Dear Eric: I have been going to the same neighborhood nail salon for almost 10 years. They’re usually great, but about two years ago, I started being continually relegated to a nail technician, “Sue,” who is very inconsistent, sometimes she was good, and sometimes she was really awful.
Sue has come close to drawing blood while cutting my nails, hurt me while cutting cuticles, and sometimes has nails of different lengths and shapes. They usually don’t let you apply any polish and have another technician take over for this phase.
I felt that she continued to receive it because I never complained, neither to her nor to the owner. I stopped going there for almost a year. When I came back (it’s very convenient, I can walk there!), he didn’t go the first few times, and I thought he had retired.
But now it’s back and I just got the worst manicure ever. I think she is a family member of someone there and she is really sweet. I don’t want him to lose his job, but if I were the owner I would want to know, although I suspect he is. How should I approach this issue with them? I feel like I let it go too long for her to just show up and say, “I want anyone but Sue for my mani-pedi.” I know, I know. A bad day at the nail salon is a major problem, but I’d like to keep giving them my business.
—There are no chips on the shoulder
Dear No Chips: If the salon accepts reservations, please call ahead and request another technician. This will save you from having to have an awkward interaction in person. If they don’t, it’s not unkind to discreetly let the owner or receptionist know you’d like someone else. Maybe they relegate you to Sue because you don’t complain, or they might think you really like manicures. They might even have a note on your record that says “Preferred Technician: Sue!”
A client who chooses to work with someone else is unlikely to fire a nail technician, especially if it’s a family member. However, if you have serious issues (and getting close to drawing blood does count as serious), letting the salon know gives them and Sue a chance to improve. With someone else’s nails.
Dear Eric: I have been going to the same neighborhood nail salon for almost 10 years. They’re usually great, but about two years ago, I started being continually relegated to a nail technician, “Sue,” who is very inconsistent, sometimes she was good, and sometimes she was really awful.
Sue has come close to drawing blood while cutting my nails, hurt me while cutting cuticles, and sometimes has nails of different lengths and shapes. They usually don’t let you apply any polish and have another technician take over for this phase.
I felt that she continued to receive it because I never complained, neither to her nor to the owner. I stopped going there for almost a year. When I came back (it’s very convenient, I can walk there!), he didn’t go the first few times, and I thought he had retired.
But now it’s back and I just got the worst manicure ever. I think she is a family member of someone there and she is really sweet. I don’t want him to lose his job, but if I were the owner I would want to know, although I suspect he is. How should I approach this issue with them? I feel like I let it go too long for her to just show up and say, “I want anyone but Sue for my mani-pedi.” I know, I know. A bad day at the nail salon is a major problem, but I’d like to keep giving them my business.
—There are no chips on the shoulder
Dear No Chips: If the salon accepts reservations, please call ahead and request another technician. This will save you from having to have an awkward interaction in person. If they don’t, it’s not unkind to discreetly let the owner or receptionist know you’d like someone else. Maybe they relegate you to Sue because you don’t complain, or they might think you really like manicures. They might even have a note on your record that says “Preferred Technician: Sue!”
A client who chooses to work with someone else is unlikely to fire a nail technician, especially if it’s a family member. However, if you have serious issues (and getting close to drawing blood does count as serious), letting the salon know gives them and Sue a chance to improve. With someone else’s nails.
(Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or PO Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.)
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