Good to Know
Frequently asked questions
Everything guests ask us most — services, booking, aftercare and how we care for your nails.
We work with The Gel Bottle, OPI, Zen Builder and Dazzle Dry, alongside other professional-grade lines, and we use the official Après Gel-X system for extensions. Color availability shifts as collections come and go, so if you have something specific in mind, call ahead and we’ll check before your visit.
Classic polish is the traditional finish: lovely for a few days and easy to change at home. Dazzle Dry is a vegan, non-toxic formula that dries completely in about five minutes and wears for roughly a week, with no lamp needed. Gel is cured under a lamp and keeps its shine for two to three weeks — the best value if you’d rather not think about your nails for a while.
Of course. We’re glad to apply a color you’ve brought with you. The price stays the same, since the time and care involved don’t change.
Gel polish is color alone, applied over your natural nail. Dip powder adds a little strength and color without a lamp. BIAB — Builder in a Bottle — is a flexible overlay that protects and strengthens natural nails as they grow. Gel-X is a full-coverage soft gel extension when you want length.
All of them are gel-based systems. Enhancements are removed by filing the surface back and then soaking in acetone, so the product releases rather than being forced off.
Gel polish holds two to three weeks. Dip, builder gel and Gel-X typically last three to four weeks, with a refill to keep them looking fresh.
Zen Builder Gel. It adds a protective layer that flexes with your natural nail rather than fighting it, so your nails can grow out underneath while staying supported. Returning clients don’t need it removed — we simply refill.
We’re also introducing BIAB soon, a flexible overlay for nails that need extra support as they grow.
Our Classic Pedicure covers all the essentials — a warm soak, nail and cuticle care, light callus smoothing, a fresh lemon and sugar scrub, and a relaxing massage. The spa pedicures build on that with longer treatment and richer ingredients, from the Bubble Bloom Deluxe through to the 24K Golden. What really separates them is time in the chair: the spa treatments are unhurried by design.
Yes — two of our technicians specialize in it. When you book, add your idea to the notes and include a reference photo if you have one. That lets us set aside enough time and make sure the right artist is with you.
Pricing depends on complexity, time and materials, and it’s the same for hands or toes.
We don’t. Every enhancement we offer is gel-based, which means no monomer and none of the sharp chemical smell that usually comes with it. It makes for a much quieter hour.
HEMA is a common ingredient in gel that some people react to. HEMA-free options are available across our gel services.
Not necessarily — but booking ahead is the surest way to get the time and the technician you’d like, particularly at weekends. Walk-in and late-arrival details are under Policies & Safety.
Yes — choose your technician when you book online, or simply ask when you call.
We do — bridal parties, birthdays and small private events. Email cspadedham@gmail.com or call the salon and we’ll build something around your group.
Cash, all major credit and debit cards, Venmo, Cash App and Apple Pay. Our prices are the same whichever you choose — there are no card surcharges. There’s also an ATM in the salon if you’d prefer to pay in cash.
Yes — available at the front desk. Online gift cards are coming soon.
A few habits make more difference than anything we do in the chair:
- Cuticle oil, twice a day. It keeps the nail flexible so the gel moves with it instead of lifting at the edges — the single most effective thing you can do.
- Gloves for washing up and cleaning. Hot water and detergent soften gel and weaken the seal.
- Keep acetone away. Some hand sanitisers, polish removers and household cleaners gradually break the finish down.
- Don’t use your nails as tools — opening cans and prising off lids is what breaks them.
Applied and removed properly, no. Most of the damage people blame on gel comes from removal — picking, peeling or over-filing, which takes layers of the nail plate with it and leaves nails thin and brittle. It can take months to grow back.
That’s why we file back the product and let acetone do the rest, rather than drilling into the nail itself — and why we’d always rather you came in than pulled a set off at home. If your nails ever feel thin or tender, tell us and we’ll adjust what we use.
Most enhancement manufacturers recommend taking the old product off after the second refill — so roughly every three months, the cycle runs: a new set, two refills, then a fresh set.
Starting clean stops product building up layer over layer, which is what leads to lifting and, left long enough, moisture getting trapped underneath. Take-off is complimentary with every new set, so the fresh start costs you nothing extra.
It’s a guideline rather than a rule. Ask your technician — they’ll look at how your nails are wearing and tell you whether you’re due for a fresh set or good for another refill.
Extensions last far better with a little daily attention:
- Brush them daily with the spoolie we give you, and keep them clean — clean lashes hold better than untouched ones.
- Avoid oil-based products around the eyes; oil breaks down the adhesive.
- Don’t pick, pull or rub them.
- Skip the lash curler, and mascara where you can.
- Pat dry rather than rubbing — a cool setting on the hairdryer helps.
- Keep away from direct heat: oven doors, grills, cigarettes.
Every two to three weeks. Your natural lashes shed on their own cycle and take extensions with them, so even a set that still looks full has grown out underneath. Regular fills keep them even and stop outgrown extensions tangling or pulling on your natural lashes.
Yes. Let us know what was applied if you remember, and we’ll choose the gentlest method for your nails.
Yes, subject to availability.
Tools are cleaned and sterilized after every guest, and each pedicure bowl gets a fresh disposable liner. Files and buffers that can’t be fully sterilized are single-use.
Please tell us about any allergies, medical conditions, injuries or infections beforehand. We won’t perform services over infected or broken skin, for your safety and ours. Ingrown nails aren’t treated as part of a pedicure service.
Salon policies
- Appointments & late arrivalsWalk-ins are always welcome and we’ll do our best to fit you in. There’s a ten-minute grace period; beyond that we may need to shorten or reschedule your service.
- CancellationsPlease give us at least three hours’ notice. Late cancellations and no-shows are subject to a $15 fee.
- Service guaranteeAll services are guaranteed for 7 days. If anything lifts, chips or comes down to workmanship, come back and we’ll put it right — complimentary. Repairs are fitted in as a courtesy around booked appointments, so we’ll usually ask you to come during a quieter part of the day. The guarantee doesn’t cover normal wear and tear, or work that has since been altered by another salon.
- RefundsServices are final and we don’t issue cash refunds. If management confirms a workmanship issue within the guarantee period, we’ll put it right with a complimentary correction.
- If you’re not happyPlease tell us before you leave. We’d much rather fix it while you’re still in the chair, and we’ll always try. Once you’ve left, we take that as acceptance of the finished service.
- Children & guestsChildren are welcome but must stay supervised. For safety, children who aren’t receiving a service shouldn’t come into the service areas.
- Photos & social mediaWe often photograph finished nails for social media and quality control. Just tell any staff member if you’d rather not be included.
- Personal belongingsC Spa is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged personal belongings. Please keep your valuables with you at all times.
- Pricing transparencyOur full service menu with prices is available online and in the salon. Prices are subject to change without notice.