Tip Top Nail

It has been 2 years since the last review but after my experience I had a very similar experience to JLD’s.
I also have a «go to» nail salon but I was looking to expand my horizons and possibly find something closer to my house so I stopped in. The salon itself has been around for at least as long as I have lived in the area (about 10 years or so) so I figured «how bad could it be».
Well let me tell you — it was pretty bad. I walked in on a Tuesday looking for a french gel manicure. The salon was quiet with a husband, wife and their daughter (?) the only occupants. After a bit of miscommunication, I was seated in some very comfortable seats and started getting my nails shaped. I asked about getting my cuticles cleaned but was told that they did not do that — what… Oh and don’t even get me started on the tools they used, looking back I am not even sure they were sterilized. Ok — so after the gentleman was done shaping my nails, his daughter (?) sat down to complete my french gel manicure. A bit strange but I went along with it. In the past when I have had this service done — one set of nails is completed, placed in a UV drier, and while these nails are drying, the other hand nails are completed. Not the case here, as each nail was individually painted, my entire hand was placed in the UV drier.
I don’t have a problem with that, but what I do have a problem with was not giving the last nail have enough time to dry before sending me on my way. That’s why I love gel manicures — by the time I leave the salon I don’t have to worry about ruining my nails. Here — after the last nail was completed and a quick massage of the hands I was done and charged $ 30 for the service, which is not out of the ordinary.
However when I got home I noticed that the white of the french was not straight and the nails started chipping over the next 2. WTF! Gel manicures are supposed to last, that is why it’s so expensive! So now I am forced to go and get this fixed a lot sooner then I would have wanted or expected to.
My experience taught me 2 things — 1. When you have a good salon, don’t think you will find greener pastures, most likely you will be disappointed and 2. Unless you want shoddy services, stay away from Tip Top, there are plenty of other salons in the area whom will do a much better job.

What I want to know is WHY??? is this salon named what it is because it’s TERRIBLE!!! I stopped at this salon because I was in the area and needed my nails and feet done for an event. I wasted my money and was mad as hell when I left.
I got a pedicure that looked like my 10 year old son did it. Polish all on the cuticles and not smooth looking at all. I should of walked out then but I guess I was in the mood for disappointment because I asked for a gel manicure and received one with lumps and crooked lines. I was so aggravated when I was done. As the woman was ringing me out I told her that I did not like the polish but I knew they were busy and I would come back Monday for it to get fixed. She dismissed what I said and told me it looked nice and asked me if I was going to leave my tip in cash or on my debit card. One thing I can’t stand is to be dismissed and to be dismissed for greed is even worse. Two days later I had a broken nail and the gel was peeling off my nails easily. I will never spend a dime in that place. They are greedy and rude and need to go back to school and learn how to nails properly.

Worst manicure of my life! I feel that it is a duty to make people aware of the absolutely dismal conditions and quality of service at this ‘establishment’. I was in the area desperately looking for a nail salon to get a french manicure for a job interview the next morning that I had just been notified of. In retrospect, I should have kept driving to find another place.
I went in, there was one, maybe two other customers being attended to. The décor and equipment was not very appealing or updated. An older gentleman told me to sit down, I explained I wanted a french manicure and he proceeded to get equipment together. (I wasn’t familiar with the tools nor why they would be needed for a simple french mani). There was no cleaning of the cuticles or spa-​like services like buffing the nail, exfoliating or moisturizing the hands but spa-​treatment was not my main concern so I just went with it.
Without going through the whole process, I will merely mention the shocking and horrifying aspects of the service. He proceeded to cut up a used and dingy looking business card that was in his drawer. He placed that under my nail and PAINTED with an airgun (I’m guessing used for acrylics?) the «french» lines on the edges of my untreated, unpainted nails. They were very thick and not very even (pretty crooked) lines. He then did something appalling. Taking a cotton pad, he picked up a spray bottle of blue liquid (aka Windex) sprayed the cotton and used it to wipe my nails. He then coated my nails with a clear polish/​top coat. No pink/​nude polish, just a clear topcoat.
At this point, it was far too late to find another location but I was horrified and wanted out. I left and an hour after I got home, I was washing my hands… sure enough, the white «paint» began to peel off. Fortunately, I managed to hide the horrifying example on my nails and got the job. After the interview, however, I went straight to my regular nail salon, Oasis Nails in Newington and swore to never risk going anywhere else again.
Note: I must mention that the only reason I didn’t go to Oasis to begin with is that they had already closed for the evening.