I know this is long- so here's the synopsis for those in a hurry. DO NOT GO TO HEAD GAMES FOR NAIL…read moreSERVICES!
The situation:
I was psyched to find an opening for a semi- last minute mani/pedi on a dreary Tuesday afternoon. I thought it was odd that I'd been asked for a $25 deposit when I made the appointment over the phone, but this was the last service I needed to book for my self-care day after an exhausting, heartbreaking personal matter, so I complied.
As I waited in the small seating area, I had a sense of foreboding. At check in, I was offered water, coffee or tea, but there was no warmth. It didn't feel welcoming.
A couple moments later I was greeted by the nail tech and taken back to a room with two manicure tables on the right and to the left, a long couch with pillows and several foot basins.
During my pedicure, the nail tech and I sat in silence, with only a Spotify station of bland piano music in the background; if I had to guess I'd say it was movie theme songs. Not exactly my cuppa tea. The nail tech, who never told me her name, would occasionally ask me a question but they were few and far between, making our time together rather awkward. So I either looked at my phone or stared at the blank wall behind her.
The pedi itself was okay, except the massage part (my favorite!) There was no real effort put into it at all.
After 45 minutes of awkward silence, I seriously considered telling her not to bother with the manicure, but against my better judgement, I stuck around.
To make a long story a bit shorter, she had to touch up my toe nails because she had me put the pedi slippers on after my nails were painted. Then she had to re-do my nail polish because she told me they were dry and when I went to put my socks and boots back on, they were immediately destroyed.
The nail polish was AWFUL. It was a goopy, sticky mess. I had to choose a whole new color because the first one was quite obviously past its prime.
To make matters worse, the manicure itself was sub par. No soaking, no pushing back of cuticles, she used this cuticle softening cream and just cut back a few random pieces of dead skin. I got no lotion and no massage (again- my favorite!!!!!)
Two and a half hours and $85 later ( not including tip,) I walked out of the salon in a pretty bad mood.
Ten minutes later, I arrived at my next destination to find that my fingernails had a white film around them, were not dry, and were messed up AGAIN. I immediately called the salon and told them I couldn't come back now because the tech had already done my nails twice and I had a prior engagement, but wanted my nails te-painted. This is where I became furious. She says- "Ugh, we need to get new nail polish, it's nothing she (the nail tech) did."
First of all- I never said the nail tech did anything wrong. I said she had to paint my nails twice. Secondly- if your nail polish is so bad, get new polish or just don't offer nail services. Lastly- no apology? Are you kidding me??? Bad. All very bad.
To top it off, when I assumed my repaint would be at no charge, she hesitates, at which point I finally lose my patience and remind her that I just spent $85. And then she concedes. Still no apology.
After hanging up, I immediately go into the bathroom and pull of my socks and shoes. After over an hour of manicure, my toes were apparently, still wet and the paint was a mess.
Over the next few days, every time I looked down at my nails, I became angry all over again. I realized I couldn't return for my repaint because I wouldn't be able to keep my composure. So I canceled my appointment the Friday before. I will not return. I will tell my salon, who recommended I go there, to stop recommending them, and I, in turn will not recommend my family or friends.
I should've taken my husband's advice- "Don't go to a place called Head Games to get your nails done."
