Before I get into why I've only given this place one star I want to say that, for me, writing about negative experiences requires twice the amount of energy as writing a positive review. It's not my favorite way to spend my time. But after telling my friend about my experience she implored me to share. So here is the good, bad and the ugly.
Using a Groupon purchase, I booked my facial at 11 a.m. for 4 p.m. that same day. At 3:45 p.m. the spa called me and asked if I was still coming, claiming my appointment was for 3:45 p.m., not 4 p.m. This is strange to me because I had initially asked for 3:30 but they asked if I could come at 4 p.m. When I arrived I waited for approximately 20 minutes during which a City of Houston parking officer came in and gave one of the employees a $500 fine for parking in a handicap spot in front of the spa. The employee walked outside to discuss the legality of this ticket, eventually bribes the parking officer, unsuccessfully, and then moves his car. All of this is happening with the front door open where I can hear and see. I recognize that this situation could happen to anyone but who parks their car in a handicap spot at their own place of employment, where they are going to be all day, then tries to tell the officer that the sign isn't supposed to be there so he shouldn't get a ticket?! Whatever, I brush it off and hope that the nice decor of the lobby means more delightful surprises inside the facial room. No. When I lay down for the facial it's on a rough towel separating me from a plastic bed, and the steam machine starts spitting hot water on me! My décolletage is drenched by the time the facialist arrives in the room and after I point out the obvious she suggests that she will move me to another room, then decides she should try to fix the machine while I wait. I'm now 35 minutes into this appointment and ready to leave. I re-iterate that I need to be out by 5:30 p.m., tell her I will move to the other room, she picks up on the queue to not fix the machine and we move. Low and behold, the next steamer is also experiencing malfunctions (I repeatedly move the steamer away from my face to avoid 3rd degree burns, which she re-adjusts straight over my face) so she eventually turn off the steamer and offers a micro-dermabrasion treatment, which I accept. Now, I'm no micro-dermabrasion expert but I'm pretty sure a glycolic peel is not an appropriate follow up, but she puts this peel on and within 2 minutes my face is burning, stinging and I'm getting a little nervous because I've never experienced pain like this before during a facial. I mention the pain to her and she tells me it's not red, then gives me a mirror and yes, it is quite red and my face resembles a camo print with red instead of dark green. She puts piping hot, wet towels over my face and then presses down on my face and I'm pretty sure at this point this women is the anti-Christ, has been sent to give me my final facial. Here is the conversation that follows: "Would I like extractions?" "No" "You really need a couple, just on your nose, I be gentle." Now, extractions are something I am an expert at, being a beauty school drop-out, I know at a minimum you don't just gouge into people's face, you come in gently to avoid busting veins in the face. She starts gouging at my face with no method to her madness, I beg for her to stop. This facial has gone wrong. All wrong. And now she can't avoid the truth either, starts in on how sorry she is, this has been all wrong, she wants to give me another treatment on another day. I'm thinking to myself "RUN!" By the time I make it outta there I'm 30 minutes past my desired departure time and literally run from the building. On my way home I contemplate if that was the worst facial I've ever had or one of the worst. Then the facialist calls. She explains how bad she feels, how unsatisfied she is with our appointment and offers again another facial. I am honestly impressed with her consideration and customer service but I kindly say no-thank you. I will never return to this place, and will not be recommending it to anyone. I hope it was a fluke day, but there was nothing about the facial to suggest that the inefficiencies will be solved soon. :(
If you are looking for the best facial ever though go see Lindsey Platt at Dharma Skin Care. She is my facial angel and I will never stray again! read more
