Sophisticate Salon

Recommends

BeavtonBabe

Joined 4 years ago

Great mani/pedi and foot massage. I just read about the bad experience the last poster had at Sophisticate Salon and while I understand it's frustrating, I don't understand why she didn't speak up at the time. I have discovered that talking directly to someone gives me a chance to express my thoughts and is more effective than posting snarky comments. Just my opinion though.

But then I am a 'regular' here and have been for many years. I have moved and there are salons closer, but I come back because I enjoy the ambiance, people and conversation at the salon.

I've been there when new clients come in and the nail techs always try to include them and it's the kind of spot where everyone talks to everyone else, offers opinions on color choice etc.. If you're looking for a "spa" type of quiet experience, this may not be your kind of place, but if you want some cheerful chit chat and a cup of tea or occasionally a glass of wine, Sophisticate Salon is the place to go.

My pedicures usually last longer than they should--my toenails are still fine after the nail has grown out so I tend to forget that I need to go back until I run a nylon with long toenails. The manicures usually last a couple of weeks before chipping starts-and I am the dishwasher in the family as well as quite active.

Taking my 5 year old grand daughter in today for her first mani/pedi as she has a Girly Birthday party to go to this weekend and shes all excited about it. They have a great special for color only on little girls...it should be great fun for us.

Finally, it's very hard to beat their price when you go in for one of the specials they often run. Mani/Pedi for under $30. is almost impossible to find these days, especially at spa type salons.

Doesn't Recommend

speacock

Joined 3 years ago

so frustrating. I looked at the website and had a good gut feeling, thought it looked great, clean, nice and they had a good monthly special.

Called and asked if I could come in at 9:30 on a Friday morning. Initially they said yes, yes, definitely... and then tried to bump me to 10:15 moments later. I said 10:15 was too late, could I come in around 9:30 and they said yes, that would work. It was the start to my only 3 day weekend and part of my relaxation plan. Normally head down to NW 23rd and didn't want to drive that far, so thought I would try someone closer to home.

Once there, I was welcomed warmly, picked a polish and eased into a chair. The woman taking care of me was sweet enough, but it was the first time a pedicure hurt, even a little bit. She proceded to rub my legs with the exfoliating/sandy treatment for a LONG time (not lotion, like normal...), and it really started to hurt! I'm relatively fair skinned and prone to razor burn even in the best conditions, so having that intense of a massage was a bit bewildering. While rubbing she was fully engaged with a few other women who seemed like "regulars" and as a result there was absolutely no foot massage component..... unless you count the Dremel tool they used on my heels (mortifying! I've never had that happen! The pumice stone is always so nice....).

I had booked for a hot stone mani/pedi.. the July special, which sounded amazing for $35... I did get hot stones but they weren't terribly relazing or skillfully incorporated. And my feet were never massaged, not one bit.

Next thing, just after my toes were painted... without a separator at all (the woman to my left had a tissue delicately woven between her toes to seperate them..... not sure why I didn't qualify for that treatment... and she had a foot massage too! It LOOKED great!), they started in on my hands. It was terribly awkward as I had to stretch my right arm and shoulder to my left side while sitting in the pedi chair to the woman could reach my hands to file them. I also had the "hot stone" treatment for the manicure, but of course still in my pedi chair, and the woman doing the mani was SO involved in the conversation that she had to constantly use her hands to hold a conversation, which meant my massage was conducted in fits and starts. Overall I had been pretty tolerant until this point, but after that I just wanted to leave and get on with my mini-vacation weekend, definitely not as relaxed as I had hoped!

To top it off, the very next day my pedicure chipped on the right big toe. Totally unaccpetable and I just couldn't believe it.

I just spent half that money on two beautiful bottles of O.P.I. polish and gave myself an at home pedi to replace the disaster that was my toes. I'll defintely be looking for another new place close to home. I just can't bear to spend money on a poor experience.

Unless you're in the "regular" crowd, I would steer clear...