The cost of being beautiful is a billion dollar industry in which women pay the lion's share, and because so many people want in on the profits, there are at least a dozen beauty salons/spas in every ... Read More
The cost of being beautiful is a billion dollar industry in which women pay the lion's share, and because so many people want in on the profits, there are at least a dozen beauty salons/spas in every city. It is for these reasons that we women can afford to be choosy. The basic criteria that I use to rate every salon from their first telephone salutation to the final moment before walking out of their doors:1) Were they professional and courteous? Yes.2) Were they immaculate? Very - from every corner of the shop to the pedi-cart. As Michelle, one of the owners confessed, she has, "finally found a profession that appreciates her obsessive, compulsive, cleaning disorder." Although, there was a dead, black fly mashed underneath the glass of her framed and hung Erte. Make of that what you will. 3) Did I leave feeling relaxed, renewed, or improved by magic hands, scissors, or paint brush? Unfortunately, no. On the day I arrived, it was snowing and raw, Wet Paint's heat must have been on the fritz or on 65. In spite of the hot tea that was graciously offered and accepted, this made it impossible to thaw. In addition, while the space was clean and cute, every wall was a different color. Chartreuse and unripe melon walls are not relaxing. There was a tree made of pink feathers in the window of the shop, multi-colored, Caribbean inspired fabric covering the pedicure chairs, rock music was played in the background and 100 watt track lighting radiated bright, white light from overhead. It felt like I was attending a teen-aged tea party in a life imitates the art of Alice in Wonderland. For $55, this was not the "posh" experience I was expecting.4)Was the price of service commensurate with the salon's mission statement? Yes and no. Michelle was extremely knowledgeable and not afraid to share. Any information glutton would appreciate this. Wet Paint earns a point for being environmentally conscious and using green cleaning products wherever possible and formaldehyde-free polish. However, the overall experience wasn't relaxing. Therefore, I didn't feel pampered. The search has just begun for a new salon to call my own. I'm accustomed to individual and secluded pedicure stations with rolfing, vibrating, warming, leather, massage chairs, and feet that feel like a baby's bottom for 2 weeks when my pedicurist is through. It's a shame my spa, the one that raised the bar so high closed. Overall, Wet Paint was a good place to start the search, but not the place to end it. Thanks for the recommendation Yelpers.N.B. Ladies: If you think you should have to pay for cleanliness, think again. Clean should be the rule and NEVER the exception, especially when your skin and a potential fungus infection is involved. Read Less