A client receives arty pink tips at Tips Nail Bar (Image: Paige Dzenis)
We all know the post-manicure mantra: “Don’t rummage through your purse, and forget whatever’s in your pockets.” Even if we make it home smudge-free, the best polish job is bound to chip within days. We’ve noticed that soak-off, UV-cured gel lacquer is quickly becoming the norm at some salons across the city — thin layers of colour are applied to the natural nail, exactly like polish, except that each coat is cured under a UV lamp, making it instantly dry to the touch.
Tips Nail Bar, WowWow Nails, The Ten Spot and Ritual are among some of the best practitioners in the city, and with two leading nail polish companies producing their own soak-off gel systems (OPI has Axxium and CND makes Shellac), we can pick a Pantone and replicate it on our nails (and a gel lacquer manicure stays shiny and chip-free for longer than two weeks). Unsurprisingly, a nail technician at Ritual said nail polish is “so 2010,” which means we can keep our hands in our pockets until there is an unnecessary 2010 revival.
Click on to see our rundown of the best manicure specialists in the city »
Thanks Breanna! You just rocked my socks!!!
Send me an email and I’ll let you know when we will be conducting our next focus group.
After all these dismal comments we are doing everything we can to make sure we are doing the best job! We’ve never had any internal feedback on our removal process (and we record each and every bit of feedback we get and review it in our monthly management meetings), so it’s all come as a bit of a shock to us!
We’ve been doing the service for about 7 months now and it has fast become one of our most popular services AND with loads of repeat clients, so it’s caught us all a little off guard!
However, in lieu of this we’ve contacted OPI (which makes Axxium) to review once again their process, we’re revamping our protocol and of course, we are getting in a slue of guests to come in and have the service complimentary and then to give us feedback on the Axxium manicure every couple of days for feedback. We will be doing this with every esthtician as well to ensure things are tip top across the board! So like I said Breanne, shoot me an email and I’ll get you signed up for your complimentary service!
Kristen@the10spot.com
May 11, 2011 at 11:38 am | by Kristen GaleMy girlfriend and I tried the Axxium at the 10 Spot last month and we both loved it! It was a trial for my girlfriends upcoming wedding and we were so happy that it lasted over 2 weeks! We will be back in June for another set!! We didn’t experience any problems with the removal- just don’t pick them off yourself! Our nails look and feel great! I’ve already recommend the 10 spot to so many other girlfriends!!
May 11, 2011 at 12:57 pm | by NII’ve had 2 axxium manicures done at the 10 spot. both times the removal process went very well. My nails were just as strong as when I put the axxium on. I will continue to go to the 10 spot for my axxium as I go there for all my waxing as well. Can’t wait to have them done for my vacation- no chipped polish on a vacation is going to be amazing im sure!
May 11, 2011 at 1:45 pm | by LeahI’ve had the Axxium twice at 10 Spot and loved it. The second one was a french which was gorgeous – I had a lot of compliments! I’ve never had a challenges with the removal and they even applied a coat of nail strengthener for me afterwards. Both Axxiums lasted weeks without chipping. I only removed when my regrowth began to show. I love the girls at the 10 Spot and have recommended them many times!
May 11, 2011 at 1:53 pm | by JillThis definitely isn’t a fake post and I generally dislike leaving negative reviews for businesses; most everyone is doing their best to do a good job and provide a great service for their clients. With my Axxium at 10 Spot, after I complained, someone responded noting that I’d be followed up with and never was. Have been there for a basic manicure and it’s fine, there are just other spots that nail bars that do it better!
May 11, 2011 at 3:10 pm | by Lisa RHi Kristen
This is just my two cents, but I know Leeanne and the girls at Tips personally and can safely say they would *never* FAKE negative comments about services somewhere else. They would never wish ill will to anyone else’s business, competitive or otherwise.
May 11, 2011 at 3:28 pm | by Lesa@ Kristen at 10spot – LoL.. fake posts. Great suggestion! And you should continue to only invite positive reviewers to your focus groups. That’ll really improve your services.
May 11, 2011 at 3:33 pm | by Jessica@Jessica Totally not just inviting positive reviewers! Please see my first response – I give my email there too.
As for the fake comments – it’s only on the conscious of others and there is really no way to tell, so it’s anyone’s guess! From our perspective, we’ve had mostly fantastic feedback from our guests, so it did come as a shock to see us singled out as the only poor provider…. and a little curious too!
Everyone knows the internet is a great place to bitch and be anonymous (as you can tell from all of the initials instead of full names), so it’s anyone guess, however, fake or real, we are taking in the comments and as I also mentioned above we are looking at the removal issue in every way we can! So Jessica and Lesa (from Fashion I’m guessing!) and everyone else who posted good or bad – I really would like to hear from you personally to sort it out and make the service the best it can be!
May 11, 2011 at 4:04 pm | by Kristen GaleI’ve had the Axxium process done at the 10 Spot and was pleased. My nails grow super fast and regular polish always chips after a couple days but I was good for three weeks of “Look I’m not lazy about my nails!” with this stuff. Afterwards I left them bare with just strengthener for a week before reapplying anything to give them a break, as recommended. Easy. The girls at the 10 Spot are lovely and it’s a cool and clean space, will definitely try it again!
May 11, 2011 at 6:55 pm | by JoI was the first commenter here (I’ve added my last name; I’m not trying to be anonymous) and am appalled by Kristen’s suggestion that the negative comments were posted by competitors.
I was actually pretty restrained in my comment, as I don’t like to trash businesses in online reviews. It’s interesting that Lisa wrote that customers should give feedback directly because they want their clients to be satisfied. When I mentioned to my nail tech that my Axxium started lifting within the first week, she said I should have come in so they could repair it. I explained to her that I was on vacation out of the country, so that wouldn’t have been possible and that was the end of the discussion. She didn’t apologize and she didn’t offer to do anything to “make it up” to me. I didn’t push the subject because I knew I would never go back to The Ten Spot as the filing and buffing was actually painful and I knew it was very bad for my nails.
The way Kristen has responded to negative feedback has only bolstered my earlier feeling that The Ten Spot is not a business I want to support.
May 15, 2011 at 2:05 pm | by Sarah DunnDear Sarah:
May 17, 2011 at 2:57 pm | by Kristen WoodI am very sorry you feel the way you do about your experience with us, and as I stated above we are always open to ways we can improve our offerings and even our response to your feedback. I’d be very grateful if you would get in touch with me as we would love the opportunity to do everything we can to earn you back as a customer.
Really hope to hear from you!
Kristen
I’ve been going to Ritual for years and can’t say enough good things about the shellac manicure, the staff, the salon itself – and most importantly the pricing!!
A shellac manicure there runs you $35, and lasts 3 weeks vs. the Axxium manicure at Ten Spot which will run you $50, and lasts for half the time. Also, at Ritual the shellac is removed WITHOUT the harsh filing that The Ten Spot uses for it’s Axxium manicures.
Overall, the staff at Ten Spot are VERY young, and are amateurs compared to Ritual. You should never have to file your nails to the point of damage during a removal, and FYI there is also no need to soak nails in acetate for 10 minutes to remove them the polish. It’s fairly obvious when you leave to do a brow wax, leaving your client sitting in chemicals that you’re just over booked and are trying to cover up for it!
May 18, 2011 at 9:54 am | by KateI had my first Shellac manicure from Claudia at Ritual. She’s amazing and so was my manicure. I highly recommend her and the Shellac.
May 19, 2011 at 2:30 pm | by JBeanHey Everyone! Our Axxium Focus Groups are now underway with our protocol changes.
Thanks to all who posted and contacted us personally! We are looking forward to your feedback on our updated services!
Lisa Kozoriz – Managing Director
June 7, 2011 at 11:15 am | by Lisa KozorizI decided to give the $10 Shellac manicure a try at Wow Wow Nails about a week and a half ago… I`m so glad I did! They did a great job and it`s still holding up. I don`t think my nails have ever been this long, and I`m rough on my nails. I still can`t believe it was only $10. I highly recommend you check them out.
June 8, 2011 at 3:26 pm | by Holly