area, fresh towel, & sanitized instruments. When they start to clean away nail polish that's gone on the cuticle w/their own nail, pull away! Ask for them to use an orange stick wrapped in cotton-soaked remover. They KNOW this. That's how they LEARN to do it in beauty school!
Why do they rush? You do the numbers. If they can get you in and out in under 45 minutes, they make more money. Insist on your right to a proper manicure and pedicure!
I hope they see this. They'll know who I am! read more