I have been here twice. The first time, I would have given the place and the experience three stars. After the production that was Friday afternoon at Golden Nails, they are lucky to receive 1 from me.
I get the same thing at any nail salon I go to - a fill in my acrylics and a toe polish change so the color on my hands and feet match. By "Toe Polish Change," listed on most nail salons pricing boards, that means you sit in the pedicure chair, they take off your current toenail polish, clip them if you politely ask, file, then paint your toenails. I have seen this service offered for anywhere from $6-$10.
First time there - wanted to get my toe polish changed and my acrylics filled. They were dead and the man (owner) and woman were there. The woman took me back to work on my toes. She took a long time (probably nearly 30 minutes) on them to just clip, file and paint, but I liked the way they looked - neat and even without all the poking, prodding, soaking of a pedicure. Then, she took me to her nail station to give me my fill. This service took a bit longer than planned because she did have to replace one of my acrylics. Almost the entire time she ranted about a new technician they had recently hired, raising her voice and expressing her distain toward her. I didn't think this was super professional, but I understand frustrations at work and that sometimes you just want to vent. But after being there for another hour and 45 minutes, I was ready for her to just be quiet and get the job done. I really liked my nails and I didn't think pricing was anything outrageous or different than what I normally pay at any other salon, so I happily left (and got home way later than I had originally planned). That night, I snapped my nail in my door (my luck!) and had to go back the next day. The man fixed my nail quickly on a Friday afternoon and I was good to go. Three stars for the slow service, the ranting nail technician, but a good looking set of fingers and toes.
Fast forward to this past Friday when I stopped in after work for my usual nail salon routine. I was told there would be a quick wait. I offered to make an apt and come back later, but the owner told me it would be ok, that he could fit me in. I waited for maybe 5 minutes before he sent me back to the chair to do my toes. He came back quickly and started taking off my polish. At 4:50, a woman walked in and said she was there for her 5oclock apt, but that she was in no rush. I assume the owner either forgot about her or was reading his appointment book wrong because he seemed very surprised and instantly overwhelmed. (the woman was working on another apt that showed up when I did). I could see his anxiety and suggested that he could just do my toes and I would come back for my nails the following day. He did not even get all of my existing polish off before he started slopping on the new color (without filing or ANYTHING) unevenly and streaky. After he was done, he didn't suggest drying. Just told me it would be $12 for my visit. I was appalled. I should have walked out without paying as my cat could have done a better job at painting my toenails, but I sucked it up, paid and will not be returning. I will, however, give them one star for their terrible customer service, unapologetic practices and insane pricing for their quarter-effort job they do.
My word of advice would be to definitely make an appointment at this place and make sure you leave yourself enough time for an extra long appointment and/or enough time to leave this salon and go directly to a different one to have them fix the mistakes Golden Nails made.....like I had to do last Friday. read more