Hey all,
Its been a long time, since coming on here..
But I was so furious with this.. I wondered whether anyone else had experienced anything similar..
I am british- vietnamese. I was born and bred here.
I opened my nail salon, when I was 18.. Although, I have been doing nails for nearly 10years
I recently sold my shop, as I am now pregnant & came to the decision that I wanted some time off- and not to have the stresses that running a buisness can sometimes have.
Where I live, there are about 3 'Nail Salons' run by vietnamese people.
Many clients that use to come to me, would often tell me the same things:
They dont talk to you
They talk in their own language
Its like a conveyer belt
They over-file your nails
They cut you
I have never personally been to a salon like this, so my knowledge is based on what my clients have told me.
Im sure you have all heard these before.
It use to frustrate me, as I would find many people would sterotype - that I would too work this way too- just by my appearance.
However, once educating clients- I came to build up my reputation and had a really good and sucessful clientel base.
So, as I am off now on maternity leave.. I often meet up with girlfriends and do things like pamper myself- especially as for so long I have neglected myself- to make others feel good about themselves.
Yesterday, a friend and I were in Kingston.
We decided to go and see if we could have our nails done.
We went into Bentalls & there is a Nails Inc Bar.
It was £55.00 for a 3week manicure, however they didnt have space at that time, so we went to a nail bar (Vietnamese) outside the centre.
I guess a part of me was curious to see, what it would be like.. but also my friend was insistant we have something done, whilst we were there!
As we walked in to "New York Nails" lol :lol: (It always makes me lol when you see nail bars name liked this.. because you kind of think.. your in Kingston, not New York!.. I could never grasp the idea of that) we were greeted by stares from the staff (There was 3 at that point) When my friend asked how long it would be for a pedicure & just a nail paint (Nail paint was for me- I was dubious having anything else done- not knowing what i was letting myself in for!) the lady replied, she could fit us in now.
The salon was busy, and they kept getting walk-ins.. But it didnt look professional- like the Nails Inc one did.
So, my friend sat and had her feet done.. whilst I was told to "sit" by a man at the desk.
He then grunted "Pick Colour" to which I chose a really nice dark O.P.I.
Using them myself, when I had my shop.. I thought for long lasting it was my best option.
I sat back down & he pulled my hand across the table, gripping my finger really tight.
With no convosation, I sat glacing at their price list on the wall..
To which he then broke out in vietnamese (Not realising I could understand) to the other staff in the shop
"Bloody hell.. she's just having a damn paint.. why does she need to keep looking at the prices" :irked:
I couldve leant over the table and smacked him one.. I didnt say anything, as I thought- he's bound to say something else.. then I'll shock him by saying something back.
Anyhow, to cut the long story short.. I sat there watching people come in, the staff talking away in vietnamese- whilst the clients sat uncomfortable- not knowing if they were the topic of their convosation or not.
Also, I saw 1 guy prep a ladies nails for extentsions- he just kept filing and filing her natural nail down with the E-File. You could tell by her expression that she was worried at how much he was filing.
I dont have a problem with them, as I too use to use them- but its when you see people using them incorrectly- it gets me so mad!
So we left and my friends nails chipped not even an hr l8r and mine have pretty much chipped off all today!!
How do these places get away with such shoddy workmanship!?
And how do they survive- with their stink attitudes and rudeness!?
I really dont understand..but can only come to the conclusion that people will just put up with it because its cheaper, especially when you do compare their prices to companies like Nails Inc.
I think the worst thing was though, that this salon in kingston were perfectly capable of talking english but chose not to.
But before we left, I got onto the phone with my mum.. and spoke fluent vietnamese in the loudest I could..
.. You should seen their faces... and the sudden silence, you couldve heard a pin drop!!!
I am proud to be vientamese.. but in times like this.. I feel fully ashamed..
I can only hope, people wont tarr everyone with the same brush
Its been a long time, since coming on here..
But I was so furious with this.. I wondered whether anyone else had experienced anything similar..
I am british- vietnamese. I was born and bred here.
I opened my nail salon, when I was 18.. Although, I have been doing nails for nearly 10years
I recently sold my shop, as I am now pregnant & came to the decision that I wanted some time off- and not to have the stresses that running a buisness can sometimes have.
Where I live, there are about 3 'Nail Salons' run by vietnamese people.
Many clients that use to come to me, would often tell me the same things:
They dont talk to you
They talk in their own language
Its like a conveyer belt
They over-file your nails
They cut you
I have never personally been to a salon like this, so my knowledge is based on what my clients have told me.
Im sure you have all heard these before.
It use to frustrate me, as I would find many people would sterotype - that I would too work this way too- just by my appearance.
However, once educating clients- I came to build up my reputation and had a really good and sucessful clientel base.
So, as I am off now on maternity leave.. I often meet up with girlfriends and do things like pamper myself- especially as for so long I have neglected myself- to make others feel good about themselves.
Yesterday, a friend and I were in Kingston.
We decided to go and see if we could have our nails done.
We went into Bentalls & there is a Nails Inc Bar.
It was £55.00 for a 3week manicure, however they didnt have space at that time, so we went to a nail bar (Vietnamese) outside the centre.
I guess a part of me was curious to see, what it would be like.. but also my friend was insistant we have something done, whilst we were there!
As we walked in to "New York Nails" lol :lol: (It always makes me lol when you see nail bars name liked this.. because you kind of think.. your in Kingston, not New York!.. I could never grasp the idea of that) we were greeted by stares from the staff (There was 3 at that point) When my friend asked how long it would be for a pedicure & just a nail paint (Nail paint was for me- I was dubious having anything else done- not knowing what i was letting myself in for!) the lady replied, she could fit us in now.
The salon was busy, and they kept getting walk-ins.. But it didnt look professional- like the Nails Inc one did.
So, my friend sat and had her feet done.. whilst I was told to "sit" by a man at the desk.
He then grunted "Pick Colour" to which I chose a really nice dark O.P.I.
Using them myself, when I had my shop.. I thought for long lasting it was my best option.
I sat back down & he pulled my hand across the table, gripping my finger really tight.
With no convosation, I sat glacing at their price list on the wall..
To which he then broke out in vietnamese (Not realising I could understand) to the other staff in the shop
"Bloody hell.. she's just having a damn paint.. why does she need to keep looking at the prices" :irked:
I couldve leant over the table and smacked him one.. I didnt say anything, as I thought- he's bound to say something else.. then I'll shock him by saying something back.
Anyhow, to cut the long story short.. I sat there watching people come in, the staff talking away in vietnamese- whilst the clients sat uncomfortable- not knowing if they were the topic of their convosation or not.
Also, I saw 1 guy prep a ladies nails for extentsions- he just kept filing and filing her natural nail down with the E-File. You could tell by her expression that she was worried at how much he was filing.
I dont have a problem with them, as I too use to use them- but its when you see people using them incorrectly- it gets me so mad!
So we left and my friends nails chipped not even an hr l8r and mine have pretty much chipped off all today!!
How do these places get away with such shoddy workmanship!?
And how do they survive- with their stink attitudes and rudeness!?
I really dont understand..but can only come to the conclusion that people will just put up with it because its cheaper, especially when you do compare their prices to companies like Nails Inc.
I think the worst thing was though, that this salon in kingston were perfectly capable of talking english but chose not to.
But before we left, I got onto the phone with my mum.. and spoke fluent vietnamese in the loudest I could..
.. You should seen their faces... and the sudden silence, you couldve heard a pin drop!!!
I am proud to be vientamese.. but in times like this.. I feel fully ashamed..
I can only hope, people wont tarr everyone with the same brush