Being one of our three Superheroes has some perks. The most enviable (other than the cape) has to be the chance to mystery shop a beauty counter, salon or shop. Oh yes, we give our Superheroes some spending money and send them undercover in the beauty industry.
We received a few emails after our last round of mystery shops, asking for 'affordable' treatments. So we set the next trio an overall mission of...feeling fab for under $50! First up, our resident unicorn, Shazatron.
Howdy! My name is Shannon but you all probably know me better as Shazatron101, but I answer to just about anything! I was lucky enough to have been one of the Beauty Review superheroes, something I'll always treasure.
When I first got my shop it took me all night to get my head around it - They wanted me to get my eyelashes permed at Jichelle Health and Beauty Clinic, located right here in Stratford. Permed! Unfortunately, when I rang the salon one of the beauticians, Kim, told me that they were stopping the treatment as it was a 90% chance it'd fail, and she said "if it were me, I wouldn't get it!" which was super honest, I appreciate that.
The following day after conferring with Natnee First Lady about what to do, and what was going to happen on The Walking Dead, I decided to get an express manicure, but I also got an eyelash and brow tint with my own money. Treat yoself, right? By the time you read this I would have found out what happens on TWD but at least I looked fabulous while I was a weeping mess on the floor. I rang again and once again Kim answered the phone, and making an appointment was as easy as pie, and her bubbly personality made it all the better.
There are two planters outside the door and walking in it's a calm, serene environment. Straight away Kim addressed me, smiling, guessing that I was indeed me. Then "Oh, would you like gels instead? They're the same price as the express mani and they'll last longer". Well. I don't need to be told twice. Plus I would most definitely ruin the painted nails within 2 minutes of leaving.
We jumped straight into the treatments, and she tinted my lashes and brows first. I've only ever had terrible experiences but I was pleased to see she was very gentle, efficient and none of the product went in my eye. And it also comes with a head massage! For $32 I was pleased, and my eyelashes/brows look fantastic.
We went into the next room and on the wall shelf were all the CND Shellac polishes, and I stood looking at them, wondering how I was going to decide. My eye was immediately drawn to the pastel yellow - Sun Bleached. It reminds me of a creamy custard and I love it! She asked several times if I was sure with the color, but I was. My heart had opened to the beautiful yellow color and I was enamoured.
We sat down and she took off what polish I had on, and told me that the express mani was a hand soak, filing, buffing and cuticle care, and also, you get a mini bottle of Orly in the shade you chose! The gels came with none of this - but as I look after my nails quite well I didn't really need it. She did ask if I wanted her to file my claws - I did, just a tiny bit on each edge. She applied and cured a base coat, 2 coats of the yellow and a top coat. She did offer glitter or foil but the yellow is just so nice by itself so I declined.
Unfortunately she either isn't the best painter or she isn't used to painting my nail shape, as the polish is visibly "lumpy" from where the polish has pooled, and there are also areas where the polish isn't fully opaque. It also annoyed me she didn't quite go to the cuticle, my nails look shorter than they are because of it. Except Gimpy, who is always short.
The one and only thing that truly got me was when I asked her how to remove them. "Just peel them off". I may not be profesh but I know 100% that this is so, so, SO bad for your nails. She said once one starts they all start and you can just peel them off. I played dumb, but I will not be removing them this way!
Overall, I'd go back for a mani. I'd go back to get my brows/lashes tinted. 20 minutes of someone playing with my hair? Sign me up. I'd even consider other treatments! Kim was lovely and talkative and made me feel at ease. So thanks Beauty Review for this awesome experience - I know my town just a little better now!
Nice review I appreciate your honesty and am glad you still found that the salon was ok to return to.