Zen Nails SouthPark — Local services in Charlotte

I just moved to NC and I live upstairs - I was looking for a new nail salon and was excited to have one within walking distance. I genuinely think my experience was them trying to warn me off as a customer. There’s no way they have 4.4 stars and people are getting the level of service I received.

First, she began by drilling off my existing gel. She was very heavy-handed, more on that later. She then put the paint-thinner people use to quickly remove gel on my nails - it stung and she let it sit for quite a minute as she drilled the other hand. Cuticle work was okay but the cutting left me with a host of jagged skin and hangnails later. When shaping she asked about shape and I just said I wanted them even and narrowed a little (growing out my nails, I was trying to transition to an almond shape). She cut the sides (which weakens the structure of nails significantly). The polishing was beautiful and they looked fine but I knew there were issues.

I knew my nails were over-drilled because naturally my nails are very thick and very strong (almost too strong) I kept the gel on as long as I could so my entire nail wouldn’t be a sensitive easily broken mess. Within days, my nails began to break off - weakened structured and drilled far far too thin. I’ve been trying to cut them down slowly as they grow to grow out the damage as much as possible before removing the polish. I just removed the polish and they’re worse than I thought. For reference, in my home state I got my nails done (gel manicure) every 2 weeks and a pedicure monthly. Not only do I want to share my experience, I want to warn off other people. Don’t go here.

The orange photo is my nails at my usual salon, blue is Zen Nails (looks beautiful on the surface) and my nails today - you can see where when I pull on leggings for example, my nails have been drilled so thin they bend backwards and painfully separate from my nail bed (the white spots...

I have been here twice since I am new to the area and state. My first visit was perfect, everything went smoothly, service was great, and my nails came out beautifully. After a splendid first visit I decided to come back even if prices were a little more than other places in the SouthPark area solely because of the service. Today was my second visit, the service went well until it was time to check out. My boyfriend paid for my nails before I could dispute anything or hearing the total. I requested French tip acrylic (a fill), a Zen pedicure, and eyebrow wax. Since my service took so long, I never received my wax which was okay. Just for a French tip and Zen pedicure ($60) it was $167. Once again, my boyfriend had already paid not realizing that was implying $100 for French tip. I immediately asked how my manicure was over $100 and was told because I received a chrome coat it was an additional $30 that I was pressured into getting by John. During my manicure, I was asked 3 times if I wanted a chrome coat so after the third time I asked what he meant out of curiosity. He only said it will make my nails shine, so I’m thinking he means a top coat and said yes I wanted it. He never told me about the add on costing that much. Once again, I have no problem paying for my services. I asked if there was anyway to dispute this charge and even asked to redo my nails and was just told “next time just tell him you don’t want the add on”. Well there will be no next time. My big issue is being blindsided and misinformed on purpose. With that said, I refuse to return to a business that takes advantage of their customers. I really am disappointed since my first service went so well. Once again, beautiful nails but be careful of employees taking advantage of...

I was coming from J’dore, where I had an appointment for both my friend and I, waited 30mins and realized another woman waiting in her pedi chair for a tech. We ended up leaving because we didn’t get attended , mind you it was an appointment. So I looked up other salons and came across Premium, I called ahead and asked for their availability. The man on the phone said that they had time, to just walk-in. So I showed up in 13min. I got asked what service I was looking for. He said they would be right with me. Waited about 10mins because there were people ahead of me. Got taken to a pedi chair, got told I would get attended shortly, no water running. I waited 25mins, (I could’ve gotten up and asked about how long but I did not wanna be rude and interrupt and was also hopeful of what I was told) on the chair for him to come back and ask if I had time? I said, “What do you mean?”. He said, “to wait because they were ahead of you and we’re busy”. I said I had been waiting 30min already and he said, “Sorry, I can make you an appointment for another time.” So I said that it was fine, I would leave. Right as I was putting my shoes on, two ladies got sat down by him across from where I was and got their water running instantly. Now, I understand I was a walk-in, but I did call ahead. I arrived and could’ve been told an estimated time because of other walk-ins. But, I did not and got told I would be attended shortly. Now, I don’t know if the two ladies were walk-ins, but it was disappointing that they got treated much...