Dumbo NYC

Notes from the DUMBO, Brooklyn NY neighborhood


Pretty Inside Spa Opens Sister Salon in Dumbo

September 12th, 2007

From a newsletter received yesterday from Pretty Inside announced the expansion of their services:

Pretty Inside, lovingly coined, “the hidden spa in DUMBO” is opening a sister hair salon this Saturday located at the current spa address, 147 Front St, Suite #216. Brooklynites are welcome to make appts for hair cuts, blow outs, highlights etc. You can make a consultation appt with a colorist/stylist starting this Saturday, September 15th. For details and pricing, go to myspace.com/getprettyinside.

A quick check on pricing for the salon says that, “blowouts start at $65, haircuts at $100, partial highlights $200+, full highlights $300+”. Welcome and best wishes!

Pretty Inside (prettyinside.com)
147 Front St (Cross Street: Jay Street) Brooklyn, New York 11201
Tel: (718) 222-9303

Previously: {The Hidden Spa in Dumbo}

Filed in Dumbo Retail and Businesses, Front Street at 9:24 am
Comments
  • great
    Hair cuts START at $100? What a rip off! Yet another new business in the hood engaging in price gouging. Just because people here have money doesn't automatically give you a pass to shaft them.
  • Bklyn Native
    Walk a few blocks to Middagh Street between Willow and Hicks in the Heights and check out Salon Van Sickel. The prices are 1/2 to 2/3 less expensive, and the quality is amazing.
  • Mike
    Just because you can't afford it doesn't make it price gouging. It's a free market economy: go get your hair cut somewhere else if you don't like their pricing policy.
  • tim
    Only $100?? At my Wall St barber I normally pay double that
  • brooklynitgirl
    I'm happy that DUMBO is finally getting more services in the neighborhood. A hair salon would be a good addition to the neighborhood. As a client I know the spa is high end and no, it's not cheap but since I'm consistently a patron they give me a break here, a complimentary service there, so they can be reasonable if you actually patronize the spa. Sometimes instead of complaining and critical, it actually helps to be positive and see what things are about beforehand. Just a thought.
  • This is very exciting. I've been meaning to try out their spa services as well. Sorry "great," but the hair cut and color is actually reasonable compared to some NYC prices.

    Anyone on this thread who can comment on their facials compared to say a Bliss or Oasis treatment?
  • DUMBO girl
    I just moved to DUMBO and there is NO way I will frequent this spa at these prices. I get my hair cut at a very well known place in NYC and it's $90. Why would they start at $100, it's just insulting. If they started at $70 and then raised the prices over the years, then they could prove themselves and maybe I would stay... but to charge that out of the gate is crazy. We desperately need a reasonable massage place in DUMBO. I get weekly massages near my office in midtown for $60 a week and I'd so much rather do it near home.
  • L.E.
    Carole cuts hair at Pomme (the kids store) on Washington St. on Wednesdays and Saturdays. She is considered one of the best kid's haircutters, but what most people don't realize is that she also cuts adult hair. She charges $25 for a kid's cut & only $35 for an adult haircut. She does a very nice job, I've had my hair cut by her a number of times and I used to spend over $125 and up on haircuts previously in Manhattan at the top salons.
  • Brooklyn Enthusiast has a detailed write up of her experience at the spa:
    Pretty Inside Spa Review
  • Tbone
    First, I will never go there again. I went to Pretty Inside once for a facial and it was ok, but way overpriced. Then, an employee was incredibly rude to me over the phone. I couldn't believe they would speak to a customer like that. Small businesses should know that people (especially women) talk about their experiences and spread the word- which is what I have been doing! Anyway, I go to a very well known salon in Manhattan and pay $115. I agree with DUMBO girl- they should start at lower prices and raise them as they become established. And it would be awesome to have a reasonable spa/massage place in the neighborhood. I really like spending my money at local businesses, but Pretty Inside is one that will not be getting a dime from me!
  • Tbone
    An update about my experience with Pretty Inside-I implore all of you to please not patronize Pretty Inside. It is a long story and I am happy to explain the whole thing to anyone interested in hearing it, but basically, I had a bad experience with one of their receptionists being incredibly rude to me over the phone (as I mentioned in my previous post). When I posted a negative review on Citysearch.com regarding the incident (the first time I have ever been so moved by an experience that I posted on Citysearch, by the way), they responded publicly on Citysearch blaming and insulting me and saying that I verbally abused the receptionist. It is not in my nature to be rude or unkind (and I certainly was not to the receptionist at Pretty Inside). Most small businesses value their customers and treat them with respect, and will quickly apologize for a bad experience. Pretty Inside clearly does not. Honestly, they have me in tears over the whole thing. I don't want to just sit back and be upset about it and I thought posting on this site would be one way to get the word out there.
  • SueB
    Tbone, I'm sorry to hear that you were treated rudely. I agree that customer service is very important, especially for a much-needed neighborhood salon. To be fair, we should hear Pretty Inside's side of the story, since it looks like there were some positive experiences based on a few of the above comments. They should post a comment here or email the DumboNYC moderator.
  • DumboRez
    I don't need to hear their side of things. They were rude to me on the phone when I called for the price list. That's all I need to know. I'll take my business elsewhere.
  • Tbone
    Another update-
    I posted something on my building's newsgroup about what happened (basically what I posted here) and a neighbor responded that she also had a really bad experience. She found the treatment to be average and the receptionist was really rude to her.

    Their response to my negative review on Citysearch was mean, insulting and outrageous. It illustrated a completely different version of events then what actually happened, so I wouldn't trust what they would say. To further prove my point, they also responded incredibly rudely to another negative posting on Citysearch. The posting said that Pretty Inside was average and overpriced. Their response to that posting made assumptions and insults towards the poster. They clearly don't care about their customers' opinions and they don't know how to respond to a customer's feedback without being rude and insulting to the customer.
  • Tbone
    Forgot to add- when I went to Pretty Inside for a spa service several months ago (before all of this went down) the facialist and receptionist were perfectly nice to me then. I did find the facial to be not bad, but not great, and very expensive for what it was.
  • DOT
    Wow! I just read the reviews on citysearch and can't believe the responses from the business. How incredibly rude. I was ready to try this place out, despite a few negative comments. But the spa shot itself in the foot by posting such immature responses. How tranquil can pretty inside be if it's staff can spew such ugly words?
  • SueB
    I'd still like to hear Pretty Inside respond here. The way a service oriented business responds to customer unsatisfaction is indicative of their philosophy. I hope the rumors on Citysearch aren't true as it would be unfortunate.
  • Jessjfire
    Ok, so despite the negativity of some on this blog, I decided to go to Pretty Inside and try out the new salon. I have to say I was pleased. The atmosphere was peaceful, the staff was kind, they use Phyto (my favorite hair care line) and MOST IMPORTANTLY the service was of quality. I got a hair cut from the stylist and she was amazing. She gave me exactly what I asked for in the cut and then went above and beyond with the blow dry. I looked like a star when I walked out of there. She also gave me excellent hair advice that has allowed me to maintain styling it on my own. It still looks great.
    I don't see the point some of you are making with the prices. Why should the prices be any different weather in the City or Brooklyn. It's quality that counts and that's exactly what I got at Pretty Inside. Because of my experience there I highly recommend that you all try out the salon. Plus it's so convenient.
  • great
    Well I guess we've heard from "Pretty Inside" now...
  • Jo
    How subtle of you Jessifire.
  • T-bone
    Too funny! Pretty Inside have now completely changed their original insulting 'business responses' on Citysearch to extremely positive postings. I see they have changed their tune now that they've been called out on their rude behavior. (However, they still do not apologize for how I was treated.) The funny thing is since I've spoken to people about my experience, I have heard other similar stories from neighbors (especially about the receptionist being rude). It's too bad Citysearch allowed them to take down the nasty comments they made, which to me showed their true colors. I guess it is possible they've learned their lesson about being nice to customers, but I still find the way they have handled this situation to be really obnoxious.

    I heard from a neighbor that there is a new spa opening in Vinegar Hill. Look forward to trying it!
  • Jessjfire
    I just wanted to say that I wasn't speaking for Pretty Inside, only for myself. I just loved my service there and thought I'd share.
  • Has anybody else here been to body by brooklyn over there in Clinton Hills? It has the whole facial and massages thing going on. It also has a bar and restaurant from what I've heard. I'm gonna try going there before my birthday. Any one has any comments?
  • What's up?
    Have these guys closed? When you call you get a recording that says they're not accepting any new appointments at this time. Anyone know anything about this?
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