1 /5 Bex Peebles: This is my review of recent Gel Nail polish I had from Ella Bache and comparing it to regular nail polish from a run of the mill nail salon found on most main streets.
I decided to try Gel Nail polish to see what it was like.
The experience
This is the stuff that doesnt really impact the final result of the nails but lets face it, it makes ladies feel pampered and the whole experience more enjoyable
1. No massage chairs
2. No foot spa
3. No hand or foot scrub. Which is a key element when talking feet. We need our skin looked after too. I had to come home and finish the job myself with a foot scrub.
4. No hand or foot massage
Plus side you get a private room. Not really important for nails though.
The nails themselves
1. Very limited colour choice. Really disappointed. Didnt get the colour I wanted let alone the shade.
2. I was advised when I arrived it lasts between 2-3 weeks. Now, given this review overall, totally not worth it. Standard nail polish lasts me 2 weeks. Id rather factor all this in and go for standard nail colour.
3. Dull. The finished article looks dull and not glossy.
4. Cuticle cutting. Now, i definitely get some places can cause infections from tools not being sterilized. When I asked if she was going to cut my cuticles (as they were looking pretty bad!), I was told its not hygienic if non sterlized tools are not used. Yep totally agree, but then she proceeded to tell and show me the individually packed and sterlized tools they used. So I was left wondering why she didnt tidy my cuticles then? I think this is a big part of the final nail presentation and my cuticles still look rubbish.
The Nail Technician
Very friendly, but I did wonder about experience.
1. When she said you have strong nails, i knew something was amiss. Ive been biting my nails (up until recently) all my life and they are paper thin! They break all the time.
2. Filing skills were terrible. One nail was over-filed on the right side and now have a wierd shape. None of the nails in my opinion were filed properly or with any care or accuracy. At one point she was filing my skin and not even touching the nail itself. She didnt shape the nails at all. Some are square and others more rounded. The edges of my nails are not smooth and I feel scratchy in some places.
3. Paint work. lets face it, the critical element. I had to ask her to re-do one nail two times as it looked so messy. Even now looking at my nails, i see flaws in every one.
4. Time. It look 2hrs to do hands and feet. She kept forgetting which bit/hand she was up to and how many layers had been applied.
$100 for this! A colour I didnt really want, badly shaped and very untidy nails.
Much cheaper in a regular salon with more choice, better skilled technicians, pamper experience and a more polished nail polish!
This was my first time at Ella Bache and Im afraid I wouldnt go back.
