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This is supposed to be my Monday post but Blogger went apeshit, ate my entry and auto-saved that blank page. A really stressful string of events, but at least I got to refine my entry. Enjoy :P
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Two weeks ago, I was finally able to treat my mom out to my go-to nail spa, Nail Spa Lounge by Ellabell. I feel for her sooo much. Imagine this: she gets her nails done every two weeks so understandably, she will hunt down the lowest price offering. And whaddaya know, she ends up at our local rinky-dink nail spa. I've been there once, and nevermore.
Come one, come all! For the not-cheap price of Php 590, you get a mani-pedi-foot spa that can chip off in as little as three days, despite using Orly polish. They also make it look like you did it yourself 'cause they don't even clean the polish off your skin.
The Conversion of Annie
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| "Oh nail spa deities, speak to me!" |
We got there just in time for our 2PM appointment. What a stroke of dumb luck too! Services done during the weekday promo get up to 15% off! Just come on a Monday to Thursday, 10AM-3PM! Here's a glimpse of the very rockstar-glam yet serene decor:
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| Rockstar-glam with a touch of serenity |
A step inside reveals the facility as really posh and well-decorated. The chairs! They are so plush and soft and comfy, perfect for those long nail treatments. There are wall protrusions for your purse and enough chairs for anything else. I also love that even the nail techs have comfy seats because I feel so bad for them when they're given those monoblock stools for babies.
The customer's chairs are on elevated areas so the nail techs can use regular, padded stools. The floors are very clean because, I assume there are no spills. Why? The foot basins are built-in sinks with temperature controls and removable shower heads, ooooh..
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| Nail spa area of Ellabell's |
Here's my mom settling in her seat.
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| Mom at Ellabell's |
I was a happy camper because we got free drinks. FYI I didn't brandish around my camera proclaiming "I'm a blogger, fear the internet!" Last time I was here, I got a drink too, no camera whatsover :) The time it takes to get your nails done is just sooo long and you can't move much so it gets stuffy and boring. A nice drink makes me more comfy :)
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| Coffee, Iced tea or Water? Iced tea! |
I also love that each nail tech has their own basket of tools. All the metal implements are sterilized and the sealed bag is opened in front of you. Hygiene = LOVE! I just can't fathom how other people think it's okay to cut and possibly draw blood from you using tools that are coated with other people's toe jam a.k.a. kachichas. PWEH! QUE HORROR!
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| No shortage of supplies here |
Before I talk about the treatments we got, I'd like to talk first about the staff. I LOVE the Ellabell staff. They only engage as much as you do, so if you're quiet they shut up, but they kid around with you if you're talkative. I have a deep hatred for women in the service industry who act like palengkeras (market vendors.) I just cannot relax when they are talking smack about celebrities, their coworkers and bosses in shrill and LOUD tones. The girls at Ellabell don't do that and I am eternally grateful! They know how to use their "inside the library" voice y'all!
I also love how they take their time with the services. I don't have to check my watch every five minutes because they don't try to cheat you out of the service. I hate when nail spas list "massage" in the inclusion yet the nail techs just clap thrice on your arm and then poof! That's the massage.
Their skill level is also amaze-balls. I totally respect is that they will not forcibly cut your cuticles. They follow your instructions like, if you don't want your cuticles touched, they won't complain. If you only want the hangnails trimmed, they won't go further. Also, they "wrap" the polish, a pro technique where the tips of your nails are covered with polish. This helps it last and mine was intact for at least a week, though last time lasted TWO WEEKS. My whole lunula was already showing and there was not a single chip in the polish.
Anyway, we both got the Duchess Basic Manicure and the Prima Donna Foot Spa Pedicure.
Duchess Basic Manicure (30 mins.)
Cost: Php 180 (15% off or Php 153 on promo)
Inclusions: hand soak, cuticle oil, cuticle grooming, short hand and arm massage, nail grooming and polish
I was left with this neat hand dryer with fan and heating bulb after my treatment. I lovelovelove it! My inner tomboy always tries to break free when I do my nails- I've never had a retouch-free mani session! Though my nails weren't invincible, and though we kept it on for quite a while, it helped a lot in hardening and protecting my nails. There's also a scallop-like protrusion so you don't have to lay your hand perfectly flat nor let it float awkwardly around the fans.
FYI I still messed it up though. I think I lay down on my finger unknowingly 'cause I noticed a woven imprint on my right ring finger the next day -_-
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| For klutzes like me! |
Prima Donna Foot Spa Pedicure (60 mins.)
Cost: Php 680 (10% off or Php 612 on promo)
Inclusions: foot soak, cuticle oil, cuticle grooming, foot scrub, treatment, callous removal and treatment, foot and leg massage, nail grooming and polish.
I like that each treatment's cream/wax/lotion comes in individual sachets so again, HYGIENE + you are not getting cheated = relaxed me.
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| The treatment. Idk what it does but there was a lotion and my feet were wrapped and set for a while. |
The callous treatment works the same as the mysterious treatment, but you get some warm foot cozies after. I guess it's to activate the treatment and help it get into your skin effectively :) The lotion was pretty minty so I was grateful for hot water on the foot sink.
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| Warm foot cozies |
Me and my mom's favorite part: the bean bag massage! This bean bag is filled with warm pebbles and feels sooooo nice all over the legs and feet.
The Results:
My mani lasted one week without chips at all. It became unwearable by the two-week mark. I love the colors I chose! It made my hands and feet look nice :)
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| My mani and pedi |
I loved my manicure more :) The color is truer in this second photo, it's actually a pink-violet shade.
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| My super neat mani from Ellabell :) |
The Verdict:
My mom has been converted! I'd give the place a BBT score of 4.5/5. There's still an ongoing search for the best nail spa (I'm assuming I'd find this in a premiere hotel) but I'd be super duper glad to stick with Ellabell in the meantime!
The price doesn't turn me off as much but I don't know if I'd be okay with spending this sum if I had my nails done every two weeks. For those who do get manis regularly, what price are you willing to pay for a mani-pedi-foot spa?
Duchess Basic Manicure (30 mins.)
Cost: Php 180 (15% off or Php 153 on promo)
Inclusions: hand soak, cuticle oil, cuticle grooming, short hand and arm massage, nail grooming and polish
Prima Donna Foot Spa Pedicure (60 mins.)
Cost: Php 680 (10% off or Php 612 on promo)
Inclusions: foot soak, cuticle oil, cuticle grooming, foot scrub, treatment, callous removal and treatment, foot and leg massage, nail grooming and polish.
Total Cost for a Mani-Pedi-Foot Spa: Php 860 (Php 765 promo price)
LG/F Northeast Square, Greenhills, San Juan
655 3638
Operating Hours: 10AM-10PM
