COLOME NAILS — Local services in New York

I’ve been coming to this place for almost a year and to be fair, I waited a while before writing this review.

PROS The space is welcoming, clean and the soft background music is soothing. You get a shoulder/neck massage with your mani and a 10-min massage with your pedi (the pedi massage is advertised as included in the service). I think this is a nice touch and arguably one of the reasons I pay more to come here than I would pay elsewhere for a similar service (minus the massage). Most of the ladies do a good job and are quick. I really enjoyed coming here initially.

CONS There isn’t consistency in the standard of service. One day the staff is pleasant, and the next they can be dismissive, rude and often speak about clients in their native language. I guess they assume no-one can understand them. I'd caution against that assumption.

One day I get the advertised 10-min foot massage and other times my service feels rushed, which I don’t appreciate. A part of the experience of going to cosmetologists/ estheticians is to relax and unwind. If I’m paying for a service, I expect to receive it in its entirety. Otherwise don’t advertise it.

I’ve also experienced staff haggling for tips. A tip comes naturally when a client is HAPPY with the service. Seemingly, anything under 20-25% isn’t sufficient for Colome staff and they are not shy about telling you that. It is very tacky and in very poor taste to tell a client they haven’t tipped enough. It makes me not want to tip at all to be honest. A tip is a privilege NOT a right. I do not have to tip for bad service.

Lastly, I don’t understand the point of making an appointment if you’re going to come and wait 30-40 minutes for someone to start your service. This is New York. Everyone is busy and has other commitments. When I scheduled my last visit, I requested a specific technician to do my mani and pedi. She just happened to be the person who took my call and she was short and dismissive. She asked who I was (as if annoyed) and said she only does manicures. I’m not a talkative client. I come, get my service and go, so I told her that she didn’t know me. When I arrived on the day, the same tech was doing a pedicure so I guess she only does this service for select clients. In the end, she did neither. Very off putting.

In reading other reviews, I realize that my experience isn’t unique but I also realize that Colome's management doesn't care because the ill treatment of clients persists. And so, I’ll be happy to take my business and tips where they will be...

The first time I tried Colome Nails, the end product was great. I had a gel pedicure and power manicure. My only complaint was that the appointment started late and ran long (I came to learn during my second visit that appointments are pointless anyway).

It was when I returned for the second time that the staff behaved in a way that will cause me to never come back. For context, I’m Asian American and I’m bilingual. I find it incredibly rude and disrespectful for people to talk about you, in another language, while you’re standing right in front of them. And it wasn’t talking as much as it was yelling, which caused all the customers to stare. You see, I made the mistake of believing that they would “fill” my powder manicure. Unfortunately they don’t because it’s too tedious, so the expectation is spend $90 to get them done every two weeks and I was not informed of this at my first appointment. So, I scheduled time to get them filled and 20 minutes past my appointment time, I asked if we could get started. What resulted is multiple people coming over to grab my hand, tell me that they wouldn’t fill it, then they would look up at each other to say something that I couldn’t understand in an irritated tone, undoubtably annoyed that I had the audacity and stupidity to ask for such a thing. It was frustrating, embarrassing and unfortunately all too common. I left and found a very cute place just down the street that did a great job and treated me professionally. Nail salons are everywhere in New York....

I have come here a few other times and for the most part never had an issue. I made an apt for 6pm on a Thursday weeks in advance. Upon arrival I was taken quickly to start my pedicure, great. Other customers were coming in after me getting similar services; pedicure and some type of manicure. When I was done with my pedicure the lady instructed me to sit by the green chairs and wait a while until someone was able to do my nails, I asked how long do I have to wait she told me to ask the manager. I sat down waiting patiently while the women who came after me was being taken first to do their nails. I didn't say anything because I thought I would be called soon. That didn't happen I was waiting for 20+ minutes after getting my pedicure. The manager finally called me and another customer over to the tables and I waited some more at least 10 more minutes. Once a worker was free she went to take the other girl next to me first who came way after me and that's when I spoke up and told them I had been waiting and my original appointment was 1.5 hours ago. That's when she realized and started my nails. I was there until closing once finally finished! I was so pissed. I don't know why they take appointments and do not honor them, that's bad business. I don't think I will be going back which is a shame because they do good work, but I respect peoples time and I would hope a service company I am paying good money for would do the same. I know things can get busy, but that was just...