*Update 2/19/14*
It's been 4 months since my initial review of this nail salon, and I unfortunately and regrettably have to downgrade its star rating. Oh, how I wish this salon still were excellent! It is so close to my home, I had high hopes that my initial opinion of this place would be sustained. But, alas, no. I've been here 5 or 6 times since October and the quality of service you get here is incredibly inconsistent, varying wildly depending on the technician who you get.
Case in point: I came here last week to get my daughter's eyebrows waxed. While there, the ladies asked if I wanted a manicure. Since my cuticles were in their usual tawdry state, I said sure, why not. What I got was the most unsatisfying, rushed manicure I've ever had in my life. Here is the chronology of this manicure:
-1-2 minutes:removal of my existing polish on all fingernails
-3-4 minutes: alternate soaking of each hand in bowl of warm water while the other hand gets cuticles trimmed
-1 minute: filing of nails (that's 1 minute total for filing both hands' nails)
-2 minutes: buffing of nails with electric buffer (that's total time for both hands)
-at this point, the lady starts shaking the polish bottle and uncapping it, about to apply the nail polish. I pointed to the bottle of hand lotion, asking if they no longer do a hand massage with the manicure. The lady looks at me for a second and then says "I do the massage after". But then she reconsiders, re-caps the nail polish, and says "But if you want the massage now, I will do it now".
Ladies out there, I ask you: have you EVER had the hand massage AFTER they've applied your nail polish? EVER? LOL Of course not! Your nails are wet and tacky after polish application. It would be ridiculous to do a hand massage immediately after putting on polish! Ridiculous! This lady never intended to do the hand massage at all and only did it because I asked about it. And the massage that resulted was the fastest, most haphazard and rushed and non-satisfying hand massage I ever had.
-less than 2 minutes: hand massage (that for both hands combined,total)
-2 minutes: polish application (for both hands, total time)
So, in total, this manicure lasted 11-13 minutes maximum. I was never asked if I wanted my nails trimmed (which I did. I never thought to ask because I assumed it would be done, or at least, I'd be asked), and the hand massage deal just was the kicker. I don't know about you, but when I have a manicure (or a pedicure), I expect it to be a little treat that I indulge myself with. I get them once a month or less, and it's a treat. This time, it was no treat. I felt ripped off.
On the plus side, my kid had an excellent wax job (it cost $2 more than any other salon charges for eyebrow waxing, but that's ok. I just wish this place would put a pricing list on their wall, so you know in advance how much their services cost. All other salons do this, but not here). Due to the inconsistency in service, I don't think I'll be back here for my manis and pedis. And it bums me out!
Note: I find it....interesting that all the latest 5-star reviews of this salon (all within the past 6 weeks) are by new Yelp users with zero to minimal reviews and friends, and by folks who aren't local to the eastside. Very...interesting. Plus, one reviewer said she is offered bottled water here. Are we talking about the same salon? I've been here four or five times and never once was I offered water. My first experience here was stellar, but it went downhill a bit each time afterwards. Unfortunately. FYI. read more