things I'll miss about living here | No.4 nail salon

Nails are important to any self-respecting female and I searched high and low when I moved to the neighbourhood for the perfect salon!  After many trial and error visits to the various ones in this area, I found the perfect salon, within walking distance from my house!  I shall miss it but if I can't find one on par with it at the new place, then I'll just have to make the drive.

nails without cocktails... a horrible experience

I didn't go to my usual nail salon today (Caesars Palace at the Domain).  A salon where either Van or Gina do my nails and we talk about life... where everyone else knows my name and 'nail shape' preference... a salon that's elaborately decorated and immaculately clean... a sanctuary where every customer is greeted with a complimentary cocktail or beverage of their choice... and then leaves feeling refreshed... the salon after which I named my nails and cocktails segment.

Instead I decided to try another salon closer to home, where I had one of the most frustrating, embarrassing, just awful experiences I've had in a while!  An experience from which I practically ran home and made myself a cocktail just to get over it!

I'm never ever going back - no matter how close, convenient and blah blah it is!  And if I'm ever tempted by those reasons again, I swear to reread this post to snap myself out of it.  I won't be mean and go into excruciating details but I will say that I honestly wonder how a place where no one speaks English can stay open!

I don't mean to sound like a racist, but come on!  You're living in America!  So even if you could somehow find a way to stay within your own community and never socialize with English speaking people: you work at a nail salon where the business is in CUSTOMER SERVICE!

Yes, learning another language is hard.  Yes, it was easier for me because I was a child when my family moved to Australia but I watched my parents struggle and I know it's not easy!  I'm not judging because I'm saying it's easy: my problem is with the sheer unwillingness to try and the utter rudeness of sitting on either side of me (the customer and reason behind their business's survival) and speaking a foreign language!  I don't care what they're talking about... the whole time my face burns because I think it's me!  Especially when they laugh!

Truthfully, I don't know how these places stay open.  I for one, am never going back and can't imagine who's ok with 30 - 45 mins of manicure time like that!  Manicures (to me) are about girl talk, unwinding, reflecting on and sharing news about your fortnight... Not sitting tense and worried the whole time about the nail techs talking shit!

Anyway, here are some pics of my nails and the Moscow Mule I made myself back at home:

Colour: Essie Saturday night fever

nails and cocktails

In honour of the party weekend, I got a baby pink colour that goes with everything and jazzed it up with gold glitter!  Perfect to combine with a dirty martini or a beer bottle topped with carnation :)

nails and cocktails

...although there weren't any cocktails this time - just peachy nails and later, carnations to match <3

nails and cocktails

I felt inspired to go classic and opt for coral nails after seeing Marilyn Monroe's iconic Seven Year Itch for the kaziilionith time earlier this week. Cocktail was the strawberry daiquiri which matched the colour I'd chosen and tasted pretty good!  

 

Nails and cocktails

Essie polish 'Berry Naughty', J Crew bracelet

I've finally found a nail salon that I love in Austin!  I can say that with confidence because earlier today I got my nails done for the second time at Caesar's Nail & Spa and even though it was a different lady - my nails look just as good and I'm confidant will last just as long.

Aside from everyone there being friendly and doing awesome nails: the store also happens to be b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l inside PLUS you get offered free drinks while you get your nails done!  It's unbelievable.

nails & a sherbert margartita cocktail

Nail time!

I love bright and unique nails.  Other than regular polish, I rarely get two manicures that look exactly the same.  That's why I want to start a kind of record.  I was very lucky in Atlanta because I had THE BEST nail lady who had a talent for creative spontaneity and although I'm yet to find a replacement that comes close to her here in Austin, I still get excited whenever I go for a manicure.  Plus, I don't think my last sparkly New Years Eve manicure was half bad:

I wonder what I'll get next...