This storefront was previously Tulip Nails which was a top notch nail salon with people working there who:
1) were usually in sufficient number to keep any wait (which would be unusual) not very long
2) the staff was friendly and inviting in just about every instance whenever I was there (on the rare occasion with another customer where perhaps an unpleasant situation arose). The vibe was like the show Cheers "where everyone knows your name" in a nail salon setting (Hmm, seems like a sitcom...Netflix, ya there?)
3) the decor was also inviting from the layout to the use of decals and attractive window displays.
4) manicures were top notch and done with mind to who the person was receiving the service as well as questions were asked along the way to ensure satisfaction.
...I could go on. But life has to move and go on, right?
This new iteration-- which I hesitated to even go in since it opened because the decor looked bland and disinviting as if to say to potential customers "Expect just the minimum." Alas, that was exactly what I got today--maybe even less than that.
(I came in because my other go-to person in a salon around the corner was not there yesterday and that salon was closed today.)
The service requested at Shine Crystal Nail--just a basic pedicure-- was not done with any inviting nor engaging manner (Hence just the "minimum affect"-- even when I came in an hour before closing & thinking to save everyone time, I said that a massage wasn't necessary. But that just seemed to bring out more of the blasé annoyed look that was there from the moment walked in.
The pedicure was rendered without any attention to a ridge filling base coat applied (normally not even a question on feet of a certain age, imo...always done if needed previously at Tulip). When I mentioned it, was told that the base coat takes too long to dry. The response --especially given that I had already forgone the massage was not acceptable as it would have been courteous to have been asked...but blasé doesn't ask, I guess.
A sign on the front desk clearly states cash in tip (not that I was feeling inclined by this point). When I had stopped by just to check out prices the day before as the ever popular mani-pedi combination price was no where to be clearly seen (as ever other salon I've ever walked into or even stood outside of does whether as a special on certain days or what have you). The lady who seemed to be in charge was fairly adamant verbally about tip in cash when I queried.
However at the end of my pedicure (with apparent owner lady not around), I was encouraged to leave tip on my cc. I declined stating my prior conversation with apparent owner lady, but the encouragement to tip via cc was continued. Needless to say, what the outcome of that exchange was.
Unfortunately, I will not be visiting this location again, though convenient to my home--the reason it gets one star. With SO MANY other nail salons in the area, being more than "just the basic minimum + blasé" is not a winning formula! Especially when the previous nail salon was such a gem! (Which had to apparently close due to fallout from Covid....a shame all around.) read more