To be really annoyed at the frankly crap job made of my nails?

[CoolaSchmoola]

I am really lucky to have very strong nails. Until I had DD I always kept them long and manicured, although I did do them myself apart from an occasional Shellac or Minx for functions.

Since having DD finding the time to actually do them and wait for them to dry has been ridiculously difficult, and length was impractical, so I've only done them a few times since she was born.

It was my Uncle's funeral two weeks ago today. Two weeks ago yesterday I decided to get my nails done for the funeral.

This was a treat for me as we have recently returned to the UK from overseas due to DH changing jobs which meant I had to leave mine too. Because of this I have become a SAHM for the time being so we've taken a massive income cut, and we're in the process of buying a house that needs a lot of work so we're saving as much as possible to cover that.

I went to a new nail bar and asked if they did Shellac. The nail tech said "No, we do Gellux and it is LOADS better than Shellac, which only lasts two weeks, this is completely gel, and it lasts three to four weeks!"

It also cost twice as much as Shellac, but I figured for three+ weeks it was worth it.

Once done they did look fabulous, and I was really pleased and tipped the tech.

The problem is on day 9 the gel on one of my nails started to come away. I was a little bit but filed it down to mask it and thought no more about it.

Until day 11 when the edges of the gel on both thumb nails started to come away. Also managed to mask it as I am unable to get into the salon to get it removed until the weekend.

Now today - day 15 - and the gel on two more nails has started to come away.

So for twice the cost I have got less wear than I do from the allegedly inferior Shellac, despite being promised it would last at least 50% longer....

WIBU to email the head office to rant complain? It's not really the money, it's the fact that it was a treat for me and allegedly so much better than the product I usually have and it's so not. And my nails look shit which is making me stabby. I don't even want them to redo them, I just want them to know that actually no, Gellux isn't better than Shellac, and it doesn't last 3-4 weeks - hell it didn't even last 2 - and that I'm pissed about it!

Yes you would be unreasonable. You need to go back to the salon to let the techs have a look at what happened and see if they can sort it.

But there isn't really anything they can "sort" Nagoo - the only thing they could do is take it off and redo it, which in all probability would mean I would be back to square one in 9 days time and having to go back in again which I don't really have time to do.

I want to let them know they did a crappy job - I don't want to give them the chance to repeat it.

Y Would BU to email the head office. Gellux only lasts as well as the application, if the application isn't up to standard it won't last. Gellux and Shellac are basically the same product and should only be advertised as a 2 week manicure, (any longer is seen as a bonus rather than a definite).

As long as you have followed any after care instructions given to you, the tech should be able to see what's happened. Get to the salon sooner rather than later, or phone, explain and say you've got pictures.

Take photos before you file any more so that you have proof that it's coming away on its own.

Facecake - there weren't any aftercare instructions given, at all. She was talking to potential clients and handing out cards whilst she was finishing my nails.

And it is definitely being advertised as 3-4 weeks. That was the only reason I had it done. I paid £27 for it, whereas I normally pay £12 for Shellac. If they had told me two weeks I would have saved myself £15 and had Shellac. That said it didn't even make it to two weeks.

Also, as I said - I can't get to the salon any sooner than the weekend.

I suppose I'll just have to leave it, if it would be unreasonable to contact customer services and I can't go in until the weekend then they could easily say it was practically three weeks anyway. Plus I don't want it re-doing and I don't need them to remove it so not really much point going in to show them some pictures. It's just irritating.

I guess I'll have to chalk it up to experience. It's a new salon, very small chain, and they only had one tech on that day. She told me she wanted to go for a fag and a wee (tmi?) and was shutting up for ten minutes when she'd finished me so maybe it was a little rushed.

Mind you she also told me she didn't like how some people talked to their babies "as if they were proper people" and that it was pointless to talk to them, before saying some people give up their lives when they have babies, what's the point of that?! All whilst my 15 month old DD was sat in her pushchair next to me and I was talking to her like a proper person !

Coola sounds like you're right about not having it redone there! She sounds very unprofessional. The information I gave about Gellux lasting time is from the supplier themselves, they don't want people to be put off their product by false advertisement.

Personally I prefer Shellac, I find it has a better finish. Though as I said they are both the same product they are a Gel Polish. Can I ask if you intend to remove it yourself or have your Shellac tech do it?
Just if you remove it yourself you can
damage your nails if not done properly.

If they're a new business it might be worth going in and explaining that you've spoken to another nail tech who has informed you that if applied properly it wouldn't have lifted as it has. If they want to keep their reputation you might get a refund. But pictures are key, you'd be amazed at how much we can tell about nail problems from photos.

My friend took it off for me - she's a tech. She tutted a lot lol!

I think I'll be sticking with Shellac as well now, and I won't be going there again.