The truth…no one wants to talk about feet, not even your pedicurist! But, after multiple attempts to get a pedicure I thought I would offer up some helpful tips when heading out to the big, often times frightening nail salon! Let’s start at the beginning with Feet! Those cute, painted accessories that for some reason we feel the need to take pictures of every time we get around a pool or sand! You know, those helpful appendages that allow us to walk, run, dance, stand tall and pretty much take us wherever we want to go. OK, STOP RIGHT THERE! I'm actually talking about those callused, blistered, dry, sore, tired attachments that hang off the bottom of our legs. You know, those abused appendages we shove into boots, skates, cleats, fins and way too tight, but super cute shoes that are going to leave us wishing we wouldn’t have worn them last night! Yup, those feet!
Right around March every year a sort of frenzy begins. March madness turns us upside down and we realize Spring Break is upon us and summer is right around the corner. Suddenly those size 8 hoofs on the end of your calves, that have gone virtually unnoticeable until now, are about to have their day in the sun. Seriously people, what did you think they were going to look like when you left the same polish from last August on and haven’t bothered to reach past your ankles to even attempt to throw a little moisturizer on them? So off you go to get a pedicure, the perfect treat for your feet! That wonderful place where only an angel from heaven would ever dare to touch those things. That place where they will soak, scrub, buff, massage and polish them to perfection all while smiling politely. Pedicures are truly amazing and if you’ve never had one, you need to immediately! They are heavenly! But where to go and who gives that service is something you shouldn’t take lightly. We all know how easy it is to pop into a nail place these days with no appointment, pick out a color and head to a prefilling tub in a long row of chairs. Life is good! HELLO! WAKE UP! I hate to ruin this perfect moment for you, but before you plop your tired derrière into that massaging leather cloud, here’s what you really need to know and look for the next time the urge to just pop in somewhere comes over you.
Legal licensing, cleanliness and sanitation should always be the first things you should be looking for when heading out for a pedicure, not price or quickness. Average pedicure times are about 45 - 60 min, so if its quick or seems a little too cheap, you might want to take note of these 5 tips:
#1 – The TUB! Did you know that an EPA hospital grade disinfectant MUST be used in that tub after every client? Of course, you did, you’re not an idiot, but what you might not know is that the disinfectant takes no less than 10 minutes to effectively kill bacteria! What does this mean? No, it doesn’t mean you’re and idiot, it means if that tub was not scrubbed down including removing the jet cap, rinsed, and disinfected for at least 10 min then you just soaked in the same water as the client before you and the client before them and so on and so on!! YUCK! At this point if you do decide to stay, now you might be an idiot.
#2 – As of April 2 2018 it was found that not all salons were disposing of all porous materials, that cannot be sanitized such as abrasive boards, buffers, blocks and pumices after EACH patron! This means a NEW file, buffer and callus scrubber needs to be used on you! NEW for every client, every time. You might want to go home with the same gorgeous color as the client before you, but you sure in the heck don’t want to go home with their dead skin, calluses, cuticles and fungus!
#3 –Two words Orangewood Sticks! If you don’t see these in your salon or know what they are that is the problem! Your nails tech’s own fingernail is NOT an orangewood stick! I know it sounds crazy, but do you really want what’s under their nail now on yours? Hmm… I’m just saying. Think about it!
#4 – The Implements! Cuticle pushers, nippers and nail clippers need to be cleaned with soap and water then soaked, yes soaked, in an EPA hospital grade disinfectant for no less than 10 mins. Just rinsed and put into those little pouches and tossed in a sanitizer will not kill anything if they haven’t been properly cleaned first. Btw, if you see them pull the buffer or file out of that same pouch that means they aren’t new. They are reusing them! Not good. And Credo blades aka Callus shavers are Illegal in Michigan and most states! Never, ever should anyone use this tool on you. Should they discreetly pull this out I would run, not walk the hell out of there!
#5 – Table tops, chairs, footpads, led/uv lights, basically anything you touch needs to be wiped down after every client! That means they wipe everything down and give you a clean towel to place your hands and feet on. I was actually shocked to see how many salons I've checked out that do not wipe things down between clients! Wth? This is the easiest thing to do! It helps to prevent and stop the spreading of germs and infection which protects both the client and the technician. Its quick, easy and its for your health and theirs! Mind boggling...
So remember, where you go is always your choice, but knowing you have options is also your choice. A clean salon, proper sanitation and a little help from nail specialist, possibly an angel, haha guarantees a safe, enjoyable pedicure experience and photo worthy toes! You are now free to snap away, but no need to send them to me! Trust me, I'm good! Lol. Now, grab a friend, grab a cocktail (I have no idea what’s in that Yeti cup! lol) and give yourself and your feet the pampering they deserve! Happy pedicuring!!
Life is short, stay polished! ;)
Chris