My name is Miss Hong Chau. I have been in Vermont since 1975 and I worked at IBM for 16 years. I am very thorough when it comes to hands and feet, and I give each of my clients personalized service. I have owned my salon for six years and I am an expert at interpreting skin tone and making suggestions for nail polish color.
I love this place. Miss Hong and her family are not only amazing nail technicians, but warm, open, interesting people. The salon has over 2000 colors and a couple of sweet lap dogs. As a 38 year old male having never experienced a pedicure, I cannot say enough good things about Mrs. Hong! She was a pleasure to visit with, worked very quickly and always had a smile.
I love this place. Miss Hong and her family are not only amazing nail technicians, but warm, open, interesting people. The salon has over 2000 colors and a couple of sweet lap dogs. As a 38 year old male having never experienced a pedicure, I cannot say enough good things about Mrs. Hong! She was a pleasure to visit with, worked very quickly and always had a smile.
Reviews (19)
Nicole D.
May 19, 2021
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If you walk into a salon and have to resist the urge to turn right around and leave, don't be like me and stay. I felt guilty leaving and breaking my appointment, but I should have listened to my gut. I've never seen a more filthy establishment. It's very unfortunate because the quality of service was not bad, albeit very overpriced. However, the cleanliness of this salon is inexcusable. I cringed the entire time. Maybe the owners are hoarders and just don't see what the rest of the public sees.
Ruthless H.
Jun 08, 2020
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Roxy P.
Nov 07, 2018
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I used to go to Essential Nail Spa years ago but stopped because of the extreme racism of the owner. I was there with my sister for 5 hours one day for a pedicure. I knew the owner from my job at the nearby supermarket and knew her loud personality well. I wasn't aware of how racist she was though. She launched into a rant about how she won't let her children date black people because she "likes zebra but doesn't want any zebra babies." She also wouldn't stop talking about how her light complexion makes her better than other Asian people. This wasn't playful banter
Jennifer E.
Aug 31, 2018
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Could not agree more with Hannah J and Margaret G. Reviewers. Everything they have wrote is spot on. The most insane nail visit I have ever experienced. Everything about it made my skin crawl. STAY AWAY! I don't even know where to begin. The place is a filthy hoarder's heaven. There is junk everywhere, nail polish is so old you can see the sediment and oil separation and it's goopy when it goes on so it takes forever to dry. Everything is just dirty. The owner and her daughter are beyond rude. The daughter couldn't stop yelling and swearing on the phone the entire time
Jenna M.
Jun 04, 2018
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Quite possibly the worst fill I've ever had. 2 nails broke TWO DAYS after I had them filled. The polish is chipping on all of the nails which I have never in my life had happen. The nails are bumpy and it cost me $40 for a fill. A FILL! When it says the cost is $23 on the sign. Also the nail tech is extremely racist and has the most inappropriate conversations with people she's just met. I would rather a tech that doesn't talk at all than someone like that. I will not ever be returning.
Dawn M.
Apr 18, 2018
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Awful! Very unprofessional and used profanity while painting my daughters nails (11 and 9). Very over priced. $36 for the two of them to get their nails painted. Not gel polish!
Since it won't let me respond to you... My daughter wanted airbrush and you told her it was too messy. A "design" if that's what you call it. You asked what I did for a living. When I replied, you gave a disgusted look and rolled your eyes. I had to respond by saying, "I love my job". "Dang" is most certainly not the word you used to describe a former tenant.
Since it won't let me respond to you... My daughter wanted airbrush and you told her it was too messy. A "design" if that's what you call it. You asked what I did for a living. When I replied, you gave a disgusted look and rolled your eyes. I had to respond by saying, "I love my job". "Dang" is most certainly not the word you used to describe a former tenant.
T. M.
Apr 09, 2018
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I went in for a pedicure and manicure and it took 2 hours because she was non stop texting and FaceTiming the whole time. She didn't even touch my cuticles which needed the most attention, no hand lotion or massage. She tried giving me parenting and marriage advice (i am single with no kids) and told me to not get fat. (Hmm ok thanks). Nice-ish lady (who talks more than anyone I've ever encountered) but won't be returning.
Stacey K.
Jun 24, 2017
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Wish I could give a zero. I feel like I need to wash with a wire brush after going here. Filthy! The owner spoke at me the entire time about her racist views. I was soooo uncomfortable. The manicure she gave me was the worst I've ever had. She did not soak my hands in water. She never treated my cuticles. She barely ran an emery board over my nails and certainly didn't shape them. She oddly, and without asking if I minded, used an electric, heavy duty sander on my nails before applying gel polish. The UV light boxes I reluctantly put my hands in were coated with crud and dirty
Tiegan G.
Aug 16, 2016
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The experience was awful. She's crude and racist and I felt uncomfortable sitting there. My friend and I waited 5 hours after she LEFT IN THE MIDDLE TO GET A SALAD, talked with other patrons, switched back and forth between people. Her daughter was rude and gross leaving half eaten food everywhere, taking the utensils that her mom was using for us. Referred to her dog as dyke and said some really really racist and other prejudice things that made us feel so uncomfortable. never going back.
Lindsey L.
Jan 26, 2016
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Margaret G.
Jan 25, 2015
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I've gone here twice for pedi's and that was two times too many! The first time I went, I was new in town and needed to look good for some events coming up, but the average price in the area for *just* a pedicure seems to be ~$50 which is insane to me - I'm used to $20 for a mani-pedi that's excellent quality and $30 for a shellac mani-pedi combo. I guess this city has a lesser demand for these services than most places... I don't understand it. Anyways, at Essential Nail Spa, I think the normal price is $30 for just a pedicure which is closer to my budget and they fit
Hannah J.
Jan 18, 2015
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The most bizarre nail experience I have ever had. The place is a complete mess... The owners dirty socks lying in the middle of the floor- are you kidding? If you love getting asked inappropriate professional and personal questions (and your nails insulted) then this is the place for YOU! There were these algae infested fish tanks everywhere... Every chair, towel, and surface was splattered with old polish and other products. It was ironic that there were literally 5 vacuums laying around the place when the floors were so dusty and dirty. WHAT THE HELL! I was so uncomfortable and disgusted the
Casey R.
Aug 01, 2014
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Meli S.
Jun 12, 2014
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I was in town visiting a friend and the owner gave us both pedicures and me a manicure. She was alone so it was almost a 3 hour process. She is very different. I received a top notch pedicure. I've not had someone besides myself give my feet that much attention. Ever. One week later and my feet still feel phenomenal.
Unfortunately my manicure is a completely different story. I'm a nurse and I've solely gotten the gel or shellack polishes for the last 2 years. They've been a godsend. I was in the shop on Wednesday 6/4 and got the OPI gel. I've used this brand many times
Unfortunately my manicure is a completely different story. I'm a nurse and I've solely gotten the gel or shellack polishes for the last 2 years. They've been a godsend. I was in the shop on Wednesday 6/4 and got the OPI gel. I've used this brand many times
Alexis G.
Apr 28, 2014
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The owners were really funny and took there time to really give you a one of a kind experience. They didn't just want you in and out of there salon to be able to service more clients. My mother had issues with her toes and they wanted to help her. They trimmed her nails and removed her ingrown nails and filed them so she won't have so many issues anymore. My mother and I drove over an hour to get our nails done and we will be returning.
Gita B.
Jan 25, 2014
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Worst mani/pedi experience I've ever had. The owner did my pedicure and actually shaved my foot to bleeding! The manicure peeled off within HOURS, and was done really sloppy. I was considering using this salon for my wedding mani/pedi, but really glad I checked them out before. I had a reservation but had to wait for over an hour for my appointment. The owner was incredibly chatty and complained about other customers, which was really unprofessional. I am really glad that I moved to Chicago where I have many more options for nail salons with great service.
Dorothy M.
Mar 04, 2013
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Totally unique experience. The owners are hilarious. Just as other reviewers stated, they are eccentric and said a few off color things, but I loved it! It was so entertaining. I'm used to the nail techs barely engaging me in any conversation at all and just speaking to each other in Vietnamese the whole time. These folks totally cracked me up with their banter and kooky stories. That atmosphere may not be for everyone, but I'm going back for sure. It was fun and my pedicure was good.
Star G.
Feb 24, 2013
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I have been here twice. The first time was because I wanted a pedi. What was supposed to be a half hour turned into a two hour event. Granted, my feet looked good, but I had similar results at other places, and the people working on my feet were not nearly as....opinionated. She told me she would make my feet "f***able" and kept shouting out sexually inappropriate things at people passing by. She talked non stop about her dog, who she spent an arm and a leg "clothing".
The second time I went, I needed my nails done for a business trip, and figured on getting a set of acrylics
The second time I went, I needed my nails done for a business trip, and figured on getting a set of acrylics
Miss Z.
Feb 12, 2013
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If I could, I would rate this salon with 0 stars.
We came in to get our nails done two hours before closing. Plenty of time for a couple manicures. She took us to the table to start working, and immediately insulted me. She called me dumb or stupid not once, but three times in a matter of minutes. A little gold nugget she said was "I gotta tell ya, Asians are smart because there aren't any blondes within the race". If she was joking, I'd be fine. But this woman was serious. Not only did she insult me, but she insulted numerous other races. She even went as far as to say that
We came in to get our nails done two hours before closing. Plenty of time for a couple manicures. She took us to the table to start working, and immediately insulted me. She called me dumb or stupid not once, but three times in a matter of minutes. A little gold nugget she said was "I gotta tell ya, Asians are smart because there aren't any blondes within the race". If she was joking, I'd be fine. But this woman was serious. Not only did she insult me, but she insulted numerous other races. She even went as far as to say that
