I scheduled an appointment on Wednesday, 08/13, for Friday, 07/15, at 11am for a gel mani/pedi…read more Before continuing, let me be clear: I was fully aware I was booking with a student. I didn't expect perfection, this review has nothing to do with the student and everything to do with the lack of professionalism from the staff.
I arrived at 10:45am with existing gel polish and overdue for a fill. My regular manicurist was out of town, so I decided to give the local nail school a try (the same one my manicurist graduated from).
The student began removing my polish with a drill. I assumed she'd lightly drill, then wrap my nails in foil, but instead she drilled off the entire gel. Since my nails are naturally strong, I didn't critique her process, especially with her teacher nearby. About every 10 minutes the teacher stopped over, not to guide her, but to tell her to "pick up the pace." By 12pm (an hour in), she had just finished removing the polish.
She attempted to trim and shape my nails, but her tools were dull. She asked her teacher for help, and the teacher briefly stepped in to cut my cuticles before walking away again. At 12:30, she began applying polish. I asked for a French manicure, but the base already had visible bubbles. Still, I remained patient - it's a discounted service after all.
When she attempted the French tip, she quickly realized she didn't have the right brushes. After multiple failed attempts, she admitted: "I'm sorry, I can't do this. I've only been in school a few weeks and missed a lot of classes due to personal matters." I appreciated her honesty and asked if anyone else could finish. The teacher said no - it was nearly 2pm and she "didn't have time."
At that point, I decided to leave. But when I went to check out, I was told I had to pay for the gel mani/pedi. I calmly explained that I'd been there for over 2.5 hours, the service wasn't completed, and I wasn't going to pay. The receptionist called the teacher, who immediately went off on me, condescendingly reminding me "this is a school," as if I hadn't already known.
Here's what's most frustrating: the teacher saw the student struggling over and over. She had countless opportunities to step in, explain expectations, or even redirect me to a more advanced student. Instead, she idly stood by, pressured the student to "speed up," and ultimately abandoned us both. When I refused to pay for services that weren't rendered, I was told to "get the f** out and don't come back."
Not only did I waste 2.5 hours, but I also had to find another salon to fix the damage. My nails were left thin and cracking at the base, requiring an overlay to strengthen them.
This experience was unacceptable, not because of the student, but because of the staff's unprofessionalism. If you're considering going to this school for services, I urge you to think twice. The staff should be retrained in communication, accountability, and how to properly support their students.
Worst experience ever!