Vixen Nails

Alena is the absolute best nail artist I have ever been to. I’m a regular with her and she never disappoints. Her completely booked schedule speaks for itself but she always finds a way to squeeze you in if you want an amazing set of nails. Most nail salons you go to are like an assembly line, they get you in and out as fast as they can and never remember your name or any gossip you may have told them. Alena remembers your name, remembers what you talked about at your previous appointment, and makes it a much more comfortable and enjoyable experience as you can converse with her with ease on things you may have in common. Pinterest is my best friend when it comes to finding new nail ideas for my next visit and I have yet to bring in an idea that Alena did not execute flawlessly. She has a million pictures of creative nails on her instagram and Facebook, with countless satisfied customers who would vouch for her talents. She schedules via text, making her even more amazing because of the convenience factor alone. You have not had a a creative, quality set of nails until you have booed an appointment with Alena! :)

Oh my, where do I start? For those of you who only read the first line or two, this nail technician is very unprofessional, has cancelled her appointments with me (all in preparation for my wedding!) on various occasions, and takes her time (3+ days) in returning her texts/​messages. She will cancel her appointments due to «family emergencies» but post the nails she has just finished doing at the same time. How can you have a family emergency and do someone’s nails and have time to post them all at the same time? I have never been treated so badly.
The hairdresser I hired to do my hair for my wedding referred me to this nail technician, Alena Snyder/​Vixen nails. She had never actually met her but had been following her on Instagram, where she posts her — I admit, very cool — work. (BTW although my hairdresser has referred several people, Alena has never expressed her gratitude or offered to do her nails). Because I was coming from out of town (2+ hours away) I made an appointment with her 3 weeks in advance so I could arrange a trip (I have an infant, so I have to arrange childcare, etc). On the day of our much awaited appointment, less than two hours before, she texted me that she would not be able to make it due to a family emergency. I said ok, but reminded her that I had come from the Bay area for our appointment and arranged for childcare but she didn’t express any remorse. All the while, I noticed that she was posting new nails she had just done on instagram. Strange. After much back and forth (she never seems sure what her schedule is) we scheduled another appointment. She kept our next appointment, which went fine. That day, we made arrangements for a few weeks later to do a paid trial for her to do my makeup for the wedding. When I arrived home that day I found out my family would not be available to take care of my baby during that appointment. I texted her immediately to let her know, suggesting other days and times that would work. She said she wasn’t sure when she was available but would get back to me. Four days later she had still not returned my text so I texted again asking if she had checked her schedule. No response. Two days later I texted again, she responded she had another family emergency and was out of town. Hmmm… yet she was posting the new nails she had done on instagram and just the night before had posted all of her appointment openings for the week. She suggested that we meet the following Tuesday… even though during our appointment she had told me she would be out of town that day/​week. This time, she said she had rescheduled her vacation «due to personal family reasons». Hmm… so many personal family emergencies/​reasons/​etc. I suggested several possible times on Tuesday… and didn’t receive a response. Three days later I texted, the next day she confirmed for 10:30 but wanted me to come to her salon, when she had told me previously that she does makeup trials not at the salon but on site for the bride. Surprised, I said I thought she was coming to my place. No response. The next day I said, ok, I can come to you. Then she said «I don’t have my book with me I’ll let you know in the morning.» The next night at nearly 7 pm, the night before our appointment, she said she couldn’t do it Tuesday but could instead do it Thursday. I had already driven to town for our appointment and arranged for childcare… again!!! And I had to leave on Tuesday night to go back home. I finally had to cancel my makeup appointment for my wedding day, telling her that it seemed that although I came from hours away for our appointments and had to find a baby sitter, something else always seemed to come up for her and that I couldn’t be wondering if she was going to show up on my wedding day. She only said «ok, that’s fine.» NO apology, no nothing. She only asked if she should also cancel the nail appointment for the wedding!!! OMG.
So, two weeks before my wedding I have to find a new nail and makeup artist, thanks to Alena. I have never met anyone so unprofessional with so little regard for her clients. There are plenty of other talented nail/​makeup artists in the area who value their clients, return calls and texts, and are reliable. I encourage you to seek them out (after having shopped around, my first choice is Krystal at the Glitter Palace in Sacramento, followed by Elizabeth’s Casa Bella Salon in Elk Grove).