Is this a common occurrence?

[MistletoeMoments]

Decided to treat myself and get my nails done for Christmas. I've only ever had it done once before, on holiday, so don't have a regular place.

I looked at a couple online near me and messaged one for an appt. They replied back quickly "yeah no problem hun see you then"

Rightly or wrongly, I was shocked when i walked into the salon this morning to find an elderly Korean man waiting for me! His English wasn't great but he was very polite (and patient of me not knowing when he needed my hands or not). A few more younger Korean guys were coming in and out during the appt.

He did a fantastic job and I'm chuffed to bits and tipped him heavily.

Am I being sexist by assuming these places were mostly all women? Is it normal to find men who are truly fantastic, in my opinion, at doing nails?

Of course you're being sexist.
Modern day slavery is an equal opportunity exploiter.

The message was likely sent by a manager and not the men. Often theyre ridiculously underpaid and badly treated

Oh God, you're joking? They had all their nail tech qualifications on the walls!

Would you like to buy a bridge?

Getting nail tech qualifications and working in a salon doesn't require fluency in English, which is fab for some people who might have come to the UK without being fluent / struggle to learn etc. There is definitely a modern slavery concerns with a lot of the walk in salons that don't have proper employees / staff / appointment systems. That people without the ability to communicate or the awareness of what's right and wrong are being stuck working long days for no pay.

I promise I'm not a troll!
I'm very very embarrassed now.

I told my female colleague about it and she said "oh wow that's cool"

My dd has just had exactly the same experience!!

This is not unusual at all.

I promise I'm not a troll!
"Would you like to buy a bridge?" is a reference to George Parker and the gullibility of a large part of the public to take things at face value and unquestioningly. It's not a troll reference.

It's incredibly naïve not to be aware that these types of business are often exploitative and criminal, and in your very short opening post you managed to raise two red flags that should have had you suspicious about the set-up.

Yeah no appt system at this one. He(?) messaged back that he didn't do appointments over Christmas just walk-in only so I said I'd be down at x time.

but the clothes we buy are a good percentage made in overseas sweatshops which is also exploitive

Well that makes it ok then. I suppose it's less bad when you're in the same room and you can see the person being exploited.

it was in response to "It's incredibly naïve not to be aware that these types of business are often exploitative "
the point was why dont people also consider this when buying clothes

Do you want to buy a certificate?
What do you want a qualification in?

The salon is right smack bang in the middle of a "naice" touristy village. Not that I'm saying exploitation doesn't happen in "nice places" but it never occurred to me whatsoever.

Their page didn't have any reviews but a lot of "likes" including someone I went to school with.

These places are money laundering fronts. As are the flashy Turkish barbers and hand car wash places. They also use trafficked workers. People in this country don't understand that we shouldn't be using them.

I was going to say Turkish barbers and hand car washes are always very very busy here. Surely they must be on somebody's radar?

Most outside nail parlours are staffed by foreign people. If you want anything else then best look for mobile technicians. 😉

https://www.google.com/search?q=nail+salon+slave&rlz=1C9BKJA_enGB758GB761&oq=nail+salon+slave&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQABiABDIICAIQABgWGB4yCAgDEAAYFhgeMg0IBBAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0IBRAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0IBhAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0IBxAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMgoICBAAGKIEGIkFMgoICRAAGIAEGKIE0gEIOTkyNWowajeoAgqwAgHiAwQYASBf&hl=en-GB&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8&dlnr=1&sei=5qBlZ4qML9azwPAP5vCG2AE

I didn't see any of the other signs listed in the BBC article except for limited English. Should I report them then?

I know. I don't understand how they're allowed to operate. Councils, Immigration and HMRC must be aware. Perhaps they can't be bothered to investigate, but the money launderers are involved in drugs, gang related activities, smuggling, stolen goods, weapons and sex exploitation.

Being called hun would put me off immediately.

It's very common here. My hairdresser calls me hun when I'm texting her

This happens everywhere even in “naice” towns and villages. Marlborough where the royals school their children had a salon raided a few years ago for slavery. It had the same feel you are mentioning.

You need to go to a proper salon for your nails.

I don't think being called hun is as quite as bad as supporting illegal gang related activities.