Classy Nails

Well, here I am once again, fixing a crummy manicure immediately after getting home from the salon, and $ 45 + tip later. This is part of the reason why I almost never get a manicure. They are never up to my standards, which aren’t particularly high. I want consistent length across all ten fingers, I want the length and shape I describe (square, to the tip of my finger, not below), and I want clean cuticles. No one can ever seem to get this right — not even one of these standard manicure details (mind you, I only frequent less expensive salons, not more expensive spas). With one exception of a manicurist in Mountain View, who doesn’t work evenings or weekends, so I never get to use her any more.
About this shop — dirty and run down. About this owner/​nail technician — friendly, chatty and nice.
Pedicure was well done, but not particularly attentive, even for a 20-​dollar pedi. She upsold me from a basic 10-​dollar mani to some new nail gel mani for $ 25. I’m always looking for a durable manicure that doesn’t entail grinding my natural nail down to a fine membrane, so I decided to try it out. It was a series of brush-​applied goo, set under UV light (thanks for the cancer), another layer of goo, more cancer, another layer of goo, and a final set under the cancer light. From the beginning I asked her «aren’t you going to soak my nails and push back the cuticles?» «No, this is done different way». She proceeded to push back my dry cuticles, and never soaked my nails, never applied cuticle cream, moisturizer or any other cream. She didn’t even moisturize or massage my hands or arms.
After the gel was «set», I could tell immediately it was thicker to one side, it had collected and set under my nails, and it was just a mess. She responded to my immediate concerns and unstuck most of my nails most of the way, but I could tell she was rushing through and not paying attention to the details.
I got home and was able to finishing unsticking the rest of my nails and removing the excess gel material from underneath — which only made me wonder why she couldn’t do it. Also my nails are kind of tacky and unset, which I didn’t expect after the cancer light.
So, despite the owner/​tech being very nice, the shop and the manicure are just sub-​par. I’m sorry, «Nancy», I won’t be back.

The owner is super nice, I would suggest to invest money in giving the place a make-​over. She does nice pedicures.

A little dirty when I went. Nice lady though.