I raved about this place but now I feel that ppl should know what I have come to realise about this place - especially since everyone is feeling its so great (what I used to think) - read this and go there and check it out for yourself.
I have been here 3 times... wait .... 4. The first time was for a brazillian.. and that was mostly due to the fact that they advertize sterile techniques and they do not double dip the stick into the wax throughout treatment and especially those used on other people! Thuy was great! though it still hurt no matter the technique.
The other times I went was for a manicure. I actually like the designs that they can make on the nails after the manicure. Such talent. (never knew why people just got a plain manicure, the designs are only a few dollars more)
All was going great BUT yet on my last visit I noticed a few things and the things that I passed over as one time instances on the other visits confirmed that it happens all the time -- which bring the stars down from a 5 to a 2. And actually I dont quite recommend them to friends and family anymore.
- because Im in the health field I have worked with sterilizers and instruments before. So I noticed those "sterile" pouches that they use for each person for the manicure - when removing the cuticle excess - though it was wrapped up in those pouches - the sterilization indicator colour that is supposed to change after being sterilized had not change to a different colour. Thus, though the package was wrapped - the contents were not heat sterilized. (maybe they can explain this but I did not ask)
- I was cut on my cuticule and it bled. She put a styptic (medication that only stops the bleeding) but when I asked for a topical antibiotic (so it will not get infected) she looked confused and said that that is all they have and that was enough. It was stinging throughout the manicure and drying process and started to get inflammed when I was at home - so I had to put some polysporin on it myself. So - though they pride themselves in cleanliness - I find it weird that they can really injure someone with the instruments yet they do not prepare to protect from infection or cross contamination
- also - the last 2 times I had my manicure done - I realized that once they are finished cutting all the dead skin excess cuticle from you and cleaning your nails - they dump that garbage on the floor behind them or to the side of them!!! Hello?? what if I had fungal nails? everyone else is going to be walking on all that plus they may even get a sharp nail piece stuck in their foot!
- also, the last time they messed up on the nail design - it was so horrific - looked like a dead black bird smeared all over my nail (supposed to be a flower) - I asked them to remove it - they did so but seemed annoyed and said for them to correct it - since that gal is already working on someone else I would have to wait until she was done - I told them to never mind and they gave me back the 5$ for the design - yet did not consider the tax on that . extra bonus I guess for messing up my nails.
Anyways... Its too bad that Im beginning to doubt the cleanliness of this place - because that was the main reason I went here in the first place. Their boss seems to be unfriendly or at least doesnt smile and the gals seem like they are kinda miserable but smile cause they have to. There is one lady there that always has a smile on her face and is very nice. But the rest do not look too happy, especially when their boss is in.
Its a shame because these are the only places that have the talent to make great nail designs yet the main reason people chose not to go and infact go to higher end places like spas (Elmwood - uses approved steam sterilizers!) is because of cleanliness. If they truely make this a priority and do not over work the girls that work there then they can be more of a success!