VR Salon & Spa

Can’t speak to their quality of work but their customer service was the worst I’ve ever encountered in all the massage businesses I’ve ever dealt with.
Purchased 2 Groupons for a 60mins massage for my husband and me. To be fair I did wait until almost 3wks before it expired but it was only a 4 month groupon not a 6 or 12 month expiration.
I called and the male scheduler was not accommodating at all. We said we really needed a weekend but would do a late Thurs or Fri appt which would still require us leaving work a little early to make. We work south of Lakewood/​Tacoma area. He said that there was just no way he could get us in and that he wasn’t going to extend our expiration date.
We called Groupon and they asked us to give them 72 hrs to work with the merchant and attempt to resolve the issue and get them to accommodate beyond the expiration if they couldn’t get us in before that.
Two weeks later Groupon refunded us. Clearly this merchant does not care about their reputation, return customers or by mouth recommendations.

I originally had a massage scheduled for me and a facial scheduled for my mom as a Mother’s Day thing, but was called last minute informing me that they no longer had a masseuse. The voicemail said that they called me the day before my appointment also, but got my voicemail, but I had no record of that first call. I was kind of annoyed, but took my mom anyway. When I got there, I was planning on just dropping her off and walking around Kent Station, but started talking to Brandon the receptionist/​owner there, and ended up having a great time and scheduling an appointment for a haircut. He was so personable and friendly. He even sold me some great hair products and was extremely knowledgeable about hair/​beauty. I had a great time waiting for my mom there and chatting with him.
When I came back for my haircut, I was scheduled with Kasi, and she’s a wonderful hair stylist. She cut my hair perfectly and not even cut it so that it flattered my face shape, she also took into consideration my head shape (it’s kind of weird, lol), which no one’s ever done. I spoke with her about what I wanted and she delivered. My hair looked amazing and I felt amazing. She was really friendly and fun to talk to, which made my experience even better.
The girl that used to cut my hair stopped cutting hair, so I’ve been looking for someone new for about a year now, and I think I’ve found her. I actually have an appointment today to color my hair!
I highly recommend this place. I only gave it four stars because it is a bit pricey, but I think it’s worth it and will be going here from now on.

Let me start by saying something nice. The 2 guy schedulers are pleasant and always accomodating. The décor & set up of the salon & spa is nice & clean.
My 2 star review is more directed towards the massuse I scheduled with today. I’m sitting here right now, over an hour into my scheduled appointment time and no sign of this gal. The scheduler/​receptionist gentleman chats with me and apologizes. Hmm I can’t help but think, did they over/​double book me? Then maybe my low review is for the overall spa and not just this massage gal. So she finally came out (mid review), doesn’t apologize or say hello. Simply takes me paper off the coffee table and say ‘oh you have problems too?’. I say «excuse me?». She just ignores me silently. Then she asks me if I have allergies to any topical solutions. I explained I did, as stated on my paper. Then she just walks away… mind you its now been an hr and 15 mins since my scheduled massage. Fuck I’m being nice & patient today.
— pause review, to resume post massage, if it ever happens — so I’ve rendered other spa services from VR and I’ve never had shotty service. (facials, hair, etc.)
So the massage was… disappointing. She brings me into the room and gives me the standard massage disclaimer. As I was getting undressed (I’m pretty quick. probably a 1 minute stripper.), she one-​knock knocks and opens the door. Hope she liked the full monty. (That was her ‘tip’, IMO.) So she talked ALOT, and whenever she talked, she’d stop massaging. I had the corner massage room, which shares a wall with a clothing store… I could hear customers talking, clothing being hung, etc. So after an hour of listening to the clinking of hangers and the massage girl talking about MMA, she had the audacity to openly and directly say ‘if you’d like to leave a cash tip, please leave it here at this time.” So basically you’re asking me to give you cash in hand?! She disregarded my massage requests (problem spots and when i told her to stop doing something she didn’t). And I saw her student ID displayed by her license… she’s a newb. UGH. Im pretty bummed I got this one crappy experience. But it really, really turned me off. considering I was naked.

*****
I have to defend Jenny (12/​22/​2010) a little.
I visited Chi around the same time and gave her a pic of auburn hair, swoop bangs, shoulder length — but very specifically and repeatedly said NOT THAT SHORT. I said give me the *color* and give me the *style/​shape* but maintain my length (mid-​back). I even said NO more than 2in and held up my fingers to show the max. I ended up with shoulder length hair and she chopped off nearly 2 years of growth/​4+ inches when I was insanely specific about NOT doing that.
I am sure she is good if you’re a regular bc she already knows what to deliver and I am sure she is good if you’re not too picky and/​or don’t have anything particular in mind. HOWEVER, if you’re bringing in a pic, make sure it’s EXACTLY how you want it, no variations with Chi cause she won’t hear you. That is the negative.
To Chi’s credit, even though the length was too short, the color and cut were spot on. Very well done. I think she does have a good eye, but she has (figuratively) no ears – good instincts but doesn’t listen well. She also commented in conversation about short-​short hair not being ladylike, which I thought was weird.
It’s all good, I mean I am over it by now but I had to step in and say that Jenny wasn’t being 100% drama queen. (Cant’ speak on the overcharging claim. Sometimes salons over-​upsell and sometimes people try to take advantage of discounts/​coupons) In my case though, there were plusses and minuses. I will definitely not be seeing Chi again but Brandon at VR did apologize and rectify the situation as best he could, which it sounds like he did (or attempted to) for Jenny also.
I can speak highly of Katana for sugaring and facials! And its true the location of VR, customer service, atmosphere and facilites are great!

I have been a dedicated client to Chi for a couple years now, following her from a previous salon she worked at. My mom has also been getting her hair done by Chi for about 7 or 8 years and has gone to other stylists before but none of them have given her fabulous hair results as Chi has! VR salon and spa is a beautiful place, very posh and put together. The staff makes you totally relaxed and welcome offering beverages of your choice and giving you expensive shampoo samples for you too try out before you buy anything.
Back to Chi– I cant even begin to describe her color and highlighting skills, she is the best of the best! She always gives me the perfect cut, wether i’m going shorter, want long or short layers or bangs. She is very consistent with her work and i always leave her chair with shiny, soft, healthy and gorgeous looking hair! Not only can she give a great cut and color she is also amazing at styling hair. I always go to her if i need a classic up-​do or voluminous curls, she can do any style you want, as well as help you find the perfect extensions for your hair.
Everyone at VR salon and spa is friendly and courteous, and Chi Rocks!

Long time user first time poster…
I use Unilocal for everything and they have never steered me wrong — except NOW!
I visited VR Salon this past weekend, because I had purchased a Groupon (which I love about as much as Unilocal!) I have been a loyal client of Christy Carner Salon in Fremont for a while now, but trying to save a few bucks around the holidays I thought I would VR Salon a shot. Bad — Bad — Bad decision!!! Let me start off by saying that I came in prepared! I brought in pictures of the cut I wanted and showed pictures of my hair after it was done at Christy’s. She barely looked at them! I was like do you see how it is there? Just like that please! She was trying to persuade me into «chunky» highlights — I said no thank you. She said they are very popular with the young girls — you sure? Yes I am sure and BTW I’m 32 and would like to look professional/​cute not like I’m 10, but thanks. I had to bring the pictures out half way through the cut to remind her what she was doing… She recommended that I shouldn’t go shorter it’s not lady like. Who is this lady!!! So I used my Groupon $ 95 value and when checking out she said I owed $ 100 — WTH??? I was over charged left with chunky hightlights and a cut that I could have given myself with a blind fold. My good deed for the month is letting everyone know to pay more and go to a REPUTABLE salon, just any salon besides this one. I have called twice and emailed to try and get my money back or at the very least the amount I was overcharged… Still waiting to hear back… Wish I could do negative stars, the 1 I have to give is for the brand of shampoo they use — I did like that.
ps. Chi sucks.

New and clean is the best part. Pushy stylist, didn’t get the cut I wanted, got foils I didn’t ask for and harassed by the staff when they made a billing error. Will not be going back.