I'll start this off as it could have been better. My friend suggested the place and booked our appointments for a refill. We both had fun designs for nails, and she said she'd gone before so why not? We get there, and we're asked to wash out hands then sign in. Then we're asked multiple times what we came in for, and then we're finally seated.
The work station I was at was definitely gritty, and I'm not exactly sure if it was thoroughly wiped down. My friend showed me the prices beforehand: the website looked to be $45 for a refill, and with nail art I knew it would be a little bit more expensive. So, I sit and wait while someone comes and immediately starts talking to my friend, asking what she wants and all that.
She shows the design she wants and they discussed for a while before someone came over to me. Immediately after I show the person what I want, I get started while my friend is asking more and more questions about the nail design and what could and couldn't be done. I think the manager came over and brought up the price, which was a lot higher than either one of us were expecting to pay.
Yes I understand nail art is more expensive, but the base pay was actually $55 instead of $45, we must have looked at the wrong part of the website. So, I'm listening into my friend's conversation, and my nail tech tells me my price would be $20 dollars higher than I was expecting. Since I was getting a way simpler design, I didn't expect the price jump.
From what I understand about the pricing, here's how it was justified:
My nails were almond shaped (I came in with them almond shaped and just asked for them to be shorter) so that would be extra. When I asked if I could go with a cheaper nail shape I was told my nails were too short.
My designs I wanted were going to cost me per nail. It was the first time I had heard of a design per nail, but maybe I just didn't know before?
Because I wanted black french-tipped nails, that too would be extra. This wasn't explained to me, but I'm assuming its due to it being a specific style?
Out of all three listed, I have never heard of a nail shape costing more of less, especially a common shape. I would get it if I asked for something outlandish but I just asked to keep my same shape and was told that it would be extra.
Afterwards my nail tech asked me if I was okay with these prices. They had already removed 3 out of 5 nails on my hand at this point, so it felt pointless to get up and leave. I also wanted to point out that I have paid other places a similar price, but maybe this was the first place to break it down in such a way?
It was also the only place I have been to that didn't tell me what I would be looking at price wise until after we got started, which I did not like.
During the appointment it was awkward, maybe because I was stunned by the price and my friend had to fight to keep her set of nails (they wanted to remove them) so it was a quiet affair. My nail tech did chime in from time to time, asking if I liked the design or the shape. She did get me the exact length I was looking for, so that was nice.
However, for paying extra for the simple design felt... weird. After leaving the salon and really staring at my nails, I realized they weren't all even. In fact, some have skinny lines while the other half is thicker. The webs I wanted are perfect, but they're spiderwebs so who cares. If I hadn't had to pay extra for the design per nail, I wouldn't have minded so much.
I also may have sensitive nails, and I noticed one of my thumbs is bruised. There was a lot of attention to that area with the drill, which I'm not sure why but I'm glad I got a base color to cover some of the bruising.
All in all, it was just okay. Did I feel like they were trying to nickel and dime me? Yes indeed I did. Was that their intention? Maybe not, I would hope not anyways. But them trying to convince my friend to get a new set of nails both times she went, is a little suspicious seeing as her nails are rather new.
And somehow her golden flakes ended up on my nails. Its faint, but I noticed it after I left. Oh, and I almost didn't mention how even after I scrubbed underneath my nails before sitting down with my nail tech, I got a comment about how nails can be dirty or sometimes nails are dirty, especially underneath. It is possible they weren't talking a out my nails, but it felt pointed nonetheless.
Will I be going back? No. read more