LuXe Organic Nails And Spa — Local services in Rancho Santa Margarita

I never write bad reviews, but am so upset about my experience that I am sharing. I made an appointment asking for a gel dip change on my long natural nails (that took 9 months to grow). When Kim asked me if I wanted them shorter, I said “no”. When she asked me if I wanted them filed, I said “a little, but same shape” (stiletto). So I was shocked when I looked up and saw her snipping my nails with clippers. I tried not to panic and thought it must just be a tiny bit. Well they are half as long as they were (short) and the shape was changed to almond now (this can’t be fixed until they grow out again as they are too short for a stiletto shape now).

On too of that, she cut open my skin on my pinky with a file. It was open and bleeding and she still tried 2x to soak that nail in acetone! After I screamed in pain the first time, and said “we can’t do that now with an open wound”, she then put something out of a bottle on top of it that made it sting more.

She burned me with the drill a half dozen times (penetrating my nails too deeply and damaging them). I yelled in pain several times and kept requesting for someone else to please take over. the other lady said she couldn’t.

I kept thinking it could not continue to happen, but it did.

At the end of this all she didn’t put enough coats on my nails (even though I requested it). And the polish put on top is all clumped at the cuticle. So they are thinning and even more prone to damage and look ugly

It’s the worst job I’ve ever had the misfortune to encounter and my nails are ruined.

During checkout, I told the employee that witnessed this all, that I am so unhappy and can’t believe I’m paying for this. It was the first time I’ve ever not left a tip. She said she’d let management know and she said that there must’ve been a “language barrier” in Kim understating me saying “no” to “shorter?”…which she admittedly overheard.

I can’t believe I paid. I should be compensated, though nothing will bring back my nails. I will be calling my credit card company to dispute the charge.

So many things wrong here. What an awful service and setback. You walk in to relax and to leave feeling and looking better, but instead are stressed the whole time and left with damage.

• The owner’s response to my review is so unprofessional & a ridiculous attempt to blame the customer rather than take ownership over their errors. I never yelled at anyone. I only screamed/yelped out in pain several times because of the filing open of my skin, and the drill burning layers of my nails too far down.

I never spoke disrespectfully to anyone(even though she continued to cause damage and pain). I did request several times that she stop though, and asked for somebody else that was competent, to please take over.

I certainly didn’t notice her being pregnant, but how is that a factor in an employee being completely unskilled, irresponsible and causing damage to a client?

You don’t have to worry about me ever coming back there. I have been going somewhere else for years that I’m very happy with and I’ve never encountered any such issues. And it only takes them an hour. I thought I would try somewhere closer to home because I was pressed for time and wish I never took that chance and...

I just had the worst and most expensive Mani-Pedi I ever had in Orange County. I am doing gel manicure and polish pedicure for 10 years now. I go to many different places and have paid many different prices for various quality of services. They are very expensive for the service. This place doesn't even do basic scrubing on their In and Out package! It is ridicules! The staff was unfriendly and snubish, the Gel manicure is bumpy on almost every nail. She didn't wash or wipe my hands after filing, my hands still feel powdery now, I am sitting in the car and writing this! She didn't use alcohol after the last gel lighting. She said she doesn't need to, time will tell how true that was. Anyway, I am always fair on rating and always recommend services I like to others. But this place did a horrible job and I didn't like the arrogant attitude of the staff. Have had much better service for the same price, including massages (arms and legs) and much nicer staff. I don't know what the other raters are talking about by wine offered and so on! Nobody offered me anything! Not even water. Other places serve you bottled water and cookies on the house at the same price! Very disappointed customer...

I live in Austin but work in OC so when I am in town for work, I like to get my nails done - When I first started coming to the salon, James was doing GelX for me. He did such an amazing job and every set lasted me 4-6 weeks. The last few times I have made appts, despite making the appt with James, I am placed with Mai Tai. The sets don't last but a couple days. This last time, I got my set done on Sunday and by Wednesday I had to call them to ask if I could come in to get 2 nails fixed that had already popped off. I got the 2 nails fixed on Friday evening and by Saturday morning, 2 more nails had popped off. I used to feel this salon was worth the drive from Aliso and worth my money, but after the last couple sets and the poor quality, I am not sure it's worth it. I don't think I will be back. Honestly, when I do GelX at home myself, the sets last longer than they have been with Mai Tai doing them so I would rather save my time and money.

Update: day 9, half my nails are being held on with nail glue. When they popped off, I glued them back on - 9 days and 7 total have popped off; 2 I had put back on with luxe but the other 5 I was too frustrated to go back...