Studio Z Salon & Spa/TanSpa — Local services in Monona

After many years of good service, perhaps this visit was an anomaly, but it's left me with a level of frustration such that I will never go back. The way the front desk and manager spoke and the words they chose were very triggering for me. Especially since I was already upset.

So it starts with a mixup/miscommunication with the time of my appointment. I arrived at 10:23 thinking my appointment was for 10:30. Nope apparently it was 10. I was not told what was going on and to tke a seat and someone would come talk to me. I was then charged an almost $50 no show fee as they required my credit card number to book an appointment, it was done without my knowledge. Nor was I told that was what the problem was. Mind you, I was kept waiting 20 minutes past my appointment on the previous occasion because of an issue with the previous customer on that day. I didn't get a discount for that. Back to the current appointment, eventually, someone came out and said they would reverse the charge because they could squeeze me in. And explained that my appointment had been for 10. Up until then I was very confused.

So unfortunately, the hair stylist was able to fit me in. The one thing I asked was that my hair be long enough to put in a ponytail. We even talked about hair nets and food service. Well she kept cutting and cutting and cutting. I'm thinking, eek but she's a professional she must know what she's doing. Nope, hair will take about 2-3 months to be long enough to ponytail again. No haircut at $50 would have been better than the too too too short haircut for almost $95.

I realized how bad it was the next day when I washed my hair and tried to tie it up. I called, and the desk person kept saying she couldn't understand because I was muffled. So I raised the volume of my voice and then was told she wouldn't talk to me because I was shouting - oy cell service. She kept telling me she would give me an email address, I kept saying I'm not going to remember because I don't have a paper and pencil. I finally did get her to agree to leave a message for the manager.

No one apologized for the problem or the fact that I have to figure out how to wrangle my hair for the next 2-3 months. They did offer to have it recut now at no charge. Hmmm.

All that said, the stylist is very personable and talented, but needs to listen a little more carefully. The haircut in and of itself is cute, but so not what I wanted. The front desk people were pretty horrible, when I spoke louder on several occasions when she said she couldn't hear me, she got mad that I was yelling. It didn't help that I was outside with traffic, so I probably was yelling. Maybe that's not why she couldn't hear me but over the phone it's the best guess I had. And the manager did not communicate well with me. Nor did she ever actually apologize that this had been so upsetting for me.

Take this review with the perspective that when things go well at Studio Z, they're fine. But in the event they don't. Don't expect...

I want to love this place so much. Only 10 minutes from my house and a super friendly staff. I have only gone to have my nails done. I have a condition that causes my nails to flake off and not grow so I get acrylic tips covered with dip powder. My first visit on 11/2 Coley tells me that her plan is to paint my nails with OPI gel polish. I didn’t know you could do that….I have always just had the colored dip powder. But I’m game. So she did my nails, cut me on 4 fingers with the drill file and nail file. A couple times I had to tell her the grinder was getting hot. Apparently she is pretty new to this, having graduated nail school in August before Covid hit. When she finished, my nails looked nice!! I enjoyed my time chatting with her. $61 plus $20 tip

Let me start by saying, I do not work. I have a muscular dystrophy which keeps me mostly at home, sedentary. I don’t do much with my hands other than use my phone. I wear gloves when I wash dishes.

The first nail broke off while washing my hair that very night. Then the next morning, all the gel Polish had came off in full pieces. Every single nail, polish….gone. So I made an appt for a nail fix-$7.50+ I spoke to someone who wanted to know how my nail service was and I told her about the issues, she offered to send me a gift card for the $61 which was super nice.

I returned on 11/13, 9 days after my first nail set with Coley. Coley said the owner/manager had talked with her about some changes to give me a more successful set of nails. Again, they looked nice when I left. $61 and $20 tip - I used the gift card and was a little surprised that I was being charged for another full set but left it alone.

Within 48 hours, 2 nails came off. The tips had been affixed to skin rather than my actual nail edge. As soon as they broke through the dip powder layer, they were done. Again, I made an appt for a nail fix and since Coley is not in on Sunday & Monday, I had to wait until Tuesday 11/16. So when I went back just 24 hours ago we discussed the need to affix the nail tip further back on my nail and increase the powder layer to help it not break off so easily. I ended up with more cuts and when I mentioned it, Coley said she wouldnt use such sharp nail files…..? This time I did not tip and the nice lady at the front desk said the service was free this time.

Again, I really want to like it here. Coley is a super nice lady. I don’t want to be a pest or “that” customer. But I really want my nails to look good AND stay on for at least 10 days. Am I asking too much? Because I can go across the street where the nails always stay on but just don’t...

I came in as a new client, knowing I would just need my ends toned and roots matched after several bayalage appointments at a salon in another city, also having had my hair dyed for a very long time, and Todd colored over everything and I've never been so mortified and I probably was in shock. All my beautiful blond tones were covered. It was like a boring bottle dye job. These jerks won't correct it for free, after the lady on the phone said it would be free. Last week I called and texted and it wasn't until I was sitting at the salon anyone said anything to me, apparently the correction processing I would need would take too long? I had been planning this appointment and trying to be patient over Christmas. Just awful and I've been literally crying about it. And this lady who just looked at it was talking about other clients, and it really made me feel second rate, if that. Now I do notice all the good reviews seem to be for massages or something other than hair ... Not good

Edit: they did decide to fix my hair after reading this review. It's beautiful and healthy, and I'm kind of happy with the result. The roots are much darker than my natural blonde, and I don't know why Lindsey did that? It's going to look bad growing out, not natural like I wanted. Not sure of going back though, seems like a lot of drama that could have been avoided and when I go to a salon, I like to feel happy and pampered, not stressed, and I'm not sure I'll be able to overcome the paranoia that they don't like me for this and won't do something vindictive in the future, if the roots being made too dark wasn't vindictive and petty already. They did not discuss maintenance or try to schedule another appointment, after all. I can only assume they didn't care to see me again and won't...