This review is only for the nail side with sylvia/hsin hsin! :)
OK, well as many of you may or may not know, i happen to have a list of japanese nail salons that i've been to in the LA/OC area. (ok, she's not japanese, but the style she does nails is!)
i've been to some bad as well as some GREAT ones and i cannot say enough nice things about Hsin Hsin!!!
first of all, she is an absolute doll! she is a great conversationalist, gives great advice, and is the most patient and forgiving person ever! (im pretty sure i've been 5-15 mins late to every appointment...sorry!)
ok..lets get to the nails.
now, i guess i have been known to have these wild and crazy nails with giant cakes/flowers/bows hanging off of them...well as it so happens, i've grown up. :) i no longer desire wearing cakes and lollipops on my fingertips. minnie mouse, duffy, and bunnies? no thanks.
i've gone simpler, meaning i mainly want things like...one or two colors, some glitter, and maybe some rhinestones. i want flashy but im no longer desiring "OMG-HOW-DO-YOU-DO-ANYTHING" nails. in other words, the flatter, the better.
i was still going to my old haunt, Atlas, but they were starting to rush and get careless. the gel peeled off almost every time. i was losing crystals after a couple days; nails were breaking more often then they should have been.
i had been going there for 3 years, and i knew it was time for a new salon.
ENTER HSIN HSIN:
a coworker asked me how much i paid at atlas and when i told her, she was APPALLED! she recommended that i give Hsin Hsin a call and try her at least once. i gave in. :)
I made my appointment and went. The first thing i noticed was that she was working by herself, renting a station at a salon. GREAT!
she went through the process of filing down my nails and shaping them and then when i went to pick a color, i noticed that she used PRESTO gel....THE SAME PRODUCTS as atlas!!!
after she applied my usual "baby pink" (#51) color, she asked me if i wanted glitter. OF COURSE! she got out all these different glitter powders and mixed it into the gel! i asked her why she just didnt buy premade glitter gel and she told me, "if I did that, everyone's nails would look the same!" OMG, i'm falling in love.
i got one white bow on each hand with my new set of glittery pink nails. It cost a grand total of $35. OMG OMG OMG I'M IN FREAKING LOVE
.....
At my old salon, atlas, this would have cost at least $62($50 for a new set, $6 for each bow. sometimes they charge for glitter, sometimes they dont. XD)
anyways, i am SO glad that i found her!!! :) i even told her i'd be so upset if she stopped working or decided to leave and have kids because i'm selfish and want her to do my nails and listen to my ridiculous stories forever.
ok....im done fangirling over her...i've been back 3 times since my first visit and she never ceases to amaze me with her talent and skill!
just go to her.
ps, cash only. i found that out the embarrassing way. XD read more