First of all, I went in for a shellac mani/pedi and my hands and feet came out looking BUFF. Second, despite the name, everyone is not in the BUFF (although their prices are so steep that you might leave without your shirt...).
My main quibble is that they didn't check my coat, etc., and I was reBUFFed when I asked to use a space in the locker room that I saw upon entering. I was instead directed to leave my coat and purse in a nearby chair (and my boots, socks, and shopping bag on the floor next to it). Luckily, I could keep on eye on my belongings. Not adding to my serenity (and probably not to theirs), everyone else in the main treatment room could, too! A steady stream of clientele emerged from the locker room wearing robes and clogs, another privilege denied to me as I was also asked to walk barefoot across the floor for my pedicure. Boo! Cold, but not cool! At least the technician brought my footwear to me AFTER my pedicure.
Buff has recently been renovated and looks lovely, but form doesn't necessarily follow function. Pedicures are performed at a tiled wall installation that serves no one well. You have to climb up to an inordinately high tiled wall bench (it was a stretch for me, and I'm 5'9"). It is straight-backed, lacking arm rests, and just not very comfortable to sit upon (even with the couple of pillows provided). It also features built-in foot basins, which seem senseless to me, given the lack of piped-in water. I can't understand the point of creating this type of tile installation without the associated plumbing. The manicurist literally had to carry water across the large room. (I'd pull the plug on this tiled monstrosity, but, if they are going to use it, they should at least move the water heater/cooler source closer - or get a second one.) And, due to the lack of arm rests and the minimal space between the foot basins, a manicure cannot be performed at the same time as a pedicure (resulting in additional time for client and spa - not good for a customer who might be in a hurry - fortunately, I was not - or for their bottom line). That the pedicure was very thorough and took a long time would normally be a positive for me, but not when I couldn't relax back or even rest my arms. At this price level, I expect cushy, reclining - perhaps even massaging! - chairs.
And, some people might not care, but reading some quality fash trash (oxymoronic and I know it) is one of my delights in going to a salon, and the reading choices need to be buffed up. I was given two thin magazines, which I quickly devoured and these weren't replenished.
Buff is a nice, quiet retreat upstairs from King street ,and my nail treatment was great (manicure lasted two weeks, pedicure at least four), but it could have been a real treat. Overall, I see it as aesthetically pleasing, but felt that the pleasure was only skin deep. read more