Natrabella Skincare, Beauty and Day Spa — Local services in New York

Where do I begin with my TERRIBLE experience at NB, well to begin with it took about hour and some before I got seen by Allie, my appointment was at 4 and I got there around 3:45 for a consultation and I was in the room by like 5:30, strike 1, then when I got in the room she didn't have her products and utensils ready to view my skin and remove my makeup, neither were her hands washed, strike 2, then later she views my skin under this intensely bright light without giving me the LED,UVA glasses to block off the light, and then she's just pushing overly expensive products on me without telling me why I should purchase them, then I tell her could I get my first facial today to begin the treatment process, and she used "hand paper towel and water to wash my face without removing my makeup completely, strike 3, and then she applies a products that burned on my face to "test my sensitivity" and said she would be back in 7 minutes but left me in the room for 30 and says "I need this room for my patients so i'm going to move you somewhere else, so get your stuff and move" (with an attitude),strike 4. Get into the new room and wait 20 minutes before she comes and applies another product to my face to "test a higher sensitivity", okay another 30 minutes passes by and then she wipes the product off with her good ol water and paper towel and does the most PAINFUL extractions on my face and used a lancet to cut my face so she could "get the rubbish" out my face, strike 5. Extractions were quick and painful while she was walking in and out to other patients then coming back to me, not knowing if she washed her hands, strike 6. Then she wipes away the blood i'm assuming from her cutting my face to get out the whiteheads, no form of antiseptic applied before or after these extractions, strike 7. Then she just gets her UV light ray machine and sits it on top of my face (no UV glasses provided) and leaves me in the room for about 15 minutes and says thats it, all done. So I ask her if that was it for the facial that on Instagram looks like she takes time with patients she's related to and familiar with. She tells me to put my shoes back on and get my stuff and meet her by the register, she then tells me my total is $167.51, so I tell her that the other woman working with her told me if I get a facial on the day of my consultation that the money would go toward that facial, and then she now adjusts the price to $146.48 for a service that with cash would've been $120, but according to her "state and service tax" the price went up. So she then asks if I want to tip and I did not tip her for a service I was not pleased with and she then became upset. I go to the bathroom and get a call from my Mom asking how the facial was and I told her I honestly wasted my money and time coming here. Once I leave the bathroom she then says "I heard everything you say and you should've told me that instead of telling your Mom over the phone and I can tell you have bad energy and that's why I didn't do certain things for your face", strike 8,9,10 and infinity. So I reply her if I knew you were doing things to my face I could've done at home I wouldn't have bothered myself. She then proceeds to yelling and talking to me as if I were her child, and I kept calm and respected her establishment and even apologized if I upset her but she continues yelling and displaying absurd behavior as I am calm and responding to her in a well mannered tone. I will not be returning to this establishment and would advise anyone who wants a thorough and professional facial spa not to come here. I will also be notifying the BBB of my experience here....

Responding to Your Response: 3/30/2023 Yes, as people of color let's be transparent. And I will respond to the falsified statements stated in your response to my initial review. I came in for a regular facial, the day I came was some sort of discount on that particular day. Your worker, Angelique was efficient and sweet however my facial KEPT getting interrupted due to her needing to answer the phone when it rang and the door when someone buzzed. First red flag. Then when it was finally time to pay after providing my card to worker Angelique, there was a 'wifi' issue(2nd red flag). She swiped my card numerous times to the point I stated 'I hope I am not being charged all those times you are swiping '. She then calls the owner,Ali . Who proceeds to change the price on me (increased) then sends an email for me to use card and make payment through PayPal (now, I had to provide my email for you to send me invoice)....now, after putting my card info in and putting through, the owner tells me she doesn't see my charge. I NOW look at my bank app (and let me state it is a federal government debit account. NEVER had an issue with fraud prior to this). I see the charge of the previous (lesser amount that the worker Angelique quoted) charge on my card. I show the worker. She then tells owner via phone and call ends. Angelique asked me for my card to make a copy in the back (3rd red flag)you guys did NOT just have the last numbers). At that point I'm like why, but let her proceed with my card to the back, out of sight. She returns and tells me I cannot leave with the product (that I was charged on my card for). I told her that was an issue because I will not walk out without product I was charged for. She called owner I was given the product and left. For 3 days or so the payment still read 'pending' from your establishment with the amount deducted from my account. By the 4th day or so when I check my account I see the pending charge from Natrabella 'off' as if it never happened....then I see charges to instacart for Costco in the amount adding up to about $500 (keep in mind all the person needed was my email, name and FULL CARD NUMBER). I call the store speak with the owner. I tell her that I was coming back to her establishment to pay the service I received earlier in the week, in cash BUT wanted to know what was done with my card information and does she check her workers because I have fraud on my account. Allie,(the owner) goes OFF (another RED FLAG), and I was in shock...the owner after I mentioned getting the police involved HUNG up the phone on me. Very unprofessional and not warranted. Oh, and might I add the owner mentioned this was previously done by customers before 'they get a service then dispute with bank' and I said I was not that kind of individual, and was coming to pay in CASH BUT was informing you that after visiting your establishment I had fraud on my card.

I contacted proper authorities and of course my bank. So, when you mention 'free facial ', the fact that I had to contact different entities and write this review, and received a falsified response is something that doesn't have a price. My time and my money is not FREE. Your actions, lies and baseless further accusations about me getting something for free is erroneous. Investigation is still ongoing and once completed an update will...

I hate that I have to write a bad review about a black owned business, but hopefully this will make you guys improve. I’ve done hydra facials at other spas before so I know what to expect. I chose Natrabella because it’s close and convenient and I would also prefer to spend my money within the community. However, my last two experiences were subpar. I remember the first time I went to Natrabella for a hydra facial, the owner took her time and wasn’t ‘stingy’ with the product. My skin was visibly more radiant, even weeks later! The past two times I went to Natrabella were disappointing to say the least. The time before the last, I had booked the last appointment for the day and the whole thing felt rushed. She left me in the room for a good 20-30 mins, claiming she had to let the product sit on my face for a while. Meanwhile I could hear her and her workers cleaning up.The entire experience just wasn’t as good. She was rushing, used very little product and I didn’t see any difference in my skin. I was upset, however, in hindsight booking the last appointment probably wasn’t a good idea.

Fast forward to months later, I decided to give them a try again. This time she didn’t leave me in the room for as long as the last. However, she used the product very sparingly again, and now, days later, still no difference in my skin. Also, just her whole demeanor was somewhat off like she doesn’t enjoy what she does anymore. It feels like it’s become just a routine for her, and I don’t think she realizes that she comes across as cold and uncaring. When I spend my money for a service, I want the full experience. I’m sorry, but it’s just not as good as it used to be. I hope you guys...