Rose Nails — Attraction in Cary

I used to go to Rose Nails often a few years ago, and they must have changed ownership in between that time because this was the worst customer service I have ever experienced. I had to walk out.

I was a walk-in (not normally my style, but a previous appointment at a different salon fell through at the last minute. It was over 2 hours until they closed, so I didn’t feel bad since there was a sign that said quite clearly “walk-ins” welcome).

As soon as I walked in, I was greeted with the most condescending look from one of the ladies working. There were only two workers there, and one was providing a pedicure to a customer. After rudely asking if I needed something, I explained that I didn’t have an appointment but was wanting a fresh acrylic set. The woman gives me a “look” and then tells me to bring the basket of colors over to where she is stationed.

I do, and she inspects my nails. I have nothing on my nails and my natural nails are fairly short, but that has never been an issue in the past with a fresh set. She looks at them with disgust and begins questioning my decision, going on and on about how short my nails are. She calls to her coworker and starts laughing about how “there’s nothing there!” (meaning my nails). I begin to feel really embarrassed so I go, “Gel is fine. Plain gel.” She then backtracks, trying to get me to get acrylics and a pedicure, but I decline.

As she is doing some maintenance work on my apparently non-existent nails (which is a talent in and of itself, I guess. She is incapable of treating all customers with equal respect, but she can conjure up profitable work for herself where there is no physical medium! A magician, to be sure!), I am actively fighting back tears. I felt very embarrassed and anxious. I had picked out a color, and when she went to get it, she yelled across the salon that they didn’t have it. I suggested a new one and she brought it back, but it was a completely different color.

At this point, I had had enough with the lack of professionalism, basic human decency, and organization that this salon had. (The entire time she was doing maintenance work on the apparently invisible and humorously tiny keratin patches on my fingers, she was calling people on the phone, not acknowledging me once. Pro tip: if you’re going to make fun of and condescend the customer sitting right in front of you out loud in Spanish, perhaps ensure they are not fluent first!) I said I wanted to leave, but that I would pay for whatever she charges for what she had done (which was very basic filing). She was taken aback but took me to the register and no doubt overcharged me for what little work she had completed, but that was a battle I was not willing to fight.

All of this to say: I do not expect princess treatment when I enter a salon. But I do expect basic respect and dignity from the people I am planning on paying and tipping generously for their hard work. I have never experienced such obvious disrespect and condescension in my life, and Rose Nails has clearly downgraded over the last few years.

If you want to be treated like the side character on a sitcom that nobody likes and everyone makes fun of to their face, but thinks they’re too stupid to notice it and then acts shocked when they stand up for themselves, this is the spot for you! In the rare occasion that customer service that is worse than what you experienced from your middle school bully DOESN’T appeal to you, Pacific Nails on Tryon is a good choice.

The worker (I don’t know her name, but she knows who she is) should be ashamed of her lack of professionalism and self-awareness. You should probably update the signage on your windows and specify that acrylics are only available to people with long natural nails that could cut through all 3 layers of skin in a single swipe, since that must be your standard. Anyone who bowls: your nails are not...

I went back and forth, should I say anything or should I not. I am a huge small biz supporter and anti-Karen, but honestly, people need to know and this business needs to improve.

Rose Nails used to be the go to for me and my friends. The manicures last forever for the price (seriously, do they use cement? It’s magic) but we always knew they were quirky and somewhat unreliable. Well, one of the girls was getting married and we decided to get our manis and pedis at Rose. Knowing how flakey they can be, when I made a reservation for 5 girls I not only left all my information (they usually only ask for a first name...but I left my phone number and email) but I called back to confirm twice. When we arrive the day of, they seem overwhelmed and surprised that we are there and most importantly, unapologetic. We ended up being there for a total of 4 hours. For anyone who has gotten married, you know time is valuable your wedding weekend.

Fast forward two years, post Covid. Mind you, they lost five loyal customers my friend’s wedding weekend, but I figured I would give them a second shot. They say on their website they open at 10am and I got there at 9:50. Their sign said open so I go in and am told to pick my color. While I am doing so, two other women walk in saying they have appointments (which, I’m sure they did, but the woman working did not check nor did she seem to know them). She takes them before me, which is again fine because they have appointments. I then sit there for 30 minutes without seeing any other technicians. The guy who typically answers the phone arrives and says “they are coming” but cannot give me an ETA and claims “maybe there is traffic”. On a Sunday at 10:30? After waiting another five minutes, I realize that the other woman still waiting for her reserved pedicure will be taken in front of me and decided to leave.

It wasn’t until today’s experience that I decided to write a review. Rose owns another salon, Nail Time, just a few miles away. Sometimes when they are busy they will call technicians over from that salon and visa versa. I was out running errands and decided that since my timing in the area would work out to get in right when they open, I would give their sister company a shot. 10am comes and goes...and before I knew it, it was 10:10 and there were no lights on it technicians inside. I could have waited longer to see if anyone arrived, but knowing how they can be, I left. I am finally and officially done with this business and hope they see this review and take the...

This review reflects the service I had done on 1/1/24.

Nail Time is my typical go-to - however, they were fully booked. I was told to go to Rose Nails instead because they were not as busy, and they are owned by the same couple. I called at 3:07 and said I would be there in 10 minutes if they had availability; She said to come on in. I got there around 3:15. I already had previous gel polish on, so that had to be removed and that process takes a good bit of time with the soaking and all. I asked for a gel manicure, with classic French tips. The lady who did my nails was VERY rushed in the entire process. I typically get 2 coats done of the French tip part (at Nail Time). This nail technician did one coat. I mentioned to her there was air bubbles in the white, some were thicker than others, and even asked her to redo one nail after they were already done. She kept insisting they were fine and it was okay, basically rushing me away. I knew I was going to call them the following morning to see if they could redo them, but didn’t want her to do it. I left at 4:04 — So that entire process took less than one hour. Which shows you how rushed the manicure was. Not to mention, it was $40. I called them this morning, 1/02/24, and was trying to explain what happened and see if they could fit me in sometime to fix them; He kept stopping me in the middle of my sentences and just excusing it “ok, ok, ok come when you can”. So fine, I did end up going after work and had someone fix them. I believe her name is Linda. She was VERY sweet, precise with her work, did multiple thin coats, and even cleaned up my cuticles again (because I guess the first time around wasn’t good enough). She even stated how thick and uneven the previous job was. So needless to say, if Nail Time is too busy, I will go back for Linda only.

Needless to say; If you think of a minimum wage job, having to work at least 6 hours, in order to get your nails done to receive a paint job like that…You would be highly discouraged and I believe there are better salons out there. The fact that the nail technician even THOUGHT the nails looked fine and let me walk out of that salon without fixing her work, speaks volumes. I was very grateful I was able to get them corrected, and was happy with their work. However, not everyone is fortunate enough to have the spare time (parents, etc), to go BACK to the salon for another hour+, to get something corrected that should have been right...