I called on Wednesday afternoon (Aug 6, 2025 CE) looking for a gel mani and pedi -- ideally before…read morea Friday pool party, but absolutely before a Tuesday job interview. When they booked me for the following morning, I was pleased.
I got there early, ready to play the parking game on adjacent streets. There's a 1-hour limit on the main drag. Honestly, they need a name for this stretch -- "South Braddock Business District" works, or "SoBra" if we want to get cute like SoCal or SoCo. But I digress. Turns out there's a parking lot in the back! I didn't know you could enter through the rear door, so I walked around to the front. They confirmed later it's totally fine to use either entrance.
My appointment was with Tamara, who was setting up when I arrived early. I made myself a coffee, and by the time it finished brewing, she had me seated. She took her time helping me choose a color. I came in thinking "terracotta," but the only similar shade on the wall was burnt orange. Pass. This isn't amateur hour, so I came with backup options. Next choice: dark cherry -- we landed on a deep plum, and I wasn't mad about it.
The spa was quiet, clean, and decorated in chill tones. Pedicure station: comfortable. Spa pedicure: nice. Tamara: cool as hell. I usually zone out during a pedicure, but we ended up talking about everything.
After the polish, we moved to the manicure station for an equally nice experience. I told her I almost booked Gel X extensions, and she convinced me to go for it next time. When we finished, we both took pictures of my nails, and I headed to checkout.
Which brings us to the missing star -- and why I'm unlikely to go back. There's a 4% upcharge for using a card, and I loathe when businesses do that. Processing fees are part of your operating costs -- work them into your prices. You don't charge me less for skipping the other nail lacquers on your wall, and you didn't charge me more for my K-cup. Operating. Costs.
Also, you can't leave a tip on card unless you tell them beforehand so they can add it to the total. So now I'm wondering if their software also needs an upgrade. After some confusion, they offered to let me Venmo the tip to the owner to pass along to Tamara. That was also presented as a payment option (which I'd declined earlier), but I ended up doing it because of course I was going to give Tamara her 25%.
And then... someone pulled a hit-and-run on my car in their lot. Not their fault, sure -- but the lot's a bit of a free-for-all, not well marked, and apparently has no cameras (I asked). Nobody could or would help me identify the driver, which I understand from a privacy standpoint, or contact them for me.
Back to my nails: my thumbnail chipped the day before my interview -- but not badly enough for anyone but me to notice. I'm rough on my nails, so I take full responsibility for the chip in my gel. The chip in my car paint? The driver in the Benz owns that one.
TL;DR: Salon is clean, comfy, and calm. Tamara was great. My nails looked perfect for my interview (which went well!). Just park in the lot at your own risk, and hit the ATM beforehand or get yourself a Venmo account.