I really really wanted to give Gigi 5 stars. I feel bad having to write this review. I want to say first and foremost, that Gigi is extremely sweet and friendly, so this is why I am feeling torn even writing this review. After seeing all the 5 star reviews from others I thought that people should know what to expect before they go in for their appointment.
I have worked in the spa industry for over 3 years. I have tried hole in the wall places, and 5star high end day spas. I don't like saying I'm spoiled when it comes to the spa experience, but the truth is that I am.
I purchased a living social voucher FOR A DEEP PORE CLEANSING FACIAL, and I was torn between 3 other facial deals on the site. With the reviews of NoHo Facials I decided to go with Gigi. I had been looking forward to this for over 3 weeks, I had just gotten slight hormonal acne, and small blackheads on my cheeks. I was ready to get a face revamp done.
I arrived 15 minutes early to my appointment time (my appt was 9:30am), which is usually mandatory so you can fill out paperwork prior to your service (at usual places). Luckily I got there earlier because like many previous yelped stated, her place (apartment) is hard to find. She was still getting out of bed when I showed up at her front door, the facial bed was set up in the middle of her freezing cold living room. I am extremely allergic to cats too, and of course she had one, the living room smelled like cat and there was fur everywhere. I have extreme asthma that almost killed me, and a stage 3 cat allergy that could trigger my asthma. I figured if I got short of breath I could leave. But, I should have known that this was a bad start, and I should leave. But I gave her the benefit of the doubt.
I get onto the bed as she instructed me to do, shivering as I pulled the sheets over my body onto my chest trying to warm up. She came out and put on her ipod, and went to work. She used freezing cold water to wash my face, and then put the steam on. After the steam which was only about 3 minutes, she put more cold water on my face (which completely shrinks the pores up preventing proper extractions) she then put on creams and masks, and didn't perform ANY extractions at all. Meanwhile during the facial there was a wind outside that kept slamming her screen door agains the wall. I was PISSED but I kept my cool.
She finished up and I asked if she does eyebrow and lash tint for extra. She said she did and I agreed to have it done. WHY DID I AGREE TO THIS? ILL NEVER KNOW. She started tinting my lashes, the dye got in my eye and burned so badly she had to keep squiring water in it. She finished the eye brows, and said she was done and that I looked beautiful.
I got up and looking into the mirror, there was still cherry mask caked on various places of my face, and my eyebrows were so dark that It looked unnatural. I was scared, and I tried not to cry. So I paid and left.
She has really wonderful stories about celebrities she knows, about yoga, and other things, she was easy to talk to and I enjoyed her company. However I was really really really disappointed in the environment and the facial itself.
P.S. I had photos of the AFTER but I deleted them in fear of writing this post. I decided people should know about what happened, and I shouldn't be afraid of sharing my experience. read more