Soho Nail Spa Cary — Local services in Cary

Been debating whether or not to find a new salon for a few weeks now since after a few months of going regularly, I began having doubts about going back the last few times. I get conflicting answers from each nail tech when it comes to basic questions on how to care for nails, such as cuticles or using a base coat for dip manicures. I’ve also been getting reassigned nail techs last minute while getting dip removed to do a dip French manicure because the nail tech, Vivian, said she “doesn’t do them” and handed me over to some other tech.

The salon is a bit dirty too and disorganized. They finally cleaned their disgustingly dirty chandeliers after MONTHS of being nasty. Each time I walked in there I wondered if they’d ever clean them because they were pretty in theory just horrendously dusty and dirty. It’s a reflection of their cleanliness and organization.

The straw that broke the camels back was my new and rude tech Daniel. I asked for a specific color and asked which shade would accomplish it and he gave me attitude and was sighing and huffing under his mask. Look, I’d already been debating going back or not and I was being specific and direct with what I wanted, met with unwillingness to listen to my concerns (for a $90 manicure!!) so that did it for me. I’m not going back, I even told the receptionist I didn’t get the color I’d wanted. I had shown her an inspo pic (not complicated at all) and got a manicure 3-4 shades lighter than what I wanted. It’s nice but not what I wanted. She had picked the colors and given them to nail tech, meaning neither of them could make it work and didn’t even tell me ahead of time- they just took my money and gave me this treatment and I’m a regular who tips more than enough.

Their dip manicures end up lifting after a week or less. I once asked why it wouldn’t last long and they said to use gloves when using cleaning products at home. I actually avoided ANY cleaning product for TWO weeks to really put their word to the test and they failed. My dip manicure was still lifting after a week. LoL

Their mirror gel chrome also only lasts literally 1-3 days before it starts rubbing off. They all swear it’s only the silver that does that and not the gold or mermaid etc and they have no idea why. Interesting. That has never happened at all the other salons I’ve been to in the last decade. They also once used a polish on my toes that was so sticky and thick from being old, I asked why it was taking so long to dry and he said it wasn’t old, just different chemicals. Hahahaha they really try and fool their own customers here! I asked if it was because it was old and he denied it. An hour later it still wasn’t dry and it smudged in the car on the way home.

Ciao, soho nails! Thanks for the mediocre work and never wanting to admit fault or that you can’t match a simple pink chrome!

Side note: if you don’t mind a heavily opinionated, judgemental, and tech who takes over 1.5 hrs to do a simple dip manicure, book with Hieu. If you want someone who’s going to give you an attitude and huff and puff at you under his mask, go see Daniel. If you want a nail tech to hand you over to a random tech you’ve never worked with in the middle of a service she cannot do (French dip manicure) go with Vivian. And if you want to go with a video gamer who stays awake all night and doesn’t sleep the night before your appointment, go with Vic. As you can see I’ve tried SEVERAL techs here to give it a fair try and I’ve been let down more times than I can count. They’ve literally messed up countless times and never offer any reimbursement except coming back within a week to fix anything. I’ve done that once but they still end up chipping even after going back for a free fix.

I don’t see this salon doing well in the long term. Cary is booming, and there’s plenty of salons nearby with better reviews and cleaner looking salon photos. I wish the owners the best of luck in the future and hope they listen and are open...

I've had to update this, since my most recent visit. They now have a sign posted in the salon, that they will give discounts on services, for any customer who posts a five-star review, so keep that in mind when you're reading through the other reviews.

The technician did good work, but I was shocked at what they made me pay for a full set and simple toenail polish change. More than the usual cost if I had the full pedicure! I brought it to their attention, and they insisted I was wrong, and demanded I pay it, so I did. However, I've been a loyal customer for almost four years now, and have referred many friends who also became customers, because this place was great at one time! I've held on and held on the best I could, when customer service declined, and cost increased dramatically. I understand some cost increase right now, but they are making you pay more than their listed cost increases! I tried to justify the decline in customer service since the new management took over, maybe around a year ago, and kept telling myself it's just the effect on businesses from the Covid situation. But they are not even trying to make the customers feel valued at all. I've even seen some of the responses to the reviews here, which validate what I'm saying here. You get the "this is the way it is, deal with it" attitude. It used to be a pleasant and friendly atmosphere, but now customers are met with a miserable attitude from technicians, and it seems like they are just making up your total cost. I know this is long, but it's been a difficult decision that has taken me a long time to come to terms with. I can no longer justify continuing to have my nails done at Soho. 😞

I normally would give this salon a five star review, as I've been a regular customer there for several years, with nothing but amazing experiences. But service has declined somewhat, since the management changed. Now it's a bit more difficult to make an appointment, and now the quality of service depends on who does your nails, and now it is not quite as much of a warm and friendly, welcoming environment as it used to be. There are still some there who do amazing nails, so my advice is when you get somebody who's work you like, get their name and request them for...

Very disappointed with my birthday appointment today and left without half my service after 2.5hrs + of waiting.

Short Story: I booked and confirmed a spa pedicure + gel manicure (no designs) on natural nails for today at 1:30pm. Bc I have a birthday dinner at 4pm I made sure to coordinate the services so I could leave around 3:15-3:30pm. Spoiler: I left at 3:50pm with my toes smudged and my bare hands after 2hrs.

Long story: 1:37- checked in and told to pick out Polish 1:48- sat in pedicure chair to start soaking feet 2:18- still waiting for my service to start. This is also the first time flagged to the receptionist that I'm worried about time and have to leave by 3:30pm the latest. I needed to know if I had to modify my services or if we had time to get what I originally wanted? She said she would confirm and get back to me.... She did not. Also, I noticed a woman and daughter pair that came in after me were started

2:30- someone finally started my pedicure and I asked the technician the same thing in asked the receptionist. Another technician jumped in and said I should be fine to proceed with my original service and will definitely be out by 3:30pm.

3:00- I'm actually really worried about how they're going to do the gel manicure in 30 mins when the technician who was doing my feet finished and immediately started on someone else. I was told that a full manicure might not be possible by 3:30 but they could get me out by 3:45pm so I called the restaurant and told them I'm running 15 mins behind.

3:12- I'm frustrated that I have to flag someone again and ask about my services.

3:32- Forget the pedicure that's already smudged....we don't even have time to do a regular mani. I asked to dry my toenails and call my ride.

3:45- panicking bc my ride is here but their cash register is down. I had to VENMO the owner instead in order to catch my Uber.

I'm usually pretty chill about waiting and rarely leave reviews, but it's my birthday and that experience made feel anything...