Short version: My nails are FIRE!! Leo COOKED!…read more A few small things could be improved (I elaborate below), but overall I'm obsessed with my nails and will return! Unabridged version: I have a go-to nail tech in STL, but she went back home for five months, so I have been fervently searching for a backup. After perusing countless hours of TikTok and ig posts, I decided to try this new AQ Nail Spa in UCity (AQ is a chain). Their instagram page boasts, "We can do any designs you want." Bold statement! I wanted to see if they could live up to it. I called one evening last week and requested an appointment. As I always do when I'm visiting a new nail salon, I requested their best nail technician; a tech who is excellent with designs, freestyle, and shaping long stiletto nails. I reiterated this about a dozen times in that 3 minute conversation (due to past experiences with people not listening or honoring this request). The receptionist assured me that he heard me and promised to put me with "the owner, his brother, or his best friend" verbatim. I arrived for my appointment and was greeted immediately. After I introduced myself and explained my previous conversation with the receptionist, a man informed me to sit in the first chair. He ended up being my technician. He was very nice. He pulled out my chair for me and asked if I wanted something to drink. He asked what I wanted and he offered suggestions. We ended up deciding to do a refill on my existing acrylics. He took a picture of the inspirational photo that I showed him so he could revisit it along the way, then he went to work. WHAT I LOVED CARE: I had one split/damaged nail that was hanging by the skin. Leo was so awesome with handling me with care as to not cause me any pain. That nail was off before I knew it! He was also careful with the drilling. Those drills usually cut my sensitive skin, but he was pretty good about avoiding my skin. QUALITY & DESIGN The fact that Leo looked at that inspo picture and killed it the way he did... I'm in awe! The shaping was good. The 2 nails that he had to fix/replace were slightly less curved than the others, but he was excellent with the filing and buffing. No rough edges or bumps on the nail surface. No color or paint on my skin. He took his time and did not rush. Although somehow my 2 thumbs ended up having different designs. I'm not sure if it was intentional or if something happened with the gold foil (see photo). No biggie, just an observation. But he picked the perfect color and adornments to accomplish the desired look for my nail set. ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT Ask first: My nails were filed down to be noticeably shorter than they were before. Most techs ask if you want them shorter, to which I always reply no. But he did not ask. Maybe he forgot. Maybe he thought he did. Maybe he got carried away during the filing and accidentally went too short. I typically don't stare at the techs while they work because I don't like people staring at me when I'm working. So that's why I didn't know he was filing them down so far. They're still long, but they were longer. It's a small quip. Pressured reviews: After he took photos of my nails he asked me to write a review, which is fine. I said I would. Then he asked for my phone to "show me" how/where to go to write the review. (I laughed internally. Bless his heart. Little did he know...) I played along and gave him my phone. He took a picture of my nails to upload for the review. All of that is ok. What's not ok is me getting my phone back and seeing that he had entered 5 stars on my behalf. If I didn't love my nails so much I'd have lowered my rating to 2, because that was way too brazen for my liking. I speak for myself. Pricing; If you've read my previous reviews, you'll know that I am very outspoken about transparency in pricing. When Leo was done with my nails, I walked up to the desk to pay. In seconds he quickly wrote down a number to give to the receptionist- $150. I thought this was a fair price for his great work. I simply asked for a breakdown for my own reference. It took so long to come up with that breakdown. And when I got it, there were no itemized notes/services, just a list of numbers written on paper. When I asked him to explain he tried but some of the numbers weren't adding up. e.g. $20 to fix 2 nails, when the website says $5 per nail. Again, I have NO issues with the cost of my nails, they are 100% worth it, but I need them to have clear pricing. They should be able to input services rendered into their system and an itemized receipt should be provided with all services. Simple as that. Overall, this was a 4.5 star experience. A week later and I'm still staring at my nails in admiration. I get compliments everywhere I go. I am so happy that I lucked up with Leo; he's extremely talented! I will be back.

I saw a Tik Tok from someone who went to their grand opening a little while ago. So, I made it my…read morebusiness to go to this nail salon as I don't want to continue going almost an hour away round trip to get my nails done.Upon arriving, i noticed they were pretty empty, so i was able to get serviced right away. This nail shop is absolutely beautiful. They have beautiful chandeliers throughout, black furnishings,plenty of seating and offer you drinks. I was serviced by a gentleman. He didn't speak much other than to ask how i wanted my nails. He was on the phone throughout my service. I could hear him speaking every now and then on the phone. As he was doing my nails, he would shoo my hand away as if i was inconveniencing him instead of asking me to stick them under the dryer. He did a good job on my nails. Didn't do them how i asked them to be done, but they still came out cute. I would come back, but I would want someone else to do my nails.