5th & Fringe Salon & Spa

I really enjoyed my pedicure here in January 2011. I bought Groupons for me and my stepmom for Christmas and we went for mani/​pedis on a chilly Saturday morning.
The minute I read «Aveda spa» I know I’m in for a good experience, and this did not disappoint.
The pedicure chairs were great, and I loved that the water is heated, so it stays hot throughout your soak (unlike other places where your feet get chillier and chillier throughout the experience — which is not relaxing).

So I also purchased a groupon and intended to used it back in November. ! remember distinctly because I had an appointment on my birthday. I was very excited to spend my birthday afternoon getting a little pampering. They called me early that morning to say their manicurist was out sick and there was no one else. I was definitely disappointed, but they were nice about it and i just figured i’d reschedule at some later date. So I finally used my groupon this month. Based on all the previous reviews I’m really glad I waited. It seems like they were just really overwhelmed with groupon business.
My experience was wonderful. From the moment I walked in the staff was friendly and warm. Brenna did my nails and she did a great job. I loved everything about my treatments. The hand massage was amazing! And she helped me come up with an individualized cool color combination (I always like an accent nail). My manicure didn’t last that long, but that’s my expectation. My work doesn’t allow for a long life on polish (nurse). But my toes still look great and it’s been 2+weeks. The one issue I had was I purchased a bottle of my toe polish at the end, and $ 12.50 for OPI is steep.
Great service and a warm atmosphere. I would totally go back and would recommend it for sure.

Used a Groupon and very similar experience to what some of the negative reviews described, minus the difficulty of scheduling an appointment since I waited nearly a year to go. The place was actually dead. One other person came in for a haircut while I was there. No sea salt exfoliation, no massage of any kind, poor paint job on hands and toes, nail polish is gloppy in some spots, and barely covering my nails in others. I thought the nail polish selection was decent though. Definitely not worth what they would charge full-​price and barely worth the Groupon price. Very disappointing.

This review is based almost entirely on eyelash extensions.
So. I had the fantastic idea to get eyelash extensions for my wedding. Why? I didn’t want to deal with running mascara and wanted a thicker lash for my wedding day. I’ve never had eyelash extensions, but my roommate in Chicago used to get them, and I thought they had a more natural look than fake eyelashes and were really prety.
I googled «Royal Oak» and «eyelash extensions» and came right to the «menu» of Fringe. $ 30! What a steal!
Yeah.
I think I know why.
The stylist did a really poop show of a job applying them. They did not look natural at all. Mostly because she globbed adhesive and it basically looked like I had tar-​filled eyelashes. They were shiny. They were extremely noticeable as unnatural. They were the eyelash baby of Katy Perry and Minnie Mouse.
BUT! And this is where it starts to get funny. I only had them on the end of my eyes. So, imagine me with super long, globby eyelashes, but only on the ends. The middle part is normal length. You see, they have an annoying rule that the first application they’ll only do these ends so you «get used to them.» Get used to them while you look like you singed half your eyelashes off? No thanks. The waiver also says something like, «This is the price to pay for star treatment.» Oh, really, Fringe? Me thinks you know little about star treatment.
Rather than get the rest of them on there and look like a synthetic-​lashed porn star (on my wedding day mind you), I decided to go back just to remove them. Everywhere online says that you should only get them removed by a professional.
The «stylist» informed me that I had signed a waiver where she would not remove them. What? I’m assuming they do this b/​c if you remove them with their globby adhesive, you’re going to pull out the majority of your eyelashes on that side.
To say I’m livid with this lady is an understatement. Thanks, Fringe, but next time I want longer eyelashes for an important day in my life, I’ll just go out and stand too close to the grill while I light it.
One of the worst experiences at the salon.
Their positives are pleasant greeters and a nice waiting room. Also, no tips allowed. My free tip to you, Fringe: Take eyelash extensions off your list of services. You’re clearly not qualified.

Well, this is plenty embarrassing. I had a walk-​in appointment at a RO salon and was trying to find the place again.
I also wrote a long review aout 5^th & Fringe, thinking it was the place. (See my 6 Salon review.)
The receptionist hung on the phone with me for several minutes to try and determine the place I’d originally gone to. Great customer service for someone who isn’t even a customer.

I have attended Aveda salons for years — and this one is barely okay. The environment is pretentious, the no tipping policy incorporates the tip into the services and is for their convenience, not the customers, the customer service is not great, the stylists not very personable (Andrea) and the receptionist (Megan) is just about useless. They refuse to provide pricing information in person or even during a consult. It feels shady and uncomfortable. The services are overpriced and just not exceptional. There are far too many great salons in Royal Oak and many more Aveda salons that are just so much better. They don’t have a lot of customers and more often than not, will be empty when you come in. (
for better options)

I think it’s unfortunate that the rating for Fifth and Fringe is very skewed based on a lot of people that signed up for the groupon deal and had issues regarding scheduling. I think it’s pretty unreasonable to expect an appointment with short notice based on the number of new clients that signed up for groupon certificates.
That being said, I am a regular customer who loves the salon. I’m pretty particular, and really did my research a couple of years ago before first going to Fifth and Fringe. I originally switched after going to another salon that was less expensive, but the stylist wasn’t at the same expert level (bad eyebrow wax and haircut, only a few months apart) as the staff at Fifth and Fringe. Although the prices were a little more than what I was paying (mind you, prices include tip per a no tipping policy), it is well worth the extra cash to leave the salon happy every time (and it’s still less than what I used to pay in Birmingham). The staff always greets me warmly, asks if I’d like something to drink (and the Aveda tea is a nice, relaxing option) and then show me to the comfortable waiting area. They have also been very accommodating and have come in earlier than scheduled to fit me in a few times as well. Stef is a great hairstylist with a very warm and fun demeanor. She is an expert stylist and colorist, and she has given me my favorite hair cut that I have ever had! I think, overall, the staff is very professional, friendly and the salon itself has a cool vibe with a good selection of music.

I’m one of «those» people. You know the type, doesn’t like to spend money on things she can do herself, like manicures and pedicures (I blame it on how much it irritates me when someone else files my nails, it’s like nails on chalkboard to me), but when a groupon comes up, of course I’m going to take advantage! I’m not cheap, I’m fashionably-​financially-​sensible :)
Armed with my groupon, and on a couple days notice, I was able to get a Sunday morning appointment. The girl that did my mani/​pedi (it’s been a while, I can’t remember who it was) did a good job, and when one of my nails smudged, she corrected it. The manicure didn’t last more than a couple of days (which is pretty typical, and exactly why I don’t get manicures often) but the pedicure? Lasted through my vacation the following week and for about 3 weeks after. Well worth it.

Michelle & Stella must be 2 in a million at the Salon & Spa because I can’t tell that the place is worth anything above 1 star. This also takes into consideration the method behind the sales pitch. I did use a Groupon for my mani/​pedi. They sold close to 1,500 that day. I feel that they used it do get instant cash flow and that was it. (You do the math 1,489 X $ 40= quick stream of cash).There is no way a business should subject many 1^st time customers to poor workmanship off top. How do they expect people to return if the 1^st experience is horrible! If you are going to have techs that are straight out of Aveda’s training program, it should have been disclosed in the fine print of Groupon & let the consumer decide if they want to buy it. THEY STATED: SKILLED, EXPERIENCED STAFF. That’s a lie because my tech. hadn’t been in the industry that long!
My experience: I had no problem making a weekday appointment. When I got there I was greeted by 2 young ladies, one who was twirling her hair around her finger in boredom. The place was DEAD! There was 1 person getting her hair done & 1 other person getting a mani/​pedi. The other young lady was pleasant and took me to the waiting area. I thought she was the receptionist because she really didn’t seem to know what she was doing, but SHE WAS THE NAIL TECH.!! I figured that out when she asked me about polish. They use OPI brand polish which I hear is really good. In my opinion they don’t have a wide selection of polish. I find a wider selection of polish in the local nail shops even though it’s not all OPI. So I tell the tech. it’s my first time there & she has me sit in the chair. I didn’t realize it was a massage chair til after she was done & I noticed the remote tucked under the pillows as I got up to get the mani (ya think she could have mentioned it).
Pedi: I looked at my heels & they were rougher than when I came in. (HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE!) There was no leg exfoliation and she didn’t even try to use the pumice effectively. (I have never left my usual nail shop with rough heels. They make sure my feet look good & they only charge $ 25)
Mani: There was no sea-​salt hand scrub. My cuticles were not cleaned properly. The polish chipped within 3 hours and I hadn’t even had my hands in water or did any work!!! Then when I put my glasses on and look closer, the polish wasn’t even coated on the sides unpolished.
They promoted this as the real deal (I looked back at the site to reread what services they were supposed to provide). If that is the case I would never go back because this was not a $ 60+ pedi & $ 35 mani. I felt like I was a test dummy for a beauty school student to work on to get their hours in. In no way shape or form did I feel like I was in an upscale salon getting superb service (besides Pandora radio playing overhead). The only good thing out of all this was the paraffin wax that she used on my hands, but that’s not worth the overall crappy job she did.
In the end I had to remove all the polish, buy the OPI nail polish (I loved Suzi Says Da!) & redo it myself. On the pedicure, I grabbed my pedi egg & fixed myself right up. I foolishly bought multiple Groupons, so I hope Groupon will give me my money back because I wouldn’t even give them as a gift to someone I didn’t like. 5TH & Fringe did not live up to what they advertised. I wouldn’t mind paying $ 100 for a good mani/​pedi as a treat for myself, but I need to be satisfied if I am going to pay a premium price for something that I could get cheaper elsewhere. The owner really screwed up if he/​she was trying to drum up repeat business from this.

OK. Here it is:
Originally I purchased 5 groupons because my friend is about to get married. I called and asked if I could make an appt for the girls the day ahead of time, and specifically said I wouldn’t purchase them if they couldn’t get us in. I spoke with a woman and she said yes of course. So I called to make a appointment several times and was told they would call me back (all the while giving me the impression the appointment would be no problem.) Finally I got a return phone call last week and they said flat out, «No.» I was NOT offered another time or another day.
How does someone react to that?
I asked to speak with the manager the girl on the phone, Amanda said she was the manager. This girl was extremely rude and unprofessional. I asked to speak with the owner. She said, «I’ve already spoke with them.» and refused to give me a name or a phone number. I asked her for a phone call back from an owner by noon on Monday, she reluctantly agreed. I never received a phone call.
I have been a retail manager for 10 years, and I have never been spoken to in this manner, ever.
Regardless of the fact that I had a groupon, I should have been treated like any other customer.
I can not speak for the service at 5^th & Fringe, but I believe they couldn’t handle the business generated from the groupon.
From what I’ve read, the service for the mani-​pedi isn’t worth the $ 40 anyway.

I’ve been a patron of 5^th & Fringe for more than two years. Andrea, my stylist, is absolutely amazing! I’ve never left there with a cut I didn’t like! If she suggests something, I know it’s going to turn out great. The «no tipping» policy is cool too.
The interior is warm and inviting, and they have a fantastic selection of Aveda products. There has only been one or two times they didn’t have a product in stock that I wanted to buy.
I also get my eyebrows done here, and I’m always consulted on the look I want before the wax hits my skin. Not only are they very careful, but they apply a soothing ointment to my brows afterward — and I hardly get any redness.
I’ve never had a mani/​pedi at 5^th & Fringe, so I can’t speak to those services, but I’ve had a tremendous experience with their styling and waxing services.

I am also a Groupon purchaser who was a first timer at 5^th and Fringe. I was tickled pink with the service I received. My friend and I had to wait a few weeks for an opening for the both of us together, but as another reviewer said, «you give a little to get a little.» Other than that, everything was excellent.
My technician was Michelle. My friend’s was Stella. They both were engaging, interesting, and good at what they do all around. We were both very happy with what we received and would definitely go back again.
Oh, and their pedicure seats are the best. They massage and vibrate. Ahhhhh…

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Salon!!! I have been a client since it opened and have always been totally satisfied. Even my friends started going to the salon and they love it as well!!! Thank you for all you do! Your the best!!!

I was hoping to be able to write a nice little review but, I am sad to say I was more disappointed in this salon than I could have imagined. I too purchased a Groupon. I called that day to make an appointment and the kind receptionist said that due to the large volume of appointments being made she would have to take my name and number and they would get back to me. Ok no biggie, I was excited to get a deal — you give a little to get a little. They did call me the next day and I finally was able to find an appointment that would work for me and my girlfriend that was about 3 weeks away. Sweet, we were excited.
The day of our appointment we got there. The interior seemed nice, minus the piles of boxes by the reception desk. The music was clubby not so calming. We were greeted and taken to the waiting area and offered a beverage. Nice, and I just love that Aveda tea! We then were asked to present our Groupons and then we were met by our manicurists (is that the right word?) and taken to the nail area.
This is where I started to question the situation. There was a VERY limited selection of colors to choose from, most of them had sparkles which just isn’t my style. Next we had our hands dipped in the paraffin that was perched on a very scary looking apparatus, I actually knocked it and nearly sent the wax flying. The little mitts they put on your hands after were soft and nice. We then sat in some massage (more like vibrating) chairs and soaked our feet. What happened next was not the indicated services on the Groupon — no sea salt exfoliation, no expert care, not a good pedicure at all. The staff members spent most of the time talking to each other or complaining about how their backs hurt, or that they wanted to go out for Friday night fun, or that they were annoyed that they had appointments after our 7:30 appointment. My nails were barely shaped, nothing was moisturized and the paint job I could have done (which isn’t a good thing)…
Next was our manicures, which unfortunately took place at manicure stations on opposite sides of the salon so my friend and I couldn’t chat. My nails were not shaped well, nothing was moisturized and no sign of that lovely sea salt exfoliation I was promised. My nails looked a hot mess when I left, in fact the paint job on my right hand actually melted off by the time we walked across the street for dinner — like when you accidentally leave lotion on your hands before polishing. Completely disappointed I went home and removed the polish and tried to refile my nails, ended up just having to cut them to make them even.
We learned that the girls providing our services had not been at the salon long, the one working on my friend had started the week before. No biggie if they did a decent job but they didn’t. Groupon should NOT be a way to train your staff. Also, while I don’t mind spending some time at the salon when it takes nearly 2 hours for a really poor manicure and pedicure it’s frustrating. I guess the staff doesn’t feel as motivated when they already know what they’re being tipped. Won’t be back and I’m glad I didn’t purchase anyone else this Groupon as a gift… I would be returning it!

I also purchased a Groupon for 5^th & Fringe and scheduled an appointment with a super friendly and accommodating receptionist. People need to understand the massive quantities who purchase the Groupons each day and should NOT expect to get in the next day. Or WEEK if you call the second the Groupon ends! I currently live in Chicago so scheduled for next month when I’m back in town and I look forward to my service. I’ve never been let down at 5^th & Fringe :)

I can’t confirm what the other reviewer said about scheduling problems with the Groupon. I also purchased the Groupon deal and decided to make an appointment about 2 weeks after it had ended. I didn’t get my my first choice of appointment, but something the day after (I called about a week before my desired date).
I am extremely happy with the mani/​pedi I got there. Michelle made me feel very welcome and she was super easy-​going. We chatted a bit and the whole Spa was quasi empty, so it was very soothing. The music they played was great and the atmosphere is very zen.
Also, my manicure lasted almost a full week without chipping, which is unheard of for me and my toe-​polish: not a chip in sight after 2 weeks!

I purchased the Groupon deal in July. It was for a Parafin Mani and Pedi for $ 40. They listed the value of the services at over $ 100. I was very excited to use this Groupon as I would be leaving for vacation two days after and wanted to look great.
Unfortunately, there was nothing done that was even worth the $ 40 I spent. The girl who did my nails admitted that she had JUST graduated from Beauty School two weeks prior and was hired specifically to handle the Groupon Customers. She also went on to explain that she really wanted to do hair but that she had to do nails first before they would let her. Then she told me about the tiered pricing that the salon uses. Its pretty simple: the more experience you have the more you get to charge. What I find extremely disturbing and a clear cut case of FALSE ADVERTISING is that the value listed for the Groupon is obviously top tier, yet I was given the lowest tier Manicurist.
To summarize the service: She did not ask me to wash my hands before submerging them in the parafin wax, my nails were filed to a HORRIBLE shape and left with rough edges, my cuticles were not pushed back or cut, she didn’t clean under the free edge, and the polish job was atrocious. Upon leaving I RACED to the nearest Nail Shop and begged them to squeeze me in for an emergency fix. They ended up charging me $ 54 to redo the screw up. Not to mention my nails are now stubby little short things as opposed to the nice long and healthy nails I started with. By the time I tipped them ($ 5 to the girl who did the Mani and $ 10 to the girl who did the Pedi) I had spent $ 109 to get a decent Mani and Pedi done. This experience also wasted close to 4 hours of my time.
DO NOT EVER GO TO 5TH AND FRINGE.
*** I just read some of the reviews posted in response to Zoya’s post that was also about the Groupon deal. What I will say is that this salon may USUALLY provide excellent service and experienced stylists, but that they are using ROOKIES FOR THE GROUPON… so don’t be surprised if that experience isn’t up to the salon’s normal standards…

I was excited to purchase this salon’s Groupon after they advertised a mani and a pedi for $ 40 instead of the usual $ 105. I must add that I live in CA and was looking particularly forward to getting the services when I was visiting MI. 2 friends and I got the Groupon together and were happy to spend some time at the salon catching up.
My friend called to schedule an appt before the Groupon was even sold out (2 weeks before our desired appt date). We were able to come in at any available time on that date. My friend spent a couple of days trying to schedule an appointment but was told that they were too full to accommodate us. On the last day of «negotiations», after 3 phone calls just that day, including one where the woman said she was 90% sure she was going to get us in, they said they can’t get 3 people in. When asked if they could get 2 people in that wasn’t possible either. We were told they are now booked solid through October (this is end of July). My friend made a comment about how she knows some small businesses are unprepared for the Groupon rush and the lady got all snippy and said ‘No that’s not what’s going on here’. Yeeeeeah.
So thankfully, Groupons are returnable. I can’t speak to this salon’s service but I can surely tell you that they don’t know how to run their schedules and are definitely not prepared for the business that Groupon got them. The Groupon expires July 2011. If you decide to go there before then I guarantee you will see a lot of overworked service providers working in a salon full of clients over capacity. No thank you.