Let me start this post by saying that my only reference point is the Washington DC area.  Yes, the DMV, where there are a tons more people.  A place where looking the part is just important as getting or keeping the part.  A place where there are cities and communities within cities and communities.

Its been a more than a year, and the struggle to find a place to get a manicure/pedicure has been REAL! My reluctance to have someone touch my hands other than Christina at Blissful  in Lanham, MD has been a mountain to climb.  Ok so I’m over it because my hands and feet leave a lot to be desired at this point.  When your spouse says come on I’ll pay for you to try a place, you undoubtedly get the hint. Secondly, Google has not befriended me in this search.  Generic reviews and lackluster pictures have not motivated to jump right into this.  Lastly, the most important challenge. . .  I DONT HAVE ANY GIRLFRIENDS HERE!  Who’s gonna tell me which techs not to go to?  Who’s going to tell me which salons have the best color choices.  Nobody’s sending me to their gal or guy. Uuuggghhh

Now its time to take the bull by the horns, I guess.

Last week, I found three places that seemed reasonable according to yelp.  At this point, decent is all I’m asking for. So I get up early Sunday morning to give this thing a shot.  Places open around 11. I’m in my car at 11, hoping the Maps app won’t steer me wrong.  The first place I get to in Dilworth seems legit.  Apparently the nail bar concept is popular here in Charlotte.  Big chairs fit for queens and kings, the hits of the day playing subtly in the background, with chandeliers and contemporary lighting to boot.  I walk right up to the counter and the concierge is super nice. I ask for a simple fill & pedicure.  She says great we can help you.  Give us a little more than an hour and we’ll take care of you. . .  Wait what?  I see like 12 tech. Not all working customers.  I look behind me in the lounge area and see 3 patrons waiting. I say oh ok thanks, that’s a bit too long, in hopes that she would say maybe it wont be quite that long.  Humor me, you know.  She crinkled her face and said sorry as I walked to the door.

Next stop, a place in Charlotte that I’ve driven by an few times and thought maybe this was a good place.  Its only about 7 blocks from my current location.  After making 17 u-turns to find parking on South Boulevard, I finally grace the door.  Same nail bar concept, different color scheme, and the patrons appear to be consuming champagne.  Ok maybe this is it! I walk to the desk approaching another friendly hostess.  First question out of my mouth. . . Do you guys accept walk-ins.  She laughs and says of course, you can have a seat.  Now I’m happy.  I wait about 5 minutes and she comes over and says would you like champagne while you wait its going to be about an hour and fifteen minutes. What??? I’ll be drunk in an hour…NO THANKS.  Biggest issue my Cowboys play at 1.  Why can’t this be a simple get in and get out.  I’m not willing to miss the Cowboys for the sake of hands that haven’t had any attention in a year. Football wins out every time, unless I have a client meeting which by the way is the only reason why I would entertain waiting more than an hour. It looks like the days of waiting 20 minutes for a quick soak and buff don’t exist in Charlotte.

Fast forward to Monday,  I decide to call and make an appointment at the salon that offered champagne.  12 o’clock on the dot, I call.  I ask if they have any evening appointments.  Do you know they didn’t have one available? ! ? Not one. Can you imagine my frustration, trying to picture a bustling nail salon with champagne and Drake playing being booked up for a 6:15 fill on Monday?  This is for the birds.  One more call and I’m done with this whole thing.  I mean I can throw some polish on these hooves myself.

I finally call the last of the places that seemed ok. Polished in South End. They welcomed with open arms.  I told Hugh all about my troubles.  He helped me pick a color and reassured my that I was in the right place.  He brought me champagne with strawberries and ran my water for my pedicure hot just like I like it.  I told him he was my kids age, and with a heavy accent he said BLACK DON’T CRACK. Hilarious. We laughed and the time seemed to move quick.  Time for my hands. He walked me over to David with a freshly filled glass of champagne and said take care of this lady, she’s new to Charlotte.

I left there almost without looking at the job they’d done but I knew it was good.

I’ll definitely go back. . .

~ Miss Rii 💋💋💋