Troutman’s College of Manicuring

I went there with a Groupon without checking out any of the reviews. The first thing I would say is make sure to drive around the back of the building and park in the back as that is the entrance to the place. I was happy I did that as you walk right in and you are there. If you go expecting a luxurious spa environment, you will be disappointed. If you go to get an inexpensive mani/​pedi that is done well by the students, then you won’t be disappointed. I liked the fact that I had two students working on me at the same time, one doing the pedi, and one doing one hand of the mani, then she moved to my other side and did the other hand. This was very comfortable and I felt kind of like a movie star. Also having them done at once, got me in and out quicker. Both students did a great job on my nails, especially the pedicure, but both look great. There is not a large selection of polishes, so if I return I might bring my own. So to sum it up, it you want to go to this place and pay $ 22 (regular price) for a mani/​pedi and have a no frills type experience, I would say give it a try. If you buy a Groupon, then it’s about $ 13 for both. A steal if you ask me.

IF I could just rate the students, they would each get five stars! One did my toes. One did my nails. They spent a lot of time and paid close attention to detail.
The rest… well, that leaves a lot to be desired. Fluorescent lights. Uncomfortable seating. They do mani/​pedi at the same time, so your body is twisted at an uncomfortable angle to accommodate both.
I had bought a groupon– it was $ 12 for both services. I doubt I would pay more than that, because the ambiance is just so horrible and non-​spa like. One of the students screamed «SOMEONE STOLE MY STUFF» and the instructor went around the room and searched every students’ box of supplies. It was really unprofessional and not cool at all. It reminded me of a scene from «Orange is the New Black». A bunch of students in scrubs and a woman crying «THIEF!» Micromanaging management. Bright lights. Ugly décor.
I’m not sure I would ever return here.

The location is a little shady (the back of a strip mall in a bad area of town). The owner is disorganized and loud and smells of smoke. The «college» is a cramped room with cheap chairs, poor quality of implements used and only 1 machine to dry nails which wasn’t even offered to me even though I was the only one with wet nails. The polish used is very cheap (even after 2 coats I can still see through it). Bring your own polish if you go. The students and one of the instructors complained about the polish and the poor conditions of the chairs. All in all a groupon for $ 11 was still overpriced for the service I got. The only shining star is Ruth who did my pedicure as she did a good massage on my feet and legs.

Of course, if the owner was smoking, it was unhealthy for the students as well as the customers. I imagine that the owner will change her ways for the sake of all.
Having said that, I would like to tell you about my experience as a customer of Troutmans.
I come from the northeast and we have extended stays in the triangle region whenever possible. I came across Troutmans because they participated in Groupon.
I called to make an appointment and the owner was lovely to me. I have been there a number of times since, often with several weeks or months between visits. I agree with you that the students, without exception, practice good hygiene and are very pleasant with the customers. The students have done an unfailingly good and professional job on the manicures and pedicures. On my first visit, Charmaine politely instructed one student to put on my nice new sandals and to make sure she slid a paper towel between my foot and the shoe so that the polish did not get on my shoe.
I have been to many salons at home and in my travels on the road. I came away from Troutmans a very happy customer. I found that, especially with the Groupon, I could afford a lovely luxury. Many of the salons that I have paid full price for have an overwhelming smell of beauty products and apparently a complete lack of ventilation. In many of them, the beauticians have trouble understanding the instructions that you give them in English and spend the entire visit communicating with fellow workers in their native language. The students (of every nationality) at Troutmans are very humble, conscientious, and customer oriented. For these additional reasons, I found Troutmans an especially nice place to be and that is why I am giving it five stars. It is a school, after all. I have always thought that the owner and the students deserve a lot of credit.