I have been a loyal customer of this beauty supply store for many years and have spent a…read moresignificant amount of money here because I genuinely wanted to support a local small business.
Unfortunately, after my recent experiences, I can no longer recommend shopping here without doing your own research first.
This review is not meant as a personal attack on the owner. He has always been kind to me, and on one occasion he even gave me a small discount on a replacement item when something I purchased didn't work as expected. I appreciate that gesture.
However, there are several concerns that have led me to shop elsewhere.
First, I recently discovered that at least one bottle of gel polish I purchased had an expiration date showing it had expired months earlier. Many of the other bottles no longer had expiration stickers, so I have no way of knowing their age. Whether or not that affected the product, selling expired beauty products is concerning.
Second, after researching gel nail products extensively, I learned about the growing number of people developing contact dermatitis and permanent gel allergies due to improper curing, application errors, and sometimes poor-quality products. I have unfortunately developed a gel allergy myself. I'm not claiming it was caused by this store or any specific product, but the experience has made me much more cautious about what I buy and where I buy it.
I also purchased a UV/LED nail lamp from the store. After doing my own curing tests at home, I was not confident that it was fully curing certain gel products. Again, I'm not saying the lamp was defective, but it caused me to lose confidence in using it.
Another issue is the store's return policy. Sales are essentially final, which makes purchasing beauty products a gamble. If something doesn't work, you're often left with an expensive product you can't use.
Price was another factor for me. I understand that small businesses cannot compete with Amazon, and the owner has openly acknowledged that. However, I found some identical or very similar products online for significantly less. For example, an e-file I purchased for around $65 was available online for about $20. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether supporting a local business is worth paying the difference.
I also purchased a shampoo and conditioner from a professional brand I have used for years. Instead of the smooth consistency I'm accustomed to, both products had noticeable chunks and sediment-like material. Since I was uncomfortable exchanging them under the store's return policy, I ended up throwing them away.
At the end of the day, integrity matters to me. I don't enjoy leaving negative reviews, and I rarely do. But I also believe honest customer feedback helps other shoppers make informed decisions.
If you choose to shop here, my advice is simple: research products before purchasing, inspect them carefully, check for expiration dates whenever possible, and understand the return policy before spending your money.
I sincerely wish the owner and his business the best. This review isn't written out of anger--it's written so that other customers can make informed decisions based on my experience.
