Element Beauty Lounge — Attraction in New York

Edited 7/14/2024

I have been coming to this nail salon every 2 weeks since early 2022. This used to be a 5 star review. But I can no longer come to this salon.

I started seeing Shelley 2.5 years ago. She does an amazing gel manicure! A year and a half ago my partner started coming with me. Every 2 weeks, we'd come get our nails done - I get a gel manicure with Shelley, he gets a regular manicure. Shelley left for a bit and then came back, but cut down her time to Wednesdays and Thursdays. These are much more inconvenient times for me than the weekend, and we moved further away from the salon, but I figured out how to make it work because I love her.

Today I called to make an appointment for me and my partner, as I have every 2 weeks for years now. They informed me that they no longer make appointments for regular manicures - they are walk-in only, and they no longer take requests for specific nail techs at all. Apparently this is because "sometimes people don't show up." They said I could call the day of (a Wednesday) to "see when Shelley was available" and my partner could walk in and see if there was anyone to do his nails. She told me that if we came at 11 am when the salon opens (on a Wednesday!) they could see both of us and she could guarantee me an appointment with Shelley. I told her that wouldn't work and asked if they could do it just for us, as we have been longtime reliable customers, but they said "no exceptions."

I have a job and obviously can't just come in the middle of the day on a Wednesday. I make an appointment so I can get my nails done around my work schedule, as I'm sure many people do. I also go out of my way to come to this salon to see Shelley specifically - I don't want the appointment if I can't see her. And it is something my partner and I do together, so I wouldn't go if he can't get his nails done, too.

I have no doubt that people no-showing is a problem, but I have cancelled literally three appointments in 2.5 years (and always with at least an hour's notice). I loved this place and was loyal to it for years. I have spent thousands of dollars here in that time. I'm disappointed that I'm going to have to find a new nail place - it just makes no sense to go out of my way to come here if I can't make an appointment with the nail tech I come for and my partner and I can't get our nails done together.

The quality of the salon has definitely gone down in the last 6 months or so. I get the sense that there was an issue with management and a lot of the techs left. The ones who replaced them are definitely not as good. We had some other issues with management and bad techs in the winter and we actually stopped coming, but when Shelley came back we thought we'd try it again. I guess we were wrong. It feels really disappointing that they won't budge at all for a longtime customer. Maybe one day they'll realize that this is an awful policy and I can come back, but I don't know if I even would at this point. It's left a pretty bad taste...

Encourage advocating for more sanitary practices. Watch them actually open the pedicure tool packages in front of you, clean the pedicure sink in front of you, clean the shared cuticle tools with alcohol in front of you. I have been a patron for a little over a year and there has been some corners cut this summer. I have spoken with the Manager and also feel it is best to share my recent experience. Received a gel manicure two weeks ago, going into the second week my middle nail began to ache, I peeled the gel off the finger to find my nail is white and falling off. I went to them the next day to properly remove the gel and examen my other nails. The photos speak for themselves…almost all damaged or discolored in some way. When I arrived I spoke with the manager on the side and showed the one exposed nail…ironically enough, the manager was who prepped my nails the day of my appointment so I figured she’d be as alarmed…she wasn’t and in fact pulled in the other nail tech who ended up completing my service that day to ask/coach if my nail was “already this way before the gel polish” after minutes of confusion the tech lied and said yes, that my nail was in this condition before the gel…you can imagine how shocked and uncomfortable that made me…I explained they of course weren’t and that both of them viewed my nails that day and as professionals would have been alarmed and had the responsibility of refusing service on a visibly injured nail… I take care of my nails and actively look at them once the polish is removed and before new product is on…I certainly wouldn’t have put polish on my nails had they been visibly damaged. From my experience, I can only say to watch their activity carefully and advocate for yourself against any...

Forgive me Father for I have sinned. And continue to sin. Cheating on my other favourite Nail Salons with Element Beauty Lounge

When booking an appointment with Element Beauty Lounge I usually request Mayra or Vivian but to be honest the other Techs that have worked on me when these ladies weren't available have done good work.

Aesthetically the salon is impressive from the outside in. Almost calming as you walk or roll up. I love that they're wheelchair accessible.

Once inside tons of exposed brick (different patterned throughout) and vast amount of wood lends a cabin like feel. And there is rope (curtains). Like you've left BKLYN and you're on a weekend getaway in the Alps. Works for me.

Mayra is quick and efficient with my mani/pedi. She also assists in choosing my accent colour for finger nails. Without her input I would be hella UN-COLOUR-COORDINATED I am pleased with Mayra's work. I am please with Cathy and everyone else that has serviced me here (does that sound right?)

The only experience I haven't loved yet is the foot massage. To be honest, I thought I was booking a shoulder/back massage so I confused my own self for not being clearer. During my massage I asked Mayra "is that it?" because I was confused. Haha. I'm still pleased with her skills.

So now I've found three good nail spots close to me (PN, LNL and here EBL)...OPTIONS... and I don't know what to do with myself. Lawd HaySuus! Check on y'all's friend, I'm not okay! #GiddyWithExcitement

(Yes Google police I know hashtags won't work here, or will they?

Update: Everyone so far has been great BUT Maritza is the GOAT!!!!! Personality AND skills!!!!!! I heart this lady!!! Ella es muy...