MiniLuxe Back Bay (31 Newbury) — Local services in Boston

I've been to MiniLuxe twice now and appreciate how clean it is in there and the general vibe - the music is great! They also have such cute polish colors and it's definitely different than a normal nail salon. The first time I went, I got the signature manicure which is listed as 35 minutes but was only 25. I appreciated it being so quick however felt like there were things that were missed - the cuticles weren't fully done and my nails weren't filed well - still some jagged parts when the thing was done which the person did fix before I left. The second time I went, I did the performance polish manicure which is listed as 40 minutes and was only 25.

I did the performance manicure as I had a few events that week and wanted to make sure the polish lasted. The website lists a Chip Fix Policy saying "Our Chip Fix Policy guarantees you a flawless polish application for up to three (3) days for Signature services, five (5) days for Performance services, and seven (7) days for Gel services. Please contact your local MiniLuxe studio for more information". After 3 days, a few of my nails were already chipped so I called MiniLuxe and left a voicemail since no one picked up. No one ever called me back so was disappointed that this is offered on their website and entices people to pay an extra $10 on polish that will "last longer" however that's not the case. I had to remove the polish completely after only a week because they chipped so much.

Since visiting MiniLuxe, my nails are also at their worst - a lot kept chipping or breaking off and the top/ end of my nail that was buffed is now peeling so I had to cut them completely short to get rid of the dead nail. I've never had nails like this or had this issue after visiting other salons.

As mentioned, it is a unique place and I do like the atmosphere a lot. I would revisit if I had a last minute event day of and wanted a quick polish but would only get their signature service, not performance. It also wouldn't be my first choice to get...

I've only experienced this type of behavior once before at a barbershop that I was in person at. I actually left a review on my profile regarding the treatment I received. This is a different type of discrimination I experienced, one from a distance without even showing up. I've been having a hard time getting my nails done in the city since Covid. I want gel extensions and NOT acrylic tips. When I went to Nigeria last year in October, a few of the salons did them but ran out of the materials and was awaiting a supply of the things they need to do gel extensions. I kept fighting for a place in the online booking war to get an appointment with this particular location, and by golly I finally did. I booked my appointment 4 months out for Saturday, April 8. NOT 4 weeks out or, 4 days out. This appointment was booked 4 months ago. A few days before my appointment, I get a text explaining that the techs that do extensions have moved on from the salon. They have one person that does them on Sundays only. After the back and forth of texting someone there, I just didn't choose to respond to the person anymore. I went back into the app, rebooked an appointment for Sunday, April 16, 2023 at 9:20 am. On Saturday, April 15, 2023 I got another text explaining their booking system made a mistake and booked me with someone that isn't licensed to do gel extensions and once again offered to send me to another location. I feel as though I'm being discriminated against and I haven't even gotten there yet. I'm not too sure if this is a normal practice of theirs but something doesn't sit well with me about this. I will never recommend anyone to get their nails done at this location. This is absolutely disgusting. No lack of communication, huge disregard for the inconvenience and the feeling like I'm being...

Terrible service experience from Sabrina the hostess and Ernesto the technician...

I came in, said my name ... without checking which services I’ve booked online, Sabrina straight away asked me to pay ... I refused to do so before receiving the service - turns out I was right! She handed me the colors and left without saying a word ... usually in these cases hostesses offer to sit down and communicate they are getting a technician or something...

5 minutes or so later Ernesto sat me down for gel removal ... asked about a color and I mentioned that I wanted French ... he left, without saying a word ...

Sabrina comes and says they down have enough time for French ... so I offer to skip massage and get French - the difference between the 2 is just 5 minutes!

After a discussion with the hostess, I feel completely not welcomed... as if I was in their way not coming in and paying for service... It sooo much didn’t make sense that even another customer interfered ...

So, Sabrina just leaves, Ernesto come back and starts to remove the gel ... both without saying a word.

At this point I just want to leave ... all it would take is for the hostess instead of asking to pay upfront is to perhaps check the booked services ... and Communicate!

also, if you give it enough time gel removes pretty easy - without taking off layers of nails ... (((

(Typical picture - no...