I really cannot wait until establishments that hold CLEAR racial prejudice are help accountable
!!Hostile Environment for Black Customers!!
This was hands down one of the worst nail salon experiences I have ever had, and it is the exact reason I usually do my own nails. My friend and I, both Black women, were told when we arrived that they could do our services. Then suddenly they changed it to only one service each unless we came back in two hours. Annoying, but fine. We got our toes done, left, and came back two hours later for our hands. That is when things went downhill. The same male tech who did my toes did my hands, and his attitude was awful from the start. I explained clearly that I wanted a higher apex with more curve. When he showed me my pinky, it was visibly flat. I politely asked for more apex. He added a little product, showed it again, and it was still flat. I calmly explained that filing does not create an apex and asked if he could add more product. I was not rude or disrespectful. He immediately caught an attitude. When I tried to show him the curve I was asking for, without touching, he snapped and said do not touch. I corrected him and explained I was only showing him. From that point on, the service declined even further. A woman dressed in black, who appeared to be management or the owner, then came over and stood directly over both nail techs for the next thirty minutes, watching us. I asked her if she could help explain to him what I was requesting because there was clearly a disconnect. She cut me off mid sentence and said that he understands. He did not. The finished nails are flat with no apex, which is clearly visible in the photos. The situation escalated when the tech began aggressively handling my hands, snapping open open, and physically scooping my fingers out of the way instead of speaking respectfully. At that point, I told him I was uncomfortable with the way he was speaking to me. Around this time, once all of their white customers had left, the overall professionalism in the salon noticeably declined. The woman in black brought her baby out, and staff began cleaning and moving around us while our service was still in progress. The environment became rushed, chaotic, and uncomfortable, adding to an already tense situation. The woman in black then began yelling at me aggressively, accusing me of being aggressive and saying she could not make me happy. They then refused to finish the service. I told them I would not be paying for unfinished and poorly done work. For context, which they did not know at the time, I am a licensed nail tech myself. I only came in because I am in school and in the middle of moving and did not have time to do my own nails. Asking for a proper apex is basic nail structure. What made this experience even more upsetting was watching how white customers were treated earlier in the visit. One white woman was openly picky about her nails, as she should be, and staff were patient, calm, and accommodating. There was no hovering, no hostility, and no raised voices. When it came to two Black women stepping into the salon, the energy completely shifted. We were treated like a problem the moment we asked for clarification or quality work. There was clear racial bias in this interaction. The woman in black later admitted she was standing over us because she felt I had an attitude, yet she could not explain what behavior was aggressive or what attitude I gave her coworker. Her husband then came out from the back and repeated that they could not make me happy, without knowing what had actually occurred. My friend was present the entire time and backed me up. Instead of de escalating the situation, they ganged up on us and told me to leave. I will never return to this salon. I strongly caution other Black customers. If you expect respect, clear communication, and equal treatment, this is not the place. Photos speak for themselves. read more