Was I unreasonable to take my daughters with me to get my nails done?

You were so unreasonable and I cannot believe you let your children watch their iPads in public places with the "volume down low". Gah you are my nightmare!!!!

Nail salon on it’s own and nail salon in a spa are two different things

Every spa I’ve seen (and nail service is part of the ‘spa’ experience usually) doesn’t allow under 18 yr olds in.

@Snorlaxo If your kids had heard some adult conversation eg about sex then I’d bet you’d be the first to complain.

Women go to nail spas to have conversations about sex...? What.

OP please stop making excuses.

No kids were allowed. It’s a spa - you would know that.
Kids who don’t wear headphones in public places never mind an adults only spa is rude. Even if it’s low.
Taking your kids to a relaxing adults only location is entitled. There may have been others around and there is nothing worse than children animated iPad noise.

So depute all that they told you no kids. You didn’t like the answer and ‘begged’ them to have your children stay and were close to tears. Your behaviour is either of someone who gets upset because they don’t think the rules apply to them and isn’t used to hearing the word no or completely overreaction.

The spa also lost the appointment (which you don’t seem to understand they lost money because of your mistake).

You are complete in the wrong and you don’t complain just because you don’t like the rules and didn’t like them being enforced.

@OrlaMcCool was it in the Leeds area by any chance?

It sounds like they were perfectly kind and polite the first 2 times but after the third time you asked them to make an exception for you, the "guarding the door in a hostile manner" happened.

So I don't think you can fault them for not being kind enough to you. No one should have to tell an adult 3 times that their policy is no kids.

I also wanted to comment on your view that as long as their ipads could not be heard in the treatment rooms, then it was ok to have them. All clients would have had to pass through the reception area, where your children were. Thats not ok.

I have only had my nails done once and I took my kids with me. I did book them in too tho.

I have absolutely no concept of the difference between a nail bar and a spa. i don't know where I went
They had peach towels.

So i don't think you were unreasonable, but I don't think you should complain. You just didnt get it.

Id just forget it and move on.

I nearly did this once with my DD . She would have been 5 or 6 at the time. I almost took her with me to get my eyebrows done, thinking it would be fine as I’m sure I saw someone else’s kids in there once . I got some childcare at the last minute. Later I found out, of course, they had a no child policy.
It’s fair enough.
No one wants kids in a spa, we go to get away from our kids.
I’m someone who would have been polite to your kids but internally would have been rolling my eyes.
I think the main problem here is you didn’t back down and were begging and I dare say, arguing with them. You really should have done, but lesson learnt.
Go when they are at school, get an hours childcare, or a mobile nail technician.

I would never take my kids to sit in a nail salon.

If the nail technicians need to wear masks to protect them from the dust and other fumes and irritants it is no place for my children.

My nails are au naturel. Life goes on.

My salon allows kids to get their nails done & charges a children’s rate . I don’t mind as long as they’re being good and quiet .

I think the fact you said about turning volume off as though you were making a concession tells me everything. If there’s one thing I can’t stand its kids on iPads - kids on iPads with volume up instead of headphones in public with awful cartoon voices playing at full volume drives me insane. On trains etc I can almost put up with it but I’d complain very loudly if I was paying to be at a spa and there were kids there on their iPads. Of course it’s unacceptable and good for the spa to tell you firmly and not back down.

You're being unreasonable I wouldn't bother complaining to be honest. You rocked up there with 2 kids in tow without even checking if they'd be ok with them being there. Then upon being told they don't allow kids you've begged them to be allowed to sit at reception on their iPads. Their receptionist isn't an insured or registered childminder. If anything happened to your kids you'd be first to kick off at the company despite knowing they aren't there to mind your kids whilst getting your nails done. You're meant to be teaching your kids boundaries and that no means no yet you're showing them that you can pester people to try and get your own way. I bet you wouldn't tolerate that behaviour from your kids without telling them off for it

Your kids go around admiring other people's nails and approaching other customers? They like to help you pick out your colour? They sit on iPads with no headphones..and you think this is ok?

They were right to send you packing.

It’s a spa which generally are for adults so it would be better to check in advance. Also I don’t think an iPad is sufficient to keep a 5 year old solely entertained. Plus if I pay a lot of money for a spa day I appreciate that it’s child free and I have children.

If I'm having a spa treatment the last people I want to see or hear are kids ffs!

I think you're being a somewhat entitled to assume it was ok to take them. Next time ask in advance when you're going for a treatment.

They probably wouldn’t have been insured or if a safe environment, also why you expecting people to baby sit your kids. You’re entitled and the fact you pushed and pushed after you were told no shows how ridiculous you were. I’m not surprised the staff got annoyed at you.

@OrlaMcCool in addition to clients not wanting kids around or ipad noise, the owner is doing your kids a favour. Nail (and beauty) salons are full of pollutants and irritants. The volatile compounds from formaldehyde, toluene and other chemical compounds, dust from nails and acrylics, etc are nasty and children would be especially vulnerable. i appreciate this may be a once more but just thought its worth flagging it

I home educate my children so they nearly always have to come with me to everythint

howevr I always ask in advance and they’re a lot older and teens now so they can go walking now but when they were younger I always asked before I made the appointment

if there is a no kids policy. Then that’s it

they don’t seem particularly rude to me about it though. 🤷🤷‍♀️

How is saying “sorry but no kids are allowed in here so you will need to change your appointment” (which is what OP quotes the first time the salon commented) being unkind or rude?

Yabu. Your response should have been more like "I understand. When can I rebook?" Rather than begging and nearly in tears

The fact that you said you would turn the iPads down!! They had no head phones. Hell no do I want to go to a Spa and listen to that.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 yes! I worked as a nail tech and had a strict no children policy. Not only is it against most people’s insurance policy, children present at appointments add extra time. Even if they sit immediately on arrival and perfectly still, without uttering a word the mum is still distracted and focused on watching their child. If the child then moves, talks to any other customers, looks at the colours, ANYTHING else - it costs more time of the appointment. It is so rude to bring a child along, especially if you don’t ask first. It just says ‘my time is more valuable than yours and I don’t care if I make you late for the rest of the day’. Nail techs and other beauty professionals as usually self-employed and each treatment is timed to the minute when planning their diaries and prices, any distributions like that cost money.

that’s not to mention if a child fell, came into contact with any of the numerous chemicals in a nail salon or any other possible situation which would cause a disturbance to the treatment and that of all the other clients. Baffles me how clueless some people are!

Obnoxiously entitled. And turn your iPad volume completely off in public!!

I’m sorry but you’re 100 being unreasonable. A beauty salon is no place for children and you obviously pushed and asked for an exception so they were going to have to be a bit blunt to get you to bugger off.

Could you not have booked them into an after school club if you were so desperate for your nails done. I’m honestly shocked you thought it would be ok at all.