LuDawn Spa & Salon — Attraction in Ocala

First Time: LuDawn Spa & Salon gives you an individual experience tailored to your needs and gives you a sense of relaxation unlike any other place. I’ve been there two have an array of services. My first service was with Megan and she gave me the change I needed. She listened to my desires and executed perfectly. I got to be the fun and spunky violet head. 😈 She used an Organic color line on me and it was fantastic! The color was gorgeous and shined! Lupita did my brows and just relaxed me, I told her I was growing out my brows since I’ve moved to Ocala. She said okay and let me just relax. Painless is an understatement. She gave me a skin consultation and recommended some of their Intelligent Nutrients Products. Loving the refining micro-polish, I’ve been using it on my skin and noticed I’m way less dry! My skin actually takes in moisture.

Now I’m going to talk about the most terrifying word a woman can here...BRAZILIAN. I barely felt anything, Lupita talked me through the service and explained to me what I needed to do to get rid of ingrowns and keep that area up to par with my face. Best bikini wax I’ve ever had and I’ve had 10 years worth. When Lupita told me it was over, I looked at her and said “you’re lying we didn’t get....OH we did!” Never have I been so distracted and comfortable during this type of service.

Second Experience: 6/21 They squeezed me in last minute for Nichol who did my Avant-garde French Pedicure and my Pinki Bikini Shellac Manicure. Apparently there is a promotion for any guest who hasn’t had nail services in the past. So I recommend you book ahead, but I had to go on the Cancellation list, b/c of the short notice. The receptionist assured me she would work on something for me, which usually means no. I then got a text a few hours later confirming my appointment time.

I was greeted and offered an option of tea, coffee, or their signature citrus water. The ambiance of the spa is warm and inviting. If you would have blind folded me and told me people were getting their nails and hair done, I’d call you a liar. I couldn’t smell anything, but subtle scents.

Nichol greeted me within 5 minutes of my arrival and guided me to where we would be. We were in an intimate room that had two pedicure chairs and a manicure station. I had explained to Nichol I preferred my toes be done first. She told me that wouldn’t be an issue, let me pick out my colors, and popped me into the pedicure chair. She explained to me how to use the chair if I needed to adjust anything. Super comfy! I was checked up on by staff twice to refresh my beverages during both my manicure & pedicure. Nichol was super patient and asked me how I wanted my French if I wanted something more traditional or fun. I went with fun I choose the colors ZOYA’s Ginni and Shellac’s Pink Bikini. She nailed the services even though I’m a Chatty Cathy. Before she even touched me she let me smell some oils to calm me down and gave me a cup of tea. Unlike, my busy self I was pleased to spend two hours there and shutdown.

Right before I leave I catch my Father’s inheritance on my upper lip. The dreaded upper lip waxing. They seemed super busy, but I had to ask. They pulled some magic squeezed me in. The most painless and interactive wax service! Ladies your brows are not twins, they’re sisters. My esthetician, Dawn (I hadn’t had the pleasure of having a service) guided me through a consultation, where I made the decision of what to pull and leave. She just applied my vision of what my brows should look like onto My Crowns above my eyes. Truly never felt so satisfied with my brows. They make me feel welcomed and relaxed. I even bought a bunch of aromatherapy oils and diffuser home to bring my spa...

I have previously given this place 5 stars in the past. But I have to drop it down to 2 now sadly. Loved the friendly environment and most of the staff. Thank you to the staff that was good to me; Erika, Kristen, Miranda, Maddie. That’s why I’m even doing 2 stars opposed to 1. I’ve been a loyal customer for a while and get many treatments done. But for one month in June, I opened my own business, so I cancelled some of my appointments. And ONE appointment I got the time mixed up and sent my husband to a massage an hour late. I was told by the front desk that we didn’t have to pay the late fee. Then I went to my massage in August and AFTER my relaxing massage I got attacked over having to pay the no show fee. I would have appreciated getting a notice via phone call before my massage. I left stressed out. The masseuse Nanette was not professional in the way she was speaking to me and the front desk had no idea what they were doing. I did not appreciate being talked to in this way, as if I were in trouble. And the owner was always so nice. But I see a different side now. She emailed me regarding this issue and had NO customer service attitude. She was unfriendly and I didn’t feel heard regarding any of my complaints. Zero support to me. And I felt like by her response, I’ve always been this nuisance customer. When that is far from the truth. I’m friendly, I tip very well, and sorry, I made one mistake. Dawn said “but you canceled multiple times outside of the policy”. BUT I was never informed of this mistake. I never knew that. Never ever did I get a phone call, voicemail, email stating that I was canceling outside of the policy. If I knew that, I would of gladly fixed the problem. I love how she SUDDENLY whips out every single time I “cancelled and the exact dates”. When they never communicated that I was doing anything wrong until that one time my husband showed up late. And even then, what we received that day was “we will waive that fee”. That’s all I knew. And then I get attacked suddenly. So unprofessional. I know for a fact, Dawn is going to comment on this review and state defense on her side and try and make me look bad. Because that is what she did in her email to me. And I see that’s what she does in all her other negative reviews. But it is what it is. I’m not reading whatever she writes. It doesn’t matter to me. I’m very disappointed and I know my truth. It wasn’t the issue that disappointed me. (Which I would of gladly fixed). It was the way it was handled. I won’t...

This is my second time writing in response to LuDawn's poor treatment when it comes to working with clients. The first was a few years ago after a service was rendered poorly. It went unresolved and I decided to give them a second try so I could use Oway hair dye. (There's no true organic but I look to find products that the ingredients are least harmful when it comes to hair dye - side note there are other product lines and another salon in Ocala that uses Oway if you want it) I had a hair appointment on Friday at 12:30, I received a call at 7:30am that morning from the VA hospital in Tampa asking me to be there are 1pm to see a patient. The nurse had forgotten to let me know earlier in the week and the physician asked if I was coming. I said absolutely, (because this is my job and sometimes veterans drive a long way to get to these appointments or ride busses etc...it's not easy for them to reschedule) I called LuDawn at 10:13am (they do not open until 10am) to ask if could I move my appointment to first available next week. The secretary got very rude and said it was too late for the 24hr cancelation policy and that I would be charged $100 for canceling. I told her I just needed to move it for work and explained why. She stated I moved too many appointments, I have moved 2 prior due to work, but NEVER in the 24 hour window. Apparently if you work, have kids, have things come up - this is NOT the salon for you. If you have nothing that will interrupt your daily life - this IS your place! You most likely will never move your appointments. 😆 I asked her to speak with the owner, let her know what was going on and she said she would get back to me. I told her if I was charged $100, I would not return. So I went to see my patient and never heard from them until I was almost home when I received a TEXT LINK at 6:26pm to pay $170!!! (See invoice picture) And it looks like they added a haircut to the invoice. I had a haircut the last appointment and was not scheduled for another. This is how you handle business with a client? Like I said, the second run in with this salon that will never have my business again...