First Class Nails

I was nervous about going with all the bad reviews, but I had a coupon from Oasis hair salon and wanted to use it. The place was nice inside, and I appreciated that a callous wrap and scrub were included. I agree with some comments about the need to speak Spanish, but I got by with my old college Spanish skills. I also agree that the technician in the front makes you feel unwelcome with her tone of voice; that needs fixing. However, the other ladies are nice, do a good job and tried very hard to execute the design I asked for. I Also agree that the «one with the bun» is more detailed and skilled at designs (one nail was redone 4 times by 3 techs until the «bun» became available.)I would go again, as I am pleased with my mani-​pedi, but I may go elsewhere for any elaborate designs. Disclaimer: I brought my own polish.

I usually don’t post reviews on Unilocal,but today I had to. Let me start off by saying that I did not have a long wait at all. I walked in, picked my colors, and my pedicure chair was ready. So far so good. Until I was cut getting a pedicure… That sucked. But she dealt with it, and went on with the show. I was getting a manicure while getting a pedicure, because I had gel and another woman was soaking them off. Again, fine. No other complaints so far. Then 2 young girls come in… They had to be the owners daughters. Well… Sorry to the owner, but your girls don’t run the show. They came in yelling, running around, hugging everyone… A nail technician stopped what she was doing to put wax on one of the girl’s hands! That was very unprofessional. If I were that client, I’d be pissed! So now I’m at the table finishing up my manicure. And I asked the woman to put a glitter over my color. I’m very happy with how my manicure came out… Except she told me to dry a little before the top coat. I was drying… Drying… SHE COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT ME! Not to mention that she asked one of the girls to ring up my debit card. I’m glad she did that correctly I was not happy about that. But yeah… Someone else had to come over, put the top coat on… I was left there alone with the 2 girls AS THEY WERE GIVING EACH OTHER PEDICURES IN THE CHAIRS!!! I didn’t know that owners children could be left alone unattended like that. Oh and one of the girls just asked someone if they can do her nails tomorrow… And just took nail polish from the salon to bring home. Owner: you portray a sense of unprofessionalism that wreaks throughout your salon.

Horrible customer service!!! Nasty and rude attitudes. Plus they suck at using the cuticle nipper. Oh and don’t make it an appointment, you’ll still wait 30 mins. Better off going anywhere in Maplewood.

AVOID!!! Here is my full story…
My gel mani experience itself was pretty good. It looks really natural, which is nice. Not sure if I was talked about because I don’t speak Spanish – they just seemed to be talking about food. It was more expensive than a few other places in the area, but you pay for more of a salon/​spa experience (nice music playing, classy décor…)
I was at 3 stars but I dinged it down to 2 bc I came home with my mani at 6pm, and by 2pm the next day there was a big chip just like other reviewers said. (And all I’d done was eat dinner, sleep, and drive to my parents’ for thanksgiving!)
Ok now it is 3.5 days after mani and 2 nails are peeling off, there’s the big chip on my thumbnail and now another one where the fill in was done badly. See photos. Down to one star :(

Very disappointed. This was a pretty messy manicure and pedicure and I’m going to have to redo both of them. The manicurist rushed through the service — which never feels great especially if they aren’t doing a great job. If the nail stylist just took the equivalent of another 5 – 10 seconds on each nail it probably would’ve turned out a lot better.

I wish I could give this place 0 stars. They RUIN your nails!!! My nails started splitting after every gel manicure I got here. The pedicure chipped after 2 days. The owner is sweet while the one woman who works there (first chair next to the desk usually) is so rude. She talks bad about you in Spanish as you’re sitting right there. She gives you attitude the entire time it’s disgusting. Although their prices are okay I would rather spend the extra money and take my business somewhere else.

When the sister /​owners first opened this was a great place to go. But now that they have expanded it is clear that their standards of whom they hire is very low. There was a time you could count on anyone there being capable of doing your service. Not any more. They speak in there language, the newer staff members are rude and dont seem to have any experience. While getting a pedicure i was sliced with the pomice because she wasn’t paying attention. Looking at everything else BUT my foot. Then i warned her of a trouble spot on my finger and she cut me… i just got up and politely left. The owners dont seem to care so beware…

If you are into décor and the appearance of a first class salon without customer service, then this is the place for you. I used to visit this salon faithfully when they first opened. Then the service dropped off significantly shortly after. There is one technician who has been there from the beginning that is very polite.
The owners are hot and cold, but other than giving either of them my card my interaction with them was minimal. The technician Nancy «graduated» to become a «gel» manicurist. She is rude, speaks adversely about the patrons in Spanish. She caught me looking at her when she was complaining about a customer who asked for the nail polish to be corrected. Yes, Nancy I caught you — AGAIN!
I will give them a «B» for keeping the place clean and an «A» for appearance. As soon as a pedi is finish the basin and area is cleaned. They use ultraviolet light to clean the nail tools. They have a menu of appealing services. If the customer service was better I would love to try them.
I visited the salon late last month because I had another appointment. A mid Saturday morning and First Class had 1 patron; which should be a sign to the owners; they should take these reviews seriously or they will be out of business. Like the other reviewers Nancy was in rare form, but the long time manicurist did my pedicure and manicure. She is polite and professional. Thankfully my visits there are very far apart, since I found another salon that recently opened not to far from First Class. It would be a great shop if their could work on their customer service skills.

Carlos;
I’m actually glad that you replied and especially even more glad you responded in the manner in which you did. It shows and just confirms that the OTHER reviews, including mines support that you and your staff have very poor customer service skills. Or I should say, that you do not have any at all.
The very first time my toes were done, the nail polish came of my toes the next day! I returned and told the lady in the store, and she had my feet polished for free, when I returned (3 days later). She fixed the error or issue that was done from the poor service. Which was satisfactory to me.
And it was actually that day, where my skin was buffed off of my toe. It was that day my skin was broken so bad it took a while for it to stop bleeding. Not to mention it was in a lot of pain.
Last week, I returned, with the hopes that that issue would be rectified in some way shape or form. I did not have anything in mind but I wanted courtesy for her bruising my toe.
With that in mind, I requested to have another lady to do my nails and eye brows. I specifically told the other lady I did not want the same girl who bruised my toe to do my nails.
I had an extra long wait. I did not mind, because my request to have someone else provide me services was granted. The lady took me to the back to do my eyebrows. As she was preparing things I explained to her what the girl did. I took off my shoe and even showed her the damage. In that moment, my toe was still in pain from getting the skin buffed off.
I requested the girl to please keep my brows big. I like them full. She said ok no problem. But did she do that? No. She retaliated against me for telling her a complaint. Is that how your customers are treated in your salon? Yes. Confirmation by her actions. She took off half of my brows. What was she getting by doing that? It’s hair and it grows back. But that’s how petty she was. Poor customer service.
And I know you don’t understand. It would take a professional individual with common sense to do so. Irregardless to that I only went back to have the girl with the bun in her hair to do my feet. Because she did a great job the last time and SHE TOOK HER TIME! I was giving this salon the benefit of the doubt. But you’re actually right. Your salon was not worthy of that benefit at all. Thank you for demonstrating that.
And Carlos, a little FYI, The reason why your salon received the poor rating is indicative to the same reasons why you’re a TWO POINT FIVE STAR SALON. POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. 50 people cannot be wrong!
Do you think I’m upset, by being asked to leave? No. Not in the least. You don’t have that power sweetheart! But asking me to not return is not going to fix the problem. Because your customer service skills will remain the same. And slowly people will really look and pay attention to all the Unilocal reviews. Experience it for themselves (God forbid) and you’ll eventually go out of business.
People want to be respected, appreciated and thanked for patronizing businesses. Not mistreated for discussing a wrong that was done by YOUR STAFF. That’s abuse. Thinking that you got it like that. Well you don’t. One day, you’ll have the hard dose of reality that you need.
Keep in mind that you’re not the only salon in south orange. You’re just the only one with poor reviews.
Oh and by the way, tell the lady from today thank you. Because I actually found the salon I was supposed to go to initially. And they’re reviews are FIVE STAR on Unilocal!
Have a great weekend!
Updated Review May 27, 2015
I had got white acrylic tips from this salon the first time I visited on May 4, 2015. Had on filling 2 weeks after (same day my eyebrows were taken off). So now today I have nail fungus. On two nails. Left index finger. Right thumb.

Went with my young daughter for mani pedis on May 9 and used the Unilocal deal. The place is clean, the technicians took their time and Janet gave me a great gel manicure. I will be going back.

This is a horrible excuse for an establishment. I had an appointment and arrived 10 minutes late. I called ahead and said I may have to be a little late. There was a lot of traffic, I ran in, out of breath apologizing for my tardiness. When I went to approach the manager to see if I could pick a color and have a seat in the pedicure chair. She ignored me even though I asked 3 times. When she final answered me and told me to sit in the chair and she would deal with me later. She addressed me like a child and it was extremely rude. I was very offended. When we finally were able to get our pedicure done she told us she would not do our manicure because we were 10 minutes late. The pedicure was horribly done and chipped after just 3 days. DO NOT go here. It is not worth your money and you will be treated like a child by the horribly rude manager.

Not as bad as other reviewers made it seem but not a wonderfully friendly place if u don’t speak Spanish. I needed a pedicure not a conversation so it didn’t bother me.

The customer service here is not great. I went for a pedicure and the technician rushed my pedicure. I was done in 9 minutes! My feet were not scrubbed and the paint job was sub-​par. I asked to speak to the manager and she told me «She’s not here. You can speak to her another day». I was even more upset at the fact that she insulted me in Spanish to the other workers and snickered in my face as I spoke to her manager over the phone. I am truly disappointed and will not be going back.

By far the worst nail salon I’ve ever been to and I get manicures and pedicures on a regular basis.
First off I made an appointment and they didn’t take my friend and I until an hour later and had one lady doing her pedicure and my pedicure and manicure so I soaked my feet until they were pruney and hurt.
NANCY IS TERRIBLE. They finished my pedicure under 10 minutes. Didn’t massage. Were rough. All their polish and gel chips within a week. And on top of it they’re not cheap!
The employees gave me attitude, negatively spoke about my friend and I in Spanish because they thought we couldn’t understand, and were beyond rude. Nancy bad mouthed her coworkers and other customers.
I’ll NEVER go there again and everyone I talk to I recommend they avoid this salon at all costs!

My gel manicure chipped not even a week after getting it done. I’m prolly not going back for the gel manicure. She offered to fix the one nail but two others had chipped and peeled. I haven’t had the chance to go back. I maybe on the search for a new regular nail salon

This nail salon is very nicely decorated. This is my third time visiting here. Walk ins are welcome, but they do take appointments also. The people who work there are very nice and friendly. The prices are reasonable. They also have a nice comfortable private room where the do waxing and even eyelash extensions. There is even a cute little princess pedicure chair for the little ones to get a pedicure. Overall in my option this is one of the best nail salons in the Oranges that I’ve been to