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$$$
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Salon Red & Spa
- 31 reviews
- Neighborhood:
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"I went here for the first time the other day, and have to say, it's a lovely place. They have a lounge area for waiting and to sit while…" read more »
17 reviews for Violet's Skin Boutique
I have been a client of Violet's Skin Boutique over a year and I never dissatisfied of the service or products they're using for the service. All the staffs are very friendly and the service is good as always...
My friend from college introduced me to go this boutique because I was suffering from an acne and she told me this place does great job for acne treatment. I went to lots of different place to treat acne but never satisfied at that time... but, Violet's Skin Boutique is different..really different. All their organic products ( toner, soap, acne ointment, and peeling cream etc..) work as fast as you put on and after three months later..it got real better and now I don't have any single pimple on my face but I still go here for herbal facial massage or body scrub.
Violet's Skin Boutique really works for me!
I went to Violet's after my boyfriend got me a gift certificate here and can safely say that I got the best overpriced mani/pedi of my entire life.
However, I did find it rather unsatisfying that the girl doing my nails seemed completely overly concerned about ruining her own nails. Honestly, what does she expect when she works with nail polish remover on an hourly basis? Oh, and the girl at the front desk? Doesn't she have something better to do besides act like a snob and offend customers? Apparently not.
Galyna seems to get a lot of people worked up but if you read carefully it's not due to her results, it's her demeanor. I went here last October to get a facial as a birthday present to myself and it was a crapshoot. I was very lucky to get Galyna.
She has absolutely incandescent skin, which is all the evidence you need that she knows skincare. She is Ukrainian and has the rather abrupt diction of many slavic speakers, lacking as they do the perfect and conditional tenses in their own languages. She was right about me - I *do* love cake, and it *was* poisoning my skin.
After my facial with Galyna, my skin looked amazing and the products she recommended worked a treat and I continue to use them. I'm going to go to her again in a few weeks (I can't afford to get a facial ever six weeks, sorry! Twice a year is all I can handle) so I'll be all glowing for a wedding I'm going to shortly thereafter. I have taken a lot of what she said to heart - I drastically cut down on caffeine, sweets, meat, and increased my water intake and my skin looks better than it has...maybe ever.
I can't give her five stars, though, because she is somewhat abrupt and overly-candid. Sweet and delicate, she is not. But the results are inarguably superb and for that I will keep going back.
I moved back to Boston a few days before my wedding, so I needed to get my pre-wedding beauty regiment done STAT. A few Best of Boston searches later and I made an appointment with Violet for some very personal treatments (IF you know what I mean...).
Violet herself took care of me and I was amazed. I went back every month like clockwork for about 6 or 7 months and every time I saw her she asked about my life, she remembered things I had told her before, she met my husband and said all the right things, she talked about her childhood and her M.S. (in chemistry I think, hence all the lotions and treatments from her own hand). I loved her.
But then a month went by and I couldn't make it. And another. And another. And now I haven't been back in about a year because she is going to yell at me. I know it. I let Violet down and now I am hiding my face at Pyara in Harvard Square.
She is like the task master grandmother who makes you finish your lunch for your own good, memorize your times tables for your own good, and get monthly waxes for your own good.
As for the space, I like the cooling feel of the spa, the no shoes rule, the waiting area and the private rooms. It is hard to feel uncomfortable in such a soothing place.
Violet is gentle, confident, knowledgeable, but will call you out if you are not doing what she thinks is best for you. Oh - for those who have met her, she is her own walking billboard. She is in her early 60's (I think) but doesn't look a day over 45.
Is it true that they reuse their wax?
I had a mixed experience here. There was a great ambience entering the boutique and I particularly liked having to take my shoes off. The actual waxing job wasn't bad and painless, mainly because they use French butter wax which doesn't require any extra material to pull it off. But Violet did proceed to take stabs at my ego by pointing out my flaws in the hopes that I would spend more money on facials, treatments and the like. I thought you were supposed to feel better about yourself after leaving a spa?
Had a few good waxings here, but the last one left my tender skin raw. I'll spare you all the details.
I thought the price was worth it until the above-mentioned skin incident.
I do have to say that the owner, Violet, is a great advertisement for her product(s)- her skin looks flawless. That deserves a star.
I randomly wandered into Violet's two years ago and have been a loyal customer since. I have had all the massages and facials offered - masseuses are professional and great. Violet does my eyebrows and I won't let anyone else (including me) touch them.
Prices are comparable to other day spas on Newbury.
The only drawback: rooms are not soundproof, so you hear noise from around the place.
The new brookline location is terrible. They messed up my credit card transaction, were rude, unorganized. They apologized, so I went back for a facial - then they claimed they botched the appointment and had nothing for me! I just left with no appointment, no apology or correction. Goodbye Violet. You are terrible.
I have it on very good authority that this place DOES re-use their wax. If it goes on your lip, it's probably been on someone's "bikini line." Disgusting. How can this be legal?
Why isn't this linked to the other listing for Violet? There are reviews there that give a different picture of this place.
I had a facial here, which was terrible. Violet broke my skin (not supposed to happen) and the mark took a while to go away.
There are much better places on Newbury and nearby that provide better service and less snobbery.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/24/2008
I'm actually glad to see all the negative reviews. Citysearch (so inferior to yelp) gives Violet 5… Read more »
Ew! Super gross reading the reviews about re-usage of the wax! I tried to schedule a brazilian with Violet because of the rave review on Daily Candy and was told she did not have any open appointments for a while so I could see someone else - whom the receptionist assured me was very good because waxing was all she did at the salon.
I went to my appointment and a lady came out that introduced herself as someone completely new - neither Violet nor the other person the receptionist had promised me. She was running behind by about 15 minutes so she came out to let me know and apologize.
When I finally went in, the wax was sooooo hot I thought I was going to have 3rd degree burns. I tried to keep it in for a while, but my legs kept twitching and I couldn't help but squirm around. I have had waxes on numerous occasions so I know this temperature was not normal!
I finally asked her why the wax was so hot and she seemed to turn the crock pot of wax down but also seemed surprised that I was saying that. The wax never got any cooler. On top of that she was very very slow which just made the entire process way too long and too painful.
Not a fan of this place. Was thinking about going back to see Violet just to give her a chance, but now hearing about the re-use and considering how much it costs - not worth it. Looking for a different place now.
Violet is wonderful! Ladies, this is the place to go for all hair removal needs. The spa has private rooms, and the owner, Violet, is really nice and professional. She creates and mixes her own waxes and moisturizers for each season and skin type. If your eyebrows need some love, Violet has worked wonders for myself and several friends.
I, humbly admit that I went to Violet's to get my 1st facial ever! at the ripe age of 29. I always wanted to get one but was put off by stories that "I would break out the next day" etc...being too vain to ever consider inviting pimples unto my skin: I put it off & put it off. For some reason I had this late 20's rite of passage occurrence of bi monthly disgusting pimples smack on the center of my cheek. It was like a hilarious joke my face was playing on me. Just when the right one would be gone, it's diabolical friend would rear it's malicious head on the left cheek (face people, not butt cheek). Being one who holds herself to an obscene standard of perfection, I wanted to kill my self. I was at my wits end and started to yelp & google esthetician's. There is an annoying review from Kallie H. who has NEVER been there giving them 1 star. Contrary to Kallie, I was treated kindly over the phone and requested Galyna as per a boy's review on her skills from another review site. Violet's is a holistic skin boutique, so everything is natural. They have their own line of skin care that consists of lotions, masks, scrubs, etc..all very nice. Its minimal. And everything is- you guessed it: violet. pens, wall's, towels, etc... For the next 1hr and a half the magical Galyna picked my (at that time disgusting) face. It hurt! No pain no gain...I guess. She gave an analysis of my diet and provided tips on a holistic approach to my lacking skin care. She advised me to detox and dropped knowledge on diet and skin care correlations. She taught me how to correctly put lotion on my face (something I was doing wrong??) and gave me a free elderflower lotion to go. I left refreshed. I felt like my face was finally getting the respect I knew it deserved. And then, I waited...I was terrified. Was I going to get the urban legend pimple's everyone spoke of? No, way jose. It's been a month & so far so good. In the spa, beauty and skin boutique business you GET $ What YOU pay for$$. (about $100 for the 'acne-pore cleaning facial) And that I did (from a professional all should admire and emulate named Galyna).
DO NOT GO HERE!!!!! You would not believe it but its true that they re-use their wax, even the brazilian bikini wax. The owner Violet insists that her employees reuse the same wax stick over and over for multiple clients, even after doing a brazilian wax! They stick their fingers in the creams they apply to your face instead of using spatulas. The owner insists her employees reuse towels rather than changing them between clients. If you all want a sanitary and professional experience, DO NOT go here. I know because MY BEST FRIEND WORKED THERE!!!
I never had an appointment here. I can only base my rating on how I was treated by their front desk staff. By the way - the same lady at the desk looks like the same half naked lady on their website. I dropped by the spa because I was treated poorly over the phone and it had looked nice from the outside. This place proves looks are not everything.
This place is beautiful, but I am very sensitive to touch, and Galyna was a bit rough, she is very much in her head, and I think it affects her ability to be sensitive to the body. I have had many facials, and her extractions are not very efficient, I know extractions are unpleasant but she was particularly rough and hadn't steamed me much beforehand which is crucial. And she massaged me roughly, it wasn't relaxing it was jarring. A good facialist understands the art of healing caring touch, the good ones know how to put you to sleep. Galyna keeps you charged and even insults you. I have had hormonal acne for years, it is a humiliating condition. I am an excellent cook, eating vegetarian, never ever processed foods, and she kept railing on me for my diet being the cause of acne and telling me diet tips for constipation. I found this outrageous because I never once mentioned this condition, and never have it actually, so I was appalled that she assumed it and gave unsolicited advice that was not relevant to me. I felt so bad to be treated this way because of my acne, she never bothered to ask me questions and then give relevant advice, rather she made gross assumptions that I was constipated and stuffing myself with macaroni and cheese everyday (not even close!) and gave unsolicited advice. I want to try Violet because of her reviews, but if you want to relax I do not recommend Galyna.
So initially i gave Violet 4 stars, 4 for really great brows and -1 because they are kind of harsh. I am now going to change my review to two stars. I recently made an appointment for a friday at 530 for and eyebrow waxing about a week in advance. I got a call the day before saying I need to rescedule because Violet wanted to leave early? This is probably the most unprofessional experience with this salon. Who doesnt want to leave work early? I feel an appointment is a commitment and if you don't want to see me just because you want to leave early that day is showing not much respect for your customers. I would perfectly understand if it was an emergency or something urgent but to "want to leave early that day" is very rude. Not all of us have all the time in the world I made that appointment for that time because that was the only time I am not busy. I now see how she does not value customers or customer service. She may be good at brows but she is not a queen. I will not be resceduling.
