A client who had her nails done at Nails by Ivy in late December returned home expecting a set that would hold up the way her previous salon visits had. Within days, she noticed the top coat had already worn off on most nails, and the color had taken on a brassy tone she hadn't expected. What followed over the next few weeks, along with a long wait her sister experienced on a separate visit, adds up to a case worth reviewing for both technique and shop operations.
Durability Issues in the First Few Weeks
The client describes a series of issues unfolding over time: the top coat lifting within three days, scratches appearing within a week, and noticeable growth by two weeks in, though she acknowledges the growth itself may simply reflect how quickly her nail beds grow. She's clear that none of this matched her experience at other salons she's visited. A top coat wearing off within days often points to a curing step that needed more time under the lamp, or a base that wasn't fully clean and dry before polish was applied. Scratches appearing within the first week can suggest the top coat itself needs a slightly heavier or more protective finish. Neither issue is unusual to run into occasionally, but when a client reports both together, it's worth double checking curing time and product choice with the technician involved.
A Long Wait for a Standard Service
Separately, the client says her sister was seated for an acrylic French tip at 5:10 and was still in the chair around 7:15, a wait she attributes partly to the salon being busy that day. Even when a longer wait is unavoidable due to volume, letting a seated client know roughly how much longer to expect, and checking in periodically if the wait runs long, helps the time feel less open-ended. For a standard service like an acrylic French tip, a wait stretching past two hours is also worth a look at scheduling and staffing on busier days to avoid it becoming the norm.
Asking for Reviews the Right Way
The client also mentions being asked to leave a five star review while still at the salon. Requesting a specific star rating in the moment, rather than simply asking a client to share honest feedback, puts pressure on the client and can undermine the credibility of the reviews a salon collects. A better approach is to invite feedback generally, ideally after the client has had a few days to see how the set holds up, so the review reflects the client's real experience rather than an in-the-moment ask.
Editorial Perspective
A few lessons stand out from this case. First, when a client reports early wear like top coat lifting or scratching, reviewing curing time and product application with the technician can help catch the cause before it repeats with other clients. Second, keeping seated clients informed during a long wait, and looking at staffing on busy days, helps standard services stay within a reasonable timeframe. Third, inviting honest feedback rather than requesting a specific rating protects both the client's experience and the salon's credibility over time.
