QQ Nails & Spa — Local services in New York

I have just moved to the area, about 2 blocks from this location. My husband and I arrived last Monday at 3:30 pm or so. He received a gel mani/Pedi. His Pedi included matte polish. I received a gel Pedi, with your standard gel paint. And a Gel X fill in with one nail needing replacement. Pedis took approximately an hour and were, per the only options presented to us on the menu, about $70-$80 tax at the lowest expense tier. Fine. It's NYC.

After the pedis, we are ushered to the normal spots where your standard hands business goes down. It is approximately 4:30.

I already had a brand new Gel X nail set in place that was beautifully done at a reasonably priced nail salon in the Mayfair area of London. Near Four Seasons Park Lane. My nails had grown a small amount but not the dangerously long amount I typically gamble with waiting to address.

Look at my review history. it is important for me to draw your attention to a few things: A) I shared the slam dunk review from my first time at Hyde Park Nails in Tampa, with photo evidence. I became a devoted client from that time until my recent move to NYC. In that first review, you can see the perfect pointy nails I received with only words and no photo as a reference point for the experienced nail artist who just "got it."

B) I take the time to only write reviews for places that have been exceptional. I'm not sure I've even rated any place below 4 stars. I do not have a record of only doing reviews because I'm a jerk or I am unaware that even the best professionals might be having a rough day.

C) While my reviews are statistically positive, they're never for a business I may have a personal relationship in some way. I aim for honesty and objectivity about the business. I know I might consider what's pricey may not be pricey to others or more maybe expensive to most just based off of economic statistics. I've been honest and frank. I'm realistic and the response from businesses and Google users has been positive.

All this back story is important to me, in establishing that I'm not inclined to write mean reviews out of spite.

So here's where I'm giving sincere warning to other women, particularly those who have limited free time, time-sensitive professional, domestic, or social demands. Who are thoughtful about their spending but comfortable paying a premium for high quality service or work product that serves their needs.

So when this salon had an entire visual chart with nail shapes on the walls so clients could actually point to them when requesting the specifics of what they want from their nail tech, I immediately went to the wholly dead on graphic design of a fingernail that is the spitting image of my nails I posted in my Hyde Park Nails Google review.

I repeatedly point to the precise image on the SALON PROVIDED VISUAL MENU to reinforce the shape of nail I am paying through the nose for.

Well. Let's just say, she took 2.5 hours to do a FILL IN and one single nail replacement and here's what I got out of the dumpster fire:

She spent over an hour just filing a trimmed but square shaped set of nails into a sad and not at all finely pointed tip. Instead of clipping each side of the tips from an angle and refining from there. She cut me to bleeding 4 times.

After that hr, I asked how much longer? Surely, we are at the paint point? I say 20-30 min, right? She nervously says no no 40 min.

1 hr later, she isn't done, nails look like trash, I'm late, and this is what and the photos are what I got. I called to complain and ask for a refund only those Gel X nails. I'm leaving in the morning for a business trip and will have to somehow get the nails fixed because I am shaking a lot of hands and expected to be meticulous about detail in my role.

I was offered a $30 credit to use there. That's less than the time/$ I have to spend getting it fixed, not to mention why TF would I go back there? And then the manager made me send her photo proof if I want a refund for just Gel X while I'm on said business trip. Ok, I did it....

Recently moved to the city and was looking for a good nail salon. I trusted this place’s 4.6-star rating.. but wow, was I disappointed. My friend and I booked both manicures and pedicures for 6:00 PM. Upon arrival, the front desk lady/manager insisted our appointments were at 6:50, even though I showed her my confirmation email and the check-in iPad reflected 6:00. She finally said “OK,” and I asked where I could look at colors. Instead of answering, she picked up the phone mid-conversation and told me she’d bring samples. Once she hung up, I clarified that I didn’t want a few samples…I wanted to see the full range of color options. She ignored me, ushered us to the pedicure chairs, and handed us only two small palettes. Later, I discovered they had many more. The pedicure was rushed from the start. I had to ask Leo, who was doing my toes, three separate times to cut them shorter; I almost wanted to grab the clippers myself. When he finally did, he didn’t bother shaping or filing them afterward, nor did he clean under the big toe (which every other salon I’ve been to does). The result? My toenails are still longer than I wanted, unevenly shaped, and frankly sloppy. For my manicure, Leo started off well. But when another client walked in, the manager began shouting his name across the salon to hurry him up. Anyone who gets dip powder knows it must be filed smooth after dipping, either with a drill or a hand file. He skipped this entirely. Now I have dip powder extending onto my skin, uneven texture, and lol the kicker… I already have chip lines the very next day. This whole appointment (dip manicure + gel pedicure) was wrapped up in an hour, which is absurd. There’s simply no way to do quality nails that fast. Bottom line: rushed, careless, and overpriced for the result. Avoid at all costs unless you want a half‑done manicure...

Let me start off by saying I am not from the US. Still, I have been part-taking in the tipping culture where appropriate, including in nail salons. I booked a manicure and pedicure at this salon through ClassPass (hence payment was made beforehand). After finishing my procedures, I came to the counter, where I asked the lady (short dark hair, no uniform unlike the other employees) for the Venmo details of Jason, who gave me a great manicure and pedicure. She said he does not have Venmo but she proceeded to show me her Venmo code instead. As I was scanning the code I realised the Venmo app got offloaded from my phone, so I just took a picture of her details to send the tip when I get home. The lady immediately checked her phone and said she did not receive the tip, to which I replied that I will send the tip from home. As a result, she got upset and started telling me I have to pay the tip with my credit card because people who book through ClassPass always say they will tip later and she basically does not believe I will tip them. At this point I was really confused because I already paid for the service via the ClassPass app and I am pretty sure tips are still voluntary. She acted like that was not the case and I felt like she literally won’t let me leave before I tip. She was extremely rude, condescending and entitled. She even said that if I don’t send the tip when I get home she will call me on my phone to remind me (???). I lost my patience with her at this point and left the salon. Extorting tips from customers is not cool. Tips are a reward for good service, not something you are entitled to and can hold customers hostage over. I will definitely not be tipping this establishment and I will not be returning here either. Truly...