It's hit or miss.
The first time I came was for a Korean Beauty facial. Snail does wonderful things for my skin, and I always thought my face would appreciate snail the most after a deep-cleaning facial. So I paid $188, and they used some brands I've never heard of which I was skeptical about since I am an Asian Beauty fan and user. To be fair, there are a lot of different AB brands and while I know a lot of them, I don't know them all. It was a fine facial with average products. Not great, just fine. I thought the cleaning could have been deeper and better, but I'm spoiled by my Angel in LA.
I don't remember how lasering got brought up, but I am a hairy monkey and I figured I needed it. I came back for a free consultation with Oksana who is a very sweet woman and said my skin might even be better after the laser and we agreed on 5 treatments for $500 for my full face, all prepaid.
The first session was fine. The second time, the laser machine wasn't working. She turned it on and off multiple times for about 10 min with me awkwardly lying there, until she asked me if I could come back a little later. Honestly, I was fine with it, but I wish she asked earlier. She diagnosed that the machine was overheated, which didn't seem like it was a surprise for her, she was more agitated at the machine and embarrassed that she was keeping me waiting. Whatever. She's nice and these things happen. I came back, she apologized a lot and I said it was fine, because really, my schedule was free.
The third session was fine. She never remembers what exactly I need done and always asks what part of my face we were doing. I understand not remembering every client, but it surprises me there isn't some sort of client profile in their system. My face, my entire hairy face, please.
I arrived 12 min early to my fourth session, rang the doorbell (iron door is always closed and locked) no one answered. I saw someone was working through the crack of the facial room so I figured only one of them was in (perfectly normal for a small parlor) and was busy, so I hung out outside until 1:30. Rang again. No answer. So basically I hung out until 20 min after my appointment keeping myself busy on the phone and intermittently ringing the door bell until finally the woman who did my facial the first time (and had forgotten me from the looks of her reaction) answers the door, peeved by my existence. I walked in and she, with looks and a tone of an irritated Red Sorceress, said yes? I said I have an appointment at 1:30.
"For what."
"For lasering my face."
"It's cancelled."
"What?"
"It's cancelled she's not here."
"I never got a call about it."
"That's not possible she called everyone and told them."
I'm a texter, so I remember who calls me because it's out of the norm. I know I didn't get a call from them. I know I didn't get a voicemail from them. She bold-faced lied to me and decided to give me attitude when they've made a mistake on their end. Her only solution to get me out of her hair was to tell me to call the owner/manager because apparently she can't re-schedule appointments. Calendars are hard I guess.
Left a message to manager/owner to call me back and never got a call back. I even re-checked my email to make sure I wasn't going crazy. I was sent a reminder through their automated mindbody email about my appointment 2 days before this mess. No email about it being canceled.
Per their appointment email: "all appointments canceled without 24 hours prior notice will be charged in full.Clients with pre-paid packages will have a visit deducted.DUE TO THE SMALL SIZE OF OUR SPA AND LARGE CLIENT BASE, THESE POLICIES ARE STRICTLY ENFORCED AND BUILT INTO OUR BOOKING SOFTWARE."
So did I get a visit added? HAH. But that reminded me I can book on the mindbody app (which I did the first time, but the subsequent three appointments were in person for a month ahead after each session), so I did for the next day. Neither their owner nor Oksana seemed aware I had a situation (I left a detailed message!). I brought it up with Oksana and she looked confused until she remembered that they had a meeting that lasted really long. Nothing about calling me to cancel the appointment. She didn't apologize either. Which...she's a sweet lady. So fine.
The fifth time was also when she was the most detailed but she wasn't aware it was my final time (at this point not surprising). Overall: yes! Most of the unwanted hair is off of my face! WOOHOO! Is my skin better? Debateable. The very tip of one of my eyebrows is also singed, which should come back...right?
I should also say about 3 out of 5 of my visits, she mentioned I needed a facial which I did, and it's fine, kind of. I'm used to the Chinese facial ladies always pushing and selling more. But this isn't Chinatown or Chinatown prices. I kept excusing things that irked me because she's genuinely a sweet person, but I shouldn't have to be doing that, right?
Hit or miss. read more