4 /5 Octavia Tulip: TL;DR - I love MDB, always get their builder gel manicures, but was getting consistent infections. After getting a botched manicure elsewhere, I came back and they made sure to sanitize everything especially well. Left with an incredible manicure and infection free hands - Ill be coming back again and again.
Original post:
While I love coming here - great work from Anna and complimentary mimosas - out of 7 times I’ve come here for my manicure, all but two of those times, I’ve gotten an infection in one of my fingers. When I walk out of the salon, all seems fine. The next day, one of my fingers will be slightly hotter than the rest, and then in a day or so, it gets painful to the point of having to avoid using that finger. My finger will be visibly red and swollen, hot to the touch, and painful. The first time I reported it to the manager, she offered to pay any medical bills I incurred if I went to the doctor for it, but no change to the sanitation of the tools. Honestly, I’ve forgotten about the infections after it happens, schedule a builder gel refill, and two, three days after, painfully reminded of what happens when I go here. It’s now so consistent, I can’t forget. It’s a shame, I loved coming here, drove half an hour out of my way just for this salon.
I’ll be looking elsewhere for a studio that doesn’t predictably give me p*s filled infections in my fingers.
My finger is still somewhat tender, two weeks on.
EDIT 1: in response to the owners of Maison De Beaute’s response to my honest review - These have not been hangnails. I know what hangnails are and how to deal with them. These are infections under the skin, creating pus. I have clearly been able to see the dremel nail bits used to grind away the top layers of builder gel when getting a refill are not cleaned between customers. They are dusty from prior use and sitting out, waiting to be used again, or already on the nail drill from previous use when starting a manicure.
EDIT 2: After going to a *different* nail salon to get builder gel I ended up with my skin broken on three different fingers from overzealous filing by the tech (just my luck), and the builder gel so thin as to practically be worthless. My nails were threatening to break with any all too sudden movement, so I held my breath and booked another appointment at MDB just 2 days after the last one. (It wouldve been the next day, save for a photoshoot I was on) I called in the morning before my appointment, explaining my skin was broken in multiple places and very tender, and asked them if they could double sanitize everything for me - especially because there was essentially an open door on my nails to get infected again. I felt a bit embarrassed coming back to them but everyone was sweet as could be. Anna sanitized every last nail drill bit in front of me, used brand new files and showed me the sealed package the sanitized tools were in. I appreciated the transparency, and willingness to go the extra mile after my critical review. Anna was so gentle with my nails, she really took her time, and would have even drilled off the builder gel entirely if need be, but I was able to stand the sting of the acetone. My nails came out looking fantastic, and they were strong enough to withstand my daily use again. I couldnt stop admiring them. Its now days later. I did have to continually cover my hands with lotion and neosporin from the previous overfiling that was done to them, but Im confident in the sanitzation and safety of the manicure I received from MDB this time.
Im eternally grateful to the staff at MDB and especially Anna for her level headed response, and making sure my previous problems were not repeated. Im so grateful she went out of her way to sanitize the tools in front of me and show me the new tools and files she used. Im glad I took the chance to come back one last time to have my nails fixed. They look stunning, and theyre strong, and healthy once again, exactly the way I want them to be. Thank you so so much Anna and Maison De Beaute. I am a regular again.
