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Ruby Nails
Category: Beauty and Spas Nail Salons Nail Salons [Edit]
3450 W BroadwayVancouver, BC V6R 2B3
Neighbourhood: Kitsilano
(604) 732-8993
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
2 reviews for Ruby Nails
2 reviews in English
-
Review from jennifer m.
Vancouver, BC
2/10/2009
I live on West Broadway (near Alma) where day spas compete for curb space to boast signs with the latest mani/pedi deals. The problem is, with commercial rent being as high as Jimmy Hendrix in his prime, stores fold as quickly as they open.
Finding the perfect place to sink your feet into a tub of hot, bubbly water is actually more of a pursuit than one might desire on a lazy Sunday afternoon. This is probably why I found myself on one such day at a professional-looking salon a half block from my condo. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, which were carefully logo'd was an aesthetically-pleasing sign promoting a $39.95 mani/pedi special.
I sunk into an overstuffed leather massage chair and allowed a timid lady with a keen eye for detail to start the revitalizing of my toes. I was quite enjoying the pampering, when a false-eyelashed esthetician abruptly took my hand and started sea sawing my nails.
Now I am no cosmetologist, but I do know that is a sure way to split a nail. When I voiced this concern, eyelashes swung her hair extensions to one side and puckered her frosty pink lips. She then informed me that I must be lacking fish oils if my nails were splitting. The manicure was quicker than a Hills episode sans commercials. At the end I couldn't figure out why the white pearl paint I'd chosen looked thick and out of place on my nail beds.
There was no fan or UV machine to help the thick goo set into my fingers as I waited and waited for the mute pedicurist to finish her work. Two Americanos and six rag mags later, she was finally done and I must admit my toes looked fabulous.
Lashes was trying to convince me to book in for a facial as I attempted to take out my plastic with wet gooey fingers. I ruined a nail in the process, but lashes was more concerned with up-selling her services. I wanted a redo, but I wanted to leave the salon more.
So I paid my $39.95 plus tax and tip and swore never to go back again. The place was called Illusion and at the very least it lived up to it's name. Two days and three chipped nails later I was in a predicament. Winter was still three months away, leaving me with no excuse to wear gloves and the thought of going back to that dreaded salon for a polish change, was about as appealing as watching Tom Cruise kiss Katie Holmes in public.
Instead I wandered up to another sign-boasting salon past the TD bank around Collingwood and Broadway. That's when I discovered Ruby's.
It was late. The store was shutting down as I walked in. I apologized and turned around to leave when a stout Asian woman with a heavy accent and gentle eyes smiled and told me to sit down. She was going to do my polish change.
As she assessed the damage on my fingers she informed me I should come back so she could do my cuticles. Suddenly a light bulb went off. Lashes hadn't done my cuticles?!
The gentle-eyed woman's name was Christine and she was the owner of Ruby Nails. She took down my birthdate (for a free maincure) and told me to come back in a few weeks.
I did and I've never gone anywhere since. All of the staff at Ruby nails are properly trained technicians, but more importantly they provide phenomenal customer service. I once forgot my flip flops and they gave me a brand new pair at no cost. They always ensure your nails are properly dried before you leave and upon your approval, they take your money or credit card out of your purse for you so you don't damage your nails. If you do damage your nails, there's nothing to worry about as Christine always tells you to come back if you have an accident.
I enjoy chatting to Christine about her Chinese heritage and her gi-normous family. Sometimes her youngest daughter (who is studying to be a food inspector) will come in to serve the customers tea and help them pick out the trendiest polish colours.
Aside from all the little pleasantries that make Ruby Nails such an enjoyable experience, their work speaks for itself. I haven't had a hangnail since last summer and at my Christmas party this year I was complemented on my cuticles ... by a guy! -
Review from sandra T.
Vancouver, BC
12/4/2010
Excellent value, friendly service, reliable quality. This sums up Ruby Nails, I've been going here on a regular basis and my mother-in-law has been going here since they opened. They offer a free nail clipping day for senior citizens which I think is such a lovely community spirited kindness to do for our elders who have difficulty clipping their toenail and fingernails. Christine, the owner, is a dear warm hearted soul.
