Frequently Asked Questions…or not so frequent, but still important!

FAQs

  • We love Builder in a Bottle here at SOAK, but being one of the up and coming services in the industry, not everyone has heard of it. Builder (sometimes referred to as BIAB™) is designed to provide a strengthening barrier to the nail while maintaining its natural flexibility, so that they rarely chip or break when cared for correctly. Our favourite feature of Builder in a Bottle is that an acetone soak off is not necessary when refilling the nails. Meaning your nails and hands are not subjected to strong chemicals for long periods of time. If you find your nails are too weak for regular or gel polish or if you live a hands-on lifestyle, but also want the cute manicure, BlAB™ might just be the answer!

  • We operate a 12 hour notice reschedule/cancellation policy (12 hour notice period also required for party/event bookings - see below for further information). If you are unable to attend your appointment or wish to reschedule, you must contact SOAK directly by phone or email, at least 12 hours prior to your appointment time.

    Phone: (03) 9826 3970

    Email: reception@soak.bar

    If you fail to give 12 hours notice for a cancellation or rescheduling, you will be required to pay 50% of your booked service cost. Fail to give us 1 hour notice prior to the appointment start time and you will be required to pay 100% of your booked service cost.

  • Senior Nail Technician: These team members have proven themselves to be the best in their respective fields. Their skills and expertise not only meet but exceed the highest standards. With a diverse skill set that includes extensions, BIAB, nail art, mentoring roles, training, and education, they stand out as exceptional professionals. Offering this range of options is not only aimed at providing our customers with choices but also serves as an opportunity for our team to grow to higher roles at SOAK.

    BIAB Specialists: These team members have demonstrated excellence and mastered their BIAB application, showcasing expertise in styling add on’s such as nail art, French tip, chrome, plus more. Some team members also extend their skills to our range of Extension services.

    SOAK Certified: These team members generally bring experience from other salons and have completed SOAK’s rigorous training program. Fully certified and highly skilled and will provide quality service in line with SOAK’s standards.

    Aspiring Artist: These are SOAK’s up-and-coming nail technicians, eager to perfect our signature style. If you’d like to support our new talent, you can book with them online at a lower rate while they work toward full SOAK certification.

  • We are committed to ensuring customer satisfaction with all our nail services. As part of our dedication to providing exceptional service, we offer a 7-day guarantee for all gel nail services. Unfortunately, this complimentary service does not apply for previous SNS or acrylic wearers.

    7 day nail guarantee applicable to:

    Eligibility: This guarantee applies to services that meet the following criteria:

    • Applies to lifting and chipping only should we conclude that we are responsible for the defect in question - product or application.

    • You have applied all the relevant aftercare upon leaving the salon.

    • Notification was provided within 7 days of the booking

    • You must advise how many nails are defected, you will be required to send photos.

    • You must attend the salon within 5 days of notifying us of the defect for us to rectify and reduce the potential for further damage. If you are unable to attend within the 5 days, the guarantee is no longer applicable.

    • If your original appointment included the following removals: SNS, Acrylic, or Hard Gel removal, the guarantee is not applicable.

    What is not covered:

    • Shape, colour or overall finish. Please check nails and raise any concerns prior to leaving.

    • If your original appointment includes the following removals: SNS, Acrylic or Hard Gel.

    • Re-Balance of other salons BIAB

    • Fixee Gel Repairs or any other temporary repair

    Please Note: If you arrive 10 minutes or later to your appointment, you are not eligible for this guarantee. We need to ensure we have sufficient time to complete your nail service accurately, and starting late can impact this commitment.

    Guarantee Duration: The guarantee period is valid for 7 days from the date the service was conducted.

    Resolution Options: We will fix all the nails complimentary. This is not transferable to refunds or credits. Once rectified, the nail guarantee has been exhausted and no longer applies.

  • SOAK chooses to provide you with a Gel-based alternative to these products, not only for aesthetics, but also for health and hygiene reasons. It is important that our staff and customers are not exposed to unnecessary harsh or toxic chemicals which some products on the market may contain.

  • If you have an existing product on your nails prior to your appointment time, we ask that you let us know by adding a removal service to the booking. Failure to do so may result in the cancellation of your bookings as we most likely will not have the time available to include a last minute removal plus full service.

  • We offer a reduced fee for removals of Gel Polish if we applied the initial gel polish within the last 4 weeks for manicures ($10 instead of $25) and 6 weeks for pedicures ($10 instead of $20) as a thank you for returning to us for your regular services.

    Your reduced cost for a gel removal service must fall within these guidelines and be booked in conjunction with a manicure/pedicure service.

  • In our continuous effort to provide exceptional service we have a policy regarding late arrivals. A late arrival of 15 minutes will result in ineligibility of our 7 day nail guarantee. If a guest is late by 20 minutes or more, it will be considered a No-Show, and a full-service charge will apply. Late arrival has an impact on other guests in the salon as we require and rely on bookings as opposed to walk-in options.

  • A booking of 7 or more people is considered a large group/party booking. These bookings are managed by our party coordinator who will liaise with the host to determine exact services each guest would like. If you would like to get in contact with our party coordinator, please fill out the online booking form which is found on the home page under ‘Group Bookings’ and we will be in contact with you.

  • Yes, our gift vouchers can be used at any location. When booking online, we request a credit card to secure the appointment, however payment is made on the day when you can present your voucher.

  • Unfortunately, no. As we do back to back bookings for all of our beauty and nail services and some services take longer than others, we are unable to guarantee that we can accommodate any changes on the day. We highly recommend understanding the exact services you would like and ensure your booking reflects this.

  • We implement surcharges for specific reasons to maintain the quality of our services. The 15% weekend surcharge exists to support our commitment to penalty rates on weekends, which currently stand at 27.75%. This surcharge is crucial for us to offset the higher wages during weekends without compromising the excellence of our service delivery.

    Additionally, all bookings incur a 1.2% service fee. This fee covers the costs associated with bank transactions. We recommend those who prefer to avoid this charge to opt for cash payment on the day. These measures allow us to balance operational costs while still providing all payment options.

    • A Dazzle Dry Manicure should last from 7-10 days

    • A Gel Polish Manicure should last 2-3 weeks

    • A Builder in a Bottle or Hard Gel Manicure should last 3-4 weeks

    *This can be affected by your lifestyle and or nail health history.

  • Yes, our manicure and pedicure products are safe to use during pregnancy.

  • Yes, Our Destress, Detox and Total Package facials are safe. We do not recommend our B Peel for pregnant guests.

  • Yes, guests under 18 are welcome. To ensure a relaxing experience for all, we kindly ask you to refrain from bringing young children, as they may interrupt other guests experience.

  • This an exclusive add on for selected manicure and pedicure services. Enjoy bottomless bubbles for up to 90 mins.

    Terms and Conditions:

    1. Indulge in a rotating selection of seasonal Prosecco.

    2. Age Requirement: Guests must be 18 years or older.

    3. 90 minute duration

    3. Responsible Service: We encourage you to a add a cheeseboard to enjoy either before or after your service (pedicures can enjoy during their service).

    5. Included services: Deluxe & Express manicure/pedicures, Builder in a Bottle (BIAB) and all Extension services

  • SOUTH YARRA

    Secure Parking - Enter from Malcolm street *under Woolworths - check their website for terms and conditions for parking and validating tickets.

    Street parking is limited, & check for Clearway zones.

    ELWOOD

    Street Parking available. Check for time limits and Clearway zones.

  • Please click here to view our full terms and conditions.

If you still have questions that aren't covered here, feel free to contact us directly via our online enquiry form. We typically respond within 24 hours, often even sooner!

Online Enquiry Form