Florida woman goes to nail salon. Then the manager ‘bullies’ her and a worker in front of the whole salon: ‘THEY MADE YOU CRY??’
For many people, getting their nails done is a form of self-care and personal expression. But the industry hides a not-so-well-kept secret.
Since the mass popularization of nail salons in the ’70s and ’80s, the industry has been plagued by labor abuse and unsafe working conditions.
According to a 2020 survey, for example, eight in 10 respondents said they experienced some form of wage theft. More than half reported earning a flat daily or weekly fee of just $80 to $100 for a full day’s work.
While the situation in 2026 may not be as dire, reports of maltreatment persist. Just recently, a customer in Florida said she experienced one firsthand.
What Happened During Her Nail Appointment?
In her recent video, which has garnered over 268,000 views, TikToker Sarah Philly (@sarah.philly) shared the story of what she describes as an uncomfortable and emotional visit to a nail salon in Delray Beach, Florida.
“I don’t usually make videos like this,” Sarah begins. “But I just came on here to say that if you live in the Delray Beach area in Florida, never, ever go to Kim Nails and Wax.”
Sarah explains that she initially called the salon to have her gel nail polish removed, then walked in for the appointment shortly after. Once there, she says she was paired with a nail technician named Sarah.
“She was so, so nice,” Sarah says. “We were chatting. She just moved from New York. This is like her first job in Florida.”
As the technician began removing the gel polish, Sarah says the manager approached them.
“She’s like right behind her,” Sarah recounts. “And she just starts immediately saying, ‘Did you push the nail beds down? Use the pusher.’”
Sarah says the technician appeared visibly shaken. “Sarah like froze,” she says. “She looked terrified.”
The manager allegedly continued reprimanding the technician, telling her she had already explained the process “a million times” and criticizing her technique. At one point, the TikToker says the manager took her hand and inspected the work herself.
“She’s like, ‘Yeah, this is an awful job. You’re gonna make all of my clients never come back,’” Sarah recalls.
According to the creator, the manager instructed the technician to rewrap her nails while continuing to scold her in front of customers. “I could tell she’s like deep down so furious and upset,” Sarah says. “She’s embarrassed.”
The Interaction Grows More Intense
Sitting through the interaction, Sarah says she felt deeply uncomfortable. “She’s yelling,” she says. “She is not being nice at all to her new worker. Her brand new worker.”
After the manager walked away, the technician apologized to Sarah. “She’s like, ‘I’m so sorry,’” Sarah recalls. “And I said, ‘No, I’m so sorry for you. You shouldn’t be treated like this by your manager.’”
Sarah says the only reason she even learned the technician’s name was because of how often the manager yelled it. Trying to lighten the mood, she told the technician they shared the same name.
“We start talking again,” she says. “Great nail appointment between me and Sarah.”
But the situation escalated once more when the manager returned and resumed criticizing the technician, calling her “terrible,” “disrespectful,” and saying she would drive clients away.
Eventually, the manager turned her attention to Sarah. “She goes, ‘I’m sorry,’” Sarah says. “So me, of course, I go, ‘Honestly, you are being so disrespectful to your worker right now, and it’s making me very uncomfortable.’”
In response, she says the manager accused her of being rude. “You don’t tell me how to run this place,” she recalls the manager telling her. “And this is clearly between you and Sarah.”
She says she pushed back, telling her that’s not the way to treat a worker who just moved to a new place.
As the manager walked away, Sarah says the technician finally spoke up for herself. “She sits back on her chair and she says, ‘You’re disrespectful to me,’” Sarah recounts. “Go, Sarah. I am so proud of you.”
The moment made Sarah emotional. “That hurt,” she says. “That made me upset.” She says she began tearing up as the manager addressed other employees, asking whether she disrespected them as well.
Sarah Becomes Emotional
At that point, Sarah says she started crying. “I’m upset for not only Sarah, but now she also disrespected me,” she says. “That is so unprofessional and so mean.”
As the situation continued, Sarah says the technician confided in her quietly. “She’s like, ‘This is terrible. I’ve never been so miserable in my life. Today is my last day,’” Sarah recalls.
By the end of the visit, Sarah says she had decided she would never return to the salon. “I am never going back to that salon,” she says. “But Sarah, you’re more than welcome to come do my nails anytime.”
She ends the video with a message to managers. “Please be nice to your employees,” she says. “You never know what they’re going through.”
In an update at the end of the clip, Sarah shares that her mother later called the salon to try to book an appointment with the technician. According to Sarah, the salon said the technician was no longer working there.
“Go Sarah,” she says. “I’m so proud of you. You do not deserve a place like that.”
Commenters Share Their Own Stories
“I used to work there and this is 100000% why I left years ago,” wrote one user.
“My director is like that to me to the point I took a position that was a 2 step down demotion for half the pay to a site that’s as far from our district office just so I could be left alone,” shared a second. “We won’t survive financially, I’m a single mom, but at least I can just do my job and go home without crying everyday. Btw he accused me of being homeless and sleeping in my minivan in the parking lot overnight in front of 8 people that were my superiors. I didn’t want to be here anymore. So thank you for supporting her through that.”
“Thank you for sticking up for her,” chimed in a third. “I’ve been reprimanded by bully managers or owners, and it’s incredibly demeaning, and humiliating. Hopefully you stay in touch with Sara, I bet she will become more of an amazing nail artist!”
@sarah.philly I did have to pay but I don’t care about the money it’s just funny that that lady didn’t even offer the service for free after the whole situation. NEVERRRR step foot in Kim nails and wax if you’re in the Delray area unless you want to feel incredibly uncomfortable. Make this go viral because that lady doesn’t deserve to be running a shop and Sarah deserves the world with her kindness #fyp #nailsalon #delraybeach #customerservice #experience ♬ original sound – Sarah Philly
The Mary Sue has reached out to Sarah via TikTok messages. The Mary Sue wasn’t able to locate a “Kim Nails & Wax,” but will update this article when we find out more.
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