Nouvelle Atl LLC — Local services in Atlanta

I went to the new location near West Egg. Initially, very excited from the reviews and overall look of the salon. I arrived to the salon and was told to sanitize and all that good stuff.

First Issue - I proceed to the chair and a nail tech comes over and does NOT introduce herself at all. She just picks up my hands and gets her tools to start. Now mind you, in faster paced/larger nail salons I would expect this sort of behavior because they’re much busier and have like over 15-20 techs. BUT I chose Nouvelle because it felt like I would receive a luxury, boutique style nail salon experience. So this was upsetting as I heard other clients nail techs greeting them and asking them what service that wanted today.

Second Issue - The nail tech was watching something on her iPhone AT THE SAME TIME as she was doing my nails. Mind you her nails were as long as talons so she was already taking a precious amount of time just to apply the nail, acrylic powder, and shape. (To be honest, I arrived at 3:15pm. She didn’t finish this process until 4:45pm. I’ve never sat almost two hours just for this part of a full-set! - she hadn’t even applied the color or anything.)

Third Issue - They tell you to send in your designs ahead of time for an approval process. So I had an initial design picked up end was ready to receive it. After taking the almost TWO hours to just shape the nails, she asked “wait what are getting done?” -__- I’m like “they didn’t give you the picture ahead of time?” I had to pull out my phone and show her the design (which was a bit intricate). She then proceeds to walk away and do what it looks like was trying to see how to even do this design or see if they had the correct tools for it.

At this point I’m already bothered as hell for having to sit there this long with the tech not speaking to me, with her headphones in watching her iPhone, and filing slow with her long nails at the same time. I proceed to walk over to the front and just say hey, “we can do something more simple if it’s going to take another two hours to do this design. I didn’t anticipate having to sit for so long.”

So I get this foil design which eventually turned out cute. But after all of that, I was honestly ready to go. I even tipped the girl due to the fact that she “took her time”.

FAST FORWARD to less than a week later.

Fourth Issue - My foil was peeling and the acrylic is coming up. I’ve never in my years of getting a full-set and gel polish top coat have I EVER had this happen so soon!!! So I send them a text saying how unacceptable this is and that I’d like it fixed. I arrive and they say they’re going to use some “stronger” top coat to seal the foil and powder.

FAST FORWARD to less than 4 days later.

Fifth Issue - The “strong” seal did NOT work. My foil is peeling. AND on top of that my nail started cracking and eventually due to the weakness of how she applied the powder (so thin) my nail BREAKS in half ripping off my real nail so close to the skin and proceeded to bleed. I was soooooo upset! I then took a video and picture of my bleeding nail and terrible state of my full-set to ask for a refund at this point.

This was the SECOND time in less than two weeks that something was messed up with the nail job. I don’t work in a heavy labor environment for the nails to be in this bad of a state. I type on my computer all day in marketing so this was most definitely not my fault.

They proceed to tell me after sending the videos of my horrific nails, that they DON’T offer refunds, but can let their “leading” nail tech do my nails for 20% off. -__ - again I’m like are you KIDDING! After all I’ve dealt with so far.

So I accepted the appointment because at this point I’m looking tragic. She then asks my availability and I say this Friday after 2. She then scheduled me (after clearly not reading the text) for the following Friday. I’m like “you mean this Friday?” She then claims she told me the “leading” nail tech wasn’t available this Friday. YO this is ridiculous, because she never texted that once. DO...

I can't believe I've been going to Sugarcoat Vinings for 3 years, and haven't written a review yet. I guess the Terrible experience I had by straying off and trying out Nouvelle yesterday - specifically for nail art - has really heightened my appreciation for my salon. So I'm gonna do a comparison review. ☺☺☺

I love the fact that Sugarcoat's pricing menu is clear - no surprises! If all you want to do is get your gel polish removed and the menu says its $5, then it's just that - $5!! ..... Nouvelle's menu tells you it's $5, but when you get to the register, they charge you 10. Why? Something along the lines of, it's only $5 with an additional service, but $5 more for a gel soak off on its own. Dumbest thing I've Never heard at Sugarcoat. Beware of the fine print at Nouvelle - They can truly switch up prices whenever they feel like it. UNCLEAR and UNFAIR.

Nouvelle comes with a few extra stipulations - as if a more expensive menu (for similar services) - coupled with underhanded charges isn't enough. Come 10 minutes prior to your appointment because parking is crap, so you'll need to make time to hustle for that. Schedule your appointment in advance, with a credit card ready to put down in case you have any last minute cancelations, otherwise, you will be charged a full service. This is understandable, but may I just say that Sugarcoat Vinings has parking? And they dont charge you for any last minute cancelations at all. Things happen. They're willing to bend for their clients - no need to have your CC in hand when scheduling with them.

Nouvlle also strives to create a spa-like experience for you. They want you to keep your volume down, phone on silent. Mind you, you'll need the relief after sitting on their hard benches in their sorry excuse for a waiting area. Sugarcoat comes with a greeting when you when you walk in the door, something that was missing at Nouvelle. I love how bright, clean and cute the salon is. They offer you a COUCH, PILLOWS, magazines, a large jar of mints/candies And water while you wait. .... did I mention that they're cheaper than Nouvelle? ... Right after the technician removed my gel polish, she told me to wash my hands. I get to the sink. No soap. No paper towels. I immediately thought of Sugarcoat. Clean sink. Plenty of soap, paper towels.. from the beginning of the day till their last client in the evening they keep themselves well stocked... and its cheaper.. i shook my head and said nothing. Rinsed my hands off and dried them in my sweater. After which I was charged $10, lol!!!

I love all the girls at Sugarcoat, but Kim is my heart! Her personality is warm, she's bubbly, and I Highly recommend her services. Her being the perfectionist that she is will not let you leave unless both You and Her (lol!) are truly satisfied with the work done - and it's a beautiful job every time.

AND as an incentive to return, they offer punch cards, with a free manicure on your 10th visit! I dont understand how anyone could Not be satisfied with this place?

I dont mind paying extra money, but I want Excellent costumer service, with the smallest attention to detail, and unfortunately, even after reading all the hyped reviews, I didn't find that at Nouvelle. They didn't have the polish color to do the simple design I just KNEW they'd be able to do ... the setup was OK and the charges are disappointing. I'm sure their art work has the ability to be on point depending on the technician, but we're in Atlanta... there has to be other places I can visit for the same type of work with better customer service and less cost. I guess that's what I get for being curios in trying to cheat on my salon. Now I see that I havent been missing anything over the last 3 years and I've been making the right choice.

Come to Sugarcoat. Ask for Kim. Be woo'ed. And if there's a particular service you want that can't be done at Sugarcoat for whatever reason, go anywhere but...

This nail salon has very poor customer service. Everytime I come they seem to care only about the money and not the quality of service. I have gone regularly to this salon for a few months by choice since I live in the neighborhood and because I like the nail technician. The past 3 times I’ve gone my nails have chipped literally the next day. I have asked to not have the same person repair the chip as I knew it would chip again and that’s exactly what happened. I had to go back to this salon twice within a span of 3 days because my nail chipped. The owner tried to blame me which I do not appreciate it when I clearly stated when this person does my nails they always chip. But they forced me to see the same technician anyhow. When I’m spending $150+ on my nails I expect them to last and not chip literally the next day. There are several reviews about nail chips as well as their quality of products which I am now starting to think are old. They refunded me $5 (which is a joke)after I went to their salon twice within 3 days for the same nail chip. The second time I got it repaired the technician painted my nail the wrong color and tried to assure me it was the lighting (which was not true)! I had to go to another salon (wasting my time and gas) to get it fixed properly and it’s been over a week and not a single chip! That’s how I know it’s their products and techniques that are improper. Their pedicures are also lacking. The water is often luke warm and they barely scrub your feet. I’ve even been charged incorrectly for my pedicure and almost paid more. I had to ask everytime for a written receipt because they never would print me a receipt. So I know they are incorrectly charging customers more money! I’ve never gotten a thanks for using our services or a how are you from the owners in the salon. The only way to get an appointment is also via text even though the owner sits behind the desk all day they will never call you. I would’ve given an higher review because I liked the nail artist Thuy and how my nails always lasted when she did my finger nails but due to the poor customer service of the owners I cannot do so. Especially after spending $100s of dollars every month for them just to treat me poorly as a customer. I had to stop recommending them to family and friends although I really wanted to support this neighborhood...