I just got back from having my nails redone. Now, I just recently started this whole fake-nail thing, so I’m not sure what to expect in quality and such. I’ve already switched from one manicurist to another–the first did uneven work, didn’t wait long enough for the polish to dry (and as a result, I had bubbly fingernails–when I pointed it out to her, her solution was the wipe the nails with a thin coat of acetone. Result? Little dark holes instead of bubbles), was often more interested getting done fast to go see her granddaughter than doing a good job, and did a crappy french manicure (the one with the white tips) that always had crooked lines. After two tries with her, I switched.
The new place was better, much better, although they spoke very, very broken English (they’re Vietnamese). But, one of the nails started peeling today, so I went over to have it repaired. Normally I could wait, and normally I’d be a little less anal, but the Llama and I are getting our engagement photos done on Wednesday and I wanted to be sure to have a really nice manicure for it. Anyhoo, when they first repaired it, they only did a spot job–and it totally showed through the polish. I had this white crescent in the side of the nail where they’d patched the peeling nail. They tried two coats of the polish, but it was a weird purply-pink color that did NOTHING for me…not to mention did nothing to hide the fix job.
Okay, and here’s where I actually get to my point: I was so horribly embarrassed to ask them to redo the nail. The manager was more than accommodating–“We fix until you are happy,” she said with a genuine smile–but I just felt like a heel. WHY? I mean…what’s wrong with me wanting to have a nice manicure? Grr. She took off the entire old nail and put on a new one, rather than patch up the old, and it does look great. She took off the weird pink-purple color and suggested a second, more natural peachy color.
Then the painting guy (someone else does that part) painted my nails, doing two coats instead of one at my request (I have silk wraps, and with just one coat, you can see the fabric of the silk underneath still).
The whole thing should have taken 15 minutes, but I was there about an hour. This didn’t bother me as far as being inconvenienced or anything along that line–what bothered me was I felt (still feel) like a complete Snobby Princess asking them to fix what I didn’t like. I even got a little paranoid that they were talking about me (they did a lot of talking in Vietnamese, joking around with each other)–I was just imagining “Damn, this bitch is picky! Can you believe…” Wasn’t there a Seinfeld episode about this? Where Elaine was all weirded out that her nail person was talking about her–and turned out they were?
When all was said and done, I was so appreciative (and sheepish) that I left a $5 tip each for the manicurist and the polish guy…for a $6 job. No one better bitch about tips around ME anymore. :rolleyes: They were very grateful, and hey, my nails do look great.
But ARRGGGHHH…why is it so difficult to assert oneself about getting what you want? Grumble.