A woman who says she was turned away from a nail spa because of her weight is speaking out about her experience.
Ashley Cheffen says workers at POSH Nail Spa II salon in Columbia, South Carolina, allegedly told her they couldn’t service her because of her size.
On Friday, June 18, Cheffen went to the nail spa that she’s gone to since 2018. “I went, and it was pretty busy, and I sat in the waiting area for 15 to 20 minutes, which is expected on a Friday night,” said Cheffen.
Just before the nail tech started on Cheffen, she stopped, and then moments later, a receptionist walked over to her. “She said, ‘Ma’am, unfortunately, the nail tech is not going to be able to do her pedicure because of her weight limit,” Cheffen said.
Most nail salons have a policy that customers could be held responsible for a spa chair if it malfunctions if a person is more than 300 pounds. The spa told Fox affiliate WACH news that “they don’t turn anyone away.”
“When I left, I sat in my car, and I had a moment. I broke down,” Cheffen said. “I was embarrassed. I was humiliated, and I felt horrible.”
Joseph Nguyen spoke on behalf of Posh Nail Spa owners, saying the weight limits are there so that customers are safe. “At Posh, we just want to make everybody feel welcome,” said Nyugen.
“POSH is there to serve everybody, and there is absolutely no discrimination against anyone of any size,” Nyugen added. “As [managers], we will be going around and making sure that everyone feels comfortable and welcome, and make sure what they get is actually what they really want.”
The owners of POSH told WACH that the receptionist who told Cheffen she could not get her service done is no longer working at the location.
