"Prestigious" Nail Bar in Selfridges

[mutley]

Hi guys,

New Newbie here although I have been reading the site for just over a year and have to say I LUV IT! and very hugh thanks to everyone as I have picked up quite a few tricks that have helped me out - Thanks Guys.

Reason for my post - last week I happened to be on holiday in the peak district where a friend of mine was trying to kill me by introducing me to hill walking (the only walking I do is Retail Therapy Walking), as I am about to start training for a charity walk up Ben Nevis next August. Breaking myself in gently, me and the girls decided that a day shopping in Manchester was in order. We ended up in Selfridges and I thought I would treat myself and get my nails done when I came across the Nail Bar they have there. However, when I was looking around the products they have for sale there, you actually have to go behind the nail stations. My god! What a sight! I hightailed it out so fast - the stations were an absolute disgrace, dust everywhere, dirty towels & equipment, lids left off products and I nearly died when I saw the state of the UV lamps!!. I really cannot believe what an appalling state they were all in. If I turned up to a client with my equipment in that state I'm sure they would ask me to leave. I emailed the nail company in question when I got back home but am still awaiting a response.

Anyone else thought of treating themselves whilst on holiday and thought better of it?

 

[Susie H]

Oh god yes:green: not just on holiday either, I swear N'ton is the home of the nail bars, honesty the state of some of these places if it was me I would be to ashamed to admit I worked there.
By the way, big big welcome to the site:hug::hug:

 

[mutley]

Hi Susie,

Thank you for your warm welcome and reply - You just made my day!:hug:

 

[kimi1101]

I once went to get waxed on a day my therapist wasnt working....i wish i had walked out the minute i walked in. the staff were beyond rude, the equipment was all dirty, bed and towels were grotty...no idea why i actually stayed apart from embarrassment. But on the upside it motivated me to make my salon a million times better than this one!!! I think it really gave me affirmation of what I want my salon to be. If only clients had wider eyes to these sort of things...I would assume Selfridges will be busy regardless, as the salon I went to is.

 

[ellewopter]

I had a particularly horrendous experience once, the place looked clean and had all her certs up. But i had to tell how to do a soak off as she mixed boiling water and acetone together and asked me to put my hands in it!, she also tried to pick bits off with cuticle nippers! and she said she had been doing nails for yrs.
She then painted L&P on like polish and when i asked about the thickness she said 'dont worry im going to put on 2 coats and that that was how she was trained to do it', they looked absolutely hideous and i had to stop her buffing my natural nails when she tried to do it about 6 times, with what must have been an 80 grit block!!!!!! i dont think i would have been supprised if she got out a hacksaw and gave it large with that! My BF said he thought i was going to jump over the table and murder her at one point LOL.
Its quite shocking to see the standard in some salons first hand :irked:, sounds like you had a lucky escape!!!

 

[Annebet]

Hi Mutley welcome, ewwwww doesn't sound nice, I always take my own products with me when I go on Holiday I only travel in the Uk, if I had to go abroad not sure would have to put feelers out on here to see if there was any tech's where I was going

 

[ando4ka]

if i were you, i would not even let her touch my hands. 80 grit. i don't even use that rough file on acrylic nails. i use 100 for acrylic and 180 for natural nails.
that is terrible. she could have left you nailless.

 

[mutley]

Hi guys,

Thanks for your replies. I normally do my own nails but just thought i'd treat myself (not really a good idea to advertise some-one else's work but ho-hum, I won't make that mistake again!).

I was quite surprised as there was only one technician working, but I was so shocked at the state of all the stations! :irked:

Don't know about everyone else, but reading thru some of the posts over the past year it seems quite clear that we all scrutinise people's nails where ever we go and it really makes me cringe now when I think back to the places i've had my nails done before I qualified and the 'practices' and hygiene standards!! I really don't know how I was lucky enough never to have had a case of the greenies!! I have one client who thinks i'm quite mad because whenever she has tips on, when I cut them down I can't leave until I've accounted for and collected every single bit, have to wipe the whole table down while she's under the lamp etc, she even asked me once if I wanted to borrow her hoover!:hug:

 

[*sarah*]

if i were you, i would not even let her touch my hands. 80 grit. i don't even use that rough file on acrylic nails. i use 100 for acrylic and 180 for natural nails.
that is terrible. she could have left you nailless.

I'd say a 180 is wat to harsh for a natural nail! I was taught that only a 240 grit should be used on natural nails, 180/240 for new L & P and 180/100/240 for in fill & rebalance xx